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magnifying glass with dark circle in the middle.

Alaska Airlines celebrates summer travel season with “upgrade unlocked” – get ready for a surprise upgrade to Premium Class!

Every day, all summerlong, at least one Main Cabin guest will be randomly upgraded to Premium Class

Every day this summer, Alaska Airlines is surprising and delighting at least one guest seated in our Main Cabin with an upgrade to Premium Class to celebrate the start of the busy travel season. upgrade unlocked, which runs from June 1 until Sept. 2, allows our guests to experience the airline with the most legroom in Premium Class.*

“upgrade unlocked is one way we’re showing guests our appreciation for choosing to fly with us to their favorite destinations this summer. Premium Class is just one of the many premium products and services we offer to our guests, including our best-in-class lounges, the freshest West Coast food and beverage line-up and our award-winning Mileage Plan program with the fastest path to elite status. Whether it’s their first time or they’ve experienced Premium Class before – we can’t wait to hear from our guests who receive this surprise upgrade!”

– Eric Edge, managing director of marketing and advertising at Alaska Airlines

Each day we’ll notify one of our guests (and their travel partner, if they have one) through the Alaska Airlines mobile app or by email that they’ve been randomly selected to be upgraded from their Main Cabin seat to Premium Class.

These rows of seats, which are behind First Class, are typically reserved for our loyalty program elite members or for purchase. Alaska’s Premium Class offers our guests four extra inches of legroom – the most of any U.S. legacy airline – custom-designed leather seats and complimentary beer, wine or cocktails for our guests 21+ on most flights over 350 miles. Our Premium Class guests also enjoy early boarding and they’re among the first to get access to overhead bin space and deplane.

upgrade unlocked is launching as the busy summer travel season is underway. This past Memorial Day weekend, we saw an increase of 6% of passengers traveling away from home to sunnier destinations. We expect to see even more flying when bookings increase ahead of the Independence Day holiday weekend.

To respond to the summer travel demand, Alaska Airlines has added more flights to our existing schedule in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. We’ve greatly expanded our service from Anchorage to destinations such as Chicago, Denver, and Salt Lake City and are excited to begin new service to New York City in June. We’re also expanding our reach to the east this summer with new nonstop routes connecting Portland to Nashville, and San Diego to both Atlanta and Tampa. That’s all in addition to our recently-inaugurated international expansion to Guatemala, The Bahamas, and Toronto!

Can’t wait to learn if you’ve been selected for upgrade unlocked? We’re making it easier for our guests to upgrade! Now you can pay to upgrade to First or Premium Class up until check-in is closed.

For our press kit, including still images, click here.

*Among U.S. legacy airlines

“Dare yourself to speak” – Alaska Airlines celebrates AANHPI heritage & culture

For Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, we spoke with leaders of Alaska’s business resource group, Pacific Islander Alliance, about their efforts, including their partnership with Kumu Kahanuola Solatorio to provide opportunities for Alaska employees to learn the Hawaiian language. Throughout May, we recognize the history and achievements of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders across our network.

Nearly 17 years ago, just before Alaska Airlines began its first flights to Hawaiʻi, two Alaska employees had a conversation over lunch that continues to make an impact today.

“I still remember,” said Jill Tanga, of the meal she shared with her colleague, Lucy Purcell, in 2007. “We had lunch and we wanted to find ways to specifically support our Pacific Islander community. So, we organized with the intent of ensuring that Hawaiʻi and the host culture is accurately represented in our service.”

Their conversation was the first step in forming Alaska’s business resource group, Pacific Islander Alliance or P.I.A. Tanga, who was born on Oʻahu and is part Native Hawaiian, continues to serve as one of the group’s leaders today. Over the years, P.I.A. has worked to support employees, and serve as cultural advisors and ambassadors for the airlines. The P.I.A.’s balanced approach bolsters company initiatives and employee engagement opportunities, which includes educational, career and leadership development, as well as participation in community and volunteer events.

“As an airline that takes people to travel to Hawaiʻi, we have the kuleana (responsibility) to make sure that we are doing that in a really intentional way,” said Shanyn Wright, one of the leaders of P.I.A. She explained that P.I.A. was founded in part “to make sure that there was a Hawaiian or Pacific Islander perspective in the room.”

Jill Tanga, Lindsay Tuiasosopo, Shanyn Wright, and Lucy Purcell in Washington, DC representing the P.I.A. and the Alaska Air Group in meetings with legislators.

Lindsay Tuiasosopo, another P.I.A. leader, explains that P.I.A. also supports group members who are looking for professional development opportunities at Alaska.

“One of the challenges Pacific Islanders face in the workplace, from my experience, is finding a voice,” said Tuiasosopo. “When I started working for Alaska, it was one of my first professional jobs, and I had to learn how to use my voice in this setting. Growing up half-Samoan, a quarter Irish, and a quarter Scottish, I was taught to follow whatever your elders say without question.”

“Early in my career, that was how I functioned. I had to learn how to communicate effectively, that it was okay to speak up, and even if it was to say, ‘No, that’s not how we should do it. This is how we should do it.’ When I share this with other Pacific Islanders in our company, it resonates deeply.”

One of the group’s recent activities was a career panel featuring Pacific Islander Alaska employees, who discussed their professional journeys. They offered insights into how they’ve utilized corporate resources at Alaska, such as leadership programs, to get where they are today. Tuiasosopo says this is important for P.I.A. members who may be the first person in their families to pursue the types of career paths available at Alaska.

For Wright, P.I.A. has helped deepen the conversation around AANHPI Heritage Month. The group has fostered conversations about the different cultures within the AANHPI community, allowing for “more honest conversations about what AANHPI is, and who is included.”

P.I.A. also champions activities that celebrate different Pacific Islander cultures and learning among Alaska employees, including upcoming language classes for Alaska employees taught by Kumu Kahanuola Solatorio. His passion for promoting and teaching the Native Hawaiian language, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, shines through in his popular social media videos.

“I like to teach this phrase: A‘a i ka ‘ōlelo – dare yourself to speak,” says Solatorio. “It comes from a longer phrase or ʻōlelo noeʻau, that means dare to dance, leave your shame at home. When you come to my class donʻt be shy. Take some chances, take some risks, leave your shame at home and dare yourself to speak.”

Solatorio and P.I.A. are planning virtual classes for Alaska employees to learn ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi plus in-person classes in Seattle at Alaska’s headquarters.

“A lot of people want to learn ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi but don’t have access,” said Solatorio. “Bringing the language to them and making it more accessible is our main goal with this partnership.”

Like many of his students, Solatorio wasn’t raised speaking Hawaiian. But he fell in love with the language, studying it in college and as a graduate student.

Solatario’s biggest impact may be on Instagram. He started teaching his mom ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and sharing the videos on social media. His Instagram handle @ehoopilimai means “repeat after me” in Hawaiian. Today, he has more than 30k followers.

Instagram story highlights from Solatario’s account @ehoopilimai. He has garnered over 30k followers and shares his adventures sharing Hawaiian language and culture.

“It’s our kuleana (responsibility) as natives of Hawaiʻi to teach the incoming visitors the real value of Hawaiʻi,” he says. “It lies in the land, people, language and culture. Putting the kuleana on others to learn about Hawaiʻi before they come and learn about the real essence of Hawaiʻi.”

Kumu Kahanuola Solatorio

Solatorio’s partnership with Alaska also includes classes open to the public in communities where Alaska flies, with an emphasis on areas with large populations of Native Hawaiians and former Hawaiʻi residents. Follow him @ehoopilimai to learn more.

At Alaska Airlines, honoring the fallen and their families

Video by Karina Matias | Photos by Ingrid Barrentine

On the airfield, one cart is reserved for heroes. 

For over a decade, Alaska’s Fallen Soldier Program has ensured fallen military service members, and their families are treated with the utmost respect. 

Pioneered by a group of Alaska’s maintenance and engineering team members in 2011, the Fallen Soldier Program was established to ensure proper military protocols are followed when handling the remains of those who have served our country and made the ultimate sacrifice, ensuring they are flown to their final resting place with the highest respect and honor.  

Special customized carts, designed by technicians, are stationed at 15 airports nationwide to respectfully transport the remains of military service members to and from aircraft. These carts are available for use by any airline. 

Carts are adorned with American flag curtains and the insignia of the six branches of the military—The Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. 

When a flag-draped casket is flown on Alaska Airlines, it is given priority and is the first item unloaded from the plane, placed carefully onto a Fallen Soldier Cart. Guests on board are asked to wait to deplane until the fallen service member’s escort or family have exited the aircraft. Many guests choose to remain seated until the casket is removed, out of respect, though it is not required. Meanwhile ramp agents and maintenance technicians stand at attention on the tarmac to honor the fallen. 

Recently, Alaska’s Fallen Soldier Program team held a special ceremony for the final flight of Naval Chief Petty Officer Richard Clyde Higgins. His remains were flown on our Honoring Those Who Serve aircraft from Portland, Oregon to his final resting place in Southern California, where he was buried beside his wife. His family, our guests, and employees witnessed the emotional and honorable journey of the fallen hero. Higgins, one of the last Pearl Harbor survivors, was 102. 

In 2023, Alaska employees delivered the 15th cart in the program to Spokane, Washington. Our next cart will be delivered to Nashville International Airport in late June.  

The carts are crafted by a team from Alaska’s Maintenance and Engineering department and are stationed at airports around the country. They’re available to honor members and veterans of all branches of the military. While the carts remain under Alaska’s care at each airport, they are available for any airline to use when transporting remains. 

Alaska Airlines has dedicated carts in: 

Anchorage 
Dallas 
Fairbanks
Honolulu
Los Angeles
Kansas City
San Antonio
Portland
San Diego 
San Francisco 
San Jose
Seattle
Washington, D.C.
Spokane
Phoenix
Nashville – coming June 2024

Honoring Those Who Serve aircraft  

Our fourth Honoring Those Who Serve aircraft, which is dedicated to members of the US military and honors those who serve today and those who served in the past, will soon be joining our fleet.  

This design includes a red stripe and blue aircraft body to incorporate elements of the American flag; the phrase “Honoring Those Who Serve,” displayed on the fuselage; symbolic crests representing the Alaska Airlines Fallen Soldier Program to the right of the rear cargo door and on the left side of the aircraft behind the aft service door; and an “Alaska Airlines Salutes” medallion near the nose of the aircraft, with the six stars (along with the six stripes on the engine cowls) representing the six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces: Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force. 

Honoring those who serve: Alaska Airlines salutes members of the U.S. military & their families

At Alaska, we are so very grateful for the service of active duty military and veterans and appreciate the personal sacrifices they and their families make for us all. We take seriously our responsibility to care for our military guests, and we prioritize it with every flight.  

Learn more

Celebrating Aviation Maintenance Technician Day: Honoring the unsung heroes of Alaska Airlines 

Today, we take a moment to celebrate a group of dedicated professionals whose expertise and commitment ensure the safety, reliability and excellence of our fleet. On Aviation Maintenance Technician Day (or AMT Day), we honor the incredible work of maintenance technicians at Alaska and Horizon Air—our unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep us flying high.

Running a safe operation  

Our maintenance technicians are essential to every flight, every day. Whether they are performing pre-flight inspections, troubleshooting technical issues, or carrying out regular heavy maintenance checks, their work allows us to fly safe and continue delivering exceptional service to our guests.  

In addition to ensuring every aircraft is fit to fly each day, we remain extremely grateful to our skilled Maintenance and Engineering team that shouldered the inspection work of our 737-9 MAX aircraft earlier this year and safely returned the planes to service.  

This year, we recognized the careers of some Maintenance and Engineering employees, naming them “Alaska Legends” and “Horizon Pathfinders,” our top honors for those with storied careers of always looking up, pushing higher, putting others first, and representing the very best of us.

 

Randy Ahrens

Line Aircraft Technician, ANC 
Alaska Airlines Legend ’24

“I feel honored, there’s some super good mechanics here. It’s interesting work, you learn something new every day, it’s never boring,“ said Ahrens. “I enjoy the challenge, it’s a lot of satisfaction when it actually works, and it’s all done correctly.” 

“Randy’s always positive, no matter what the job is, it doesn’t matter if it’s 40 degrees below up in Purdue Bay or working inside the hangar, he’s always happy and willing to work. We appreciate his skill and caring-ness,” said David Boyce, manager line Maintenance. 

Mark Williams

Director Material Ops Support 
Alaska Airlines Legend ’24

“I take a great deal of pride in how we do our job and how we make sure we’re helping out the airline,” said Williams. 

“Mark makes an impact every day,” says Alex Gorinsky, managing director of M&S ACSC Material Management. “Early before most people are even up, he is digging into problems and finds solutions. He has an uncanny ability to remember everything that he has worked on in the past several years—he remembers part numbers, unique situations, problems that he’s solved, solutions that he’s come up with and he guides his team through these things and is always there for them.” 

Nejib (Ben) Oueslati 

Lead Technician, SEA 
Horizon Air Pathfinder ’23

“I work with a small group of mechanics in Seattle,” said Oueslati. “We have a good team here. We are like a family. Everybody steps up to help each other with one thing in mind: Return the airplane to service and get the job as safe as we can.” 

“Ben is an outstanding technician,” said Dale Sanderson, maintenance supervisor. “Ben is always willing to go the extra mile, do anything that needs to be done.”  

Tim Weigand

Sr. Service Engineer, PDX 
Horizon Air Pathfinder ’23

“We have to make the right decisions—what really gets me fired up is finding challenges and finding those things where it could be something big but getting it fixed fast,” said Weigand. 

“I’ve been doing this a long time and I have a lot of respect for those guys who’ve also helped and mentored me and I just want to keep that moving and going on,” said Weigand.

Unmatched skill and innovation 

When you take a maintenance technician job at Alaska or Horizon Air, you are joining a legacy of mechanic excellence. For 22 consecutive years, Alaska Airlines Maintenance and Engineering Division have received the Diamond Certificate of Excellence from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), an award that recognizes an organization’s commitment to aviation maintenance training and safety. This prestigious certificate is part of the FAA’s Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Awards Program, which encourages aviation maintenance technicians and their employers to participate in ongoing training and professional development. 

Horizon Air’s Maintenance and Engineering Division were also awarded their 20th Diamond Certificate of Excellence from the FAA in recognition of its training efforts in 2020 and achieved a 100% participation rate by its aircraft maintenance technicians in the AAMT awards program. 

The Maintenance and Engineering Division with Alaska Airlines utilizes that latest aircraft maintenance technology, giving each mechanic convenient access to the information that keeps us flying safely. Our Maintenance and Engineering Division has been recognized for: 

  • On-time performance 
  • Customer satisfaction 
  • Fuel efficiency and green initiatives 
  • Our maintenance training programs 
  • Our focus on veteran and military employment, proudly supporting veterans from all branches, including the U.S. Air Force and the Marine Corps 
  • One of Forbes Top 100 Employers 

The path to becoming an aviation maintenance technician is one of rigorous training, continuous learning, and unyielding commitment. Our technicians undergo extensive education and certification processes, ensuring they are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills. Their dedication to staying updated with advancements in aviation technology demonstrates their commitment to excellence. 

Click to enlarge our Line Maintenance Stations (above)

Become an Aircraft Technician with our Training Programs 

If you’re looking to launch into an aircraft technician job, our Maintenance Programs can get you started. Our portfolio of career programs will help your aviation maintenance career rise to the next level. Aspiring aircraft technicians who enroll in the Horizon Maintenance Technician Development Program will receive a stipend, mentorship and more!

Maintenance Careers

Alaska Airlines Hawaiʻi Community Advisory Board convenes first meetings

Alaska Airlines’ Hawaiʻi Community Advisory Board convened its first two meetings to provide important feedback and recommendations on Alaska’s operations in Hawaiʻi and the potential combination with Hawaiian Airlines. In March and May, the HICAB, which is made up of 16 diverse leaders from across the state, met on Oʻahu and Maui. Board members shared their valuable perspectives on the potential combined organization’s role in Hawaiʻi, what makes Hawaiian Airlines unique and special to the people of Hawaiʻi, and other local needs. Their work will help inform the dual-brand strategy, combined loyalty program, and other important efforts.

Click to enlarge
Members represent communities and voices from across the Hawaiian Islands

Alaska Airlines elevates its premium inflight retail menu with the return of Main Cabin hot meals  

Summary

Our newly expanded chef-curated menu is now available for purchase in Premium Class and Main Cabin

Alaska Airlines is elevating its premium onboard menu with the return of hot meals to our inflight retail menu in the Main Cabin. Fueled by our industry leading pre-order program, our inflight menu continues to offer more choices than any other U.S. airline.

Starting today, Premium Class and Main Cabin guests on most flights over 1,100 miles* will be able to choose from up to five chef-curated dishes, including at least one hot meal option. Along with our freshly prepared food offerings like our Signature Fruit & Cheese Platter, our hot meals are only available for pre-order purchase.

Over the last few months, our Food & Beverage teams have been working to elevate our already premium in-flight meals, including expanding our hot meal options on most medium- to long-haul flights.

We’re known for an inflight menu that is more thoughtfully curated with care. For a while now, our guests have often asked us if we’re ever going to bring back hot meals in the Main Cabin. It’s been difficult to keep it a secret – but for more than a year, our team has quietly worked behind the scenes taste testing the best hot food options with our culinary chef and creating a West Coast-inspired menu. Now no matter where they sit, guests will get to taste our world class food and beverages.”

– Todd Traynor-Corey

Managing Director of Guest Products at Alaska Airlines

Meet our chef

Chef Tony

Born and bred amidst the flavorful tapestry of London’s hotel restaurant scene, Chef Tony has collaborated with our LSG Sky Chefs locations around the world.

In the last couple of months Chef Tony has had the pleasure of working closely with Alaska Airlines. Through his culinary ingenuity and unwavering commitment, he continues to elevate the gastronomic experience for passengers worldwide, setting new standards of excellence in the skies.

 

Download press kit for images

It was important to the Alaska team to create a menu based on guest feedback. The creative process of selecting meals that made the most sense for the West Coast-based airline and then sourcing the freshest ingredients was a labor of love for all of us who were involved in developing this menu. This airline truly cares about creating a premium onboard experience and we hope everyone experiences that with every bite of their food.”

– Tony Wright

Chef

Our employees give an honest review 🍽️

Before today’s menu launch, our employees taste tested our new meal options and gave us their honest feedback.

 

“I love breakfast, so the Carnitas Breakfast Bowl was my favorite. It’s a classic pairing of slow roasted pork, eggs and potatoes, but with flavors that work well together to strike a delicious balance,” said Naomi S.G., flight attendant at Alaska Airlines.

“I’m from Hawaiʻi and once you said it was on KING’S HAWAIIAN® slider buns, I was sold! It’s definitely not your traditional burger – it has an elevated, well-rounded taste,” said Krystal. “Our guests are going to be really excited about this new menu. There’s something on it for everybody.”

Meet our chef

Carnitas Breakfast Bowl

📍Eastbound flights and to Hawaii (Breakfast departures)

Slow-roasted pull pork and salsa verde, with a side of breakfast potatoes and fresh scrambled eggs

 

Monte Cristo Breakfast Sandwich

📍Westbound flights and from Hawaii (Breakfast departures)

Smoked turkey breast, sliced ham & Swiss cheese served on a square croissant bun with cream cheese & raspberry jam

 

Panang Curry Chicken

📍Eastbound flights and to Hawaii (Lunch/Dinner departures)

Red coconut curry with grilled chicken breast and jasmine rice. Topped with edamame beans, sweet red peppers and onions

 

Pretzel Roll Sliders with Chips

📍Westbound flights and from Hawaii (Lunch/Dinner departures)

Two Angus beef patties on KING’S HAWAIIAN® Original Sweet Pretzel Slider Buns with caramelized onions and Swiss cheese. Served with kettle-style chips.

 

Available on Flights Starting this Fall

All our pre-order items range from $8 to $11.50. Guests who pay with their Alaska Visa Signature® or Visa® Business card will receive 20% back in the form of a statement credit.

Remember to use our first in the industry pre-order option to choose your meal and have it conveniently delivered to your seat on your next flight. Pre-orders are available through the Alaska mobile app or through alaskaair.com from two weeks to 20 hours prior to your flight.

Explore alaskaair.com

Alaska Airlines Onboard Menu

Download press kit for images

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We’re making our Anchorage Lounge bigger and better 

It’s time for us to spread our wings a bit more at our busiest Lounge. And do a makeover in the process. 

This month we began work to expand and renovate our Lounge at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. When it’s finished this summer, we’ll offer more than double the amount of seating—from 65 seats right now to 135 spots for our members and guests to take a load off and enjoy epic views of the tarmac and beyond. 

The expansion will add nearly 2,600 square feet of space that’ll be filled with a variety of comfy chairs and furniture including our popular Signature Loungers that will have prime views. Most seats will have easy access to outlets to keep devices powered and charged. We’re also adding a curated collection of artwork from artists who call the state of Alaska home. 

“This is just one of the many significant investments we have planned for our Lounge program across our network. When construction is wrapped up this summer, our members and guests will notice the benefits of additional space and seating right away, along with thoughtful touches and great service that Alaska is known for,” said Todd Traynor-Corey, managing director of guest products at Alaska Airlines.  

When construction is wrapped up this summer, the Anchorage Lounge will include additional space and seating, along with thoughtful touches and great service that Alaska is known. Pictured above: Our D Lounge in Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Expanding and upgrading our popular Lounge in Anchorage is an important piece of our Great Land Investment Plan which involves $60 million in projects throughout the state over the next few years,” said Marilyn Romano, regional vice president of Alaska for Alaska Airlines.  

Our Lounges are a place to refresh and recharge. We offer a complimentary selection of fresh, seasonal food items throughout the day for a quick bite to eat. For something to sip, we provide a wide array of beverages including hard-crafted espresso drinks and West Coast wines, brews and custom-crafted cocktails. 

Alaska Lounges

The  Alaska Lounge Membership Program offers two options for guests to choose from: a standard Alaska Lounge membership includes access to all our Lounge locations, and an Alaska Lounge+ membership includes access to all our Lounges plus more than 90 partner lounges around the world. Alaska operates nine Lounges at six airports: Anchorage; Los Angeles; New York JFK; Portland (two locations); San Francisco; and Seattle (three locations).   

Learn more

We offer a generous access policy. Lounge members are welcome to bring their immediate family members or up to two guests into the Lounge at no additional charge. Alaska MVP Gold, Gold 75K and Gold 100K members can enjoy Lounge access when they travel on a oneworld member airline to a destination outside of the U.S., Canada or Mexico.  

We also offer access to our Lounges for First Class guests that other airlines do not. Those guests traveling on a paid or award First Class ticket on long-haul and coast-to-coast flights have same-day access to our Lounges.  

Hey Canada! Alaska Airlines launches new nonstop service between Seattle and Toronto 

For the first time, we’re linking our home airport and Canada’s largest city; our guests can also connect on flights with Porter Airlines in Toronto, our newest global partner

Starting today, Alaska Airlines is flying our new daily, nonstop flight between our home airport in Seattle and Toronto Pearson International Airport – our newest destination and the sixth Canadian city we now serve. Tickets, with convenient departure and arrival times, are available for purchase at alaskaair.com.

Book flights to Toronto

In Toronto, guests can enjoy the city’s rich culture or catch a flight from Toronto Pearson with our 30th global airline partner, Porter Airlines, to destinations across Eastern Canada and beyond, including Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax and St. John’s. These Porter flights and others are available for one-way purchase at alaskaair.com with more booking options coming this summer.

“There are so many opportunities with our new service between our hometown airport and Toronto, from tremendous leisure travel options to connecting a pair of key business regions in North America,” said Kirsten Amrine, vice president of revenue management and network planning for Alaska Airlines. “Toronto has a lot to offer. And for our guests looking to venture into other areas of Eastern Canada, Porter Airlines can take them there with its signature onboard service.”

Toronto is the largest city in Canada along the shores of Lake Ontario. For visitors, the possibilities are endless with its bustling downtown and walkable neighborhoods, stunning parks, rich history and diverse restaurants and entertainment. 

“We are very excited to welcome Alaska Airlines to Toronto Pearson. Their service to Seattle will provide much-needed capacity to the market and enhance customer choice,” said Kurush Minocher, Executive Director, Customer Experience and Airline Relations, Greater Toronto Airports Authority. “Last year, over a third of passengers traveled between Toronto and Seattle, and we’re delighted to enable this service for thousands of passengers while simplifying travel to the West Coast, Alaska and Hawaii.”

Alaska continues to add international options for travelers out of SEA Airport, providing a wide array of unique, adventurous experiences,” said Lance Lyttle, SEA Airport Managing Director. “Ease of access throughout the continent brings Eastern Canada closer with more competition.”  

New Seattle-Toronto nonstop service

Times are local

Porter Airlines began new flights to Toronto from two of our West Coast hubs in January: Los Angeles and San Francisco. Those flights, along with flights connecting on Alaska throughout our West Coast network, can also be purchased at alaskaair.com. 

Across Canada, we also fly to Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna, Vancouver and Victoria. While Toronto is a brand-new destination for us from Seattle, this isn’t the first time we’ve flown to Eastern Canada from the West Coast. In the early 90s, we flew nonstop service between Los Angeles and Toronto.

Our guests can take advantage of a premium travel experience on their next Alaska flight. We are the West Coast’s premier airline offering our flyers the most legroom in First Class* and Premium Class; no change fees; multiple fare offerings; the most generous loyalty program with Mileage Plan with the fastest path to elite status; 30 global partners; and West Coast food and beverage on board. We’re also making it easier for our guests to buy tickets and earn Mileage Plan miles with our domestic and global partners directly at alaskair.com.

For inflight entertainment, our guests can enjoy hundreds of free movies and TV shows streamed to their devices. Our flights are also enabled with streaming-fast satellite Wi-Fi available for purchase and the option to pre-order from a range of fresh meal selections. Our mainline flights also offer power outlets at every seat to charge devices.

* Out of any U.S. airline excluding lie-flat seats   

Our statement on FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024

AS-logo-002

Alaska Airlines applauds the passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which will provide the FAA and the national airspace with long-term stability, critical staffing and infrastructure investments, essential safety enhancements, and more. We commend the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Senate Commerce Committees for their important work.

You gotta pay the rent. Why not reward yourself? Use your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card to now earn triple Mileage Plan miles with Bilt Rewards 

Bilt Rewards members can now transfer points to Mileage Plan miles. Plus, now you can earn 3x miles when you pay rent via Bilt with your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card.

Paying your rent is just one of those must-do’s. But how about earning something valuable for that regular monthly expense? You can now use your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card to pay your rent through Bilt and earn three Mileage Plan miles for every dollar you spend, up to $50,000 a year. Miles can then be redeemed for free flights with Alaska or with our vast network of global airline partners at alaskaair.com.    

Special offer for Alaska Visa Signature® cardholders

In mid-March, Alaska announced our new partnership with Bilt Rewards.

How it works:  

When you join Bilt Rewards, you earn points for what you pay in rent and neighborhood spend. Bilt Rewards points can then be converted to Mileage Plan miles at a 1:1 ratio: Every 1,000 Bilt Rewards points equals 1,000 Mileage Plan miles.  

Now, you can link your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card to pay your rent using Bilt and earn triple miles instead of Bilt points, which will automatically be deposited to your Mileage Plan account. 

Learn more about BILT x Alaska Airlines
Learn more about Alaska’s Mileage Plan

This innovative new partnership with Bilt will enable our guests who rent to get even more value from their Alaska Visa Signature card and builds upon our industry-leading loyalty offering,” said Brett Catlin, vice president of loyalty, alliances and sales at Alaska Airlines. “Our guests can use their miles for travel on Alaska and our oneworld and additional global partners to 1,000+ destinations across the world.”  

“From the Northwestern tip of Alaska to the most southeastern point of Florida, at Bilt we want to continuously reward our members no matter where they live in the United States,” said Bilt Rewards CEO, Ankur Jain. “As one of the most loved brands in aviation, this first-of-its-kind partnership with Alaska Airlines not only broadens Bilt’s members’ ability to travel everywhere Alaska and its partners fly but also exemplifies our commitment to providing Americans with more valuable ways to earn and redeem rewards on their largest monthly expense, rent, and within their local neighborhood.” 

About Bilt Rewards

Bilt Rewards is the first program for consumers to earn rewards on rent and daily neighborhood spend while creating a path to homeownership.    

Through a partnership with the country’s largest owners including Greystar, Asset Living, AvalonBay, Equity Residential, Related Companies, GID, Starwood, Cushman & Wakefield, Bozzuto, Camden, Brookfield, Berkshire Residential, ZRS, Highmark, Beztak, Trammell Crow, PGIM and more. Bilt Rewards enables renters in more than three million units across the country to earn Bilt Points just by paying rent, while these owners benefit from resident loyalty, cost savings and a share of revenue. 

Bilt Rewards boasts one of the highest value rewards programs on the market today, including one-to-one point transfers to 12 loyalty programs allowing members to travel across over 100 major airlines and hotel partners. Members can also book travel through the Bilt Travel Portal powered by Expedia; book fitness classes at the country’s top boutique studios including SoulCycle, Solidcore, Rumble and Y7; shop limited-edition and exclusive collections of art and home decor through the Bilt Collection; shop on Amazon.com; or redeem Bilt Points for credits towards rent or even towards a down payment on a future home. 

Terms & Conditions

Terms, conditions and fees apply to earn miles with the card. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® cardholders must link their card to their Bilt account to receive this offer. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® cardholders who take advantage of this offer will be opted out of earning Bilt points when paying their rent through Bilt with their Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card and will earn Alaska miles instead.  

The Alaska Airlines credit card program is issued and administered by Bank of America, N.A. Visa and Visa Signature are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association and are used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A., Inc. 

This post was originally published on March 15, 2024 and updated to highlight the special credit card offer.

Alaska Airlines promotes Shane Jones to senior vice president of fleet, revenue products and real estate; Horizon Air names Nathan Engel as vice president of maintenance and engineering

The boards of directors of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air announced two leadership additions today, promoting two industry veterans into important roles at each of the airlines.

Both bring forward-thinking leadership and proven abilities to execute on complex initiatives that have a direct impact on strengthening Alaska Air Group’s safety and reliability, growing our operations and financial results, and giving guests a premium experience when they fly with us.

Alaska Airlines promotes 20-year industry veteran Shane Jones to senior vice president of fleet, revenue products and real estate

Alaska Airlines has promoted 20-year industry veteran Shane Jones to senior vice president of fleet, revenue products and real estate.

Shane Jones

Jones, who joined Alaska in 2018 as vice president of real estate and development, has managed the airline’s strategy and $3 billion investments in hub airports, focused on enabling growth, enhancing the guest experience at airports, and ensuring safe, reliable and efficient operations.

Additionally, he leads the business strategy for growing ancillary revenues and guest choices through new revenue products and business partnerships.

In this expanded role, Jones also will lead the development and planning of mainline and regional aircraft and overall fleet strategy, including working with aircraft manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers, and lessors on safety and quality assurance, opportunities to improve sustainability through aircraft design and management, optimizing delivery schedules and financing.

“With the addition of fleet strategy, Shane’s new role connects our Commercial growth strategy across our hub and airport investments to the critical investments we are making in our aircraft over time,” said Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci. “At the heart of this work is the customer experience, whether it be on board our future aircraft, in our lobbies or gates, or through the new products and partnerships his team is developing.”

Jones will report to Alaska’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Harrison, with a dotted line reporting relationship to Executive Vice President of Finance and CFO Shane Tackett.

Prior to joining Alaska, Jones spent 13 years at Delta Air Lines, where he served as vice president of corporate real estate and airport development, responsible for Delta’s global airport and real estate assets. He also served as manager of capital markets, where he worked on restructuring and renegotiating Delta’s aircraft leases.

Horizon Air names 36-year industry veteran Nathan Engel as vice president of maintenance & engineering

Horizon Air named 36-year industry veteran Nathan Engel as vice president of maintenance and  engineering, overseeing a critically important function of the airline’s focus on safety and reliability.

Nathan Engel

In this role, he will manage the long-term strategy and financial performance of Horizon’s maintenance & engineering workgroup, leading a team of over 300 industry professionals who are deeply committed to the airline’s culture of safety. Among his responsibilities are line maintenance operations, airframe/component/engine maintenance, quality assurance, maintenance planning, engineering and reliability, fleet projects, and stores and distribution.

Engel steps into this role from a multi-decade career in maintenance and engineering leadership, with deep experience at Alaska and Horizon and broader experience from other companies.

“Nathan’s extensive background and expertise in commercial aviation maintenance and relentless focus on maintenance’s critical role in ensuring safety and reliability will be pivotal in this role,” said Horizon Air President Jason Berry. “In addition, he is a people leader, focused on driving performance and collaboration, which makes him a valued addition to our Horizon Air leadership team.”

Previously, Engel served as managing director of maintenance and operations at both Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, responsible for strategic and operational leadership for line, heavy, and on-call maintenance, maintenance control, and quality control. He also worked for Amazon and most recently for Hawaiian Airlines as senior manager of maintenance in Seattle.

He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Honoring those who serve: Alaska Airlines salutes members of the U.S. military & their families

At Alaska, we are so very grateful for the service of active duty military and veterans and appreciate the personal sacrifices they and their families make for us all. We take seriously our responsibility to care for our military guests, and we prioritize it with every flight.  

Here are some of the ways we show our care—from booking to landing and everything in between. 

Special military fares 

We offer special military fares to active duty military and their dependents in some markets. These fares apply to service members traveling on an official excused absence, and those discharged from active duty military service in any one of the US military agencies.

Learn more 

Priority boarding 

When it’s time to fly, listen closely to the announcements at the gate. Our gate agent will offer active members of the military the opportunity to board the flight early. Stow your bags before most guests and settle into your seat to relax.

Our Boarding Process 

Check 5 bags for free 

For active duty US military personnel, and military dependents with travel orders, we’ll check your first 5 bags for free.

Learn more

Save on inflight purchases 

Members of the military and their families get a 15% discount on food purchased during a flight with us. Just show your military ID to our flight attendant, and then prepare to snack.

Browse our inflight food menu 

Lounge access 

Alaska Lounge Day Passes are complimentary for U.S. military personnel traveling on official government-sponsored travel booked through SATO and ticketed to fly on an Alaska flight departing within 3 hours. All other active duty military personnel with a valid Military ID, traveling on a paid or award ticket, may purchase a day pass at the discounted rate of $30 when traveling on Alaska. Available in all Alaska Lounge locations, subject to space availability. A valid Military ID must be presented.

Learn about day passes 

Receive a WeSalute discount 

We offer a discount on our flights for members of WeSalute. If you’re already a member, sign into your WeSalute to redeem your discount. If you’re not yet a member, enroll today to start saving on Alaska Airlines flights. 

Learn more

Fly with four-legged friends 

Trained service animals travel for free with proper documentation. Plus, we offer active military members and their dependents a pet shipping discount on Alaska Air Cargo.

Learn more.  

We’ve got your back. 

No matter what direction life takes you after your service, we’ll continue looking for ways to support you and your families, and to show you that we’re grateful for all you’ve done. 

Thank you, heroes. 

We are fortunate to work with the Honor Flight Network to provide complimentary travel and reduced fares for veterans on specially planned tours of Washington D.C., to honor them for their military service. Since 2012, we have flown nearly 5,000 veterans to the D.C. Area on over 100 Honor Flights. 

Alaska Airlines aircraft technicians created and implemented the “Fallen Soldier Program” in 2011. This process ensures that military protocols are followed when handling the remains of fallen service members being flown to their final resting place on Alaska Airlines. Watch video 

Honoring the fallen and their families. 

The conversations and dedication of a thoughtful group of employees was the catalyst for the creation of the Alaska Airlines Fallen Soldier program, which allows us to pay proper tribute to soldiers on the way home to their final resting places. Learn more about the program 

In partnership with Boeing, we are proud to unveil our specially designed “Honoring Those Who Serve” aircraft, , which pays tribute to U.S. military members, veterans, fallen soldiers and their families. The design features a new patriotic paint scheme with symbolic imagery representing all six branches of the US Armed Forces: Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force. See all our commemorative aircraft. 

Our largest (& hardest) tributes to service members. 

Between Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, our combined fleet has four special aircraft to honor those who serve. The designs—adorned on two Alaska Boeing aircraft and a Horizon E175—feature an Alaska Airlines Salutes medallion and a fallen soldier badge, with the Battlefield Cross to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The planes also feature rings surrounding the engines, representative of the branches of the United States military, and American flag winglets. Our fallen hero carts now include the six branches of the military—The Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard—and our aircraft will reflect that in the future.  

Donating miles goes a long way. 

We’ve made it simple for our guests to donate extra Mileage Plan miles to the Hero Miles program, to help injured service members and their families to stay connected during treatment.  

The Honor Flight Network’s Lone Eagle Program is our newest member of our CARE Miles program, ensuring that all veterans, regardless of their geographic location in the U.S., are able to participate in an Honor Flight trip.  The Lone Eagle Hub honors veterans of all service eras, but gives priority to those who served during WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam Era and the time periods between these conflicts. Since 2008, Alaska Airlines has donated more than 90 million hero miles to support these initiatives. Donate miles 

Pilots, aircraft technicians, flight attendants – employees throughout Alaska and Horizon – balance full-time work schedules with service in the military reserves and National Guard. Read full story: Balancing work and duty: Stories from those at Alaska who serve in the military reserves 

Thinking about your next career? 

We’d love to help you join our team. Alaska has a long history of recruiting military talent. We work with groups like Camo2Commerce to learn how to help service members and their spouses use their military training and experience in civilian positions.  

Our Business Resource Group—Military, Veterans and Allies (MVA)—supports current and future military and veteran employees with career development, promotes education and awareness, and provides networking opportunities. Explore the possibilities 

It’s our pleasure. 

We are honored that employee-led efforts like those above, along with tributes from individual employees and our company’s work, have been recognized with the Employer Support Freedom Award from the Department of Defense. Serving and supporting service members and veterans is a privilege, and we are committed to continuing our efforts in any way we can. 

Thank you, again to all service members, past and present. 

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