Alaska Airlines is committed to fostering a safe and welcoming environment where all employees and guests feel respected and valued. Alaska Airlines is a long-time national corporate partner of the Human Rights Campaign and Lambda Legal, and a sponsor of numerous events where our employees can display their LGBTQ+ pride and allyship. We are proud of the uniform and grooming policies we rolled out in 2022 in an effort to be inclusive of gender, gender identity and gender expression. We evolved these policies further after receiving a complaint from the Washington State Human Rights Commission, based on input from the Commission, the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Washington, and Seattle-based flight attendant Justin Wetherell. Alaska is dedicated to creating an environment where all feel welcome and safe bringing their full selves on a flight and to work.
Alaska Airlines launches partnership with STARLUX Airlines
Our newest global partner now flies between Los Angeles and Taipei with connections to16 destinations across Asia; Mileage Plan members can earn miles on all STARLUX flights
With more of us looking to travel internationally this year, Alaska Airlines is celebrating our newest global airline partner: STARLUX Airlines, a Taipei-based premium carrier, which today launched its inaugural transpacific service between Taipei and Los Angeles. Alaska is STARLUX’s first airline partner.
Our Mileage Plan members can now earn miles on all STARLUX flights, and soon they’ll be able to redeem miles on STARLUX. When redemptions become available this summer on STARLUX flights between Los Angeles and Taipei, they will start at 20,000 miles for economy, 40,000 for premium economy and 60,000 for business class for a limited time.
From Southern California, STARLUX opens a new international gateway through its main hub in Taipei for connections to 16 destinations across Asia, including Bangkok, Thailand; Hanoi, Vietnam; Penang, Malaysia; Manila, Philippines; Singapore; Macau and Sapporo, Japan. Los Angeles (LAX) is one of Alaska’s hubs along the West Coast allowing for convenient connectivity to STARLUX flights for our guests.
STARLUX is a premier global airline offering world-class service and amenities. We’re proud to be their first airline partner,” said Nat Pieper, senior vice president of fleet, finance and alliances at Alaska Airlines. “Our guests will love flying on STARLUX, connecting the West Coast, Taipei and many more incredible places in Asia. We’re thrilled to offer our loyal Mileage Plan members another exciting way to see the world.”
“STARLUX Airlines has marked a successful three-year operation of our Asian routes, revolutionizing the aviation industry with our exceptional service and innovative cabin design that have been highly commended by passengers. In a new milestone, we launched our inaugural flight to Los Angeles today, offering convenient and comfortable long-haul premier services to passengers traveling to the city of angels,” said Glenn Chai, CEO of STARLUX Airlines.
Chai added: “Alaska Airlines, the fifth largest airline in the United States with a wide network covering over 100 cities across the country, is partnering with STARLUX Airlines to deliver more exquisite and convenient flights for travelers journeying between North America and Asia. The partnership will enable seamless connections for STARLUX Airlines customers traveling to destinations across the U.S., making it easier and more convenient to navigate the country’s extensive domestic air network. With this partnership, we are committed to ensuring that travelers enjoy a hassle-free journey and arrive at their final destinations feeling relaxed and refreshed.”
STARLUX operates the transpacific route with its new-generation Airbus A350-900 aircraft configured in a four-class layout: First, business, premium economy and economy.
Travelers in first and business classes enjoy a private space with a sliding door and seats with full-flat and Zero G mode for full relaxation. The extra-legroom premium economy section features a 40-inch Recaro seat with a leg rest and footrest bar.
Economy class seats are equipped with leather headrests and a wide seat pitch.
Inflight service on STARLUX includes Taiwanese signature dishes and amenities prepared for passengers in all classes. STARLUX will be offering first and business guests a selection of the best top chef’s creations and local Taiwanese delicacies. The popular STARLUX signature dish yakiniku donburi is served on board. And to bring greater individuality to their air travel experience, all passengers can pre-order meals online so they can enjoy the meal they want.
43 students fly to HBCUs with Alaska Airlines, taking “Our Commitment” to new heights with UNCF
Two years after unveiling Our Commitment aircraft, which supports equity and education and features 14 children, grandchildren and mentees of Alaska Airlines’ employees, we boarded 43 high school juniors from Seattle and Portland school districts onto the special plane to tour five historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in Atlanta.
In collaboration with UNCF – an Alaska partner for more than 17 years – students from the Pacific Northwest spent the week learning about the history and significance of HBCUs and how these institutions provide a unique college experience for Black students that enables them to thrive. The students spoke to campus leaders, administrators and current college students and soaked up information about applying for admission and scholarships.
But don’t take our word for it, hear from some of the students about what this trip meant for them:
This trip was an eye opener. Just seeing so many Black people or people who looked like me made me feel welcomed. It also reminded me to step up my game when it comes to academics.
– Janya
Living in the Northwest, we don’t have any HBCUs. Traveling to a city with multiple HBCUs really helped me get a grasp on what the college experience is like. A moment that stood out was going to lunch at the Morehouse cafeteria because you get to see the students in their natural habitat and see what real college life is like.
– Joshua
This trip gave me an opportunity to explore and see what I am actually looking for and to see what my ‘yeahs’ and ‘nos’ are in a future college I want to attend. A moment that really stood out to me was the panel with Spelman students. One sister said, ‘you come in as a girl and leave as a woman.’ That stood out to me because I want to go to a school that helps me grow and succeed in life and come out a better person than when I went in.
– Cymone
I learned to keep going. I learned to set goals. I learned that whatever I put my mind to, I can accomplish. Even though I already had that mindset, hearing others’ stories and the history of the schools inspired me. This trip gave me the opportunity to step into my future a little bit.
– Nyilah
I’m looking most forward to seeing the acceptances I get. A lot of the schools were very welcoming and encouraging to apply, and I really want to see how many of those schools I can get into.
– Brooklyn
It meant so much I can’t even explain fully. It really made me focus on what I need out of a college, and I was able to find out what I could be flexible not having.
– Marian
To me this trip meant an opportunity to explore and understand HBCUs, which not a lot of people get to experience coming from the Northwest. It meant getting a head start preparing for college and life after high school. It meant gaining new knowledge so that I can bring it back to my Black peers at school.
– Amariyanna
Man, this trip meant everything and more to me. I’m so grateful to able to be on this trip. I loved being around people who welcomed me like I was a part of their family. I will most definitely be attending an HBCU!
– Azariyah
Support UNCF
Inspired by these students? Mileage Plan members can donate miles to important causes including UNCF, which uses the miles to fly students back and forth to HBCUs.
Productivity improves 6% and pilot training throughput doubles over prior year; Anticipate double-digit adjusted pre-tax margin in second quarter; Reiterated full-year adjusted pre-tax margin guidance of 9% to 12%
Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK) today reported financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2023, and provided outlook for the second quarter ending June 30, 2023.
This quarter we returned to pre-pandemic levels of flying and our roadmap to profitable growth is on track,” said Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci. “As we progress through the year, we have taken deliberate steps to build momentum and we are well prepared for peak summer flying. Thank you to our 23,000 employees who are the backbone of our success – I’m proud of their work to deliver operational excellence and show care for the people who fly with us each day. We are well-positioned to deliver on our full-year financial targets, including a 9% to 12% adjusted pretax margin.”
Financial Highlights:
Reported net loss for the first quarter of 2023 under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) of $142 million, or $1.11 per share, compared to a net loss of $143 million, or $1.14 per share, for the first quarter of 2022.
Reported net loss for the first quarter of 2023, excluding special items and mark-to-market fuel hedge accounting adjustments, of $79 million, or $0.62 per share, compared to a net loss, excluding special items and mark-to-market fuel hedge accounting adjustments, of $167 million, or $1.33 per share, for the first quarter of 2022.
Resumed the share repurchase program, purchasing a total of 413,554 shares of common stock for approximately $18 million in the first quarter. The company continues to expect share repurchases of at least $100 million in 2023.
Held $2.4 billion in unrestricted cash and marketable securities as of March 31, 2023.
Ended the quarter with a debt-to-capitalization ratio of 48%, within the target range of 40% to 50%.
Operational Updates:
Ratified a two-year contract extension with more than 2,300 McGee Air Services employees represented by the IAM.
Received six 737-9 aircraft during the quarter, bringing the 737-9 fleet count to 43.
Activated new benefits for Alaska Visa Signature® cardholders, including priority boarding, lounge membership discounts, new ways to earn bonus miles and other perks. New benefits and program changes drove cash remuneration under the co-brand credit card agreement up 17% on a year-over-year basis.
Announced plans to elevate guests’ regional flying experience with streaming-fast satellite Wi-Fi on E175 regional jets.
Announced three new daily nonstop flights from San Diego to Washington, D.C., Tampa and Eugene, beginning service later in 2023.
Doubled pilot training throughput compared to the same period in 2022, aided by a 75% increase in qualified flight instructors and an investment in two 737 full-flight simulators. Three additional 737 full-flight simulator deliveries are expected later this year.
Began lobby transformation projects to provide guests a more seamless travel experience; expect to roll out new bag tag stations and bag drop technology in key airports throughout 2023 and 2024.
Created a virtual reality 737 flight deck, in partnership with VRPilot, to better prepare pilots for their training experience.
Environmental, Social and Governance Updates:
Announced an agreement with Shell Aviation to advance sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technology and infrastructure throughout the West Coast; Shell Aviation will also supply Alaska with up to 10 million gallons of SAF in Los Angeles.
Launched a partnership with the Surfrider Foundation, an organization focused on protecting coastal habitats and reducing waste across the West Coast and throughout the Hawaiian Islands.
Awards and Recognition:
Alaska’s Mileage Plan named Best Airline Rewards Program by NerdWallet for its customer-friendly policies, rewards and fee structures.
Alaska and Horizon earned the Diamond Award of Excellence from the Federal Aviation Administration, recognizing the airlines’ aircraft technicians for their dedication to training.
Tune in:
A conference call regarding the first quarter results will be streamed online at 8:30 a.m. PDT on April 20, 2023. It can be accessed at www.alaskaair.com/investors. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available after the conclusion of the call.
Full earnings financial data:
Statistical data, reconciliations of the reported non-GAAP financial measures, further details regarding results and a glossary of financial terms can be found in our Earnings Release as filed with the SEC.
New technology is coming that will have you flying through the lobby in no time
We’ve all been there—you’re packed and ready for your trip, the excitement is building, and you arrive at the airport only to find long lines that kill your vibe. All you want to do is get through security and stop by a favorite restaurant or grab that precious pre-flight beverage.
Thankfully, this dreaded experience will soon become a thing of the past. Why? Because we’ve reimagined a more seamless travel experience, and it’s coming to an airport near you. Over the next three years, we’re investing $2.5 billion in overall improvements to enhance the airport experience within our hubs and focus cities including Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Anchorage.
We’re working on getting you through the lobby and to security in 5 minutes or less—meaning fewer lines and more time for that pre-trip snack. Much like mobile technology widely used to access sporting events and concerts, your phone is all you need to fly through the lobby.
A sneak peek at what the future lobby will look like at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Getting travel ready
The first step starts at home (or work or while you’re waiting in the school pick-up line) on the Alaska Airlines app. Guests are encouraged to check-in and secure a boarding pass before coming to the airport. Getting travel ready before coming to the airport provides peace of mind and allows you to plan your day of travel better. The Alaska Airlines app is the perfect pre-trip tool, but guests can also check-in on a desktop and send a boarding pass to their phone or print one at home.
Bonus! In addition to the time saved by our guests, this change also helps reduce the amount of paper we use—an important step toward our sustainability goals.
Tagging your bag
New bag tag stations will replace dated kiosks in lobbies where you’ll pay for and tag checked bags using iPad tablets. Because you’ve completed all other actions before arriving at the airport, it’ll only take a few quick steps. Airports have already begun changing to the new tablets and guests are adapting—with 3 out of 4 guests arriving with a boarding pass in hand to airports with the new technology. Most airports will transition to the new bag tag stations by the end of 2023.
Dropping your bags off
Beginning in spring 2024, the lobbies in our hub airports will be getting innovative technology that will allow you to drop your bags off with just a few quick scans. Popular in many international airports, we can’t wait for you to try it in Alaska’s hubs. The machine will scan your face, government-issued I.D., and bags. From there, it will take your bag(s) on a belt to be loaded onto the aircraft. The process takes less than a couple minutes and will have you on your way to security.
“As we thought about how to provide the most caring experience for our guests, it was clear the lobby was a pain point. We realized the majority of our guests were doing most of the kiosk actions on their own phones and we could reduce the congestion in our airports. Alaska was the first airline to introduce kiosks more than 20 years ago, and we’ll be the first airline to remove them. We’re looking forward to offering the new full guest experience next summer.”
– Charu Jain, Alaska Airlines senior vice president of innovation and merchandising
Need extra help?
While we know the vast majority of Americans own a smartphone, some guests may need extra assistance at the airport. For those guests, we will always have customer service agents available. We have heard from many guests that the best way we can care for them is by offering self-service options. This transformation gives you the choice between getting through the lobby quickly or receiving personalized help.
We can’t wait to welcome you into our new lobby experience soon!
Middle schoolers travel thousands of miles for weeklong giveback in Hawai‘i, discover the Aloha spirit
As Maritza Contreras jumped into the crystal-blue waters of the Pacific Ocean to snorkel for the very first time – long-forgotten was the anxiety she felt just five days prior when she was back home in Oakland, California.
“I was sad, I cried because I was going to miss my mom,” Contreras said.
The eighth grader at West Oakland Middle School was set to embark on a trip filled with many firsts: her first time on a plane, the first time she was thousands of miles from home and the first time she’d traveled without her mother.
For many of the students, it was for their first time on a plane – and for all of them, their first time in Hawaii. Flight attendants on their flight gave the Travel Academy group a special welcome just after take-off.
“My mom told me to have fun because it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, she was proud I was chosen to go,” said Contreras.
The 14-year-old was one of 12 West Oakland Middle School students who bid their parents farewell to go on a community giveback trip to the state of Hawai‘i last week at no cost to their families or school. As part of Alaska Airlines’ commitment to invest in youth and care for the communities we serve, we surprised the group with the seven-day trip to the Islands in partnership with STATE Bags. The family-focused bag brand’s co-founder, Scot Tatelman, co-created the program last year called Travel Academy when he took eight Brooklyn-based students on a transformational excursion throughout California.
“Anyone who has traveled can speak to that feeling. When you land somewhere new and experience all that place has to offer, it feels like your world has opened up just from having seen it,” Tatelman said.
“This partnership reflects both companies’ commitment to creating connections through travel and providing opportunities for young people to experience the world of aviation,” said Daniel Chun, Alaska’s Hawai‘i Director of Sales, Community & Public Relations. “For over 15 years, Alaska has had the privilege of flying our guests to one of the most beautiful and amazing places on the planet, with service to four Hawaiian Islands from seven West Coast cities. We are mindful of the impacts of travel and how important it is for both residents and visitors to mālama (to care for) this very special place so future generations are able to enjoy it.”
While the backdrop of this year’s trip was the natural beauty of Hawai‘i, the students’ mission every day was to learn about how to become mindful visitors of the Islands by giving back to communities on O‘ahu and Maui. Soon after their arrival, the group walked knee deep into a lo‘i (taro patch) to help harvest the root vegetable at Kualoa Ranch while learning its important role in the Hawaiian culture. They worked with the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute staff to rehabilitate a Hawaiian green sea turtle that had recently been injured out at sea. The group also learned about the importance and uses of native plants at Kipuka Olowalu, a Native Hawaiian cultural site on Maui.
Students at Kualoa Ranch, where they learned how to harvest kalo (taro), a root vegetable that plays an important role in Hawaii’s culture. They learned how to remove invasive plants in a lo’i (taro patch) at Kipuka Olowalu and learned the uses of native plants at the Hawaiian cultural site.
“I’ll never forget about the people, what I experienced and what I learned about with my friends while in a beautiful place,” said Maritza.
Maritza at Kualoa Ranch, where she and other students learned how to harvest kalo (taro), a root vegetable that plays an important role in Hawaii’s culture.
“It’s just beautiful, I love how the people of Hawai‘i respect their living space,” said 14-year-old Latanya Nolen. “There’s a lot more research I want to do to understand the culture here, it’s opened my eyes. I’m thankful to have this opportunity to experience something we’ve never done.”
“We created an itinerary that allowed the students to both give back to the community while immersing themselves in the history, culture and beauty of the Islands. Whether it’s through one of their volunteer activities or simply speaking to locals about how their home is impacted, if we’re not careful while we visit—the students have told me they’ll forever have a space in their hearts for Hawai‘i thanks to this gift of travel,” said Maria Cid, communications program manager for California.
We hope these students establish a meaningful connection with one of the most beautiful places on earth and share the message of mālama with their friends and family when they return home,” Chun said.
The message seemed to be sticking for one of the youngest in the group. Anaya Sarfraz, who celebrated her thirteenth birthday while on the trip, now has a newfound hope that tourists do more than sightseeing while in the Aloha state.
The students first visit at an Oahu beach was extra special. They learned about marine life etiquette, including how to have fun in the water while respecting the reef.
“If you visit, please learn about the history first, dig deeper than just visiting the beaches and you’ll find the beauty around you even more interesting,” Sarfraz said.
For seven days, the students woke up and immediately ate breakfast together; only separating as a group when it was time for bed.
For many, the peers among them were only faces they’d seen in passing at school or maybe connected briefly with in class. The students had applied for the Alaska Airlines and STATE Bags sponsored 2023 Travel Academy with an essay and were chosen by their principal based on their leadership skills. Now they were rooming with a classmate they’d likely never spoken a word to before heading to Hawai‘i, including Sarfraz. The seventh grader, however, quickly found her nerves dissipate.
“I started talking and learning more about each of them, it’s been a surprising experience getting to know each other, and now I can say everyone here has become like family to me,” she said.
Next month, the eighth graders of the group will graduate and prepare for high school, including Contreras who tried something new every day in Hawai‘i after setting aside her fears at the start of the week.
She can now say she took part in returning an endangered sea turtle to the ocean, learned how to protect marine life while snorkeling, flown on a plane and ziplined through a tropical forest.
All twelve students say they discovered the Aloha spirit through the people of Hawai‘i and will bring that back home with them to the Bay Area — and hopefully, wherever they travel to next.
I’ll never forget about the people, what I experienced and what I learned about with my friends while in a beautiful place,” Contreras said.
A Special Mahalo
Behind this incredible trip were some remarkable organizations and businesses who we are proud and grateful to partner with, including:
Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK), the parent company of Alaska Airlines Inc. and Horizon Air Industries Inc., will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss 2023 first quarter financial results at 11:30 a.m. EDT/ 8:30 a.m. PDT, Thursday, April 20, 2023. A webcast of the call will be available to the public at www.alaskaair.com/investors. An archive of the call will be posted on the website later that morning.
Alaska Airlines and the Surfrider Foundation partner to protect coastal habitats and reduce waste from single-use plastics
April is Earth Month, a time when we come together to care for the planet. Alaska is all about care and we’re on a journey to care for the environment around us, but we know we can’t achieve a greener future alone. That’s why we’re proud to announce a special partnership to help protect the ocean, waves and beaches in all the incredible places where we live and fly.
This month, Alaska and Surfrider will begin organizing a series of events to invite Alaska employees and members of our West Coast communities, including California, Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest, to clean up beaches through Surfrider’s extensive network of grassroots leaders and volunteers. We’ll also work together on ongoing cleanup and restoration projects and collaborate on education and advocacy to support the reduction of single-use plastics.
We’re committed to being part of a positive future for the role that our ocean and coasts play in our communities, which is why we’ve set goals for our company to reduce waste and have made significant progress in the last few years to reduce single-use plastic on our flights,” said Scott Coughlan, director of sustainability at Alaska Airlines. “The Surfrider team truly walks the talk, rolling up their sleeves to clean up beaches and other impacted areas. We are excited to share our passion for bringing people together, and for sustainability, to partner on this journey.”
We’re proud to be the first airline to eliminate plastic bottles, cups, straws, stir sticks and citrus picks from inflight service, annually reducing more than 2.2 million pounds of plastic waste.
We have set voluntary sustainability goals for reducing our environmental impact in carbon, waste, and water – including replacing the top five waste-producing items in onboard service by 2025 — and balancing our water footprint through habitat restoration projects. While we take steps to eliminate plastics, we also encourage our guests to join in reducing waste by bringing their own water bottles to #FillBeforeYouFly.
The Surfrider Foundation is proud to partner with Alaska Airlines, which has been a leader in reducing single-use plastics in air travel,” said Surfrider’s CEO Dr. Chad Nelsen. “Starting in 2018 with the elimination of straws, they are now encouraging their passengers to use reusables and #fillbeforeyoufly, while also eliminating plastics cups. We are excited to extend their commitment to reduce plastic pollution to coastal communities through cleanups and local education.”
Since 1984, the Surfrider Foundation has been working to protect and preserve the world’s ocean, waves and beaches for all people through a powerful activist network. It started as a group of surfers that came together to protect the beaches in Malibu, California and has grown into one of the largest coastal protection groups in the world.
Traveling like a pro with Alaska Airlines means maximizing your travel experience and planning ahead to make your trip as simple as possible. Here are some ways to do it:
Go digital.
Download and use the Alaska Airlines app to save time at the ticket counter. Store your reservations, check in and receive digital boarding passes, track your flight status, get notifications about your flight, change to earlier or later flights (if available), and so much more.
Pre-order your favorite meal.
You can conveniently pre-order freshly prepared meals ahead your flight through our mobile app or on alaskaair.com from 2 weeks to 20 hours prior to your flight. See what’s currently on the menu (vegan and gluten-free options are also available for pre-order!)
Note: if you change your flights, your meal choices won’t transfer to your new flight. You’ll need to pre-order meals under your new reservation.
Become an Alaska Mileage Plan Member (it’s free).
If you’re a pro, you’re probably a Mileage Plan member 😉 but if not, here are some reasons to sign up today:
• Earn one mile for every mile flown on Alaska, even on the lowest fare.
• Earn 30% more miles on average than other airlines.
• Earn miles on oneworld® Alliance member airlines and our Global Partners, experience award travel, and gain MVP® elite status sooner than you think.
• Earn when you shop, dine, rent a car, stay in a hotel, and more.
MVP is Alaska’s elite status. Earn miles faster with no minimum spending requirements, and enjoy benefits like two free checked bags, priority boarding, and preferred seating when flying with Alaska.
Pack smart.
Smart packing saves time and money. Before you pack, make sure your bag’s ready to fly and meets our size and weight restrictions.
Know the carry-on limit.
You are allowed one carry-on bag that measures up to 22″ x 14″ x 9″ including wheels and handles, plus one smaller personal item. Anything additional or larger must be checked. Read our specific guidelines for carry-on baggage and our checked baggage policy for more information.
Know what items are a no-go.
As you pack, reference the prohibited and restricted items checklist, and make sure you know what’s in your suitcase. Be especially aware of restrictions regarding lithium ion batteries, and devices that use them – including smart bags/self-propelled luggage.
Fill before you fly.
Pros know TSA only allows you to carry one quart-sized bag of liquids—aerosols, gels, creams and pastes—that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item through security. If you have additional or larger liquids, you’ll need to check them.
Did you know for every guest who brings a prefilled water bottle on an Alaska flight and posts it to social media with the hashtag #FillBeforeYouFly a tree is planted thanks to the Bonneville Environmental Foundation?
Know when to arrive at the airport.
Pros know to give yourself plenty of time to get to and through the airport. From parking to checking bags and getting through security, it’s best to build in more time than not enough, especially during peak travel times.
Join a trusted traveler program Travel pros know, membership in programs like TSA Pre-Check®, Global Entry, Nexus or SENTRI allow you access to the faster security screening lanes at participating airports, where you don’t have to remove your shoes, belts, or light jackets, and your 3-1-1 liquids bag and laptop can stay in your carry-on.
While some take some time to obtain, CLEAR is same-day sign up as well as spot saver programs like SEA Spot Saver, a reservation program in Seattle that helps you get through the security process quicker. Similar spot saver programs are also in Calgary, Charleston, Newark, Orlando and Phoenix.
Retreat in a Lounge.
Experience an unparalleled airport experience in our Lounges where you can retreat to a quiet space to relax and recharge, or get a little work done between flights.
Lounge membership benefits include:
Access to 9 Alaska Lounges
Access to 90+ partner lounges in addition to all Alaska Lounges
Access for yourself and up to two guests or immediate family when traveling together using any airline boarding pass*
Fresh and local complimentary food all day long
Local draft beer, West Coast wines, and house spirits
Espresso and loose-leaf tea handcrafted by an Alaska Lounge Barista
Traveling with kids or letting your kids travel alone can be an adventure. Keep the adventure fun for both you and your child traveler by carefully review our policies and recommendations for traveling with infants and children.
We will transport your child’s car seat and stroller free of charge as checked baggage. You can check these items with your other baggage, or wait until you reach the gate area.
Fly your pets.
Because we understand that they’re not just a pet, they’re family. Our pet travel program offers options for transporting your pet safely with top-notch care from just $100 each way.
Check Alaska Airlines pet travel policies well in advance of your pet’s trip to find out about health certificate and kennel requirements, breed-restrictions, and any limitations on travel to your destination.
Request accessible services if needed.
Many of our accessible services can be requested online when booking or managing your reservation. Our dedicated accessible services line is also available at 1-800-503-0101 (dial 711 for relay services).
Plan to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure when requesting accessible services and let us know about your requirements at each point of contact. If you’re traveling with a service animal, let us know ahead of time as documentation must be completed and processed at least 48 hours before your flight.
Fly For All App
Fly for All - our free mobile app is designed for those with cognitive and developmental disabilities, first-time flyers, and unaccompanied minors, available now on the App Store and Google Play.
Chat or text us with your questions.
Our employees work every day to care for all our guests. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Pros know we’re available through text at 82008 or chat in addition to our Customer Care team at 1 (800) 252-7522.
Alaska Airlines announces agreement with Shell Aviation to help expand sustainable aviation fuel market in Pacific Northwest
New collaboration will advance development in the sustainable aviation fuel market and long-term jet fuel supply
Today, Alaska Airlines announced an agreement with Shell Aviation to expand the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market beyond a standard fuel supply agreement. The innovative cross-industry collaboration brings together a world-class fuel supply chain and the fifth-largest domestic carrier to procure and use sustainable fuel, while working together to define and tackle what it will take to advance SAF technology, development, infrastructure and investment.
Alaska Airlines has set our course to net zero by 2040 and sustainable aviation fuels represent the greatest near-term opportunity to make a step-level change on that journey,” said Diana Birkett Rakow, senior vice president for public affairs and sustainability at Alaska. “That’s why we’ve pioneered SAF technologies for more than a decade. But we can’t scale the market alone. We’re excited to take this next step in the journey with Shell, to leverage their deep knowledge of the energy industry, its infrastructure requirements and supply chain to make lower lifecycle carbon SAF more widely available for the future.”
Details of the agreement include commitments to deepen understanding of the technology, infrastructure, carbon accounting systems and public policy support needed to bring SAF to more markets, in greater quantities and at a more sustainable long-term cost. The companies will put particular focus on enabling supply to the West Coast and alleviating fueling infrastructure challenges in the Pacific Northwest. Shell Aviation will also supply up to 10 million gallons of neat SAF to AlaskaAirlines at their hub in Los Angeles.
“We’re excited to expand our strong relationship with Alaska and amplify our efforts to help decarbonize aviation through SAF supply on the West Coast and in the Pacific Northwest,” said Jan Toschka, president of Shell Aviation. “We need support from the entire ecosystem to build a sustainable future for aviation. This deep level of collaboration will help us put the technologies and supply chain in place to advance the industry.”
Both Alaska Airlines and Shell Aviation share an ambition to help scale the SAF market by concurrently addressing cost and volume through multiple strategies to grow availability and commercial viability of SAF.
“With Shell’s world-class fuel supply chain and deep technical knowledge, we’re aiming to transform West Coast fuel supply,” said Ann Ardizzone, vice president of strategic sourcing and supply chain management at Alaska Airlines. “By leveraging the fuel infrastructure expertise of a major fuel producer, we can advance SAF access in more markets, accelerating the market scale of SAF to reach our environmental goals.”
SAF is a safe, certified drop-in fuel that meets the jet fuel standards to reduce carbon emissions by as much as 80% of lifecycle emissions.
Sylvia N., a Portland-based flight attendant, has had a lot of conversations with guests in her nearly 30 years with Alaska Airlines, but one with a woman seated in 1A on a recent flight from Dallas to Portland, will be hard to forget.
During the flight, Sylvia had been chatting with the guest, who seemed genuinely interested in how she and her fellow flight attendants were doing.
“She wanted to know how it had been flying during the hardships of Covid and how they had all gotten through it,” she said. “So, I took some time to explain how it impacted us—as flight attendants and me personally—and we had a wonderful conversation.”
Shortly thereafter, the guest seated in 1A said she wanted to do something special to thank Sylvia and her co-workers. She asked Sylvia if she could pay for the entire plane’s food and drinks.
Sylvia got chills. The crew asked the guest if she really wanted to do that, which was followed by an immediate, “yes.”
That’s when we all (flight attendants) started to tear up,” Sylvia said. “It was an incredible act of kindness.”
“What Sylvia did to make a personal connection with this guest, and then for the whole crew using the Care Framework to make this happen, just warms my heart,” said Michaela Littman, MD of inflight operations. “Our flight attendants are truly remarkable.”
With such a unique request, the crew had to discuss logistics. They needed to find a solution to carry out this guest’s wishes, but everyone had already received their meals and drinks. The crew ended up going back through the cabin to refund each guest, charging it to the First Class guest, as requested.
Another First Class guest who witnessed the kind act, asked Sylvia for some paper. Later int he flight, the guest returned with handfuls of handwritten notes thanking the flight attendants.
Among the messages were notes that said:
“You impact so many lives with your service”
“Thanks for your cheerful, professional service.”
“You’ve made my day brighter when I needed it most.”
Upon landing, Sylvia thanked the two guests in First Class for their kindness. “To have one guest buy a plane-full of food and drinks for everyone was above and beyond, but then to have the handwritten notes was overwhelming in the best way possible,” she said.
Sylvia said this had happened only once before in her career – when a guest on a Las Vegas flight paid for everyone’s drinks.
“Each one of our guests has a story,” she said. “You just don’t know what compels people and why.”
A little kindness truly can change the world.”
– Flight Attendant Cheryl G., who was also part of the amazing flight experience.
Flight Attendants Cheryl G. and Sylvia N.
Alaska is investing in pilot technology to attract and retain world-class pilots
One day, our pilots are flying into remote communities above the Arctic Circle. The next, they’re flying into some of the busiest airports in the country. Our pilots must be able to handle any issue that might arise in flight – from blizzard conditions to congested air space – and we rely on rigorous pilot training standards to safely fly our guests across our network.
As we’re hiring hundreds of new pilots at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, we’re ensuring everyone is up for the task and meets our high standards. To help with this, we’ve invested in new technology to expand our training department.
Training in virtual reality
Alaska has been at the forefront of pilot innovation for decades. It’s who we are, and we’re constantly innovating to ensure our pilots receive cutting edge training.
Our latest innovation is a partnership with VRPilot, a Danish technology company. We’ve worked with them to virtually reconstruct our 737 flight deck as a training aid for pilots who are new to the aircraft. One of the first things pilots learn is the layout of the flight deck and the purpose of every switch and button. Offering new pilots an opportunity to put themselves “inside” the flight deck where they may need to crane their neck or lean to reach a switch is a much more realistic teaching tool than photographs in a book or video tutorials.
It’s like your alarm clock in the morning – you know exactly where the snooze button is,” said Alaska First Officer Scott Wathey, a newly hired pilot. “This technology helps the muscle memory to know exactly where that switch is.”
Virtual reality will augment existing traditional training techniques where we expect it will result in better-prepared pilots, higher success rates through training and more time for complex instructor-led training activities. With this technology, pilots can familiarize themselves with the location of switches before they step into a simulator.
Horizon Air, Alaska’s wholly owned regional partner, will also soon be using the same technology with our regional pilots. This technology also provides an opportunity to use virtual reality in our other workgroups like maintenance and engineering, ground service and our flight attendants.
Largest simulator order to date
With so many pilots coming through training, we needed more flight simulators. In our largest simulator order ever, we’ve ordered 2 new fixed-base simulators and 3 new full motion simulators. These training devices are being installed throughout 2023 and all will be operational by the end of 2024. This will bring us to 18 fixed-base and full motion simulators. Horizon Air has ordered an additional simulator to train pilots on the now single fleet of Embraer E-175 aircraft. This will give Horizon two owned simulators and priority access to a third in Seattle.
Once our new pilots are familiar with the flight deck, they can move into a flight simulator. These range from fixed based to full motion. In addition to training new pilots, our simulators also get used by veteran pilots who are put through annual training to keep their skills fresh.
These significant investments in simulators and emerging virtual reality technology will continue our commitment to rigorous pilot training,” said Capt. Jeff Severns, managing director of pilot training. “The training our pilots receive is truly world class, and we’re proud of the work of our instructors and students every day.”
A great time to fly for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air
With significant investments Alaska and Horizon pilot contracts, unique flying opportunities and cutting-edge technology, there’s never been a better time to on our team.
If you haven’t yet started your pilot journey, consider applying for one of our pilot development programs.
