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For this baby bear, our Alaska Air Cargo service was just right

An orphaned brown bear cub found wandering alone on a military base outside Anchorage is settling in at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo after flying to her new home in the special care of Alaska Air Cargo. 

Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials observed the cub earlier this year on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and took her to the Alaska Zoo when they determined she didn’t have a mother bear to look after her. Orphaned cubs can’t survive alone in the wild, and Woodland Park Zoo was eager to offer its Living Northwest Trail habitat to a cub in need of a permanent home.  

“It’s unfortunate when a wild cub loses its mother and becomes an orphan, especially because the cub learns so much about how to be a bear directly from its mother,” says Kevin Murphy, interim senior director of animal management at Woodland Park Zoo. “We are grateful that we are in a position to take in another brown bear at this time and have the expertise and facility to do so.” 

The 89-pound cub flew to Seattle from Anchorage in mid-July and is now busy getting to know her new digs. “She’s growing like a weed and exploring with her exquisite sense of smell,” Murphy says. The zoo’s staff is using strategies like tucking food into rotted logs to teach the cub crucial bear skills like foraging. “She’s a wild bear and we want her to be resilient and engaged with her environment on every level,” Murphy says.  

Alaska Air Cargo’s expertise in live-animal shipments 

Every year tens of thousands of live animals travel via Alaska Air Cargo’s Pet Connect service – mostly beloved dogs and cats joining their human families. But when the rare bear is booked for travel, the cargo teams and the zoos and wildlife agencies involved work together closely to choreograph the journey to ensure the cub’s safety and comfort each step of the way. 

Our team is so experienced moving animals of all kinds, and we just love it,” says Jeff Munro, cargo operations manager for Anchorage (ANC). His airport regularly shepherds wild animals bound for zoos, wildlife rehabilitation centers or back to remote areas of Alaska once they’ve been rehabilitated. “Whether it’s a bear or a moose or a seal or a puppy, we follow our Pet Connect processes and focus on really taking great care of them,” he says. 

For this cub’s journey, the cargo team coordinated a travel plan with the zoos in both Anchorage and Seattle. Before the flight, the zoos confirmed the size and weight of the cub’s crate so the cargo team could ensure the kennel would fit in the belly of the aircraft, and the Cargo Network Support team reserved space for the bear, blocking other animal bookings from the same flight. “It’s prudent to keep other animals off that flight, both for the bear and other animals like dogs who might be upset by smelling a wild bear next to them,” Munro says. 

Caring customer service 

When the cub arrived for her flight, Munro’s team made sure her crate was secluded away from the cargo station bustle as much as possible. The Cargo Network Support team monitored the timely departure and arrival of the flight, and if the flight had been delayed, they were poised to work quickly with the two zoos to coordinate a new flight plan for the cub. 

The cub received priority loading onto the aircraft in Anchorage. Photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

Like all of our live animal travelers, the cub received the highest-priority loading – last on in Anchorage and first off in Seattle – and when she arrived, the Woodland Park Zoo team was ready and waiting to scoop up their newest resident. “She was calm when we picked her up,” says Murphy, who notes that a small crate can feel like a safe space to a young cub in transit. 

Photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

Woodland Park Zoo ships around 250 animals each year via air freight and chooses to work with Alaska Air Cargo whenever possible because of our team’s attention to customer service and the animals’ needs. “This process was seamless, and when there are no hiccups on the human side, it reduces stress for the animals, too,” Murphy says. “Alaska Air Cargo and Alaska Airlines really show that they care about the animals.” 

The as-yet-unnamed cub still must pass her 30-day quarantine (standard procedure at Woodland Park Zoo) and learn her new environment before visitors to the zoo can meet her, but Murphy is excited to share the cub with the Seattle community. “Brown bears are an iconic species, and this new cub is a symbol of hope to restore grizzlies in the North Cascades,” Murphy says, explaining that all grizzly bears are brown bears, but not all brown bears are grizzlies. This cub is a coastal brown bear – a bit larger than a grizzly – and she will grow to around 500 pounds. “Her role is as an ambassador, and we hope that when people see her and care about her, they will also care more about bears in the wild and preserving their habitat.” 

Alaska Airlines cooks up new vegan & plant-based options for travelers seeking fresh, healthy options 

We’ve filled our flight menu with a range of fresh, bright flavors inspired by the West Coast, including new vegan, plant-based options.

This summer, Alaska Airlines guests can veg out on board with more gluten friendly, plant-based and vegan meal optionsavailable in all cabins.

We’re listening to our guests who told us that they are looking for more plant-based menu options when traveling. Our new vegan option, called the “Soy Meets World,” is a vegan salad developed in partnership with Evergreens, a West Coast-based company that makes gourmet, freshly chopped salads.

We’re thrilled to offer our guests more healthy and nutritious choices when they fly with us,” said Todd Traynor-Corey, managing director of guest products. “We built our menu thoughtfully to offer more plant-based, vegan and gluten-free options, which include a range of fresh, bright flavors inspired by the West Coast and ingredients that are authentically healthy by nature such as roasted broccoli, crisp romaine and baby lettuce greens, quinoa, fresh fruit and more.” 

  • Our Soy Meets World vegan salad includes roasted broccoli, fresh cucumber slices, scallions, pickled carrots, fried tofu and brown rice served over a bed of crisp romaine and baby lettuce greens, topped with roasted cashews, fried onions and paired with a Tamari Chili-Lime dressing.
  • Chicken & Mango Salsa Wrap – Fresh summer wrap with Jamaican jerk-spiced roasted chicken breast, Pepper Jack cheese, mango salsa, baby arugula, and scallion cream cheese. Served with fresh grapes and crisp apples. (Main/Premium Class, Pre-order required, available on trips over 1,100 miles)
  • Sunrise Breakfast Sandwich – Black Forest ham, sliced cage-free hardboiled eggs, and baby arugula on a butter croissant with an herb-garlic cheese spread. Served with a summer lemon aioli and fresh grapes. (Main/Premium Class, Pre-order required, available on trips over 1,100 miles)
  • Fresh Start Protein Platter – Mixed morning protein plate with Black Forest ham, cage-free hardboiled egg, Beecher’s Flagship cheddar cheese, Beecher’s Marco Polo cheese, fresh grapes and pineapple, served with a caramelized pineapple yogurt and Ozery Bakery snacking rounds. (Main/Premium Class, Pre-order required, available on trips over 1,100 miles)
  • Charcuterie Platter – Mixed charcuterie-style plate with prosciutto, Genoa salami, Soppressata meats, fresh grapes, Beecher’s Flagship Cheddar Cheese, Beecher’s Marco Polo Cheese, and mixed olives. Served with roasted pepper and tomato dip with grilled focaccia bread. (Main/Premium Class, Pre-order required, available on trips over 1,100 miles)
  • Signature Fruit & Cheese Platter – Beecher’s Flagship Cheddar Cheese along with Tillamook® Sharp Cheddar Cheese and Brie. Served with fresh apple slices and grapes, Partners® crackers, and a Seattle Chocolate truffle. (Main/Premium Class, Pre-order required, available on trips over 1,100 miles)

Most comprehensive menu in the sky 

We’re proud to offer our guests a variety of fresh and seasonalmeal selections and thirst-quenching beverages on our flights.

Today, we have the most comprehensive domestic food and beverage program in the industry. We offer three meal options in First Class, including our Signature Fruit & Cheese on flights as short as 550 miles.

We also offer ample food options in Premium Class and Main Cabin, which include up to four fresh options on flights over 1,100 miles and up to five snack items on flights over 223 miles, such as the Mediterranean Tapas Pack (vegan and gluten-free).

Our Mediterranean Tapas Picnic Pack includes Pick Pocket Traditional Hummus, Craize Roasted Corn Crackers, Mario Snack Olives, Madi K’s almonds, That’s it Apples + Fig Fruit Bar and a TCHO Pure Notes 67% Cacao dark chocolate.

Now through October, guests can enjoy fresh summer flavors that include berries, summer squash, corn, citrus and tomatoes. To see all of our food and beverage offerings, visit alaskaair.com.

Pre-order meals before takeoff 

Alaska makes it easy to get the meal(s) you want. Enjoy fresh ingredients inspired by the West Coast, from snacks to freshly prepared meals, by pre-ordering your favorites ahead of your flight using your reservation on our app or alaskaair.com. 

Meal orders can be made starting 14 days before your flight, and up to 20 hours prior to departure. Snacks and Picnic packs do not require pre-order and are available on board most flights over 2 hours.

Pro tip: Mileage Plan members can store a method of payment in their Mileage Plan account for touch-free inflight purchases, including food and beverages. Join/Sign in Mileage Plan

Seeing double: Identical twin brothers fulfill pilot dreams at Alaska Airlines

Someday, on an Alaska Airlines flight, you may just find yourself doing a double take when walking by the flight deck. That’s because we just hired a new pilot who happens to be the identical twin brother of another Alaska pilot.

We believe Alex and Alan are our first set of identical twin pilots (but when you’ve been around for 90 years, you can’t be 100% certain). Alan, who just finished simulator training, will be based in San Francisco, while his brother Alex flies out of Los Angeles.

A career – years in the making

The brothers have their parents to thank for their love of aviation. Ever since they were three years old, they would go plane spotting with their dad every Sunday after church. Their mom also brought them along on every business trip where they were bored with everything except the flights. The brothers moved from Kenya to California when they were 13 and brought their love of airplanes with them.

Alan remembers their mom buying them Microsoft Flight Simulator to help support their passion. “After I started playing with the program, that was it. I knew I wanted to do that [fly] for a job,” says Alan.

The path to Alaska

The brothers sitting in a flight deck around age 13.
13-year-old brothers sit in the flight deck of a commercial aircraft.

Alaska was the first choice for Alan when he was looking to move on from the regional airlines. Working for the same company as his brother was enticing, but he was also drawn in by the people and company culture, he says.

“When I was working as a fueler, Alaska employees – whether it was pilots or people working across the operation – were always the nicest people who reached out to encourage me,” said Alan.

Alex agrees: “Alaska is like a family – you’re not a number.” He appreciates how employees like Captain Rich, Anchorage base chief pilot remembered him and encouraged him through the interview process.

Sharing the flight deck

Because of the complexity of our operation, it’s not common for pilots who are family members to be able to fly with each other, but that’s the brothers’ goal.

“We’ve never flown together professionally because we’ve always been on different aircraft,” said first officer Alex. “The goal is to have one of us upgrade to captain and be operating the same aircraft so we can fly together.”

When they’re finally able to fly together, there’s one special person who needs to be in the cabin—their mom—who was so instrumental in fostering the brothers’ love of aviation, hasn’t ever flown with one of her sons.

“We have to get her on one of our flights,” said Alex.

Alex
Alan
Alan and Alex

Alaska Airlines becomes first U.S. airline to launch electronic bag tag program

Today, we’re announcing that we will become the first U.S. airline to launch an electronic bag tag program later this year. 

Electronic bag tags will allow guests to skip the step of printing traditional bag tags at the airport. Travelers will be able to activate the devices from anywhere—their home, office or even car—up to 24-hours before their flight through our mobile app. 

“This technology allows our guests to tag their own bags in just seconds and makes the entire check-in process almost all off-airport,” said Charu Jain, senior vice president of merchandising and innovation at Alaska.”

Not only will our electronic bag tags allow our guests to quickly drop-off their luggage after they arrive at the airport, the devices will also give our employees the opportunity to spend more one-on-one time with guests who ask for assistance and reduce lines at our lobbies,” says Jain.  

The activation is done by simply  touching the phone used for check-in to the electronic bag tag, which has an antenna that powers and reads the information transmitted from the phone. The e-paper bag tag’s screen will then display the guest’s flight information. 

Alaska’s electronic bag tags will display the guest’s flight information. Download video here.

Our electronic bag tag program is expected to reduce the time spent dropping-off checked luggage by nearly 40%.  

In March, we launched a new self-bag drop system at San Jose International Airport, where guests can save up to a little more than four minutes. Our goal is to modernize travel at every major city we fly, from reimagining the lobby to testing innovative technology that streamlines the airport experience. 

As we continue to grow, we’re evolving our services and products in the air and in airports to create better experiences for our guests. We’re using the San Jose airport (SJC) as an incubator for the future of seamless travel, including kiosk-less lobbies, DIY bag drop, biometric boarding and beyond. Learn more.

Alaska Airlines is the first U.S. airline to pioneer this innovative electronic bag tag program here at SJC,” said San José Mayor Sam Liccardo. “This program will modernize the check-in process and provide a more sustainable option for travelers.”

Rollout of the electronic bag tag program will happen in several phases. The first phase will initially include 2,500 Alaska Airlines’ frequent fliers who will begin using the electronic bag tags in late 2022. Mileage Plan members will have the option to purchase the devices early next year. 

We are very proud to announce the first American carrier adopting our EBT solutions,” said BAGTAG Managing Director Jasper Quak. “Alaska Airlines’ relentless efforts to make their passenger journey a true 21st century experience makes us very confident in a successful rollout among their guests.”  

↓ Download rending of Alaska Airlines’ electronic bag tag. Download video b-roll.

Alaska Airlines, Microsoft and Twelve partner to advance new form of sustainable aviation fuel 

Aviation is all about journeys—to visit family, for great adventures, to do business. At Alaska, we’re also on a journey to improve our impact on the environment and we’ve set ambitious goals to measure our progress, with a long-term target of zero carbon emissions by 2040.  

But we know we can’t do it alone—succeeding in this journey requires new solutions and great partners. Today, we’re excited to kick off a new partnership we have with Microsoft and Twelve, a carbon transformation technology company, to advance sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Together with the innovators at Twelve, recently named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, we’ll work together to bring it’s E-Jet®—a low carbon jet fuel produced from recaptured CO2, water and renewable energy — into commercial use.   

As part of the collaboration, we will work towards a demonstration flight using one of our aircraft powered by E-Jet®. After testing is complete, the goal is to use some of the fuel to reduce the climate impact of Microsoft’s business travel on us.  

What is SAF? 

SAF comes from many sources, including captured methane from landfills, forestry waste, and agricultural residues, rather than from fossil fuels. It provides the greatest opportunity to make a step-level change in the climate impact of aviation within the next couple of decades. It is a safe, certified fuel that meets all jet fuel standards to reduce carbon emissions by as much as 80% on a lifecycle basis. SAF is a “drop-in fuel” meaning it can be incorporated into existing jet fuel transportation and storage, such as at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), where blended fuel travels through a pipeline to airports to be used on aircraft.  

SAF is a core part of Alaska’s five-part pathway to net zero by 2040. Since 2010, we have worked with various public and private partners to advance policies needed to jumpstart the nascent SAF market and create new offtake agreements that cultivate partnerships to accelerate market development. In 2011, we were the first domestic carrier to fly multiple scheduled routes powered by a SAF blend, and as mentioned, we are using blended SAF regularly in SFO. Alaska was also a founding member of the Aviators Group of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Buyers Alliance, announced at COP26, bringing an operator’s perspective to collaborations driving demand and supply.  

Learn more about how we’re caring for the planet in our 2022 Sustainability Report.

However, there is not enough SAF volume to shift the market toward cleaner fuels—currently less than 1% of total fuel available is SAF—and the price is three to five times more than conventional jet fuel.  

Scaling SAF and making it available at a commercially viable cost and scale requires change on several fronts—from passing legislation to support a federal Blenders Tax Credit to bringing new forms of SAF to market from a variety of feedstock sources. Twelve’s E-Jet® helps address this latter issue, by bringing exciting new technology into action to advance new sources of SAF, making direct use of recaptured carbon dioxide.

Keep an eye out for updates as this partnership takes off! 

This announcement also appeared on PRNewswire.

Alaska Airlines surprises employees with 90,000 miles to travel the globe

Alaska Airlines is celebrating its 90th anniversary by giving all employees the gift of travel.

While many of us were instructed to stay home during the pandemic, airline employees were part of the essential workforce who remained on the front lines. Each day brought new challenges, regulations and precautions that our people had to carefully navigate while continuing to care for our guests, communities and each other.

As we inch our way to a new normal—happily seeing travelers’ pent-up desire to hop on a plane—Alaska is taking a moment to thank each employee for their relentless commitment to caring for our guests for 90 years & counting by giving them 90,000 miles to fly anywhere in the world.

As we celebrate 90 years of flying, we wouldn’t be where we are today without our incredible people who work nonstop to keep things moving, even throughout a global pandemic,” said CEO Ben Minicucci. “When you think about how many airlines have come and gone since 1932, it’s an amazing achievement that we’re still here and stronger than ever—it’s because of the genuine care and hard work our people bring to our operation every day.”

Our COO Constance von Muehlen surprised a few of our hardworking employees today with this exciting news!

The great thing about miles is they never expire and offer flexibility to travel not just on Alaska, but also on our oneworld partners like British Airways, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Finnair and our other airline partners. Travel awards begin at just 5,000 miles, and can be used to book First Class tickets, a relaxing stay at a hotel or tickets to an anticipated event—there are so many ways to use airline miles!

With 90,000 miles, you can plan a trip to almost anywhere in the world: 

  • For instance, a roundtrip flight from Seattle up and down the West Coast starts at just 10,000 roundtrip, which means you can get you up to nine roundtrip flights!
  • Roundtrips from Seattle to New York start at 25,000 miles, or even visit Hawaii from San Francisco starting at 30,000 miles roundtrip.
  • Want to travel internationally? A roundtrip flight to Europe from the West Coast starts at 60,000 miles through our oneworld partners. Mileage prices do vary so search for your travel dates to see the prices for the dates and cabins you want to travel in.

Watch COO Constance von Muehlen surprise a few of our hardworking employees today with this exciting news:

@alaskaair

Today, we gave every employee 90,000 miles to celebrate 90 years of flying. 💙✈️ #AlaskaAir #TravelTok #TravelTheGlobe #EmployeeAppreciation #WhereToNext #iAmAlaska

♬ Sunrise – Official Sound Studio

Travel is what we do. It’s who we are.
Here are some reasons why we love it:

Many of our employees come to work for an airline because of a passion for adventure and travel, so what better way to honor 90 years of flying than with the gift of travel?

In one word, we asked our network of employees to tell us why they travel and what motivates them to keep flying. We hope their answers inspire you to start planning your next trip.

I travel for nature,” says Matt, a senior software engineer in Seattle. “I try to find the natural beauty everywhere I roam.”

I travel to escape,” says Amanda, who works as an accounting specialist in Seattle. “This means I travel to get away from normal life, learn new things and then I appreciate the life I already have when I return!”

I travel for Knowledge,” says Nick, a customer care representative in Seattle. “I’m a huge science and history buff and I love the outdoors, so I travel the world visiting national parks, historical sites, museums or even just awesome mountains to climb.”

I travel because of friends,” says Ryan, a senior information security engineer. “Because I like creating fun, unique experiences. Time is the most valuable thing I have, and I like creating unique opportunities with them.”

Seatmates to soulmates: How one couple’s Alaska flight led to a proposal and swirl through the world

While deep into her episode of Jane the Virgin, Krystina Burton was waiting to board her Alaska Airlines flight from JFK to LAX, when a stranger sat close enough to her she could read the seat on his ticket.  

The couple’s first selfie 💙

“I could see his ticket and that he’s going to be sitting next to me, and I remember thinking, ‘Really, this guy? He has no spatial awareness, and this is who I’m going to sit next to? Great,’” she said.  

Gabriel Solberg—the “the guy with no spatial awareness”—remembers it much differently.  

“Her story is not accurate,” he smiles via Zoom from his home in Germany. “I was tired. I remember wanting to get on the plane, there was nowhere to sit at the gate, so I just sat there for a moment and thought I was going to stand up soon. I didn’t notice her. ” 

But he says he does remember Burton walking down the aisle toward her seat, fumbling with her headphones and cracking a smile at him as they made eye contact. 

“She has a very charming smile. That’s the first time I really noticed her,” he said. “And then we just connected.” 

The conversation between Solberg and Burton was so natural that the pair didn’t even notice there was a slight delay before takeoff. In fact, it was the highlight of the trip that ultimately changed their lives forever. 

“I don’t even remember why we were stuck on the tarmac, we were just talking the whole time,” Burton said. “It was good that we were on the tarmac because we exchanged numbers and we texted immediately.” 

In no time, the plane took off for their destination and so did their conversation. The professional dancer and tech worker watched three movies together and found themselves opening up about almost everything: past relationships, likes and dislikes, their travels and music. Burton likened it to a first date. 

By the time they landed, they’d made plans to reconnect. Solberg made good on his word and returned to Los Angeles to see Burton the next week. The rest is history.  

Alaska Airlines reminds me of how we met. It was also the airline I took back to LA, the airline that she came back to New York with me on,” Solberg said. “Our entire two-week experience was with Alaska Airlines.” 

Fast forward nearly four years after that first connection on our flight— and the couple is now planning to say “I do!”

Solberg popped the question in 2019 during a vacation in Italy. 

The pair travel the world together, and have a popular Instagram @swirlthroughtheworld where they post about their exciting nomadic lifestyle; including trips to Greece, Germany (where Burton is currently dancing for a production of Aladdin), Paris, Italy, France and St. Lucia. 

Next year, they plan to return to the United States, where they say Alaska Airlines will once again be a part of their love story. They want to continue exploring the country.  

I love Alaska Airlines, it’s the best airline for national travel in the U.S., hands down,” said Solberg. 

Photos courtesy of Krystina Burton and Gabriel Solberg.

Flying Alaska Airlines this summer? 6 tips to make your next flight easier

Summer can fly by fast—and with record high travel volumes—we’re here to help you have a great trip and get you where you need to go.  

We’ve pulled every lever in our control to increase our stability this summer, resulting in a strong June in which we completed over 99% of our flights. This reliability came from the combination of proactively trimming our summer schedule earlier this spring and hiring and training thousands of new frontline employees. As in the communities around us, positive COVID cases continue to impact our employees, adding some uncertainty to our staffing levels.

Here are some tips to help you fly through summer: 

1. Plan ahead  

Give yourself plenty of time to get to and through the airport. Parking, checking bags and getting through security can take longer during peak travel times. Visit our airport guides before your trip for recommended arrival times, ticket counter hours, airport services and more. Remember: We begin boarding flights 30 minutes before takeoff. 

Save time through security with SEA Spot Saver, a reservation program to get you through the security process quicker in Seattle. Similar spot saver programs are also at CHS, EWR, MCO, PHX, YYC.

Join a trusted traveler program
Membership in programs like TSA Pre-Check®, Global Entry, Nexus or SENTRI allow you access to the faster security screening lanes at participating airports, where you don’t have to remove your shoes, belts, or light jackets, and your 3-1-1 liquids bag and laptop can stay in your carry-on.

2. Avoid lines, go green, download our app  

Alaska’s app is the way to go! Get your boarding pass, check your flight status and plan your trip all from the palm of your hand. Download the Alaska Airlines app for iPhone, Android, or Windows Phone before your next flight. 

Pro tip: Connecting flights can also increase your chances of experiencing a delay, so if you can fly nonstop, book it! 

3. Pre-order onboard meals 

Enjoy fresh ingredients inspired by the West Coast, from snacks to freshly prepared meals, by pre-ordering your favorites ahead of your flight via your reservation on our app or alaskaair.com. Meal orders are open 14 days before departure. 

Pro tip: Mileage Plan members can store a method of payment in their Mileage Plan account for touch-free inflight purchases, including food and beverages. Join/Sign in Mileage Plan 

4. Stream + surf with $8 Wi-Fi  

Never miss out on your latest show or searching for something in the sky with our new $8 flat rate for Wi-Fi. You can connect to Wi-Fi from the moment you board our planes enabled with satellite Wi-Fi, instead of waiting for the connection to kick in after the boarding door closes—it’s seamless connectivity from gate to gate.  

Bonus: Use the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card and snag a 20% savings on inflight purchases including Wi-Fi. 

5. Have us on speed dial  

Our team is here to take care of you 24/7. If you need to reach us, text us at 82008 or chat with us. You can also call our reservations team at 800-252-7522. 

If your flight is affected by a schedule change, we will move you to the next available flight. If your new flight works for you, great! We’ll see you onboard—if not, here’s what to do if your flight has been changed or canceled. 

6. Check the weather if flying with pet(s) 

Sunny summer days can bring high temperatures in some cities we serve. When temperatures forecasted exceed safe pet travel limits, we’re unable to fly animals in our baggage compartment. Learn more about traveling with pets. 

7 ways to make the most of your Mileage Plan elite status 

Those who get it, never want to lose it: Elite status in Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan. It’s that good.  

With an array of benefits, it can be overwhelming and, frankly, easy to overlook what  your status brings to the table when you fly with us and our fellow oneworld Alliance members. We’re here to change that, especially as many of us are travelling more.  

1. Land an upgraded seat – right away. 

As you might already know, elite members on Alaska enjoy complimentary First Class and Premium Class upgrades when available.  

Each tier has a set of fare classes that are eligible for instant upgrades that can be used as early as when you book your trip. If upgrade space is available on your flight and you book one of these fare classes, you’ll be upgraded immediately.  

If no upgrades are available at booking, or you didn’t book one of the fare classes eligible for upgrades at booking, you’ll be put on the upgrade waitlist. Where you sit on the waitlist depends on four factors:   

  1. Your elite tier 
  1. The fare class your ticket is booked in 
  1. If you reached Million Miler or Two Million Miler with us (this is a new addition) 
  1. The final tiebreaker, when all of the above is equal, is the date and time you’re added to the waitlist 

The upgrade window opens five days (120 hours) before travel for MVP Gold 75K and 100K, three days (72 hours) prior for MVP Gold and two days (48 hours) prior for MVP.  

It helps to know that not every seat that’s shown on our seat map is eligible for an upgrade – even within the upgrade window – and sometimes upgrade space is not available until closer to departure. Friendly  reminder: Saver fares are not eligible for upgrades. 

We recently made a notable change: The upgrade list now shows all guests who are eligible for upgrades – not just those who have checked in. You’ll see the latest upgrade list beginning 24 hours before the flight on our app, online or at the gate. Dive into more details about qualifying for complimentary upgrades. 

2. Share your status with friends or family. 

Every year, MVP Golds and higher receive four Gold guest upgrades. This is a great way to share your status with people like friends or family. 

You can apply the Gold guest upgrade to a reservation you’ve already made, or you can see where the guest upgrade can be used instantly when you’re booking a flight.  

Like complimentary upgrades, using guest upgrades is dependent on space availability. Top things to know when using this perk: 

  • Not all fares are eligible. To see which ones you can apply a guest upgrade to, select “MVP Gold guest” in search results and look for flights with a blue “F”. 
  • Be flexible. Off-peak flights or dates may likely have more availability for instant upgrades using a guest upgrade.   
  • Check back closer to travel. If no upgrade space is available when you book, visit the Manage Reservation page closer to your trip since upgrade availability may change.   

Note: Not all fares are eligible to have a Gold guest upgrade applied. We’ve mapped out specifics of what you need to know when using Gold guest upgrades. 

3. Earn bonus miles.  

As an elite, you earn bonus miles with every flight you take with Alaska or our partners.  Mileage Plan offers the highest elite bonuses in the sky, getting you to that next award even faster. Elite bonus miles are earned on top of any base flight miles earned, but not on promotional bonus miles.   

Mileage Plan offers the highest elite bonuses in the sky, getting you to that next award even faster.  Elite bonus miles don’t count as elite qualifying miles or toward tier requalification.   

Elite bonus miles range from 50% of base miles to 150% of base miles depending on your tier. Learn more about our tiers.  

4. Keep your status when you fly on world class airlines. 

If you have elite status with us, you automatically have Priority tier privileges with the oneworld Alliance, a group of the world’s leading airlines with connections to more than 900 destinations in 170 territories.  

  • MVP members a oneworld Ruby 
  • MVP Gold members a oneworld Sapphire 
  • MVP Gold 75K/100K members a oneworld Emerald 

The benefits are worth crowing about: Our elite flyers can get priority check-in, access to preferred seating and priority waitlist when on standby, priority boarding, bonus miles and more depending on tier status. oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members can also access partner lounges when traveling internationally.    

The specific benefits vary depending on the airline you’re flying on, and it’s helpful to know that you will not necessarily receive the exact same benefits you’d receive on Alaska. For example, you’re eligible for complimentary upgrades on Alaska but upgrades are currently not a oneworld benefit. 

5. Enjoy added benefits when flying American Airlines. 

American Airlines is a oneworld member like us, but we also share a longstanding partnership. As a Mileage Plan elite, you’ll enjoy added benefits when flying on American Airlines – on top of your oneworld Priority privileges: 

  • All our elites are eligible for complimentary access to select extra legroom seats known as Main Cabin Extra on American Airlines when there’s availability. Unlike Alaska’s Premium Class, Main Cabin Extra does not have a waitlist if these seats are full. 
  • All elites enjoy free bags and priority boarding. 
  • MVP Gold 75K and 100K members are eligible for space-available complimentary business or first-class upgrades on American Airlines in the U.S. and between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda and Central America, with confirmation as early as 72 hours before departure if seats are available. You’ll be prioritized after American Airlines’ Platinum Pro members. Members are now eligible for upgrades whether the flight was booked with us or on American Airlines. 
  • We know changes happen. MVP Gold 75K and 100k receive complimentary, same day confirmed changes on American Airlines. 

6. Treat yourself in the Lounge and onboard. 

Our guests love our Lounges. Our MVP Gold 75K/100K members receive four complimentary day passes every year. You can even share them with family and friends if you like. Interested in purchasing a Lounge membership? All our elites get a $100 discount. 

On board, we like to pass along special somethings to our MVP Gold members and higher when they’re with us in the main cabin. Savor a complimentary premium beverage or a jcoco-branded chocolate bar. Our MVP Gold 100K members are also offered a light snack in the main cabin, such as popcorn, potato chips or chocolate almonds.  

7. Keep your status with elite-qualifying miles. 

Elite-qualifying miles (EQMs) are the ticket to earning and keeping your status with us.  Our EQMs are accrued based on the distance you fly and any class of service bonuses.  

You can gain elite status based on the eligible miles earned or segments flown—not just on Alaska—but also flying on our additional airline partners. 

Note: Each of our airline partners has a different earn rate that may not always equal 100% of the miles flown. 

In addition to the total eligible EQMs or total segments flown, there’s a minimum number of trips required on flights marketed and operated by Alaska in order to earn or keep your status. 

Since EQMs vary by the type of fare you book, certain fare classes – such as First Class – earn even more. It’s an amazing way to rack up EQMs and get you to elite status faster. For example, if you purchase a First Class ticket on Alaska, you’ll earn 200% of your total flown miles as EQMs. Learn more about the EQMs you can earn with us.  

Our Mileage Plan offers the fastest path to elite status in the United States.  Not only are the elite qualifying thresholds some of the lowest compared to other U.S. airlines with similar qualification criteria, but there are also no minimum revenue requirements to earn or keep your status.   

We hope you’ll continue enjoying your benefits or sign up today to join the many travel perks! 

Alaska Airlines partners with like-minded brands to offer guests products made with care

Care guides us in pursuit of brands that care about people and the planet. 
They share a meaningful purpose and spark joy simply by focusing on the little things that matter. 

Behind every pretzel twist or chocolate covered almond or truffle and even soap in our bathrooms, there’s a meaningful purpose and reason why brands are part of the Alaska experience. 

At our core, we are all about taking care of people—from our guests to each other. We care about offering the most genuine care, value and ease in the sky—it’s what sets us apart from other airlines and attracts other like-minded brands to love working with us. 

Below are some of the products we carry onboard and in lounges, plus a little more about each of the beautiful humans behind the brands. 

We’ve put in time and lots of thought to find brands to work with that care about the same things we do. These companies are risk-takers, problem-solvers, are ethically-minded, thoughtful, kind and believe even the smallest of things—like a pretzel, a scent or an almond—can have a purpose,” said Todd Traynor-Corey, MD Guest Products. 

Stellar Snacks  

“It’s not just a pretzel, it’s a labor of love.” 

The mesmerizing packaging is as creative as the tiny twists inside. Don’t miss artists’ signatures on the corner of every bag! 

Founders of a timeless classic, Elisabeth Galvin (she/her) and Gina Galvin (they/them), along with their brilliant team, bake their pretzels from scratch daily in Carson City, Nevada. From hand-picked seasonings to sustainably harvested flours, they take pride in using natural ingredients to make their ambitious flavors. 
 
Stellar Snacks believes that something as small as a pretzel can have a purpose. You’ll notice onboard, each bag of Stellar Snacks is a little work of art. They intentionally partner with budding artists to bring its packaging to life. Artists are given a platform to showcase their talents. 
 
“It’s one of the ways we love to give back and highlight a talented person that may otherwise go unseen,” says Gina. 

We believe in creating Stellar experiences for all—so we partner with brands who also want to make a difference,” says Gina. “For us, the bottom line is the value we bring to people and the planet, so you have to be courageous, inclusive, sustainable and most of all, kind. After one flight with Alaska, it’s no mystery why it is the Most Caring Airline, and we know that care branches into so many aspects of the business—in-flight and behind the scenes.”

Elisabeth and Gina, Stellar Snacks 

Antica Farmacista 

Fresh scents with warm, soothing aromas and floral pairings that brighten your everyday.

Susanne and Shelley, Antica Farmacista 

Antica Farmacista brings transportive, artfully composed fragrances to familiar spaces—like our aircraft and in our Lounges.  

Founded nearly 20 years ago in Seattle by two dear friends, Susanne Pruitt (she/her) and Shelley Callaghan (she/her), Antica’s decadent fragrances are meant to make you feel good and transport you to a fond memory or feeling while also nodding to a time-honored craft.  

Every scent is infused with care and a lot of thought, so that each aroma reminds you of a time or place,” says Shelley. “For me, some take me back to my childhood or moments with my grandfather. We want [people to enjoy the spaces they’re in—whether it’s on an airplane, stepping into a hotel or your living room—like memories, fragrance should be familiar, lasting and draws you in.” 

As a breast cancer survivor and mother of two boys, Susanne is no stranger to seeking out adventure and lives every day to the fullest. For her, it’s all in the details.  

“Being able to run a business with your best friend is always an adventure and even more meaningful because we care so much about the little things and making people feel a certain way,” she said.  

“Ocean Citron,” was specially created by Antica to give our guests cool blue ocean vibes with notes of California lemon, soft jasmine, lavender, green tea, among others. 

Deeply committed to making fragrance an extension of one’s style and environment, Shelley says they work with brands to master what their fragrance could be. Their collection currently has over 20 alluring fragrances, including Alaska’s very own scent, called “Ocean Citron.”  

The refreshing ocean-inspired products can be found in all our aircraft lavatories (sanitizer if you’re traveling on a Q400) and in our Lounges where you can enjoy its pairing lotion. 

SkinnyDipped 

They don’t sugar coat…they Skinny Dip! 

By the end of a bittersweet summer in 2012—after the passing of a dear friend of theirs— Breezy and her mom, Val, hit the reset button and knew they wanted to spend more time together. So, they started SkinnyDipped in Val’s kitchen in Seattle. 

Breezy and Val, SkinnyDipped 

Together, with the help of Breezy’s two best friends, they began hand-dipping almonds at their kitchen table. After a lot of testing (and tasting), they perfected and launched SkinnyDipped’s OG Dark Chocolate Cocoa Almonds, which is one of our sweet & salty snacks onboard. 

Loaded with plant protein and made without any artificial ingredients, SkinnyDipped products are made with the utmost care—the almonds you get onboard are even sourced from certified bee-friendly farms. 

Kindness is infused into everything we create and bake,” says Breezy. “If we wouldn’t put it on our table for our friends and family, then we wouldn’t put it under SkinnyDipped. It simply comes down to doing the right thing, and we very consciously have tried to be the cleanest, best, most delicious, healthiest product we can be for all.” 

“Alaska was always kind of like a dream partner for us. Featuring our snack onboard made us feel like hometown heroes, just that embrace of local and showing support of the community was huge,” said Val. “The fact that Alaska was willing to pick us up and believe in us at a fairly early stage in our business was super heartwarming and still to this day is a very special relationship to us.” 

As a mother/daughter-founded company, Val and Breezy are committed to raising up and supporting women and the children they love in both their local communities and around the globe. That’s why they launched their give-back program, Brick by Brick, to help support women, build schools and recycle (literal) TONS of plastic in West Africa, where the majority of the world’s cacao is grown. 

SkinnyDipped snacks onboard Alaska flights are made from whole roasted almonds dipped in a thin layer of dark chocolate with a kiss of maple sugar and sea salt and a dusting of cocoa; the thin chocolate layer means you get more nut than chocolate (and less sugar) in every bite. 

Seattle Chocolate 

Simply put, we’re here to lift you up 

Like Alaska, Seattle Chocolate is endlessly inspired to evolve, to be better to each other and the planet and to find a way to leave the world kinder (and more delicious & fly) than we found it.  

As a woman-owned company, they know that magic happens when everyone has a voice. “It makes us bolder, pushes us to take risks, and honestly, it’s just a lot of fun,” says Jean Thompson, owner and CEO of Seattle Chocolate since 2002. 

Jean Thompson, Seattle Chocolate owner and CEO (right) – and Alaska MVP Gold member – says the company’s values and products reflect her own passions and tastes. Read more.

Seattle Chocolate’s mission has always been to make the world brighter through chocolate, especially when it comes to empowering girls and women. That’s why 10% of net profits from every purchase from their collection supports Girls Inc.  

Learn more about their impact and join us in cheering on the next generation of movers, shakers, and change-makers! 

Fun fact: Seattle Chocolate jcoco-branded bars are also thank-you gifts for Mileage Plan MVP Gold members. 

Like many of the brands we team up with, including the ones featured today, each strives to leave the world a happier, healthier and better place to be—and we couldn’t be more onboard with that kind of care. 

Stay tuned for more behind the brands you’ll find with Alaska! 

Are you interested in being a supplier for Alaska Airlines? Check out our refreshed supplier site (www.alaskaair.com/suppliers) to register your company and be added to our database, learn about our Supplier Diversity program, access invoicing instructions and more.

Alaska Airlines supports Juneteenth Foundation ‘because when values align, great opportunities can take flight’ 

Our values guide everything we do, and it’s the reason Alaska supports the Juneteenth Foundation. 

Last year, like many companies, we recognized Juneteenth for the first time—a significant milestone in American history that reminds us to reflect on our country’s past and consider how we can show up and build a more equitable future for all, together. 

Juneteenth is not just a Black holiday, it’s an American holiday that gives us all an opportunity to show how far we’ve come and how much more work we still have to do so everyone has the same opportunity,” said James Thomas, director of diversity, equity and inclusion. “We’re excited to partner with the Juneteenth Foundation because when values align, great opportunities can take flight.” 

This year, The Juneteenth Foundation hosted The Freedom Festival in Washington D.C., one of the largest Juneteenth week-long celebrations in America, where Alaska employees, students attending HBCUs, community leaders, celebrities and Fortune 500 brands came together to celebrate some of the world’s biggest names in Black culture, philanthropy, entertainment and music.

As the official airline partner of the Juneteenth Foundation celebration in Washington D.C, we’re honored to represent the aviation community and contribute to a great cause. We also left a special surprise under people’s seats (roundtrip tickets) and can’t wait to see them in the skies soon. 

At Alaska, we believe education is the great equalizer and a critical component on the path to equity. 

Last year, we joined the HBCU Partnership Challenge to promote greater engagement and support between private companies like ours and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). We know we still have work to do, but we also recognize the impact we can have when we use our voice to advance our values. 

We have a responsibility to use our platform and voice to encourage conversations around the need for greater diversity, equity and inclusion within our industry and beyond,” says CEO Ben Minicucci, who was recently elected to UNCF’s Board of Directors. “We are inspired and guided by our value to do the right thing and know we’re stronger when everyone has equal opportunity and a seat at the table.” 

We’ve been a proud partner with UNCF for over 15 years, and last year committed to donating another 10 million miles to fly students to college tours at HBCUs around the country.   

Over the weekend, at the Juneteenth celebration in Washington D.C., 25 students were awarded scholarships toward their education from the Juneteenth Foundation, Alaska Airlines and other partners. Citerra Johnson was one of several who could attend. As a nursing student going into her senior year at Coppin State University, she says she was so excited to be receiving one of the grants.  

Five of the scholarship recipients were able to attend the Juneteenth Foundation Honors ceremony.

The Juneteenth scholarship means a lot to me, I was looking for scholarships and grants through my school and saw this and decided to apply because it will really help ease some of the burden going into my last year,” Johnson said. 

Alaska Airlines is committed to DEI 

Last February, we announced our 2025 diversity, equity and inclusion goals and committed to creating a more inclusive workforce. Since then, we’ve shared updates on what’s underway to meet our goals. This work is core to our values and critical to our strategic growth plan, and we’re pleased to share we’re making progress. Learn more. 

Through career panels, events, philanthropic giving, and community partnerships, as of June 2022, we’ve created career pathways for more than 15,000 young people.

From CSA to VP: Celley Buchanan elected vice president of airport operations and customer service at Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines’ board of directors has elected Celley Buchanan vice president of airport operations and customer service. In this role she is responsible for all aspects of the airline’s airport operations across its broad network, excluding Seattle. 

Buchanan is a 23-year veteran of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. She started her career as a customer service agent in Los Angeles (LAX) and served there for 13 years, progressing into leadership of all aspects of Alaska’s operation, including serving as LAX general manager.  

She then moved to Horizon Air as director of ground operations for two years, before moving back to Alaska as director of operations support services. She has been in her current role, managing director of airport operations support for Alaska since 2020, where she set the long term strategy for ground support equipment, business partner performance, cabin cleaning, deicing and divisional safety, among other programs.   

Celley Buchanan

Buchanan’s leadership helped to establish the airline’s Next-Level Care program at the start of the pandemic, which introduced more than 100 safety policies and procedures designed to ensure the safety of our guests and employees.  

Celley is a people leader with a deep understanding of our operation and what makes us tick,” said Wayne Newton, senior vice president of airport operations and customer service at Alaska Airlines and chairman of McGee Air Services board of directors. “Her tenacity and skill working across the organization will raise our airports teams to even higher levels of performance, safety and empowerment.” 

Buchanan is a graduate of the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business Executive MBA program. Connect with her on LinkedIn. 

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