Back to school: Packing tips for college students flying back to campus

August 20, 2015
Guest Experience
Samantha Lund, Staff Writer
1 min read

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It’s that time of year again – school has almost started and anxious first-year college students are trying to figure out how to pack their lives into suitcases and move into dorms.

For students who live farther away from school, the move can be stressful. Many students just fill a car with their belongings and take a road trip. But, for those who live too far to drive or are moving from Alaska or Hawaii, the move can be daunting.

Luckily, dorms already have furniture and all you need to do is bring the essentials. Packing the “essentials” into two airline-approved suitcases may seem impossible, but here are five tips and tricks to make moving via air easier.

Keep your camera ready: Coastal train from Anchorage to Seward offers panoramic views of wild Alaska

August 17, 2015
Stories
Caitlin Goettler
1 min read

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Winding through snow-capped mountains and lush green fields decorated with an array of colorful wildflowers is Alaska Railroad’s Coastal Classic Train. The four-hour, one-way train trip carries passengers from Anchorage to Seward in the summer months (May 9 to Sept. 13) and offers views of stunning glaciers and ample opportunity for photos and wildlife viewing.
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Travel like a pro: How boarding works

August 13, 2015
Guest Experience
Hillary U, Staff Writer
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Everyone’s been there. That moment when you’ve printed your boarding pass, made it through security, and have found a coveted seat in the boarding area. It’s a moment when you take a deep breath and prepare for what comes next – boarding.

The first thing to remember is a rule that should apply any time you travel – pack your patience. The front wheels of the aircraft leave the runway about two seconds before the rear wheels, meaning that everyone takes off at basically the same time. So there is no need to rush to get on. Remember that everyone’s going to the same place and that being patient will result in a smoother boarding process.

Beyond sweets: At Seattle Chocolates, it’s all about the journey

August 10, 2015
Stories
Samantha Lund, Staff Writer
2 min read

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Chocolate means something different to everyone. Maybe it reminds you of Halloween, Valentine’s Day, a special anniversary or even just being a kid. At Seattle Chocolates, chocolate is made to be an everyday luxury and experience.

Seattle Chocolates is nestled in a corner of Tukwila a few miles from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Owner and CEO of Seattle Chocolates Jean Thompson is the innovator behind the company’s latest chocolate line, jcoco. Inspired by fashion and culture, jcoco balances style and flavor to be the “foodie’s” chocolate of choice.

“Every piece of chocolate should tell a story,” says Thompson.

The line’s debut bar for Alaska Airlines is a sweet and savory combination of white chocolate, cayenne and orange, that was inspired by a friend’s trip to the Yucatan Peninsula. It was very hot and when the friend asked for something to help her cool down, a local sliced an orange in half and dunked it in cayenne chili powder. The story inspired Thompson to create the jcoco cayenne veracruz orange bar.

Every jcoco bar flavor has a story or journey behind it, and with Alaska Airlines, you can try one on your next journey. Alaska Airlines MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75K members may now request a jcoco bar as an in-flight treat in place of their complimentary alcoholic beverage.

Alaska will begin offering a more seamless travel experience on American Airlines

August 5, 2015
Stories
Alaska Airlines
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The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is expanding its reach with new options to earn and redeem miles on American’s full network, which will include flights that were historically US Airways flights, beginning October 17 – and other enhancements arriving even sooner. These will add value to Alaska’s frequent flyer miles and improve the benefits of MVP elite status.

American Airlines and US Airways merged in 2013 to create the world’s largest airline. Mergers happen in stages, and the pending October 17 migration to a single reservation system will be a significant moment when all US Airways flights become American Airlines flights, making them eligible for the same benefits and opportunities that Mileage Plan members already receive when they fly with American. Customers can book the flights starting today for travel Oct. 17 or later.

More Mileage Plan: 5 ways to earn more miles

The adventures of Piglet and Aurora: Two lost toys have an Alaskan adventure

July 31, 2015
Stories
Dianne McGinness
1 min read

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A simple ferry ride turned into an Alaskan adventure for two fuzzy stuffed animals named Piglet and Aurora, when their owner accidentally left them behind.

Petersburg, Alaska resident Lizzie Thompson had exchanged stuffed animals with family friends in Virginia for the summer, so their children could learn about each other’s homes through their stuffed animals’ adventures. Lizzie’s 8-year-old daughter Kate sent her stuffed blue-footed booby Albert to Virginia and Aurora, an orange sea turtle, came to stay with the Thompsons in Petersburg. Piglet is Kate’s favorite toy and constant travel companion.

The plan was to take the stuffed animals on summer adventures and journal about their travels as they went.

However, after being left on a ferry between Sitka and Petersburg, Piglet and Aurora ended up on an adventure of their own.

Outdoor Adventure: Climbing the West

July 29, 2015
Stories
Alaska Airlines
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One of the most fantastic mountaintop views is from atop the Grand Teton, a 13,770-foot crag that towers above its namesake park in Wyoming. Look east and the Jackson Hole valley spreads out before you, with Timbered Island, a glacial moraine now heavily treed. To the west, the Jedediah Smith Wilderness with its cloud-scratching peaks is sprawled before you.

Of course, to enjoy this view, you have to climb. It’s not as daunting as you’d think. There are a couple climbing concessions in Grand Teton National Park that will both teach you how to climb, and escort you to the summit.

Ready to get outside? Explore outdoor adventure deals at alaskaair.com.

Alaska testing biometric IDs, boarding passes

July 25, 2015
Stories
Halley Knigge, Staff Writer
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One carry-on bag. One personal item. A jacket. Your morning coffee. A boarding pass. Two hands to juggle it all as you wait to board your flight.

Something about the above equation just doesn’t add up, and Alaska Airlines’ customer research and development team knows it – which is why they’ve spent the past several months testing the use of fingerprints as a form of identification. Through this experiment, customers can use their fingerprints instead of a boarding pass and/or government-issued ID to check their bags, speed through the security checkpoint and board their flight.

Team Russell vs. Team Joel: Game on

July 17, 2015
Stories
Samantha Lund, Staff Writer
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Squatting Suburbans, benching boats or lifting linebackers, no workout can prepare you for the ultimate challenge: a plane pull.

Update July 28, 2015, 2 p.m.: Team Russell successfully pulled the jet 25 feet in 16.9 seconds, with Team Joel coming in at over a minute. (A second pull by Team Joel actually netted a time of 15.6 seconds, but was unofficial.) All agreed that Strong Against Cancer was the real winner.

Fans cheer during the Alaska Airlines Plane Pull with Russell Wilson and Joel McHale benefiting Strong Against Cancer at The Museum of Flight in Seattle on Tuesday, July 28, 2015.

Russell Wilson poses for a photograph fans during the Alaska Airlines Plane Pull with Russell Wilson and Joel McHale benefiting Strong Against Cancer at The Museum of Flight in Seattle on Tuesday, July 28, 2015.

Cancer survivor Kat Tiscorina gives Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson a high-five during the Alaska Airlines Plane Pull to benefit Strong Against Cancer at The Museum of Flight in Seattle on Tuesday, July 28, 2015.

Joel McHale pulls the plane during the Alaska Airlines Plane Pull competition against Russell Wilson, benefiting Strong Against Cancer at The Museum of Flight in Seattle on Tuesday, July 28, 2015.

Russell Wilson and Joel McHale pull the plane together during the Alaska Airlines Plane Pull benefiting Strong Against Cancer at The Museum of Flight in Seattle on Tuesday, July 28, 2015.

Russell Wilson cheers his team on after defeating Joel McHale during the Alaska Airlines Plane Pull benefiting Strong Against Cancer at The Museum of Flight in Seattle on Tuesday, July 28, 2015.

Both Russell Wilson and Joel McHale’s teams gather for a group photograph at the conclusion of the Alaska Airlines Plane Pull benefiting Strong Against Cancer at The Museum of Flight in Seattle on Tuesday, July 28, 2015.

Russell Wilson gives high-fives to fans during the Alaska Airlines Plane Pull benefiting Strong Against Cancer at The Museum of Flight in Seattle on Tuesday, July 28, 2015.

Fans are seen during the Alaska Airlines Plane Pull with Russell Wilson and Joel McHale benefiting Strong Against Cancer at The Museum of Flight in Seattle on Tuesday, July 28, 2015.

Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden speaks to the crowd during the Alaska Airlines Plane Pull with Russell Wilson and Joel McHale benefiting Strong Against Cancer at The Museum of Flight in Seattle on Tuesday, July 28, 2015.

Joel McHale cheers the crowd during the Alaska Airlines Plane Pull with Russell Wilson, benefiting Strong Against Cancer at The Museum of Flight in Seattle on Tuesday, July 28, 2015.

Cancer survivor Kat Tiscorina addresses the crowd during the Alaska Airlines Plane Pull with Russell Wilson and Joel McHale benefiting Strong Against Cancer at The Museum of Flight in Seattle on Tuesday, July 28, 2015.

Alaska Airlines contest winner Don Winters high-fives his teammates during the Alaska Airlines Plane Pull with Russell Wilson and Joel McHale benefiting Strong Against Cancer at The Museum of Flight in Seattle on Tuesday, July 28, 2015.

Joel McHale pulls a plane with his team during the Alaska Airlines Plane Pull Strong Against Cancer at The Museum of Flight in Seattle on Tuesday, July 28, 2015.

Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson pulls a plane during the Alaska Airlines Plane Pull with Joel McHale benefiting Strong Against Cancer at The Museum of Flight in Seattle on Tuesday, July 28, 2015.

Alaska Airlines’ Chief Football Officer Russell Wilson and actor and comedian Joel McHale are facing off in an epic plane pull to raise money and awareness for Strong Against Cancer, a national initiative dedicated to ending childhood cancer.

Teams of 18 led by Wilson and McHale will compete to see who can physically pull a Boeing 737-800 25 feet in the shortest amount of time. They’re also competing to see which team can raise the most money for Strong Against Cancer.

5 reasons you should work for Alaska Airlines

July 13, 2015
Stories
Halley Knigge, Staff Writer
1 min read

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You know you love to fly on Alaska. But have you ever considered working for your favorite airline? Here are five reasons you should browse Alaska’s job listings today.

20 things for 20-somethings to do in Milwaukee

July 9, 2015
Stories
Samantha Lund, Staff Writer
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Milwaukee is not the usual 20-something’s idea of a vacation spot. What do they even have there, cheese and beer?

If the beer isn’t enough to get you there, it turns out Milwaukee is a creative hub for art, music and food like you’ve never seen.

Here are 20-something must-do’s for 20-somethings visiting Milwaukee:

Travel like a pro: 5 ways to ease your travel day using airport kiosks

July 6, 2015
Guest Experience
Razel Mella, Staff Writer
1 min read

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You’ve seen these shiny silver machines all over the Alaska Airlines system, and you know you can use them to check in. But did you know that these sleek kiosks let you do a lot more than just get a boarding pass? Here are some other features of our favorite self-service machines.