Alaska Airlines Expands Northern Bites Meals-for-Purchase Program

Alaska Airlines announced today it will begin offering its Northern Bites meals-for-purchase program on the majority of its designated mealtime flights longer than three hours. The $5 meal option for passengers in the main cabin will replace the complimentary sandwich snacks previously offered on these flights.

The airline introduced its Northern Bites meals-for-purchase program in 2005 on most flights to and from Mexico. Starting Aug. 1, Alaska will expand the program to include mealtime flights between the Lower 48 states and the Alaskan destinations of Anchorage and Fairbanks, as well as between Seattle and both Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth. The airline will continue its complimentary snack sandwich service in the main cabin on flights serving East Coast destinations and the Mexican destinations of Guadalajara and Mexico City.

"Our customers have told us they really enjoy the Northern Bites fresh and hearty meals as an option on their flights," said Gregg Saretsky, Alaska’s executive vice president of marketing and planning, who noted about 30 percent of passengers on current Northern Bites flights already take advantage of the $5 meal offering. "We’re pleased to expand this popular program, which will give even more of our customers distinctive, affordable meal options, while contributing to Alaska’s ongoing efforts to manage costs."

By expanding the Northern Bites program to the majority of Alaska Airlines’ flights with meal service, the airline anticipates saving several million dollars annually.

During morning mealtime flights, Alaska Airlines’ Northern Bites meal option will be a freshly prepared breakfast skillet, initially featuring a hearty breakfast of seasoned potatoes, scrambled eggs and grilled reindeer sausage. On lunch and dinner flights, the Northern Bites program will offer a turkey chipotle sandwich wrap with salsa or a quarter-pound U.S. Angus Beef cheeseburger with potato chips.

The airline will rotate the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus monthly to offer frequent fliers variety at mealtime. Passengers seated in first class can select a Northern Bites meal free of charge or a salad option on lunch and dinner flights.

The Northern Bites expansion is the latest in a series of inflight product introductions for Alaska. In May, the airline began offering Red Bull energy drinks on its flights, available free in first class and for $3 in the main cabin. Last fall, the airline introduced award-winning Alaskan Amber beer, also available free in first class and for $5 in the main cabin. Alaska also added Athena® bottled water, a product whose profits directly benefit women’s cancer research, to its customers’ complimentary beverage choices.

Alaska Airlines and sister carrier, Horizon Air, together serve 88 cities through an expansive network throughout Alaska, the Lower 48, Canada and Mexico. For reservations visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.

SOURCE: Alaska Airlines