6 destinations for sun seekers & spring breakers

Spring break is just around the corner and, for most of us, you might be ready to lounge by the pool or enjoy some nightlife or a cozy knitted blanket with that book you’ve been meaning to read.

Your family might be looking for more structured bonding time with a guide, water activities and kid-friendly adventures, while single travelers and couples could be looking for culture and a little adventure. Whichever venture speaks to you, Alaska Airlines can get you there.

Here are six places to have fun in the sun:

SAN DIEGO

Photo by Ingrid Barrentine

Looking to spend long, lazy days in perfect year-round weather? Look no further than San Diego.

@its_juls hiking Ho Chi Minh Trail via instagram

The “finest” city, perched on the Pacific Ocean, is an ideal locale for tourists of all ages, culture seekers, beach bums and surfers alike. Its food and bar scenes are bursting with trendy eats and drinks, including some of the best Mexican cuisine north of Baja. It’s also one of the only places in the U.S. you can find desert, surf and snow all in a day.

@ibehoopin at La Jolla Beach via instagram

What to do: Legoland, the San Diego Zoo or SeaWorld, San Diego Seal Tours or an Old Town Trolley Tour.

Packing tip: San Diego has some unrivaled surf spots and charming beach towns. If you have a surfboard or some boogie boards — it’s only $30 to check sports equipment on Alaska Airlines.

Getting there: Fly Alaska Airlines nonstop to San Diego International Airport (SAN).

PHOENIX

Escape to the dry heat for serene desert gardens, art museums, natural wonders and more.

@sierraalysha at Sweeties Candy of Arizona via instagram

What to do: Camelback Mountain, Papago Park, Phoenix Zoo, Desert Botanical Garden, Grand Canyon Day Tour.

Get a sweet selfie: Sweeties Candy of Arizona in Chandler has endless aisles of candy you can enjoy & capture for the gram. From nostalgic treats to today’s sweets, this 13,000-square-foot shop has your sweet tooth covered.

Bring the pup: Spoil your fur baby at pet-friendly places in Phoenix, including, Gilbert’s 17-acre Cosmo Dog Park, with agility structures and a swimming lake with a dock.

Pro-tip: Shake out your shoes. Arizona has a ton of little critters that love to bite and sting, like the scorpion. But don’t let that stop you from fun in the sun just be sure to check your shoes!

Getting there: Fly Alaska Airlines nonstop to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

HAWAII

Photo by Ingrid Barrentine

If you seek adventure, the islands of Hawaii are perfect for you. From the volcanoes to the sea and everything in between, there’s something for everyone!

@guamjuan at Hanauma Bay, Oahu via instagram

Where to stay: Resorts like the Kauai Beach Resort in Lihue offer great rates, with waterfront views, earth tone decor and white crisp sheets ready for you to fall into vacation-mode. Also, if you have a drone, the view above the pool is a must-see!

Looking for a charming, romantic, instagrammable hotel to stay? Paia Inn, located on Maui just steps away from the stunning North Shore, is worth it. From its thoughtful aesthetic touches, decadent food & service to all the sprays and necessities one needs to wash the worries away in the onsite shop.

Fly home gold: You can bring home a box of pineapples for FREE on Alaska Airlines. But leave the lava rocks where you found them. Trust us on this one.

Getting there: Alaska Airlines offers daily service to Maui (OGG), Lihue/Kauai, Oahu/Honolulu and Hawaii Island (Kona).

CABO SAN LUCAS

Soak up the sun in Cabo San Lucas—part of Los Cabos, right on the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico.

@ericbeckstead@thefreecollective Mount Solmar via instagram

The beaches are pristine, the weather is hot and spring break draws many partygoers, families and jet setters.

What to do: Snorkel with tropical fish, try your hand at deep-sea fishing, eat delicious seafood or take a guided camel tour. Dive Cabo also offers whale shark swimming – with the world’s biggest fish – a sighting happens nearly 100 percent of the time from September through May.

@weekdayadventurers at Mount Solmar via instagram

Did you even go to Cabo if you didn’t take a picture with El Arco? The Arch of Cabo San Lucas is a beautiful rock formation that can be seen by boat from the water – keep an eye out for sea lions at its base. Two beaches also lie nearby called Lovers’ Beach and Divorce Beach – take your pick!

Take a hike: See where the desert and the ocean meet at the top of Mount Solmar – time it at sunset & you won’t be disappointed.

Getting there: Alaska Airlines has direct flights to Cabo San Lucas (SJD). We also fly to Cancun, Loreto, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Mazatlán, Guadalajara,  and Ixtapa-Zihuataneho.

PALM SPRINGS

Photo by Ingrid Barrentine

Pack up your inflatable swan and head to southern California for the best pools, stylish hotels, golf courses and more.

@andreabochoa visiting the Cabazon Dinosaurs via instagram

What to do: Admire midcentury modern homes, explore a national park where all trees are named Joshua, take a mountaintop tram ride, shop at vintage boutiques, interior design shops and restaurants.

Coachella (other than the music festival): Coachella Valley offers hiking, biking and horseback riding trails. Take a classic canyon-hugging gondola ride that showcases the entirety of the Coachella Valley below.

@actuallyflorence at Tahquitz Canyon Waterfall via instagram

A waterfall in the middle of the desert: It’s true. See for yourself, on a two-mile loop to a 50-foot waterfall tucked into Tahquitz Canyon. The falls require a $12.50 admission fee, which goes toward keeping the trail looking nice, as its part of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians reservation. Guided hikes are also available.

Have a T-riffic time with dinosaurs: Stand next to a 100-ton Brontosaurus and T. Rex sculpture that guard the entrance to a Creationist-themed dino museum and check out the gift shop inside the belly of “Dinny” the Dinosaur.

How to get there: Alaska Airlines flies Palm Springs International Airport (PSP). Up for a drive? You can also fly into Ontario (it’s about an hour & some change from Palm Springs).

SAN FRANCISCO

From walking along the renowned Golden Gate Bridge to spotting sea lions at Pier 39, San Francisco is a city full of amazing places to visit and tons of cool things to do.

@gino_de_grandis_ at
Magowan’s Mirror Maze via instagram

What to do: Lose yourself in Magowan’s Mirror Maze, take in the fresh air of Golden Gate Park, escape from Alcatraz Prison, or hit the colorful town to see fortune cookies being made.

@shobbyyy at Kirby Cove via instagram

Get into the swing of things: Grab a friend to give you a push and snap a photo of you swinging in front of an awe-inspiring view of the San Francisco Bay and downtown San Francisco. There are about 7 famous swings around the city – triple check they’re not down, if so, don’t worry the ropes go back up again soon after!

@cantiquescandleco at DOUGHP via instagram

Eat cookie dough (without the risk of salmonella): Sugar addicts rejoice! Doughp (pronounced “dope”) serves eggless scoops of batter in fun flavors, flavored waffle cones, and hundreds of different toppings at Pier 39.

Where to fly: Alaska Airlines offers seven nonstop daily flights to San Francisco (SFO). Want to see more of the Bay? Fly to Oakland or San Jose.

+ GLOBAL DESTINATIONS

Lempuyang Temple. Bali, Indonesia. (Alaska Airlines photo)

Bonus tip: Alaska Airlines is offering more ways to venture around the world with our 16 Global Partners and relationship with American Airlines and joining oneworld – giving our guests seamless access to 1,200 destinations around the world. Learn more.

Related stories:

San Francisco–based flight attendant Peter continues 30+ years of positive connections

When Peter Tizzard defines the top requirements for providing good service, he has a lengthy list: “Being genuine and sincere is important,” says the 32-year commercial-aviation professional who has worked for more than 12 years combined at Alaska Airlines and Virgin America. “Paying attention to details, being humble, listening and making positive connections with our guests are crucial, too.”

All of these goals come down to one thing, Tizzard says: “Bringing joy to people. It’s just the right thing to do.”

Tizzard, a San Francisco–based flight attendant who lives in Las Vegas, has, in multiple roles, provided great service to flyers over the years. He started out in ground operations in 1987 at a regional airline in Florida. Eventually, he became a flight attendant, and he was one of the original teammates at Virgin America in 2007. A multi­talented employee, he has helped hire and train flight attendants over the years, and has worked as a catering operations analyst, an inflight service instructor and an air transportation supervisor.

Being a flight attendant was his original dream, Tizzard says, explaining that, since childhood, he’s had a passion for travel and learning about other cultures.

His parents instilled this, says Tizzard, whose father worked for 38 years for British Airways, and whose mother worked as a travel-agent manager. Born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Tizzard feels fortunate and blessed to have traveled “all over” while growing up.

According to co-workers, Tizzard brings great positivity to his work and is respected for being encouraging and uplifting with other flight attendants, as well as with airline guests.

“I try to lead and make others feel comfortable,” Tizzard says. “This work is my passion, and there’s no greater thing you can do with life and work than to follow your passion in a way that serves you and the world.”

Questions & Answers

What do you like most about your job?

There are never two flights alike. And the connections I make with guests can change my perspective—and theirs.

What are your interests outside work? I’m very outdoorsy. I like hiking and biking, at home and when I travel.

Where do you most like traveling? Throughout Asia and Europe, for the food and culture and history. Places I’ve returned to include Osaka and Kyoto, Japan; Krabi, Thailand; and Madrid, Spain. And anywhere with a beach equals sun and fun.

Do you have any travel tips? At least once a year, pack “one way” and donate clothes, shoes and jackets at your destination. Take it as a chance to refresh your wardrobe. There are great places to shop for new clothes while you’re traveling.

What advice do you have for new hires? It’s never about the destination. It’s about the journey.

Kudos from Peter’s Co-Workers

“Peter welcomes guests and starts a conversation, and he captivates them for the entire flight. And even after the flight. It’s a gift that only some people have.” —Ludi S., Flight Attendant, San Francisco

“He just makes you feel good. He makes you feel smart; he makes you feel comfortable; he makes you feel welcome. He makes you feel like you’re the only person in a room when he’s talking to you, because he’s so intentional, and so present. There aren’t a lot of people like him.” —Molly C., Flight Attendant, San Francisco

“He is really level about how he treats everyone. Everyone’s treated really, really well.” —Elmer T., Customer Service Agent Trainer, San Francisco

“Guests are always ecstatic with Peter’s personalized service. Everybody loves Peter when they walk off the aircraft.” —Michael G., Captain, San Francisco

Alaska Airlines employees such as Peter Tizzard are the reason for our excellence. Join us in creating an airline people love. Visit alaskaair.jobs.

Make your getaway to Fiji even sweeter with these 6 surprises

Photos by Kim I. Mott

There’s more to Fiji that meets the eye than just powdery beaches and crystal-clear reefs. Here are six things that will sweeten your travel experience to the South Pacific island nation:

1. Clap once for Kava, then, three more times

Sheltered from the outside world until just two centuries ago, Fiji’s rich cultural traditions – including community-wide meke “spirit dances” reenacting ancient stories – remain a large part of daily life.

No tradition weighs more heavily on Fijian consciousness than the art of the kava ceremony, which is typically a mandatory part of being invited to any village. If lucky, you’ll have the opportunity for kava many times during your visit (and not only one set up by a resort).

Many tours and treks arrange visits to villages and kava ceremonies. Any visitors to a town must begin by asking to meet the turaga-ni-koro (village headman), who can make introductions to the ratu (chief). As visitors, you should offer a gift, or sevusevu, to get permission to visit. Unless you happen to have a whale’s tooth (a highly prized and rare, offering), powdered kava root that’s been aged four to seven years is a perfect option.

The chief will invite you into his home or into a community center where males sit cross-legged and women sit with legs to the side, as a headman (usually) mixes the kava powder with water in a wooden turtle-shaped bowl called the tanoa. It’s a slow process, and you should remain quiet (and not take photos) until the first round of drinking has been done.

The drink – which sort of resembles muddy water – is served in a bilo cup made from a coconut shell. Clap once before receiving it, drink it fully, hand the empty cup back, and clap three more times. Kava tastes like grassy water and offers your tongue a slight tingle. It’s not alcohol but is known to be relaxing if you have many rounds.

The ritual is known as wai ni vanua, or “water of the land,” indicating the village and the village welcomes you to visit. Things are casual and social after the first round. Generally, it’s OK to take photos after the first round but always ask.

It’s nice to explain who you are and why you’re visiting – the villagers will be interested to hear! For extra cultural-sensitivity points, keep your head lower than the chief’s, and never turn your back toward him, even when exiting. Visitors should wear a sulu sarong and refrain from wearing anything on ones’ head, like a hat or sunglasses. (But don’t worry if you make a mistake; locals are very easy-going with first-timers.)

2. It takes a village 

Any local will tell you; you haven’t visited Fiji until you visited one of Fiji’s nearly 1,200 koro (or villages) — where populations tend to be defined not by individuals but by mataqali (family groups). Visiting one begins by asking permission (and often a kava ceremony, see above). High-end resorts often offer village excursions (including kava, dances, handicrafts demos and a chance to buy local). It’s well worth arranging a trip to more far-flung places less used to seeing daily visitors. 

Navala in Vitu Levu’s Nausori Highlands is a village must-see. Reached from Nadi in a few hours via a snaking road that turns to gravel and weaves past sugar cane farms and along mountain ridges that envelop you slowly. Navala is Fiji’s last village made up of traditional bure thatch huts. About 200 of them line across a valley surrounded by green peaks.

For F$25, visitors can visit without prior arrangement, but you’re better off coming with a guide such as Tui from Bulou’s Lodge, a modest accommodation on the Ba River just outside town. Tui is a resident who can help set up a kava ceremony in the chief’s bure and lead you on river walks or to hidden waterfalls fed by natural springs. 

Another option to get here is a multi-day trek with village homestays via Talanoa Treks, which includes a visit to Nabutautau. 

3. Look for the pink bananas

You don’t have to travel far in Fiji to see a lot. Within the 50-acre Sleeping Giant Garden, just north of Nadi Airport, you’re able to walk past a series of lifelike orchids shaped like antelopes, angel wings and dancing ladies. Near a pond where dozens of frogs sit on lily pads, and shrouded in giant green leaves, loom bunches of pink bananas (or musa velutina), a self-peeling fruit found around the South Pacific.

Fiji may be known for its blue water, but often it is green that stands out. Tussles of trees, brush, shrubs and vines tangle up mountainsides in a seemingly impenetrable canopy of varying greens that sprout from the islands’ volcanic-rich soils. 

Amidst the lush landscape are 800-some species of plants found nowhere else, making for rewarding hikes (fortunately, the mongoose population handles most snakes).

Locals use many plants as traditional medicines. Some resorts, including the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in Savusavu, offer traditional medicine walks, where you learn many common remedies. Pounded kalabuci damu (copperleaf) mixed with water helps sore throats, chewing mokomoko fern leaves aid healthy skin, while guava leaves can calm digestive issues.

The heart of green Fiji is without a doubt Tauveni Island. Known as the “Garden Island,” it’s rimmed with low-key resorts and crisscrossed with steamy hikes through the immense national park that occupies over three-quarters of the island. The best hike hugs the coast, the 5km Lavena Coastal Walk, which takes in waterfalls, black-sand beaches, mushroom-like coral pedestals, snorkeling spots.

Locals also dream of visiting Tauveni to see Fiji’s elusive national flower, the tagimoucia: a crimson and cream flower that’s inspired pop songs and has been described to “hang down in clusters like a chain of ruby raindrops.”

4. Fall in lovo with the backyard BBQ

The modern cuisine of Fiji is surprising. Meals are refreshingly fresh and healthy. And, diverse. Local homes are happy to incorporate styles from Indo-Fijians, Fiji citizens who are fully or partially of Indian descent, so you’ll find plenty of curries and roti flatbreads as part of the daily diet. 

Islands have also concocted their own ceviche, a seafood dish originating in Peru typically made from fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices and spices.The seafood here is legendary – imagine fresh filets of wahoo, marlin or barracuda served in coconut milk, plus giant lobsters and prawns — especially a spicy bowl of kokoda. Sometimes served in an open clamshell, this delicious mix of raw fish is marinated in lime juice and served with coconut cream, onion and chilis. 

Another must-try: lovo. A dish, wrapped in foil and banana leaves, then set overheated river stones and left to roast over a pit for a few hours slowly. It’s the South Pacific’s version of an underground BBQ, made with any protein you prefer (fish filets, pork or chicken cutlets, or even rourou taro leaves). Most resorts offer lovo, and it’s still a special banquet-type method used in villages for weddings, birthdays, funerals and other special occasions.

Visiting a Fijian market is a colorful way to see what tropical staples make up a regular part of local farming and local diets. Walkthrough one and see often artfully stacked displays of pineapple, kumula (sweet potato), taro and uto (breadfruit), nama (sea grapes) or powdered kava root sold in small paper bags. You’re sure to find tavioka (or cassava) on your plate, as the starchy root is so common it’s been called “Fiji’s rice.” Meanwhile, coconuts come from the “tree of life” and play a big role as curries, bread, even as cups during kava ceremonies.

5. Get ready to rugby

Fiji’s gorgeous color-coded dollar bills are adorned with tropical animals and traditional details like the intricate designs seen on masi bark-cloth wall hangings. But none compare to the glory of Fiji’s $7 bill, which celebrates the nation’s first (and only) Olympic medal after Fiji took gold in 2016 in seven-on-seven rugby. 

Rugby has been big here since the English introduced it in the 1880s. Now, it’s said you can only choose a village site once you have found a field to play rugby. Fun fact: the first televisions appeared here only in 1987, so locals could watch rugby. If a ball’s not around, locals are known to play using empty bottles, lemons or wadded-up shirts.

The official season for professional teams is from April to September – and the youth competition during April’s Coca Cola Light Games is also popular – but you’ll find rugby played all year, particularly on Saturdays. In towns like Ba on Vitu Levu, an hour’s drive from Nadi, gets busy on Saturdays, when locals line the field with lawn chairs to watch game after game of teams pouring in from the Nausori Highlands.

6. Pick your path with Fiji Airways

Make your getaway to Fiji even more rewarding with Alaska Global Partner, Fiji Airways! Book before the end of Feb., and pick your path: Use Alaska miles to get up to 50% off award travel, OR earn DOUBLE the Alaska miles! Terms apply.

More ways to go global: Alaska Airlines to expand American Airlines relationship and join oneworld

For Alaska Airlines guests, the world is getting closer – and easier to reach.

We’re expanding our relationship with American Airlines and announcing plans to join oneworld, the highly rated global airline network – two moves that open the world for our guests. We see this as an exciting West Coast international alliance, which includes:

  • the ability to earn and use miles on both Alaska and American
  • full elite status reciprocity
  • lounge access to nearly 50 American Admirals Clubs worldwide and seven Alaska Lounges in the U.S. (However, Alaska Lounge members do not currently have access to the Admirals Club in San Francisco International Terminal 2 due to space constraints. Alaska will be opening a new 8,500-square-foot, top-floor lounge in Terminal 2 this fall. Boarding pass and guest restrictions apply.)
  • continued domestic codeshare and expanded international travel from Los Angeles and Seattle for hassle-free booking and travel between Alaska and American Airlines

In addition, we’re seeking full membership into oneworld, expected in summer 2021. Together, this new alliance and oneworld membership will give guests seamless access to 1,200 destinations around the world.

“This alliance opens the world for Alaska Airlines guests, whether traveling for business or pleasure,” said Andrew Harrison, Alaska’s executive vice president and Chief Commercial Officer. “And importantly for our employees and the communities we serve, this West Coast international alliance enables Alaska’s continued independent growth.”

Once Alaska’s membership is approved by oneworld, guests traveling on Alaska, American or a oneworld partner will feel like they have one connected travel experience – no matter who or where you fly.

At the same time, agreements with our current valued Global Partners will continue uninterrupted.

The reach of our expanded global network means we can give our guests what they want most – access to a huge international portfolio, seamless reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, lounge access and more choices to experience the world.

So, what does this West Coast international alliance mean for Alaska Mileage Plan members?

Our new alliance will let members earn and redeem miles on even more domestic and international destinations. This includes today’s announcement by American Airlines for the first nonstop flight from Seattle to Bangalore, India, starting October 2020, along with new service from Seattle to London, starting in spring 2021.

Effective immediately:

  • Redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles on all American Airlines flights and continue to earn miles on American flights with an Alaska flight number.
  • Access any of American’s 50 Admirals Club locations worldwide with an Alaska Lounge membership.
  • Continue to earn and redeem Mileage Plan miles on our current portfolio of 16 Global Partners.

Starting spring 2020:

  • Earn Alaska Mileage Plan miles on any American Airlines flights, domestically and internationally.

Starting summer 2021:

  • Earn and redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles on all oneworld airlines.
  • Alaska elites will enjoy privileges, including priority boarding, premium seating, baggage benefits and more when you fly on American Airlines or any oneworld airline.
  • Access 650 lounges within the oneworld network as an MVP Gold or Gold 75K member.

This is just the beginning. We will share more details with you as these benefits become available.

Today
  • Redeem Alaska miles on all American Airlines flights.
  • Alaska Lounge members can access American’s 50 Admirals Club locations.
  • Earn and redeem miles on our current portfolio of 16 Global Partners.
Spring 2020
  • Earn Alaska miles on all American Airlines flights, domestically and internationally.
Fall 2020
  • American Airlines launches nonstop service between Seattle and Bangalore, India.
Spring 2021
  • American Airlines launches nonstop service between Seattle and London-Heathrow.
Summer 2021
  • Earn and redeem Alaska miles on all oneworld® airlines.
  • Alaska elites will enjoy privileges, including priority boarding, premium seating, baggage benefits and more when you fly on American Airlines or any oneworld® airline.
  • MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k members can access 650 lounges within the oneworld® airline network.

Q&A:

What is the benefit of this alliance?

Enhancing our relationship with American Airlines by forming a West Coast international alliance and joining oneworld opens the world to our guests. This means traveling on Alaska, American or a oneworld airline will feel like one connected travel experience––no matter who or where you fly.

With this announcement, how many destinations will I be able to connect to?

We’ll be able to connect guests to more than 1,200 destinations worldwide when we are a full member of oneworld.

Does this mean your relationship with American won’t end?

Correct. Alaska and American will continue our domestic codeshare relationship uninterrupted.

What does this mean for your existing unaffiliated Global Partners?

Our 16 Global Partners are very valuable and we’ll keep them as long as they continue to provide a unique value to our guests.

Does this mean I’ll be able to access the American Airlines Admirals Club in Terminal 2 at San Francisco International Airport?

The Admirals Club in Terminal 2 at SFO is closing in March. However, you’ll have access to a new 8,500-square-foot, top-floor lounge at San Francisco International Airport’s Terminal 2 when the new Alaska Lounge opens in 2020.

Self-care in the air: 6 tips to get in the flight headspace

Many of us have lives that go nonstop, so it’s essential to prioritize the solacing self-care activities that bring us the most joy and put us in the best headspace. And if travel’s on that list for you, then you’ve landed in the right spot (and flight spot!). This year, we want to help you approach your time spent in the air with health and wellness in mind, from relaxing destinations to onboard meditations, and everything in between.

Lettuce eat well.

Sometimes anything goes when you’re on-the-go––pizza for breakfast, airport martinis for lunch, a package of gummy bears for dinner. (No judgment!) But if you’re sticking to a New Year’s resolution to eat healthier, no matter where in the world you’re headed, then we’re making sure you don’t just have to wing it. Our onboard menu is already known for being the healthiest in the sky, but we recently partnered with Evergreens to continue bringing local, healthy, and fresh ingredients to your tray table. The Beets So Fly Salad is available now on select longer-haul flights until March 16, followed by the Go Fig or Go Home Salad, available through the spring. Don’t forget to pre-order yours on the Alaska app––which happens to be our favorite kind of meal prep.

Destination: Meditation

It can be tough to quiet the mind when you’re jet-setting and preparing for a long-awaited adventure, which is why we’re proud to partner with Headspace to offer FREE inflight meditation sessions. We’ll help you be kind to your mind––from takeoff and touchdown to pre-flight nerves and inflight naps! If that sounds good, then look for Headspace in our entertainment portal the next time you’re on board, and get ready to let go, on the go.

The home stretch

You can always sit with us! But we know sitting for too long can leave you restless in your seat at 35,000 feet, so the next time the seat-belt sign is on, why not try your own version of in-seat yoga? Flexing, pointing and rotating your feet, side-to-side neck stretches, wiggling your fingers and toes, and crossing your arms and legs can help your body feel like it’s in motion. (Just be conscious of your seatmate’s space!) And of course, everyone loves long walks down the aisle — especially after sitting for a few hours — so be sure to take advantage of those stretchable strolls to the lavatory. Booking a Premium Class seat with extra legroom (and complimentary cocktails!) is also an easy and valuable way to elevate your self-care game right out of the gate.

More DIY on the fly

Some other ideas to help make your flight as pampered as possible? Hydrate. Bring your own water bottle and #FillBeforeYouFly. (We’ll also make sure you’re served water as soon as it’s safe for our flight attendants to walk through the cabin.) Keep calm and pack a sheet mask in your carry-on. (Your skin needs hydration, too!) Order a nice, hot cup of Teavana® tea. Watch a classic, feel-good film from our selection of the Most Movies in the Sky.* Do the crossword puzzle in the back of Beyond. Make a soothing travel playlist for the exact amount of flight time. Before you know it, you’ll be landing refreshed, ready to go BIG or go home — or wherever your travels may lead!

Say yes to de-stress!

We know opportunities for mindfulness exist in varying degrees and forms, subjective to timeframes and lifestyles, but we hope you find it, if even briefly, in your travels. (Yes, our Signature Fruit & Cheese Platter is a form of self-care!)

Get out of town!

Need travel ideas for finding nonstop zen on a long weekend? Treat yourself to these retreats.

How to pack your Machu Picchu adventure into a carry-on

Happy dance, you’ve booked a trip to Machu Picchu, one of the most stunning displays of natural beauty and preserved history in the world. Plane tickets in hand, travel itinerary from Cuzco, and a guide to lead the way—you’re almost ready for the adventure of a lifetime. 

The only thing standing in your way? Packing, of course.   

While Machu Picchu is Peru’s most popular destination with more than 1.5 million visitors in 2018 alone, it can also be a relative mystery when it comes to packing and preparation. The trip to Machu Picchu crosses everything from cold high desert to humid rainforest – with a fair share of trekking in between. 

At the start of our Machu Picchu trek on a cold morning from Hidroeléctrica, a former train station and popular launch point for day trekking route up to the ruinsmy girlfriend and I could see our breath hanging in the dark, early morning air. As the sun crested the steep mountain valley, temperatures jumped and humidity set in, collecting on our base layers as we stripped down and continued our slow trek through low-hanging jungle. Then came the rain. Scrambling for our packs one more time, we threw on rain jackets and prepped for our long haul up the mountain. In a span of hours, we had changed outfits nearly three timesWe’d been warned about the contrasts in the Sacred Valley, but if it weren’t for some strategic packing, our dream trip could have turned into a nightmare. 

As you pack, consider the buses and trains you’ll need to take to begin the walking portion. A trip to Machu Picchu covers a lot of terrain, and the drive from Cuzco to the start of many Machu Picchu treks is a minimum of seven hours. Trust us, you don’t want to lug a heavy and unwieldly suitcase all this way. 

The best way to get the most out of your Machu Picchu excursion is to pack your trip down to a carry-on. Yes, a carry-on. 

So how do you fit all that adventure into your cabin baggage? Here’s a no-frills guide to packing and preparing the ultimate carry-on for all of your Machu Picchu needs. 

Winding up the Sacred Valley to the base of Machu Picchu, the train tracks from Aguas Calientes are a stunning (albeit long) approach for hikers heading to the famous ruins. Photo by Kade Krichko

It starts with a pack

The backpack may be the most important packing choice you make for a trek to Machu Picchu. The Aircontact Lite 40 + 10 L from Deuter is a good option. (Photo courtesy of Deuter)

Caption: The backpack may be the most important packing choice you make for a trek to Machu Picchu. The Aircontact Lite 40 + 10 L from Deuter is a good option. (Photo courtesy of Deuter) 

Ask any world traveler, and they’ll tell you the key to carry-on travel is a good backpack. For your Machu Picchtrip-of-a-lifetime, the pack is key to more than squeezing your life into a carry-on; it’s critical for the actual trek as well. This means choosing the right backpack is likely the most important part of packing.  

The Deuter Aircontact Lite 40 + 10 L is a great option for anyone headed to Peru’s breathtaking ruins. The pack is easy to stow in your aircraft’s overhead compartment and combines a super lightweight frame and comfortable fit with creative storage and a bundle of useful features. Offering 40 liters of storage space, the Aircontact Lite can actually expand to accommodate an additional 10L, giving you a little extra flexibility on the ground to pack and repack without jamming everything into place. The pack also features a separate bottom compartment for storing wet or dirty clothes – but more on that later. 

The Aircontact Lite 40 + 10 L offers a customizable fit through adjustable straps, a flexible sternum strap and a padded hip belt to provide comfort for moving on and off planes, in between buses, and up and down the trail.  

 The case for a pack within your pack

 Your carry-on pack isn’t the only bag you’ll need to carry your load. Make sure to pack a small daypack inside your carry-on as well. This pack will be essential for quick day missions in cities like Cuzco and the ruins of Ollantaytambo, where you’ll want to carry a camera and an extra layer, but little else. There are several options that pack down to fit in the pocket of your hiking pants – one example is the REI Flash 18 – and will be well worth the effort 

Organize your space with packing cubes

Packing cubes, like these from REI, will help you keep your bag efficiently organized. (Photo courtesy of REI)

As you pack your carry-on for Machu Picchu, remember that organization is key when it comes to space management. One of the best tools for maximizing room and efficiency is a good set of packing cubes. It may seem natural to compartmentalize your gear, but packing cubes make the process even easier, offering a portable set of drawers for separating shirts and pants from toiletries and technical gear.  

Placed appropriately, these packing cubes will make it easy to change gear in and out of your pack, and can be removed and used as drawers in hotels and hostels. REI sells a few packing cube sets, and there are dozens of options available online for every kind of traveler.   

Stay dry, stay happy

Staying dry is especially key for anyone traveling to Machu Picchu, and should be a priority when packing your carry-on. While the ruins have a distinct rainy season between November and May, humidity in the area ranges between 80% and 100% year-round, meaning fast-moving precipitation is never far off. Proper rain clothes – we recommend a lightweight rain jacket and rain pants – are a must. A poncho will help, but the continuous up and down of the Machu Picchu is easier with clothes that articulate with you rather than blow against you. 

Also, quick-dry material is your friend. Merino wool goes a long way in the Andes, keeping you dry when weather turns ugly and keeping odor-causing bacteria off your skin and base layers. Quick-drying synthetic fibers can be very useful as often you’ll need gear to dry overnight. Think one to two shirts or base layers and a pair of convertible hiking pants/shorts as the basis of your wardrobe. 

For wet or dirty laundry, pack a small dry-bag or plastic bag to separate potentially smelly gear from the rest. This will go a long way in keeping your pack fresh and travel companions happy.  

Pack a puffy

Almost all Machu Picchu adventures start in Cuzco, a beautiful high-altitude city that can also get quite cold year-round (with lows barely rising above 45-degrees Fahrenheit). In fact, many of the Andean villages you will travel to experience a significant temperature drop at night. Battle the cold without bringing your whole winter closet by packing a puffy jacket like this one from StioPuffy jackets are lightweight and built to pack down into small spaces, making them ideal cold weather tools and the perfect options for fitting into a carry-on.  

Hiking boots, of course – but sandals are your footwear Swiss Army knife 

Your feet will thank you if you pack a pair of sturdy sandals like Chacos. (Photo courtesy of Chacos)

You won’t want to spend every waking hour of your trip in hiking boots, but packing extra shoes takes up valuable space in a hurry. Get the best of both worlds with a solid pair of sandals. 

The Chaco Z/2 classic is an excellent option for tired feet, providing support and function for walks around town, but also the utility to be used in a shower or late-night bathroom run. Sandals pack down to almost nothing, and can fit in most backpack side compartments. Trust us, your feet will thank you.  

Don’t forget a travel sheet

This is an easy one, but an important piece that needs to make your final pack list. A travel sheet takes up little room in the carry-on, but provides a physical barrier between you and whatever bed you might be sleeping on during your time abroad. While there are plenty of modern lodging options on your trip to Peru, hostels and other lodges can get the occasional bedbug attack, so it’s best not to take any chances. REI and outdoors stores carry these travel sheets in a variety of styles and even have sheets built to fit inside your sleeping bag.  

Items recommended in this article were selected by the author based on personal experience. Neither the author nor Alaska Airlines will earn any commissions on purchases of recommended items.

How Alaska LIFT Miles support forest restoration across the country

Last year, more than 15,000 volunteers with the National Forest Foundation worked to restore 67,000 acres of wildlife habitat across the country, repair 125 miles of public trails and engage more than 7,500 young adults in forest restoration activities, introducing the next generation of stewards to their public lands.

And in strategic wildfire-prone areas of California, NFF teams are preventing future disasters by thinning 7,900 acres of forestland within the Tahoe National Forest and more than 4,000 acres in the American River Ranger District near Sacramento.

Participants in the 2019 Junior Field Ranger Program interact with visitors on the Angeles National Forest. (Photo by Brian Cavallaro, courtesy the National Forest Foundation)

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members support these and other NFF projects to restore and protect the nation’s 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands by donating miles through Alaska’s LIFT Miles program. These miles allow NFF staff to travel to sites across the National Forest System – from Alaska to California to Washington, D.C. – to meet with partners, host events and volunteer opportunities, and oversee projects. Since 2013, Alaska guests have donated more than 5 million miles in support of the National Forest Foundation work. In 2019, NFF staff traveled more than 1 million miles on Alaska using these donations. Learn more about how to donate miles to the NFF and other causes supported by LIFT Miles.

“Alaska Airlines miles donated to the National Forest Foundation are critical for our work,” says NFF President and CEO Mary Mitsos. “These miles enable us to travel across our voluminous National Forest System to conduct our mission to engage Americans and improve forest health.”

Participants in the 2019 Junior Field Ranger Program clean up a trail in the Angeles National Forest. (Photo by Brian Cavallaro, courtesy the National Forest Foundation)

Here are a few highlights from the National Forest Foundation’s work in 2019:

Engaging young adults with their forests in Southern California

For many urban residents, especially minority youth, access to and knowledge of public lands is limited. At the same time, forests in the backyard of urban areas are suffering the impacts of inexperienced users. In Southern California, the NFF is addressing this challenge through the Junior Field Ranger Program. More than 150 teens have participated in the program over the past six years. Program participants receive STEM-based outdoor education and training as certified California naturalists. This training earns them college credit and provides them with sufficient experience to interact with the public around basic conservation education.

“Before I joined the Junior Ranger Program, I didn’t realize the Angeles National Forest was this close,” says Carlos Regalado, age 16 and a resident of Los Angeles.

A key component of the program includes interacting with forest visitors. Thanks to the Junior Rangers, visitors learn how littering, creating unofficial trails and damming streams can adversely impact local water resources and wildlife habitat.

Helping rural Alaskan youth connect with public lands

The 2019 Angoon YCC poses during a work day on the Tongass National Forest.
(Photo courtesy U.S. Forest Service)

For the fifth year, the National Forest Foundation has partnered with other organizations to support the Angoon Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) in Southeast Alaska’s Admiralty Island, where brown bears outnumber residents 3 to 1. For the six Native Alaskan crew members working on the Angoon YCC, this is often their first job.

Throughout the summer, the crew’s primary objectives are conservation-based – maintaining trails, cabins and campsites, and restoring habitat by cleaning up debris along shorelines and removing invasive species. They kayak to and camp at many of the remote sites they are working. The youth also engage other village residents in volunteer events, and have begun a campaign to teach them about the dangers of marine debris to wildlife. In addition to these benefits for the surrounding Tongass National Forest, the participants also acquire professional skills.

Restoring a popular trail in the temperate rainforests of Washington

The NFF, with partner EarthCorps, just completed 500 hours of work to improve the popular Lake 22 Trail on the Mountain Loop Highway near Seattle. The crew upgraded the trail tread to improve drainage and built a new bridge from natural materials. This work will make the hike more pleasant for users, and will keep sediment out of the streams. This work will ensure visitors can continue to access this hike to Lake 22, which combines the best of old-growth rainforests, wetlands, and mountain views on the stunning Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

The NFF will continue projects in this area for the next five years including a new Treasured Landscapes site just east of Everett, Washington. Alaska Airlines miles donated through LIFT Miles will support NFF work to enhance outdoor recreation sites to accommodate increased visitor use; to restore watershed health and aquatic ecosystems to benefit threatened salmon and steelhead as well as other wildlife species; and to increase the number and diversity of people stewarding the National Forest for future generations. Alaska Airlines’ new flights into Paine Field allow NFF staff to travel efficiently to and from the project sites to support implementation.

As we reflect on the work we’ve accomplished together in 2019, we are already planning for what’s ahead in 2020. With your partnership, we’ll continue to support our public lands for future generations. Learn more and donate Alaska miles to the National Forest Foundation.

Finding the Way: Nainoa Thompson, navigates open seas and cultural legacy

Alaska Airlines offers daily service to Hawaii Island (Kona), Kauai, Maui and Oahu.

Oahu’s Nainoa Thompson has spent his life pursuing far-fetched adventures. Sailing across the Pacific in a traditional double-­hulled canoe, named Hokulea, open to the elements, using the wind and stars for direction? Pre­posterous. Guide Hokulea around the world for three years? Outrageous. Dangerous, in fact.

In late October 2015, some 16,000 nautical miles into the journey, Hokulea was sailing along the east coast of Africa toward Cape Town, the most dangerous leg of the journey to date. “Everybody said we should put the canoe on a cargo ship to 
get around South Africa,” Thompson recalls of Hokulea’s most recent journey circling the entire planet.

For more than 40 years, Thompson has studied the stars, wind, currents, waves and animals of the sea to find his way across vast oceans–and to help prove that ancient Polynesians purposefully voyaged to his native Hawaii. Photo by Ingrid Barrentine.

“‘Go ahead,’ I told them. ‘But I quit.’ ” Hokulea stayed in the water and rounded the Cape of Good Hope, a notoriously tempestuous stretch of water. Thompson did not quit, and Hokulea continued on, making goodwill stops along the way, visiting with Indigenous groups in Brazil, the Caribbean, the United States, Canada and islands in the South Pacific before returning to Honolulu in 2017—earning global acclaim and making Thompson perhaps the most famous person in Hawaii.

But Thompson is not the daredevil he may seem. Just the opposite, in fact. He is a savvy leader who balances risk-taking with readiness—and now he is expanding his leadership profile, traveling the world (by air and sea) to support the global Indigenous revival and response to climate change. Thompson visits elementary ­school classrooms, service-club luncheons, business-leadership summits, and local and national government events. His message is low-key but strong: We must act now to preserve human civilization in the face of global warming and cultural conflict. He believes full preparation, loving cooperation and bold action can make a difference, and his example is Hokulea’s global journey.

Photo by Ingrid Barrentine.

“That three-year global voyage was actually a 10-year journey,” Thompson says of the adventure named Malama Honua—roughly translated as “care for our home.”
“We spent seven years in preparation to sail around the world. People think I’m a risk-taker—and in some ways I am—but I am also extremely cautious. You can do anything with sufficient preparation.”

In person, Thompson is a laid-back Pacific Islander whose careful conversation seems mild and measured. Years of open-ocean adventures have weathered his face. His steady gaze is ideal for charting maritime star maps. His smile blossoms when kids are in the vicinity. And after a lifetime proving the impossible can be done, he is trying to convince the whole human race to take on something that might seem impossible: to spread a message of peace and sustainable living, of care for the earth.

Oddly enough, instead of adventurer, risk-taker and leader, Thompson might have become a dairy farmer. “Milking cows at 5 a.m.,” he says. “That’s what I did when I was a boy.”

Photo by Ingrid Barrentine.

Thompson’s grandfather, Charlie Lucas, owned a dairy operation in the Niu Valley, about 2 miles east of Waikiki. Like almost all ag-family kids, Thompson had farm chores from an early age, though he recalls, “I wasn’t very good at it.”
What he did prove good at was adventure.

Thompson learned wayfinding, thus helping to save the ancient Polynesian art of navigation from extinction. As a wayfinder, he crossed the Pacific on voyaging canoes, then circled the globe in that epic journey, becoming the most visible advocate for and public figure of Polynesian voyaging, representing the achievements of Pacific Indigenous peoples to the world at large.

Nainoa Thompson – Photo by Ingrid Barrentine.

Now 66, he and the organization he heads, the Polynesian Voyaging Society, are transforming their achievements into concepts that directly bear on our entire civilization. Having sailed well more than 175,000 nautical miles, he is in the company of such historic adventurers as James Cook and Vasco da Gama. And as he relates his journeys to others, he speaks of the earth itself as a voyaging canoe, entering perilous waters.

Our most important challenge lies ahead of us,” he says. “Humanity needs to come together based on values, such as those that made Hokulea possible. The heart of voyaging is not the canoe, or wayfinding, it’s the community behind all those things. Our world is worth it—and we don’t have another one,” Thompson says.

Seeking to spread that message, Thompson and his compatriots will set sail on Hokulea again, next year, departing from Alaska to circumnavigate the Pacific.

Thompson still lives adjacent to what was his grandfather’s farm on the outskirts of Honolulu. But in the past 40 years, guiding a traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe—using ancient navigation techniques such as reading the stars, winds and waves—to prove it could be done, he and his companions in PVS have rewritten our understanding of the way humankind populated the Pacific. Thompson and PVS have painted a new portrait of the indomitable spirit of human beings.

Photo by Ingrid Barrentine.

Without compasses, sextants or other instruments, adventurers thousands of years ago began migrating east and north from Southeast Asia through the islands of the Pacific. Polynesians eventually reached 
Hawaii—one of the most remote major land masses on Earth, nearly 2,300 miles from North America—where they established a dynamic, self-sustaining civilization that supported an estimated 300,000 Hawaiians by the time Cook arrived in 1778.

That initial contact was long called Cook’s “discovery” of Hawaii. Twentieth-century Western academics and explorers dismissed Hawaiian oral histories of those early crossings as mere myths. Yet the presence of Polynesians throughout the Pacific meant there had to be some explanation. In 1947, Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl crossed to the French Polynesia island Raroia from South America on a raft (utilizing navigation instruments), on the theory that this was how the South Pacific came to be settled; his book, Kon-Tiki, was a 1950 sensation. Anthropologists such as Andrew Sharp in the mid 1950s dismissed ancient Polynesians as wanderers, incapable of navigation, who were swept across the ocean accidentally to Tahiti, Rapa Nui and Hawaii by storms.

PVS co-founder Ben Finney, a young anthropology student from California, thought this made no sense—and in the early 1970s he met a University of Hawaii professor who handed him the Heyerdahl and Sharp books and issued a challenge: “Read these. They are wrong. Prove it.”

The 62-foot double hulled Hokulea sailed around the world with a rotating crew of 11 to 13 living on an open deck. The canoe has logged more than 250,000 miles over 11 long-distance voyages and numerous training journeys.

Finney joined Hawaiian artist Herb Kane and mariner Tommy Holmes to found PVS for the exact purpose of crossing the Pacific. They built a traditional voyaging canoe, Hokulea, and searched for information on wayfinding. Eventually they discovered a master navigator, Mau Piailug, on a small island in Micro­nesia—believed to be the last human keeper of wayfinding knowledge.

Meanwhile, Thompson was a young man in love with the ocean—surfing, swimming, paddling, but still looking for his life’s mission. He began doing odd jobs for Kane, and one night at the latter’s house, the artist took young Thompson outside to look at the stars, describing how the stars were the charts PVS would use to cross the Pacific and demonstrate that their ancestors had deliberately sailed to Hawaii.

Thompson says he knew then and there what his life’s mission would be.

By Ingrid Barrentine.

“That night I got sucked into a dream,” he recalls, his eyes still flashing a half-century later. “Herb wanted cultural justice. Ben wanted scien­tific justice. I wanted the magic of the stars and the canoe. I loved the ocean. I just wanted to go, man.”

PVS convinced Mau to guide Hokulea to Tahiti in 1976, a successful 30-day voyage. But the canoe was forced to return to Hawaii using instruments, and PVS members—especially Thompson—resolved to learn wayfinding so they could sail Hokulea with an entirely Hawaiian crew. Thompson spent a couple years studying with the master navigator, drawing star maps in beach sand, scanning the night skies aboard Thompson’s fishing boat, watching cloud formations in the day, reading ocean swells. A master wayfinder can literally be asleep and awaken when wave patterns shift because the canoe is off course.

Photo by Ingrid Barrentine.

“Nainoa, I can teach you how to go out and back, but I can’t teach you the magic,” Thompson recalls Mau saying, advising his apprentice that it would be 20 years before Thompson could fully “see” the ways of the ocean.

Thompson gained skill and magic enough to help guide the canoe once again to Tahiti and back in 1980, becoming the first Hawaiian to navigate an open-ocean journey to Tahiti in 600 years. The PVS-odyssey plans had been met with great skepticism, but the trips outbound and back were fairly straightforward, and that success replaced derision with awe.

While it is incredible that ancient Polynesians crossed the Pacific in double-hulled canoes using wayfinding; it is equally incredible that a small, committed group of 20th century Hawaiian adventurers revived a nearly lost art and brought history back to life.

Photo by Ingrid Barrentine.

While Thompson’s life illustrates the way that answering an innate urge for adventure might result in great meaning (not to mention fame), the very ideas of voyaging and wayfinding are built on concepts such as self-discipline, self-knowledge, respect for the natural world and care for all onboard. Long-distance voyages are tests of bravery and self-composure. Most of the time, very little happens aside from monitoring the sails and the heading. One experienced voyager describes the experience as “a long series of power naps.”

But occasionally it is much more exciting. Bad weather appears, obscuring the sky; riding out a storm is a test of skill and courage. No matter how wild and risky those first voyages may have seemed, dedication to voyaging principles assured their success, Thompson says.

When PVS proposed that Hokulea journey around the world, many argued that the journey would be too dangerous.

No matter how dangerous it may seem for us to go, the greater danger lies in keeping Hokulea tied up to shore,” Thompson replied in a characteristically measured remark.

The 62-foot canoe departed Hilo in May 2014 and returned to Honolulu in triumph in June 2017, having taken three years to visit 150 ports in 27 countries, covering 42,000 miles.

Photo by Ingrid Barrentine.

Now an elder among the Native Hawaiian people, and a world figure, Thompson travels the planet to encourage application of voyaging principles to cultural revival, sustainability and human progress. “We have a responsibility to history and culture, and to the canoe we all share,” he declares.

Historically, navigators were men, but today there are a number of young women who are wayfinding apprentices. It’s an innovation Thompson embraced, gently over­ruling objections from traditionalists. Wayfinding is studied at several universities, where it is considered 
a science.

Photo by Ingrid Barrentine.

The story of the Polynesian Voyaging Society does lead one to wonder what other chapters of the human story have been lost. How to live in peace with our planet, perhaps? How to live in peace with one another? These are the principles within a traditional Hawaiian philosophy known as “The Way of the Canoe,” which seeks to apply voyaging pro­tocols to daily life as individuals, communities and nations—to respect and care for ourselves, each other, and our natural and cultural environments.

Thompson is a leader among the world’s Indigenous communities, and has thus gained friends and allies among many Native peoples on six continents. Among them are Alaskans, such as the Tlingits of Southeast, who decided long ago to support the PVS mission. Former Alaska Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott, a Tlingit elder from Juneau and onetime CEO of Sealaska Corporation, donated two immense spruce logs to PVS in 1990 to use in making a new canoe (Hawaiiloa) because there are no longer any sufficiently large koa trees in the Islands.

“Over the years, Nainoa’s family and mine have become close as we have worked together personally and with our institutions to advance our cultures, a healthy planet and stronger ties among Indigenous and all people,” says Mallott. “Nainoa’s innate, palpable and humble spirituality has been a source of strength, and his embracing worldview based on that spiritual core is tied to a powerful vision of a shared planet in peril but capable of healing by caring, committed peoples. This is what defines his powerful leadership. In a sentence, Nainoa is a leader our Island Earth needs now more than ever,” Mallott says.

Why didn’t Thompson stay put on his grandfather’s farm? When Thompson was about 5, a neighbor took him to a beach to go fishing. “It all started with a fishing pole in my hand,” he laughs. “That was the first great gift of my life.”

Much of Charlie Lucas’ farm was long ago transformed into suburbs, with tidy homes, quiet streets and pleasant shopping centers. Resorts line the beach where Thompson first cast a line.

Thompson and his compatriots recognize that they did not create wayfinding or voyaging, and like almost all pathfinders, Thompson unfailingly credits his mentors and teachers, especially Mau.

Photo by Ingrid Barrentine.

But those 20th century adventurers who first set out across the Pacific using the vessels and techniques of the ancients, just to prove it could be done, and had been done, have transformed their achievements into an innovation perfect for the 21st century world—the canoe as metaphor. Today, Hokulea and her sister ships represent our planet, and Thompson says the voyagers’ work has just begun. “Navigation is not just about sailing.”

Thompson offers a simple, concise catalog of his values: family, home, ocean. “And by home I mean our planet,” he says. If you ask what his life has meant, his answer is equally simple: “I stood up for something that matters.”

Eric Lucas lives on a small farm on San Juan Island in the Pacific Northwest’s Salish Sea. This story originally appeared in ALASKA BEYOND MAGAZINE—FEBRUARY 2020.

Proud of performance: Our 23,000 employees earn nearly a month’s extra pay

Photos by Ingrid Barrentine

Our people are the heart of our business, and the reason we’re an award-winning airline. Our people always go above and beyond—on nights, weekends and holidays—to take care of our guests, each other and our communities.

Today, we’re awarding more than $130 million in annual bonuses to recognize their passion, dedication and hard work. For most employees, this equates to more than 7% of their annual pay in 2019, about a month’s extra pay. Employees also earned an additional $20 million throughout 2019 for meeting monthly operational goals.

Each year we adjust our incentive pay plans to align with our annual business objectives. Last year’s performance-based payout was determined by meeting or exceeding specific company-wide goals for safety, operational and guest-facing performance.

“I’m so proud of all the great things this team accomplished together in 2019. It was a pivotal year for Alaska as we put the integration further into our rearview mirror,” said Alaska President Ben Minicucci. “For the 11th-straight year, we exceeded our annual targets for incentive pay, and I’m happy that all 23,000 employees will be sharing in that success. As more people fly Alaska, they get to know what we’re all about: We’re safe, on time, a great value, and our people care more. That’s a powerful combination – and I’m excited about where it will take us.”

Breakdown of our yearly bonus, called Performance Based Pay (PBP) in 2019 by region:

  • About $70 million in annual bonuses — nearly 53 percent of the total — is being paid to Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air employees across Washington
  • $31 million — or 23 percent of the total — is going to employees throughout California
  • $13 million is being paid to employees in Oregon
  • $9 million is going to employees throughout the state of Alaska

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air aim to hire nearly 2,800 employees in 2020

Photos by Ingrid Barrentine

If you’ve ever wanted to fly for a living, work on planes or help passengers on their journeys, this could be the year to come work with us and jump into the fast-growing world of aviation.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are announcing plans, as part of a 2020 jobs forecast, to hire nearly 2,800 employees in the coming year: from pilots and flight attendants to maintenance technicians and customer service agents in frontline positions, to software developers and product designers on the e-commerce team.

Most of the new jobs are based at the companies’ two hubs in Seattle and Portland. A majority of the positions do not require previous airline experience. The openings will be posted on alaskaair.jobs throughout the year.

“We’re hiring! And we’re eager to welcome more great people at Alaska and Horizon,” said Andy Schneider, Alaska’s vice president of people. “We offer a wide variety of positions at both airlines, including jobs in airport operations that can lead to growth opportunities within the companies. There’s always the potential to move up the ladder.”

Many employees who start off as a customer service agent, passenger service agent or ground service agent at Alaska or Horizon can move into other roles, including becoming flight attendants, supervisors or transition into corporate roles.

Here’s a look at the approximate number of positions in specific areas we’re aiming to fill most quickly:

Positions Alaska Horizon
Pilots About 200 200
Flight attendants 166 About 150
Maintenance technicians 60 30
Ground service agents About 450
Customer service agents / Passenger service agents 945 220
E-commerce software developers and product designers 25
Information technology services software engineers 22

Even though most of the jobs are based in the Pacific Northwest, we’re still hiring across our network. For Horizon, hundreds of ground service agent and passenger service agent job openings are at other airports outside of Sea-Tac.

We pride ourselves on providing career development in an inclusive workplace where you can grow your career. We provide travel privileges to explore and connect with family and friends; unique pay bonus programs to reward you when the company does well; and competitive benefits for your health and wellness.

Interested in the possibilities? The place to learn more is alaskaair.jobs.

Embrace safe, responsible and mindful travel in Hawaii

Alaska Airlines offers daily service to Hawaii Island (Kona), Kauai, Maui and Oahu.

My father’s tree is a cute little iliahi, a sandalwood that is barely a foot tall. I’ve planted it in the crumbly cinnamon-colored volcanic soil at 2,600 feet up the east slope of Mauna Kea, the world’s tallest mountain (as measured from its seafloor base), in a little clearing amid 50-foot ohia and koa trees. Dad would be happy with this memorial planting. He was a geologist, avidly interested in travel and the natural world, and supported my own adventures in those realms.

Photo courtesy of Hawaiian Legacy

We chant in the calm morning, led by Kekaiokalani Naone, a Hawaiian cultural practitioner: “I ola no oe, I ola no makou nei.” (You live so that we may live.) This blessing is a traditional Hawaiian planting invocation. In this case it’s for the tree, though I reflect on how it applies to my father, too. He passed on six years ago, but my understanding of many indigenous beliefs is that our ancestors are with us every day—even on this day, as I work here with Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative, the organization guiding this planting project. It’s an activity popular with visitors to Hawaii Island: The “Planter’s Tour” of the company’s midmountain forestland near the Hamakua Coast is an opportunity for guests to help restore native woodlands on the island while they experience a scenic excursion.

This activity is a modest example of a concept known as kuleana that’s gaining prominence in the Aloha State—a philosophy that promotes a heightened awareness of heritage, culture, conservation and safety. State tourism authorities, lodging and activity providers, community leaders and government officials are cultivating the idea in order to protect the things that make Hawaii special. They are asking guests to the Islands to embrace the effort.

“We believe our visitors care about perpetuating the uniqueness of this place,” explains Jay Talwar, chief marketing officer at the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (which is part of the Hawaii Tourism Authority).

Like many Hawaiian words, “kuleana” is a complex term that is difficult to express concisely in English. Kuleana embraces multiple concepts, including integrity, responsibility, stewardship, courtesy, tradition and respect for nature (and natural hazards). 

Photo by Andrew Richard Hara

On one level, kuleana can be illustrated by the example of taking responsibility for your family’s safety around the ocean—being alert at all times in or near the water, not taking the sea for granted, not turning your back on the waves. And if you are less than an expert ocean swimmer, choosing beaches with lifeguards.

“If in doubt, don’t go out,” says Jason Cohn, president of Hawaii Forest & Trail, one of the biggest tour operators in the state and a purveyor of adventures on Hawaii Island and Oahu. The company’s offerings range from volcano-oriented day trips to waterfall hikes along little-traveled streams that plunge down from the island’s volcanic peaks. 

Similar exercise-good-judgment principles apply to hiking in the Islands. You want to be sure you carry essential gear, mind the weather, be watchful that you only enter lands that are open to you, respect the landscape and its history … and enjoy your experiences. 

On another level, kuleana is about seeking experiences that enhance your knowledge of natural and cultural history. I join a Hawaii Forest & Trail tour led by Cohn up a hillside on the north end of Kohala, the oldest of Hawaii Island’s volcanoes. Here, the outfitter takes visitors on walks in a small, privately owned gulch in the community of Hawi. We cross a trestle over the Kohala Ditch, an irrigation flume that has carried water to crops since the early 1900s—and Cohn tells us about the history of local sugar cane farming. We visit a small clearing where we can see traditional Hawaiian food plants such as kalo (taro), breadfruit, banana and sweet potato, all growing in a restored farming terrace. We navigate dense, dark stands of strawberry guava, an invasive nonnative plant that has over­taken much of Hawaii’s original forest and that people work to remove. And we learn the safe way to approach and plunge into a shimmering pool beneath a small waterfall—watching our footing on slick rocks and checking carefully for hazardous rocks above and below the water’s surface.

“Amazing how cool and refreshing it is,” Cohn enthuses. Immersing visitors in Hawaiian lands and heritage, he believes, helps create context that will boost a sense of place, which in turn leads to greater care for the Islands—and an enhanced vacation experience.

Cohn is one of 15 community leaders whom the Hawaii Tourism Authority and Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau have enlisted as spokespeople in videos designed to help visitors understand and practice kuleana. Ocean experts, cultural practitioners, artisans, business owners and journalists all explain why the Islands are unique, and how visitors can help keep them that way. Visitors can look for the film clips on, among other places, Alaska Airlines flights to Hawaii. Kuleana Campaign videos can also be found on YouTube.

In one video, Oahu conservationist Ocean Ramsey advises you to use reef-safe sunscreen. Coral-killing sunscreens are banned in Hawaii, but visitors may unwittingly bring unsafe products from home. In another video, Maui meteorologist Malika Dudley urges you to make sure you’re signing up for a private accommodation that is legitimately licensed for rental. In yet another, Kauai-based cultural practitioner Sabra Kauka suggests devoting some time to volunteer work that helps preserve Hawaii.

That’s what I do one morning at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, one of the state’s highest-profile destinations. This time, I’ve enlisted in the invasive-species battle against a plant that at first glance may seem quite desirable. Himalayan ginger’s tall stems with glossy evergreen leaves are topped by attractive spires of fragrant flowers in rich yellow and orange. It’s a ubiquitous landscape plant in the Islands, seen in many backyard gardens. But it’s also an aggressive plant that has escaped its confined landscaping uses and is outcompeting native species in some areas.

“Amazing what a difference our effort makes,” observes crew leader Jane Field of the newly open, sun-strewn little clearing I’ve made in the woods about a mile from the park’s visitor center. I worked on one ginger patch while others tackled nearby areas. Using big pruning shears, I cut 6-foot ginger spires and stacked them carefully where they wouldn’t suffocate little native plants struggling to grow. I yanked out a few invasive guava seedlings, as well, trying to make room for the ferns and flowering shrubs that are endemic to the forest.

Photo courtesy of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Field and her husband, Paul, lead weekly work sessions at the park under a program called Stewardship at the Summit. It’s one of dozens of volunteer endeavors visitors are welcome to participate in. 

If even a small portion of Hawaii travelers took part in such activities, the effect would be enormous. With more than 10 million visitors a year—about a third of them from foreign countries—Hawaii is among the most popular and best-known travel destinations on Earth. Each year, travel contributes about $20 billion directly to the state’s economy, a fifth of all economic activity in the Islands.

Hawaii residents and community leaders welcome the visitors who reach the chain of islands; the Aloha State is known worldwide for its nickname. Aloha means, among other things, “welcome.” But, as Talwar points out, the meaning of “aloha” also includes respect and care, as does the meaning of “kuleana.”

Photo courtesy of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii is one of many destinations asking guests to be more conscious of their actions while traveling. Responsible-travel campaigns are taking hold around the world, from Canada to Italy to Peru. The Republic of Palau, a small Pacific Island nation, stirred global notice when, in 2017, it enacted the Palau Pledge that all visitors are required to sign before entering the country. This pledge, addressed to the children of the nation, is stamped in passports and compels signees to tread lightly and respectfully. 

Most destinations opt for Hawaii’s approach, which is to promote nonmandatory cooperation in the hope that visitors will realize that awareness around sustainability and safety is for everyone’s benefit. Voluntary pledges for visitors were first introduced on Hawaii Island and on Kauai in recent years. Visitors pledge to be pono (translated as “righteous”) when they sign the Island of Hawaii Pono Pledge (ponopledge.com). There is also some hope that this vow, along with Kauai’s Aloha Pledge (alohapledge.com), may inspire a statewide version tied to the Kuleana Campaign and its awareness videos. 

“Hawaii touches your heart—and we all want to protect that,” says Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kauai Visitors Bureau. “We hope these videos plant the seed for people to be more aware of the people and the place.”

Kauai has struggled with unwelcome behaviors, such as large numbers of visitors encroaching on private land or crossing barriers to access dangerous waterfalls. The Kauai Visitors Bureau and Hawaii Tourism Authority discourage geotagging, a practice of labeling locations where photos were taken, which has been linked to accidents, trespassing and overcrowding. Authorities ask that, if you find a special spot, you take pictures as mementos, and share them judiciously. They request that you not post something that could draw thousands to a steep cliff, or onto private or sacred land.

“Would you go up to somebody’s house, open the door and walk in without knocking?” asks Puni Patrick, a kumu hula (hula teacher) and Hawaiian cultural practitioner on Kauai who harvests salt at an ancient salt-pond complex near Waimea on Kauai’s south shore. Located next to a state park popular with campers and picnickers, the salt-pond complex is not an appropriate area for passersby to simply wander into.

Hawaiians have been making salt here for many centuries. It is a treasured place where more than 20 families now continue the annual salt-making heritage that once was a crucial art for those who thrived in the tropics, without refrigeration. According to legend, the goddess Pele came by on her search for a home in the Islands, and the salt-making ponds epitomize the amazing indigenous Hawaiian lifestyle that enabled people to live self-sufficient lives in these islands. Some families who enter the salt-pond area with guests first perform a chant/song that asks permission and calls on the spirits of those who have worked here for centuries.

Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

While the lands, waters, wildlife and other physical attributes of the Islands are among the many ingredients that make Hawaii unique, the indigenous cultural and spiritual heritage of Hawaii is perhaps its most distinctive feature—one that is easy for visitors to observe today.

The Hawaiian language, for instance, is a beautiful, evocative tongue enjoying a marvelous renaissance. Linguistic learning opportunities for visitors include quick tips on pronouncing words from bartenders at The Olelo Room, a Hawaiian-language-inspired lounge at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa on Oahu. They also include whole weeks­long classes tailored to the many mainlanders who spend several months in the Islands in winter. The language app Duolingo also has Hawaiian capabilities.

Hula classes, once rare, are ubiquitous now; among the most popular are the sessions throughout the week at Waikiki’s Royal Hawaiian Center, where guests learn that hula is a deeply meaningful cultural practice. 

Nearby, at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, guests can join a sunrise ceremony in which participants immerse themselves in the ocean and perform a chant that thanks the sun for its return, and blesses our ancestors for bringing us to this day. My participation a few years ago in this type of ceremony, at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, on Maui, was the first time I invoked my father’s spirit in the Islands.

“I want people to enjoy what I have enjoyed for 70 years, in the way I was brought up,” says Earl Kamakaonaona Regidor, cultural adviser at the Four Seasons Hualalai on Hawaii Island, and a Kuleana Campaign ambassador.

Regidor’s mother was full-blooded Native Hawaiian, and her guidance helped him create a sense of kuleana that is specific to the island he inhabits. Visitors to the resort’s Kaupulehu Cultural Center can learn words in the Hawaiian language, lauhala weaving, lei-making or ukulele playing—many of these taught by Regidor himself.

Regidor credits his ancestors for teaching him the kuleana way of life. His father, for example, would bring him down to the shore (at the exact location where Regidor now works) and they’d fish … for just a half-hour. Regidor recalls asking, “Dad, why did we come all the way here just to spend a half-hour?” 

“Because it’s right to take only what you need—not what you want,” his father told him.

“Respect the people, the culture and the history,” Regidor urges. “My mother taught me: ‘Don’t live in the past, but learn from it.’

“She said it best when you are talking about kuleana,” he muses. “ ‘Respect everything,’ she told me. ‘Everything.’ ” 

Eric Lucas lives on San Juan Island in Washington state. This story originally appeared in ALASKA BEYOND MAGAZINE—JANUARY 2020.

The formula to looking fly: Incorporating safety, employee feedback into custom uniforms

Photos by Ingrid Barrentine

A day in the life of an airline uniform is hard. They brush through bustling airport crowds. They stretch to close overhead bins. They stand up to scorching heat and arctic cold as baggage is loaded, bolts are turned and fuel is measured.

And then they’re washed, dried, and expected to do it again. And again. And again.

So, when we set out to update our uniforms in partnership with Seattle designer Luly Yang in 2016, it wasn’t just a matter of picking a handful of colors and materials.

It was the start of a four-year journey in creating the perfect balance of quality, and form and function to achieve a U.S. airline industry first: a custom-designed uniform collection certified to STANDARD 100 certification by OEKO-TEX®, the highest industry standard for safety.

To meet the rigorous standard, more than 1,200 safety tests on fabrics, zippers, buttons, thread, linings and more were conducted.

Step 1: Asking the right questions

How do you get to the bottom of what more than 20,000 employees need from their uniforms? Well, you ask them. Over the past two years, we conducted surveys, focus groups and work-site visits to get the feedback they needed.

The answers? More pockets to accommodate all the odds and ends that come with keeping an airline in motion. Designs that look great on people of all shapes and sizes. And materials with the perfect amount of elasticity and breathability to keep a crew feeling comfortable and looking polished from the time they take off from Honolulu and land in Anchorage.

Step 2: Creating the look

With the research finished, it was Luly Yang’s time to shine. The designer got to work creating a signature silhouette for the Alaska collection, reviewing designs with employees, gathering feedback and making refinements to meet the needs of Alaska’s pilots, flight attendants, maintenance & engineering teams and more.

“This was the ultimate puzzle for a designer,” Yang said, in an interview with CNBC. “In this case it was more than 20,000 clients, employees with hundreds of body shapes, 13 work groups and sometimes 45 sizes per garment. It was complicated, which is why I loved it.”

The collection, featuring more than 90 garments and accessories, debuted at an employee fashion show in January 2018, hosted in the airline’s Sea-Tac hangar.

But the work was far from finished.

Step 3: From runway to jetway

They looked good, they felt good, but the only way to know if the new uniforms were up to the job was to see how they held up to the pressure of packing, unpacking, bending, lifting, scuffs, spills and spin cycles.

Alaska selected 175 employees to participate in 60 day “wear tests” of the new uniform and report back on performance. Following the first wear test, refinements were made and then a second, abbreviated wear test took place to validate the improvements and quality standards.

Step 4: Ready for lift off

After four years of research, design, feedback and testing, Alaska’s new uniforms launched, making Alaska and Horizon Air the first U.S. airlines to earn the Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex rating for its custom garments.

As the new uniforms continue their rollout in early 2020, with Horizon Air and Alaska Lounge concierges already donning the new look, they have also stood up to scrutiny from one of the toughest panels on the planet: anonymous social media users.

Horizon Air flight attendant Parisjat Banomyong posted a video of her before/after uniform transformation on TikTok, earning more than 140,000 likes.

“My daughter and I just did it for fun and then it blew up,” said Banomyong. “I heard so much ‘you look amazing’ and ‘I can’t wait to see these uniforms on my flight.’ It was really fun to see the reaction.”

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