When it comes to recycling and sustainability, we mean business. We’ve set goals to reduce our carbon emissions to net-zero by 2040, as well as efficiency, waste and water goals for 2025, and are always looking for ways to offset our footprint.
For over two years, we’ve reduced waste on board by shifting to more sustainable practices and service items such as ditching straws in our lounges and on aircraft, using cans instead of plastic bottles and reducing packaging where we can.
Today, we’re excited to partner with Boxed Water to begin to replace single-use plastic bottles in First Class, as well in the main cabin on our Q400 aircraft, with Boxed Water’s 92% plant-based cartons. This will effectively remove 7.2 million plastic bottles from landfills per year — that’s equivalent to approximately 98,000 lbs of plastic. Earlier this year, we introduced Boxed Water on Alaska’s Horizon Air operated flights and will expand the program to all Alaska flights this summer.
Boxed Water is exactly what it suggests: a fully recyclable box-shaped carton of water, sealed with a plant-based cap. Each carton is made from sustainably harvested trees and the multi-filtered water goes through a proprietary eight-step purification – giving it a clean, crisp taste.
Alaska and Horizon employees are also excited to re-launch our industry-leading inflight recycling program on May 19.
Beyond our common goal of moving to non-plastic alternatives, both Boxed Water and Alaska partner with the National Forest Foundation (NFF). Boxed Water has planted 1.2 million trees with the organization and Alaska guests supporting their mission through donating Mileage Plan miles in our LIFT Miles program. Alaska also encourages our guests to bring their own refillable water bottle, and if each time a guest tags Alaska and #FillBeforeYouFly with a photo of their refillable, we’ll plant a tree in partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to strengthen local habitats.
Our sustainable journey
In 2007, several environmentally conscious Alaska and Horizon employees formed the “Green Team,” a business resource group dedicated to improving the environment through increased in-flight recycling and trash sorting programs and other environmental initiatives. The group was the first of its kind in the airline industry and their efforts have significantly decreased the amount of waste per guest that ends up in landfills. Green Team members were also involved in the selection process for Boxed Water.
When researching alternatives to plastic water bottles, the Green Team considered a variety of factors on overall environmental impact such as water sourcing, packaging materials, recyclability, and shipping distance,” said Robbie Neff, Green Team member and pricing team lead at Alaska. “Boxed Water scored better than the other options of glass bottles and aluminum cans.”
In 2019, we encouraged guests to join our efforts by bringing a reusable water bottle when they travel and #FillBeforeYouFly, as part of an initiative to completely avoid using single-use plastics.“Is there anything cuter than a mini box of water? I think not!” @courtney.mones via Instagram
While we know our greatest impact is reducing carbon emissions, every decision we make, including how we source the products we serve onboard is critically important. Alaska is committed to working with forward-thinking companies like Boxed Water that are focused on sustainability, both in their finished products and operations.
We admire Boxed Water’s leadership to change manufacturing, production, conversation and consumer choice to create a more sustainable and eco-friendly future,” said Traynor-Corey, managing director of guest products for Alaska Airlines. “We hope that when our guests are enjoying Boxed Water they are interested in learning more about eco-friendly products and, ideally, are inspired to make sustainable choices when they travel and on the ground.”
Alaska Airlines reveals “Our Commitment” aircraft in partnership with UNCF to promote education and equity
We are on a journey to make Alaska Airlines a place where everyone belongs and has opportunity. We also believe education is the key to equity and representation, with the power to transform the lives of young people—opening doors to careers in aviation and beyond. In partnership with UNCF, this special aircraft is a symbol of our commitment to education and advancing racial equity at Alaska Airlines, and we hope it inspires others as well.
One of our diversity, equity and inclusion commitments is to help create career pathways for young people by supporting programs like UNCF, the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization, who we’ve been working with for more than 15 years. Today, we are proud to reveal a special aircraft that symbolizes our support for education and equity – called “Our Commitment.” We know there is much more to do, and this airplane is a flying reminder of the journey.
“The time is always right to do what is right.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela
“When you learn, teach, when you get, give.” – Dr. Maya Angelou
Inspired by these words and designed in partnership with Alaska’s Black employees, allies and UNCF, Our Commitment aircraft features profiles of the next generation of leaders — the children, grandchildren and mentees of Alaska’s employees along with teachings from extraordinary social activists. Because when we create belonging, we can be our best and soar together.
As a company, we know we are not yet where we need to be when it comes to diversity, but we are inspired and guided by our value to do the right thing. With this aircraft, we are doing the right thing by amplifying the conversation around education, equity and belonging and taking it to the skies,” said Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines CEO. “This aircraft will continue to be an inspiration for us on the journey.”
‘Education has the power to transport us from where we are to where we want to go.’
This aircraft will fly throughout Alaska’s network, inspiring conversation, raising awareness and spreading the word about UNCF, an organization dedicated to enabling under-represented students to become highly qualified college graduates.
In 2017, UNCF became one of our LIFT Miles partners, enabling guests to contribute airline miles alongside the company to ensure travel does not hold young people back from pursuing their dreams. Today, our company and guests have contributed more than 13.4 million Alaska Airlines miles to fly students to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for college tours, career development events, and other UNCF programs.
As part of our commitment, Alaska will donate one million miles annually to support students attending HBCUs. We’ve also established a scholarship fund through UNCF to help students overcome the financial obstacles of getting a college education. Learn more about donating miles here.
Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO of UNCF says, “While small in number, our HBCUs are landmarks to our past and keys to our future. They enable us to keep a legacy — by their very existence. HBCUs are much more than schools. They are places where Black students can feel safe, welcomed, and embraced by the college community. Additionally, the nation’s HBCUs make up just 3% of America’s colleges and universities, yet they produce almost 20% of all African American graduates and 25% of African American graduates in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics — the critical industries of the future.”
We are proud to reveal a special livery to celebrate our commitment to equity in education – introducing the “Our Commitment” aircraft. Revenue service for the aircraft begins on April 27, with an inaugural flight from Seattle to Washington D.C.
Our Commitments
Earlier this year, we shared our commitments to racial equity.
Our commitments are not simply a statement of values, they are a statement of actions and accountable goals we believe are essential to making our guests feel welcome and our employees feel valued, respected and seen.
Based on input from employees, we set three areas of focus:
Representation: Increasing the racial diversity of our leadership to reflect the diversity of our frontline employees.
Culture: Cultivating an inclusive culture so employees feel welcomed and that they belong.
Public Leadership: Working with community-based organizations to positively impact the lives of young people through education and career development.
We are expanding our programs for outreach, recruitment and career pathways to cultivate and support diverse talent and continue to work closely with our employee business resource groups and external partners to learn and improve. See our latest DEI progress.
About the aircraft
Where did the idea come from?
As an airline with the unique asset of aircraft, we have a long history of wearing our values on our wings, including our “Honoring those who serve” aircraft, which honors the brave men and women of the U.S. military. We use our aircraft to drive awareness and inspire conversation around topics of importance to our company and the communities we serve.
Alaska employees inspired the aircraft following conversations with Alaska’s Black business resource group known as ABEA or Alaska Air Group Black Employees, Allies & Advocates, around last summer’s civil unrest.
De Marco Best, a Duty Manager of Simulator Operations in Seattle, who has been an ABEA leader since its inception in 2006, says this aircraft is a small part of Alaska’s equity and inclusion efforts. It represents the most visible part of its commitment for the next decade and holds us accountable for creating an equitable future, says Best—for our children, our grandchildren, and us all.
This airplane supports kids and education. I happen to have an affinity for education and kids, especially underserved youth and those who look like me. I think all kids could be inspired by this plane to find a career that they’ll love. If every child can find a career—not a job— that they are passionate about, it could propel them and create lasting change that instills the power of education,” said Best.
We focused on one key question: How can Alaska do something lasting, inspirational and impactful? With aircraft as our biggest tool, we realized we could create a flying reminder of the work toward equity.
Who are the faces?
The custom-painted Boeing 737-900 ER features artistic renderings of 14 students connected to Alaska’s employees, along with quotes from legendary social activists, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and former South African President Nelson Mandela, whose leadership and words continue to drive our commitment. Learn more about the students represented on Our Commitment aircraft.
Who are the designers?
The typography and color palette on the aircraft were created by Adé Hogue, a Chicago-based artist and designer who found inspiration in Civil Rights Movement-era imagery.
At the beginning, my mind went to protest posters from the 60s and the shape of the design slowly shifted into what you see today,” Hogue said. “A lot of the sort of lettering pieces I do, especially with things like this, I try to use the subject matter as a basis for things I’m creating. I think we integrated something that feels strong and impactful.”
Hogue worked with designer Jonny Mack, who has previously designed ten of Alaska’s special aircraft, to take our employees’ vision and make it a reality.
“Designing artwork for an airplane is incredible. It’s a big challenge and there’s lots of things that go into it. We knew we wanted to illustrate actual people instead of generic profiles that didn’t mean anything—we decided ‘let’s feature real people and have a real story to tell,’” said Mack.
The type treatment, he added, was a critical piece.
“The quotes from activists, thinkers and world changers on the plane are just as important as the people … and are a heavy weight to put on somebody—Adé was the first person I thought of for this project because I’ve seen his work and saw what he was doing in this space for social justice,” said Mack.
Adé Hogue and Jonny Mack met in 2019 at a Letter West design conference in Salt Lake City, sponsored by Alaska Airlines.
What can flyers expect onboard?
Onboard, guests will be able to learn more about the aircraft through a custom seatback card and digital resources featuring bios of the students on the aircraft, details on Alaska’s DEI commitments, and information about UNCF, including how to donate miles to support college students.
They are part of a 138-feet-long, 41-feet-high piece of art that will fly in Alaska’s fleet for up to 10 years to symbolize Alaska’s own equity journey and our collective commitment to education in partnership with organizations like UNCF.
Profiles of 14 students — family members and mentees of Alaska’s employees – are represented on the aircraft. Recently, these remarkable young people have shared their reflections on equity and education, in their own words:
“Equity is something a kid can’t control, yet could possibly affect their entire future,” says Shilah, 11th grade. “Every child deserves an equal opportunity to be able to succeed, and you only get that when you have an equal playing field.”
“Knowledge is power. If you have knowledge, you can change the world. You can make it a better place and that’s what we really need to do,” says Dominique, 11th grade.
“Equity challenges the imbalances and power within our society,” says Alexis, sophomore at Whitworth University. “Equity is not about making sure that everybody has the same amount. It’s about making sure that everybody has the same start.”
Learn more about the children, grandchildren and mentees of Alaska’s employees featured on our newest special aircraft
Represented in order of how they appear on the aircraft from nose to tail.
JADE
DAUGHTER OF SARAH, DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION SPECIALIST (SEA)
Jade is featured at the front of the aircraft just before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.‘s quote. She is a linguistics major at the University of Washington and has studied Spanish, Portuguese and Swahili. She is also fluent in German, which she taught herself in just three years by watching YouTube videos and reading books.
“I’ve always been captivated by foreign languages. When I was younger, growing up in Seattle, I’d always be surrounded by different cultures and languages and was curious to know what they were saying,” said Jade. “So, when I figured out linguistics was a field and something I could study in university. I was like, ‘that’s it,’ and I haven’t changed my mind since.”
“I truly believe a mind is a terrible thing to waste.” -Jade
Her mom, Sarah, who has been a customer service agent and manager at the Seattle airport and lounge, and leads Alaska’s Black employee resource group, is inspired by her daughter’s willingness to never give up and to look at all the steps, no matter how hard they are, and go for it.
“Jade is an example of what happens when you don’t block your kids from doing the things they think of — and kids can think of some pretty ridiculous things — like when she told me she wanted to learn German. I remember saying to myself, ‘Why, you’ve already done four years of Spanish?’ But she had this idea and not only that but teaching herself. Inside, I had doubts, but I didn’t say anything, and if I had, I wonder if she would have had doubts too and not be where she’s at today? I’ve learned as a parent not to put barriers in front of children and let them be whoever they want to be,” Sarah said.
Jade and Sarah.
ELLE
DAUGHTER OF FRANCHESSA, ALASKA AIRLINES FLIGHT ATTENDANT (LAX)
Elle is a freshman in Long Beach, California. She is on the high school track and field team and says she feels the freest when running. After graduation, she hopes to attend Howard University or another HBCU.
She also enjoys playing Minecraft and creating on TikTok. She says her biggest influences are her mom and actress Zendaya because they are “strong, beautiful and talented.”
Elle looks forward to running hurdles this year.
“I always caution her never to limit herself,” her mom, Franchessa said. “‘Go out there and get it,’ I tell her. As females, and Black females, we are already limited, so I tell her to make herself as marketable as possible. I think that’s one of the reasons I named her Elle. I have two kids and named them their names for a reason — Because I didn’t want them to be limited by anything if I could help it. I didn’t want them to be stereotyped or have less opportunity. I wanted it to be as even playing ground as possible — school especially should give every kid a fair start.”
Franchessa and Elle.
LONDON
MENTEE OF KIM, ALASKA AIRLINES FIRST OFFICER (SEA)
London grew up fascinated by the planes she could see from her house as they took off from Boeing Field and Renton Municipal Airport. By age 14, she was immersed in aerospace education programs — and now, she has her own private pilot’s license and plans on graduating from the Air Force Academy in 2025. “I want to get a degree in either aerospace engineering or computer science, and probably a minor in French, and pilot slot through the Air Force too,” she said.
She is currently at the Air Force Academy Preparatory School in Colorado Springs, and has high hopes of flying jets, following in the footsteps of her mentor, Alaska Airlines First Officer Kim Ford.
First Officer Kim Ford and mentee London in 2019.
“I’m glad that I have had the opportunity to be a part of flying organizations like Red Tailed Hawks through Black Pilots of America and fly camps where I get to see other people that look like me flying,” said London. “Internships are also important for kids my age to learn, grow and gain experience and great mentors, like Kim. Making sure there are opportunities like that is so valuable and has helped me and my other pilot friends get to where we are at today.”
London, her mom Sherrie and Kim Ford.
SHIMONE
SON OF GLORIA, ALASKA AIRLINES RESERVATION AGENT (PHX)
Shimone’s side profile that inspired his portrait on the plane.
Shimone, 15, is a high school freshman in Arizona. He loves football and has played the game since he could pick up a ball. “He is a great sport on and off the field,” says his mom.
Gloria, a reservations agent in Phoenix, says Shimone is shy but very sweet and kind. When he’s not playing football as a defensive back, he is doing schoolwork online or playing PlayStation. He also attends Bible study at least once a week.
Shimone is one of nine brothers and three sisters—who he loves to play pranks on, says Gloria. “He’s a very good big brother and mentor. I just remind him to work on his mindset and always stay focused and that education is the key to success.”
Gloria with Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci at the Our Commitment aircraft reveal.
“Shimone inspires me because he’s so mature for his age, he makes me laugh and is such a big helper. His heart is just so sweet like he’s just very kind and I love it.” – Gloria
When Shimone grows up, he’s thinking about becoming a fireman.
SHILAH
DAUGHTER OF SHIRAH, ALASKA AIRLINES FLIGHT ATTENDANT (LAX)
Shilah, 16, aspires to have a career in STEM. She loves computer science, graphic design and crochets for fun. When she’s not doing schoolwork, she loves playing golf with her dad, Devon—he taught her everything she knows about the sport. Ever since she picked up a club, she’s enjoyed the critical and technical thinking required to make every stroke and putt. When she graduates, she hopes to attend MIT.
Shirah, Shilah and Devon.
“I’m a very artsy person, but I’m also very meticulous with my work, so I like certain things and subjects like math and science that have an order to it. I want to be a software developer or just like graphic design. I want to mix the two worlds I enjoy into one, so I can have a career I enjoy,” Shilah said.
Shilah’s mom, Shirah, an Alaska Airlines flight attendant, says her daughter is like her ‘yang’ and has helped her to think differently.
“My generation was raised completely different than her generation, so she’s taught me to be a little bit more open-minded and open to learning new things her way,” Shirah said. “Just because we are the parents doesn’t mean that there’s not an opportunity for us to sit back and learn from our kids. She’s taught me not to just be the parent, but to also be the student with her.”
Shilah and Shirah.
MICAH
SON OF JONNY, ART DESIGNER OF OUR COMMITMENT AIRCRAFT
Micah, 22, is a 2020 graduate of the Air Force Academy. He is now a 2nd Lieutenant and is beginning his journey to becoming a pilot. At the Academy, Micah studied economics and played Division I football and later took up boxing and was named All-American. He is currently stationed in San Antonio, Texas, awaiting pilot training. He looks forward to flying the T-6 Texan later this year.
Micah was inspired to go into the military because of his grandfather on his biological father’s side, who earned a Purple Heart while serving in the Vietnam War. Jonny, Micah’s dad and one of Alaska’s Our Commitment aircraft designers, has been in Micah’s life since he was two years old.
Micah and Jonny.
“My Dad’s taught me empathy and patience and that being different makes you special,” says Micah, who is biracial. “Growing up, having two white parents, I usually had to explain myself to new people and could see the shock on their faces … what a lot of biracial kids experience is like ‘you’re not black enough for the black kids and not white enough for the white kids’ and you are always kind of looked at a little bit different. I’m thankful I’m able to embrace those differences now and look at them as a positive.”
Jonny and Micah admiring the plane.
“Micah’s dedication is just beyond anything I’ve ever seen,” Jonny said. “He’s always been the kid who wakes up early to go workout, leaves school and trains and did all of the things necessary to be above and beyond. And that’s been something I learned and changed about myself after seeing it in him and try to emulate in my own career today.”
ARTHUR
SON OF MACARA, ALASKA AIRLINES TRAINING DELIVERY SPECIALIST (SEA)
Arthur is in 8th grade and was just accepted to an aviation and aerospace STEM high school. His greatest love is aeronautics and space exploration. He also enjoys creating models using his 3D printer—his favorite creations are his custom chess pieces. His biggest dream is to fly in space. Arthur holding custom 3-D chess pieces he designed.
Arthur studying his custom chess pieces.
“We walk on the ground and can only see birds in the sky or planes. So, I think it’s fun to be able to think of what space is like and what it’s like to get off your feet and fly like an astronaut — like a bird in the sky but figuring out everything to make sure that you can stay in the air and everything that goes into that process excites me,” said Arthur.
Arthur and Macara.
“He wants to build a cruise ship in space or in the sky one day, and you know, that’s OK,” Macara said. “I tell him it’s OK to think farfetched and beyond what people think because the greatest creators are usually the ones who achieve what we all once believed to be impossible. He just amazes me and thinks in a different way that encourages me to be patient and expand my mind a little bit more too.”
Macara, Arthur Jr. and his dad Arthur.
BRANDON
SON OF RON, ALASKA AIRLINES BASE CHIEF PILOT (SEA)
After traveling to Europe with his family during the 2010 World Cup games, Brandon caught the soccer bug and is now a sophomore at the University of Portland, living out his Division I dream as a goalkeeper for the men’s soccer team.
“He’s a goalkeeper and that makes him a little crazy. Goalkeepers have to run toward the ball instead of running away from the ball,” his dad, Ron, Alaska base chief pilot in Seattle, said jokingly. “They have a great program and are a nationally ranked team, so when he was recruited, that was cool. I’m very proud of him.”
Ron says his kids, who are biracial, have what they call ‘this half and half hybrid thing going on, which is awesome.’ He says the important thing is when they see themselves, they see what is important: “whatever they want to see.”
Cameron, Ron, their mom Celiane and Brandon.
“When they asked us what color they were — once you discover you have a color … so awful, right? — You get this, label of color, and my kids are mixed, so they asked what color? ‘Well, my dad is Black, my mom’s white.’ And we’ve always said, ‘you’re just the color beautiful,’ and that’s where we left it for years,” said Ron, father of both Brandon and Cameron.
CAMERON
SON OF RON, ALASKA AIRLINES BASE CHIEF PILOT (SEA)
Cameron attends Washington State University, where he majors in broadcast journalism and works three jobs. When he graduates in the spring of 2021, he’s thinking about moving to New York City to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, specifically for late-night talk shows. His favorites are The Daily with Trevor Noah and the Week Update segment on Saturday Night Live.
“My guys — they are blazing their own trails. They deal with situations that I never dealt with, being mixed race, so I try to help them, but I also respect the fact that I don’t live in their shoes. I don’t know what it’s like to be them. I can empathize and we can talk, and they always know they’ll have unconditional love from me, so that makes it so much easier. But they also realize, and I let him know, that they will never be victims. They may be targeted sometimes, but we are never, ever going to be a victim.”
Cameron, Ron and Brandon.
DOMINIQUE
GRANDDAUGHTER OF HILDA, ALASKA AIRLINES STATION OPERATIONS DUTY MANAGER (SEA)
Dominique is in 11th grade in South Seattle. She loves water polo, literature and working with children at a daycare in South Seattle. She plans to attend an HBCU and aspires to have a career in social work.
“I really enjoy being around kids, like I really do. I love my little sister. I love all the kids that are at the daycare that I work at,” says Dominique.
Dominique also loves fashion — same goes for her grandmother, Hilda — and nail art.
Her dream is to attend Morgan State University in Baltimore or Howard University in Washington, D.C. because of their social work and psychology programs. “My favorite subject right now is a college readiness class. We work on applications, resumes and what’s best for us and what we’re doing right now to be successful later on,” she said.
Hilda and Dominique.
“It’s been beautiful to see her flourish and to watch her grow. She’s so used to fighting and working so hard that it’s just become a part of her. I’ve never seen anyone so determined to win,” said her grandmother, Hilda, who is a station operations duty manager in Seattle.
ALEXIS
DAUGHTER OF JOHN-ANTONY, ALASKA AIRLINES SENIOR TEST MANAGER (SEA)
Alexis is currently a sophomore at Whitworth University. She is double majoring in International Studies and French, with aspirations of going into law. She is passionate about policy and what policy can do to change lives. She also enjoys poetry and roller skating with her friends.
When asked what the most influential thing is that she’s learned from her dad, John-Antony Dubreuil, a leader in ABEA, Alaska’s Black employee resource group and ITS senior test manager, is ‘the power of hard work.’
“I know that sounds really cheesy and it sounds like the go-to answer that every minority student will ever say but it’s true — it’s hard work that gets you places, and being diligent. I think it’s also important to think critically about various subjects. Like not to just accept things as they are but seek to understand why they are how they are and what you can do to change it.”
JA with his daughter Alexis at the Our Commitment aircraft unveiling.
“Education is important because ignorance brings pain. It brings a lot of hurt and a lack of empathy and compassion for people of different backgrounds and different cultures. Education plays a huge a role in learning what’s what and a holistic education teaches you about so many different things,” Alexis said.
KADEN
SON OF KAREN, FORMER ALASKA AIRLINES DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION (SEA)
Kaden is a high school sophomore and a member of the school’s bowling club and the Special Olympics swim team. Kaden is on the autism spectrum and was non-verbal until he was 6 years old. These days, you can’t get him to stop talking––his favorite thing to say is “I love you, Mommy.”
“I want Kaden to have the same opportunities that anyone else has. I want him to have the life that his sister has. I want him to graduate high school in the same amount of time as other students … I want him taking the classes that everybody else is taking. It’s important for me because I never want anyone to give up on my son,” she said.
Karen and Kaden.
Kaden is a straight A student and loves his classes, and his teachers adore him.
“Equity is really important, because regardless of the differences he has or his learning ability, he is thriving and I believe that is because of equity,” says Karen.
Kaden and Karen.
KYRA
DAUGHTER OF KAREN, FORMER ALASKA AIRLINES DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION (SEA)
Kyra is a high school senior and plays basketball at an academy in Florida. She hopes to continue playing in college and has been accepted to all of her college choices for academics.
“Honestly, I just want to be my best self if that makes sense like wherever life takes me. If basketball is not a part of it or is, I just want to live out my life to its fullest potential. Like I don’t want to limit myself,” she said. “I would just like to be successful at whatever I do in life, like my mom who has built her way up in her career and I think it’s so impressive and I just want to be like her.”
Karen and Kyra.
Kyra is passionate about representation, especially within education. She helped organize a Black student union at her previous high school and likes how her new school has many clubs to represent minorities.
“I felt like I really belong here, like I’m at home even though I’m across the country away from my family,” she said. “Equity in the classroom leads to how people start out in their professional lives — when they go to college or enter the business world. It’s important to know where someone is coming from and what makes them who they are.”
Her mom, Karen, was part of the group who started on the path to designing Our Commitment aircraft.
Kyra and Karen react to seeing the plane for the first time.
JONATHAN
SON OF JOHN-ANTONY, ALASKA AIRLINES SENIOR TEST MANAGER (SEA)
“If you go about it in the right way, an education could help your community,” Jonathan said.
Jonathan is currently a freshman at the University of Washington, majoring in communications. He loves coordinating social events with his friends and listening to jazz music. He also speaks French and Spanish.
Jonathan thinks education should be looked at with circular logic.
“Education in many ways is correlated to a paycheck and the higher your education, the more you typically are paid — it’s what you can do with that money that matters. If that money could be pumped back into your community, it could open so many more doors and the rest of your community could have the opportunity to be educated.”
JA, Johnathan and Alexis.
Growing up, Jonathan and his family practiced Karate. He says he learned a lot of life lessons from it.
“Something my dad says a lot, when we did karate that still resonates with me, is ‘practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect performance.’ And, like this plane, it’s a great start but its impact will depend on the actions put into it.”
To be a Black travel professional in today’s industry still comes with microaggressions and bias even in 2021. Fighting for equal opportunities, pay and the need to constantly break negative stereotypes toward people of color can be emotionally exhausting. But as a diversity travel consultant, I understand there’s an opportunity for the industry to create a reality where everyone sees themselves, feels they belong and can be their absolute best. It takes admitting there is a problem, awareness of all people and a commitment to change and support from leadership, and progressive plans of action. Celebrating diversity isn’t always easy or comfortable, but in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “The time is always right, to do what’s right.”
When I first saw Alaska Airlines’ Our Commitment aircraft, my cheeks blushed and my eyes filled with tears. I was so overwhelmed by the magnitude of what I was seeing. For the first time as a Black woman, avid traveler, and passionate advocate for diversity in the travel industry, I was speechless at what I saw on my computer screen. The only word I could utter out was ‘WOW.’ All I could think to myself was, ‘all it takes is one plane.’
The aircraft was revealed privately to the families, children, grandchildren and mentees of Alaska’s employees on April 25.
All it takes is one plane to change the narrative. A narrative that celebrates Black contributions — acknowledging how our differences and voices have helped shape more welcoming corporate cultures — on the plane, in the cockpit, and in flight. All it takes is one plane to change how we, the Black community, see ourselves represented in inflight information, entertainment and programming.
As the daughter of an airline employee, I’ve flown avidly for over 25 years. I’ve seen many aircraft designs from Disney characters to NFL teams, but never one like this. From the plane’s exceptional design to its overall significance, I walked into the hanger, extremely grateful for the opportunity to experience such a moment. A moment created from a 15+ year partnership between Alaska and UNCF to celebrate both education and the chance to experience a good one.
When Alaska revealed the plane, it was incredible. I mentally took note of each child’s face as they found their profile on the plane, and the feeling we all felt was priceless. ‘’How does it feel to see yourself?‘’ I asked Dominique, a student featured on the plane. ‘’This is so cool. I’m excited!’’ she replied. Like Dominique, I am an Oakland native; it was like looking at myself in the mirror. Dominique says she hopes to attend Morgan State University, a Historically Black College in Baltimore, which ironically holds a special place in my heart. Morgan State was my first job out of graduate school, teaching in the fashion department as the youngest professor on campus at age 25. Her passion, excitement and interest in the HBCU experience became a full-circle moment for me when she asked, ‘’What is the best part about attending an HBCU?’’ I thought about it, and told her how she knows being from Oakland, a lot of kids don’t get the opportunity to go far due to lack of resources, so seeing Black students who want to be at school and are serious about their education is the best and most rewarding part.
Dominique seeing the plane for the first time with her grandmother Hilda Shepard, Alaska station operations duty manager in Seattle.
Since the start of its partnership with UNCF, Alaska and its guests have contributed more than 13.4 million miles to fly students to HBCUs for college tours, career development events and other UNCF programs. As part of the Our Commitment aircraft, Alaska will also be donating one million miles annually to support students attending HBCUs and established a scholarship fund through UNCF to help students overcome the financial obstacles of getting a college education. As an HBCU alum of North Carolina A&T State University, I understand how much of an impact this has on students and their families or support systems. As a California native, attending college on the East Coast, I saw my classmates have to stay on campus during breaks because their families couldn’t afford the plane tickets home. I’ve seen students transfer to closer institutions because paying for flights wasn’t easy for some families. This initiative indeed changes lives and gives access to those students who are our future leaders and game-changers.
The reveal was mind-blowing, but my anticipation of flying on its special charter flight on Monday, April 26, before it enters passenger service the following day, is high! Never before have I seen an all-Black crew or have had the opportunity to experience a journey that is 90% filled with Black passengers.
During the reveal, I met Alaska First Officer Christopher Jones, who told me on a route back to Baltimore last week for the first time in his two-year Alaska career, he and another Black pilot were in the cockpit. He said he felt so proud in that moment, and I know it’s exactly how I will feel. For the first time, I know I will feel completely comfortable on a plane. I know I can be myself. Nobody will ask to touch my hair; nobody will be shocked that I, a Black woman, travels as frequently as I do. I don’t have to experience someone not wanting to sit next to me because of the color of my skin (yes, it happens). Nobody will say, “you speak so well and poised,’’ as if that is shocking. And to top it all off, I will be on a plane with the 14 Black faces of the children, grandchildren and mentees of Alaska’s employees featured on the aircraft. A dream I don’t have to wake up from.
Alaska might have more work ahead to advance diversity, equity and inclusion, but still, it is clear to me they are committed to creating a culture of belonging and opportunity for its guests, employees and communities. Working in this industry, I can quickly identify when a brand is performative, and I am proud to say nothing about this initiative is that. I sincerely feel like ‘’Alaska gets it, and that is one of the best feelings in the world. Alaska says the aircraft symbolizes their journey to making Alaska a place where everyone feels like they belong. For me, it symbolizes a shift in the industry where a brand is willing to step up and lead by example. That is impeccable, and the bar has been set. All it takes is one plane to change the narrative.
We are on a journey to advance racial equity for our employees, our guests, our community and our society. And we have made progress. Over the last year, guided by listening to our employees, we deepened our focus and work on racial equity, including making commitments and goals we believe are essential to ensuring a culture of overall diversity, belonging and opportunity for our employees, guests, and communities.
We’re focused on action and sustainable change, but know we have much work ahead, and we’ll continue to listen and learn on this journey. Here is an update of what is underway:
REPRESENTATION
We’re committed to increasing racial diversity of our leadership to reflect the racial diversity of our frontline workforce. Today, a third of our frontline and manager levels are racially diverse compared to 16% racial diversity within leadership.
As we return to hiring, we’re working to ensure that our recruiting practices are inclusive and that we’re able to attract and retain diverse, talented people for roles at Alaska and Horizon, so that we can both hire and promote great talent:
We updated recruiting strategies to attract more diverse talent, and revised processes to mitigate bias including requiring diverse candidate slates and interview panels. We also updated our succession planning approach and processes.
We are deepening our outreach to young people to inspire and build interest in aviation careers, expanding our internship program, and creating a broader array of college partnerships to support a diverse pipeline.
We’re enhancing programs that provide education, mentorship, training and scholarships to diverse talent. We also work with organizations like the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, Solo Flight Academy and Girls Rock Wings to attract, maintain, mentor and support inclusivity, including Black female pilots, to join and stay at Alaska.
And we are creating leadership development and sponsorship programs to attract, retain and develop more racial diversity at all levels.
We know that we manage what we measure, so we’re using data and analytics to more fully understand where we have gaps and opportunities to recruit and retain talent. We’re holding leaders accountable for progress. Diversity, equity and inclusion metrics are now part of performance-based compensation for executive leaders. More data on our workforce and a full breakdown by race and gender is available in our annual sustainability report.
CULTURE
We are committed to ensuring that Alaska is a place in which everyone sees themselves, feels they belong, and can be their best. That value is shared across our leadership team and our Board of Directors. To measure our progress, we aim to increase our company’s “Inclusion Index Score,” based on a set of key questions in our employee engagement survey, by 10 points. This work involves:
Through DEI training at all levels of the company, and especially for leaders, we are creating awareness and education on equity and inclusion. To date we have completed racial equity training for all 23,000 employees. We’ve also conducted workplace equity workshops for all leaders and intervention training for frontline employees.
We enhanced and trained managers to implement our zero-tolerance policy, to clarity and reinforce the definition of and expectations around harassment & discrimination.
We’re engaging with, growing and listening to our Business Resource Groups, who build and support communities, and who also play a critical role in helping our leaders to better support employees.
And we’re continuing to hold listening forums to support and learn from our employees about their experiences, our opportunities, and to gather input and feedback along this path.
As of February, our “Inclusion Index Score” increased by 9 pts.
PUBLIC LEADERSHIP
We believe that education is the great equalizer and a critical component on the path to equity. And we’re building on years of investing in education and generating excitement in aviation through Aviation days in Portland and Seattle, and supporting incredible partners like the Michael P. Anderson program and Amelia’s Club, UNCF, The Roadmap Project, Alaska Native Science and Engineering (ANSEP), the San Jose Public Library, and more. Now through 2025, we’ve set our sights on supporting community-based education and career development opportunities to reach at least 175,000 young people, with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Our work includes working with experienced partners like the ones above, contributing tickets and miles to enable young people to get to school, volunteering, and hosting career panels and airport tours – which went virtual through the pandemic. In 2020, we awarded $750,000 in LIFT grants through the Alaska Airlines Foundation, whose mission is focused on enabling equity through education and career opportunity, to organizations like:
Techbridge Girls, which encourages girls across the U.S. to be engaged with STEM careers and achieve economic mobility;
College Possible, Oregon’s summer transition program helping young people successfully enroll in college; and
ClimbHI in Hawaii, educating young people about career pathways in the visitor industry and the process to achieving their goals.
Next month, we look forward to hosting a virtual career panel with the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and as we move beyond the pandemic, we look forward to further supporting for access to education through travel.
THE PATH AHEAD
At Alaska, we believe every person deserves respect, to feel like they belong and to have equal opportunity regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, age, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation. As an airline, we’re driven by connecting people – and in this work, we’re driven to connect in our shared humanity.
We know we have taken just a few steps, and that this is a much longer journey. But we are grateful to be on it, alongside our employees and our guests.
Flying with purpose: Alaska sets new climate goals, including net-zero carbon emissions by 2040
Each year we share how we’re caring for the planet and the people we serve in our annual sustainability report. This year we’re also setting our course for the future.
Today, we announced our commitment to reduce our climate impacts with new goals for carbon, waste, and water. We’ve set a course for net zero carbon emissions by 2040, with near-term 2025 targets to maintain carbon neutral growth from 2019. We also set goals to be the most fuel-efficient U.S. airline and cut the climate emissions from our ground equipment in half. We’ll keep up our industry-leading recycling program, continue to source more sustainable packaging for inflight service and offset our water use with investments in local ecology and habitats. With these goals, we are joining Amazon and over 100 other companies in signing The Climate Pledge, a commitment to be net zero carbon across our business 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.
Doing the right thing
One of our core values is to do the right thing, and that means reducing the impact of air travel on the environment. Our most significant environmental impact is through greenhouse gas emissions produced through the burning of jet fuel. That’s why we’ve prioritized the work to burn and emit less fuel, to employ greener alternatives and ultimately to transform aviation for a more sustainable future and to keep the incredible destinations we serve beautiful and viable for generations to come.
Air travel connects us to our friends and families, helps us understand one another, and helps communities across the globe grow and thrive,” said Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci. But we know that to live our purpose, creating an airline people love, we must operate every day in a way that cares for both people and the environment. That’s why we’ve set out on this bold path to reduce our climate impact near and long term.”
Our Roadmap
There are five parts of our path to net zero:
1. Fleet renewal
We recently finalized our order for up to 120 Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft, with four already delivered this year. Our newest MAX aircraft are 22% more fuel-efficient on a seat-by-seat basis than the aircraft they replace. And we’ll continue to test and adopt technology to further improve our fleet’s efficiency.
2. Operational efficiency
We’re focused on embedding efficiency and sustainability into our culture. That means continuing our leadership in standardizing operational best practices and using technology for the lowest emissions possible. We’re also expanding our use of technology to optimize flight routes for emissions savings, working with the government to make the best use of our airspace, moving toward electric and other renewable options for our ground equipment and working with airports to ensure infrastructure available to support it. We will also continue responsible construction and energy use throughout our facilities – like our LEED-certified hangar in Anchorage and employee “Hub” in Seattle.
3. Sustainable aviation fuel
With up to 80% lower carbon emissions than traditional jet fuel, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is the best possible option to decarbonize medium- and long-distance flying within the next few decades. Alaska has piloted use of different types of SAF for over a decade, and SAF is now certified as safe and available as a fuel to mix with traditional fuel. We currently use and are partnering to advance SAF production, with Neste and SkyNRG. We’ve also partnered with Microsoft to offset the carbon impact of their employees’ travel from Seattle to San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles with sustainable aviation fuel.
SAF represents even greater potential to reduce emissions with government support to increase supply and commercial viability of these fuels, which don’t currently exist in sufficient volume to power US flights. That’s why we’re supporting research at Washington State University to advance SAF in the Pacific Northwest, partnering with other companies to grow use of SAF, and working with the oneworld alliance and Airlines for America to support SAF production globally. This is an area that will take collective action to advance.
Novel propulsion essentially means increasing the use of electric or alternative power without fossil fuels. We believe that increasingly electrified options will be available for regional aircraft by 2040 and are evaluating partnerships and in-kind exchanges with the goal of enabling these emerging and decarbonizing technologies. Alaska’s sister regional airline, Horizon Air, is well positioned to explore this exciting, innovative opportunity in the decades ahead.
Aviation is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize, so credible carbon offsets may be needed to close the gap to our net zero target by 2040, and until SAF and novel propulsion become viable and available at scale. We’ll work with science advisory firm Carbon Direct to identify and vet carbon offsets that add net offset value, are verified in carbon accounting, do no harm, are durable, and don’t just displace emissions to another project.
What does this mean for you?
You can read more about our commitments to fly greener, reduce waste and offset our water use in our Alaska Airlines 2020 LIFT Sustainability Report. In it, you will see more details on our approach to social and environmental stewardship across the company.
Meanwhile, there are things every flyer can do to partner with us on this journey. Want to offset your carbon footprint? Good news! You can invest in carbon offsets with our partner, The Good Traveler, in locally based and high-quality projects to restore the climate balance. Since its founding by San Diego International Airport in 2015, The Good Traveler helped removed 230 million pounds of CO2 from the air by funding projects like tree planting, habitat protection, waste composting and renewable energy. Packing lighter, using our app, pre-ordering your onboard meal, and bringing your own reusable water bottle to #FillBeforeYouFly all contribute to reducing our collective impact.
This is a long-term journey, and it will take all of us. Thank you for having high expectations of us, and for joining us on the journey.
‘I am my ancestors’ wildest dreams’: Albany State Alum shares the importance of HBCUs’ history, legacy and excellence
Long before Beyoncé brought Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to center stage at Coachella, experiences alike were cultivated by trailblazers centuries before and continue toward a more equitable future.
HBCUs were created out of necessity at a time when Blacks in America were prohibited from attending higher education institutions that were predominantly white. Today, there are now 107 HBCUs that provide education for students from all socio-economic backgrounds while continuing the legacy and commitment to Black education.
‘HBCUs are the embodiment of legacy, history and Black excellence.’
HBCUs have been a vehicle and driving force in the fight for equality and liberation. From freedom fighters to world-renowned writers, from aeronautical math geniuses to the Vice President of the United States. Some of the world’s most notable legends, leaders and innovators have emerged from these institutions.
‘I am my ancestors’ wildest dreams.’
I am a first-generation college graduate. My HBCU experience was immensely transformative. Not only because I finally had professors who looked like me, but because they taught me what was waiting for me on the other side and prepared me for the road ahead.
“A Past to Cherish. A Future to Fulfill” is the motto of my alma mater, the “Unsinkable,” Albany State University. Those words resonate every time I drive down Georgia Highway 300 — a road that used to be lined with cotton fields and dotted with plantations that once housed enslaved people.
The saying honors our past and people whose blood was shed and lives were lost in those fields. It’s a reminder to be eternally grateful for those who came before us, those who weren’t afforded the right to an education. Even if they, the people who diligently fought for those rights themselves, never saw the fruits of their fervent labor.
‘I wanted to be surrounded by people like me, my culture.’
I didn’t learn about HBCUs through legacy or lineage. In fact, I didn’t have a frame of reference for college at all. I learned about them through the television show A Different World. I didn’t know much, but I knew I wanted to attend a university like Hillman, the fictional HBCU portrayed in the series. As someone who grew up in a small, predominantly white town in Northwest Georgia, I wanted to experience something different.
Vice President, and HBCU graduate Kamala Harris, said it best, “What you learn at an HBCU is you do not have to fit into somebody’s limited perspective on what it means to be young, gifted and Black.”
Holiday, a first-generation college graduate, in her cap and gown at her commencement ceremony at Albany State University.
It was at Albany State University, a school affiliated with UNCF, where teachers like Dr. Bennett, my business communications professor, demanded excellence and nothing less. Mediocracy wasn’t an option because she knew I would have to fight twice as hard to get half as much as other individuals. She was hard on her students because she knew the world would not be easy on us.
Then, there were professors like Mr. Hankerson, my English lit professor who was also my first Black male teacher. The gravity of that alone is astounding.
It wasn’t until my sophomore year of college when I experienced the academic scope through a Black male teacher’s lens — a lens that defied society’s stereotypes of who and what a Black man represents. He was a man of the arts, with a palpable passion for literature. He was my favorite professor by far, simply for his ability to get you so entranced in the literature through his own unique storytelling and spinning the stories in a way that made it relatable to modern-day life. He challenged me to be a better writer and a better storyteller.
Albany State provided me a sense of belonging. It was a place where I could shed the layers of assimilation and the idea of fitting into whatever box I was expected to be in. I realized the viable impact of being taught by teachers who looked like me and the importance of Black role models who paved paths before me who now lead prominent positions.
‘I finally felt I could fully thrive and rid myself from feeling like my blackness was a burden or my existence was a threat to society.’
Representation matters. The defining moments of my HBCU experience were the life lessons that weren’t a part of the syllabus; the history not found in the text books. It was the community and the we’re in this togetherness that forged lifelong friendships and redefined what it meant to be family. This was my HBCU experience. One I wouldn’t trade for the world, and one I encourage all young Black students to consider experiencing for themselves.
The sky is the limit
Beyond the curriculum, Albany State is where I was introduced to the world of international travel through a college program that stationed students on American military bases around the globe as camp counselors.
Holiday with her camp kids in Darmstadt, Germany 2006.
My first flight was at the age of 21. I flew to Germany, where I lived for three months. It was a life-changing experience that led me to live the travel-loving, location-independent lifestyle I do today. My mission is to empower and inspire other young, Black travelers to do the same.
It is programs like this and Alaska Airlines’ LIFT Miles program, in partnership with UNCF, that affords HBCU students the opportunities to pursue their dreams. I would have never been able to financially afford such an experience had my college program not sponsored me, and I know so many other students can relate. For this, I am forever thankful for the programs that put minority college students in a position to reach new heights.
Holiday visiting Tripsdrill Theme Park in Germany, 2006.
[inset]
I especially love Alaska’s UNCF LIFT Miles program because it has consistently showed up for minority students over the past 15 years and counting. Not only does the program support HBCU students with flights home for the holidays, but they fly students to college tours at HBCUs, career development opportunities and other UNCF programs.
With over 7 million miles contributing and donated, Alaska’s flights help students overcome the financial obstacles of getting a college education.
Cook up an ideal getaway: Chef Renee Erickson shares her favorite oneworld destinations to travel for the best food
International travel has always been transformative for Renee Erickson, an award-winning chef and restaurateur in Alaska Airlines’ hometown of Seattle. It all began with a trip to Rome.
Erickson was a 21-year-old art student who found herself drawn to bustling markets filled with seasonal produce and cheesemongers handing out samples. She remembers little cookies being offered while standing in line for pizza bianca – and the gelato and negronis that she would skip lunch to afford.
“It was the moment when I woke up to the idea of other cultures and how food was at the center,” Erickson says. “I came home and immediately started thinking about how I could go back.”
Rome launched a culinary journey that led Erickson to buy her first Seattle restaurant when she was just 25. She’s since explored cuisines across Europe from Paris to Normandy and London – all destinations accessible to Alaska guests through our oneworld partners.
Those travels shaped Erickson’s group of Seattle restaurants, including The Walrus and the Carpenter, her lauded oyster bar inspired by French brasseries. And now her love of food and travel come together in her newest book, “Getaway,” a cookbook-meets-travel memoir publishing April 27.
She’s always exploring new places – with Baja, Mexico, a more recent favorite (and accessible to Alaska guests via Cabo San Lucas and Loreto). But Italy remains her first travel love.
And while COVID-19 restrictions still prohibit travel to Europe, Erickson hopes the recipes and memories in her book will transport readers – and whet their appetites for future travel.
Here, Erickson shares a few travel tips to savor some of her favorite places:
ROME
“The magic of getting on a plane and ending up in Rome is just mind-blowing to this day,” Erickson says. “I can’t believe that in nine hours, I’m going to be sipping espresso in Piazza Navona. It’s the greatest thing.” Erickson visiting Rome in fall 1994.
“When my husband Dan and I talk about travel or dream about having an apartment, it’s always Rome. It’s the combination of history and art being everywhere, on top of a culture that’s obsessed with food and wine. And it’s a bit crazy. It’s loud and dirty and beautiful. I feel comfortable there, and I think that has to do with being there so young.”
What to eat: “Go to Testaccio, a market outside of the center. Spend some time and eat some food there. Try these great little pizzette snacks. (There’s also a recipe in my book.) You’ll also get to sample all kinds of vegetables, and there’s a cheese guy who will give you five different samples of pecorino that are all different.”
What to drink, ideally at sunset: ”Make sure you have a negroni somewhere on a piazza.”
PARIS AND NORMANDY
A perfect afternoon snack at Le Café de la Nouvelle Mairie.
“As a young chef and restaurant owner, I wanted to go to Paris because it had tons of restaurants and the experience of dining was masterful there. It was an invigorating place to be and still has some of my favorite restaurants.”
Dining at the market in Deauville.
Where to go in Paris: “La Buvette, a shop that sells delicious snacks like white beans with lemon oil, incredible patés, and a lovely selection of wines, is a must. I am also a huge fan of Martin, a raucous wine bar with the sweetest little pup named Saucisse, who checks everyone out. My favorite spot might be Le Café de la Nouvelle Mairie, which has lovely simple food, a beautiful tree-lined street and friendly people.”
What to eat in Normandy: “There’s a shellfish market in Deauville where the ships come in and unload everything, and you can have these giant plateaus of seafood with wine. Nothing fancy. You sit out on the street eating the most delicious oysters that they shuck for you right there and shrimp that they’ve just cooked. They give you a little aioli to dip them in, and they give you some rye bread. And that to me is the perfect meal in Normandy.”
LONDON
Erickson and her husband, Dan Crookston, in London, 2016.
“The last time we were in London was two Decembers ago when a friend had an art show there. We went to the Columbia Road Flower Market. London, especially, does flowers better than anyone. They had amaryllis that were 4 feet long and something like $3 apiece, and I said, ‘Let’s buy a dozen!’ They were so extravagant and so big and so beautiful.”
What to eat: “There’s this place called the Marksman Pub that I love. Try to eat a well-sourced version of classic British food – like something that would have been cooked 100 years ago. Dishes like Yorkshire pudding and peas and haddock, or any sort of meat pie, and beer.”
One food myth: “If people still think that England has bad food, they’re wrong. London is probably one of the top three cities that I would happily go back to any day to eat. It’s dynamic, super sophisticated, and has unbelievably delicious food.”
BAJA, MEXICO
Sunset in Todos Santos, Mexico.
“Baja is so easy to get to from Seattle, just four hours away by plane. And the climate is so different, but still on the water, which I love. It’s like Joshua Tree by the Pacific Ocean. I love to buy a whole fish from the fishermen and cook it. I’ll take a jar of olive oil and salt with me, and make sure to get fruit, veggies and tortillas, plus tequila, of course.”
What to eat: “Fish tacos in Baja are the best. Depending on where you are in Baja, there are different traditions. Try as many as you can. They have giant clams there, too. You can eat them raw, but they also grill them and put salsas in them on the grill. They’re round like a manila clam, but they’re like the size of your fist—it’s pretty fun.”
Best advice: “Don’t be afraid of eating street food. In Italy, I like to follow construction workers into a restaurant. In Baja, I follow construction workers into a taco shop. I want to eat where they’re eating.”
Baja-inspired recipe: Tomatillo and Avocado Salsa
Ingredients:
12 tomatillos, husks removed
1 small ripe avocado, halved, pitted, and peeled
1/2 bunch cilantro, leaves and stems included (about 2 cups/80 g)
Zest and juice from 2 small limes (about 3 tablespoons juice)
1 serrano chile, stem removed
Salt
Makes about 1 cup (240 ml)
Directions:
In a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat, cook the tomatillos until charred on one side, about 5 minutes. Turn the tomatillos and continue cooking until they are browned on most surfaces and softening, another 10 to 12 minutes.
Slip the tomatillos into a bowl and cover with a plate. Let steam for 10 minutes, then place the tomatillos in a blender with the avocado, cilantro, lime zest and juice, serrano, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Buzz until very smooth. Taste and season with more salt or lime juice, if desired.
Store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator until ready to eat. It will keep well for 2 to 3 days.
Renee’s top 10 things to pack:
In her carry-on:
A liter metal water bottle that she fills to prevent dehydration. (#FillBeforeYouFly)
Dark chocolate (when the weather isn’t too warm)
Almonds
Satsumas (a variety of mandarin oranges) in the winter. “They’re easy to peel and they just smell so good.”
In her suitcase:
One chef’s knife in carbon steel. “It’s really easy to keep sharp.”
A microplane for zesting and grating
A wine key
A travel kit with a mini mandolin and mini cheese grater. “I love having a mandolin to slice onions and fennel to make salads. These are sharp things that make your life easier.”
Sea salt – unless it’s easily available in her destination, like in Italy and France
Olive oil
Alaska Airlines to open new lounge in San Francisco this summer
New lounge membership pricing to take effect this fall
Late this summer, we’ll be opening a new Alaska Lounge at San Francisco International Airport’s Terminal 2.
We’ll move into the former American Airlines Admirals Club space, which will allow us to open a new lounge quickly as guests start to return to travel.
“We’re always looking for ways to be more responsive to our guests and amenities that make travel more relaxing. SFO has been the top-requested Alaska Lounge location by our guests for years,” said Sangita Woerner, SVP of marketing and guest experience. “So many people are dreaming of travel this year, so we wanted to open up our newest Alaska Lounge as quickly and efficiently as possible – and renovating this space in Terminal 2 allows us to do that.”
About the new lounge:
When completed, the lounge at SFO will be the second-largest Alaska Lounge, just under 10,000 square ft.
The space is centrally located in Terminal 2, with easy access to additional dining and shopping options for guests
The lounge will have an espresso bar staffed by a trained barista, a full bar featuring complimentary local craft brews, West Coast wines and spirits and a wine selection of guest favorites like made-to-order pancakes from our famous pancake printer, steel-cut oatmeal, fresh salads and hearty soups.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the opening of the Alaska Lounge at SFO,” said SFO Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. “As the recovery of air travel continues, travelers can look forward to more and more amenities at SFO. The Alaska Lounge offers a great way for people to relax, recharge, and enjoy the friendly service that they’re known for.”
Alaska in the Bay Area:
We’re continuing to expand our presence in the Bay Area. We now operate more than 80 daily flights from Bay Area airports (San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland). In June, we’ll begin service to Anchorage and Bozeman, Montana from SFO. We also recently announced:
As of April 4, we resumed service to Honolulu and Maui from SFO.
We’ll resume service to Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta from SJC in early April.
We’ll begin new service to Missoula, Montana, from SJC starting in May.
New lounge membership pricing:
Beginning in October, we’ll be updating our lounge membership structure to give members more options and flexibility as we work to control our costs.
This fall, we’ll offer two tiers of lounge memberships:
Alaska Lounge: Members will receive access to all Alaska Lounges when flying on any airline.
Alaska Lounge Plus: Members will receive access to all Alaska Lounges and an extended network of partner airline lounges across the country, including all American Airlines Admirals Clubs.
Pricing will update to the following, remaining as one of the best values for lounge membership in the industry:
Alaska Lounge membership: $450 annually ($350 for Alaska Airlines MVP, MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k members)
Alaska Lounge Plus membership: $600 annually ($500 for Alaska Airlines MVP, MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k members)
New lounge membership enrollments and renewals made before Alaska’s two-tier structure goes into effect in October will be grandfathered into an Alaska Lounge Plus membership for the duration of the membership period.
Eight things to know about Alaska’s new CEO, Ben Minicucci
Ben Minicucci sees exciting growth on the horizon for Alaska Airlines as he takes the controls as CEO, replacing Brad Tilden, who retired last month after a 30-year career. Looking forward in his new role, Minicucci says Alaska is poised to emerge stronger out of the pandemic. He also reflects on his long partnership with Tilden and shares what the future looks like for people who fly and work for the fifth largest airline in the United States.
“At Alaska, I know I’ve got everyone counting on me to make sure we guide this airline through whatever is ahead. I have the responsibility, along with 23,000 people, to build on the fantastic legacy of this company.” – Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines CEO and President
1. What is unique about Alaska that you will protect and grow as CEO?
Minicucci: Our company has always had strong values around safety and around people. When we merged with Virgin America, we rewrote our values to really reflect who we are: “Own safety. Be kind-hearted. Do the right thing. Deliver performance. Be remarkable.” and our purpose: “Creating an airline people love.” It was a fun exercise to lead but it was also challenging to get a bunch of people aligned on what was at the root of our success. We aligned on these five values, which encompass everything to me that characterizes our success.
2. How has working with Brad Tilden for 17 years influenced you as a leader?
Minicucci: Working with Brad, with his love for the airline and what makes the airline special – the importance of our people and our culture and values – Brad really imprinted that on me. Also, how to survive the ups and downs of the cyclical industry we’re in, and that low costs and low fares are how to get growth. Over the years, as we ran the business as tightly as we could, we never forgot about the other side of the business — creating a culture with our people and delivering great customer service.
During the years Tilden was CEO and Minicucci was president, they worked in lockstep through the ambitious acquisition of Virgin America and the expansion of the Alaska brand. Together, with the entire executive team and Alaska employees, they pledged Alaska’s commitments to racial equity and vowed that the diversity of the leadership will match the diversity of the front-line workforce by 2025. And together they navigated the challenges of the pandemic, implementing Next-Level Care policies to keep guests and employees safe.
3. Your parents were immigrants, moving to Canada in the 1950s. How did your family’s experience shape you?
Minicucci: My parents left after the war in Italy because there was no work, and my father never went to school because, at the time, it was so poor in Italy. So, the work he did was work you do with your hands and your back. My parents worked hard to put food on the table, a roof over our heads, and they believed the way you progress in life was to go to school and get an education and work hard. And they worked to afford a house, and they had gardens where they planted all sorts of fruits and vegetables. They would make sausages and salami and prosciutto, and they made wine every fall. To me, that’s what it was like when you grew up. You just took care of yourself.
When I was 17, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I decided to enter the military and attend the Royal Military College — like the West Point for Canada. I got my engineering degree, and I was fortunate. I was posted to a Transport Squadron and went all over the world. I was responsible for a C-130 and B707 maintenance crew and learned so much about leadership and a lot about aircraft maintenance, and what it meant to be responsible for men and women and be deployed. And it was just an amazing formation early in my career that ended up helping me throughout my professional life.
“For me, equity and diversity goes back to my parents. When they came here, I had the opportunity to get educated. If I wanted to work for it, I could be everything I wanted to be. And that’s what I want people to feel at our airline. I want to provide opportunities for growth and education so you can aspire to whatever job you like. And our leadership team, when you look at them, you should see yourself reflected.” – Minicucci
4. You’ve said diversity, equity and inclusion has been a journey for you. How will you make DEI a priority at Alaska?
Minicucci: So much has happened in our country over the last 12 months with the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor and too many others before. We conducted a lot of listening sessions with employees. And when you talk with our people, you realize the depth of challenges with respect to racial equity. We are far from being where we need to be as a company that’s really diverse and inclusive, particularly a leadership team that’s representative of our front line. Those sessions opened my eyes. When you look at what we’ve done in the last 10 years, we’ve made progress — but not enough progress. So, we’ve got work to do.
I want our company to be a place where people feel like they belong, no matter who you are, where you’re from, your sexual orientation, gender, race, disability, background or language. We want to create a company where people know they belong and they say, “You know what? I feel good here and comfortable to be who I am and can be my best. And my company invests in people.”
I truly believe that one of the best paths to racial equity is through education. We have a wonderful partnership with UNCF and other great organizations, and have worked with local school districts to support youth and education. We want to continue supporting institutions with underrepresented students and communities where we can invest to create opportunities and help make those communities stronger.
5. Rumor has it, you’re trained in mindfulness or practice meditation. How does that play a role in your life and as a leader?
Minicucci: I’ve been really diligent about it, especially in the last six months. I actually took a course in transcendental meditation, which is an easy type of meditation. And I do it twice a day for 20 minutes. What I love about it is it calms me down. These jobs can get really stressful, and it helps me find balance. The second thing that I love is it gives me clarity of thought. So, as you’re bouncing from one topic to another, one meeting to another, it helps give me clarity so I can be the best for those I work with and focus on what’s important. I am actually addicted to it now. When I don’t do it, I find that maybe I’m not at my best. So, it’s really helped me.
“With all the enhanced safety measures we’ve put into our Next-Level Care, when Alaska guests are ready to fly, we’re ready to take them where they want to go,” said Minicucci after traveling to Hawaii when the islands reopened to visitors last October.
6. Many people haven’t flown in over a year. What has Alaska done to ensure the safety of its guests and employees?
Minicucci: Since the pandemic started, our priority has been our guests’ and employees’ safety. We doubled down on that and we introduced Next-Level Care with 100 safety action items. But what I got excited about is how we communicated this to our guests. Safety policies always seem a little rigid — you know, you have to wear your mask, you’ve got to keep your distance from people, and so forth. So, we implemented all these things, yet we wanted to do it our way, the Alaska way. And then, our team came up with the “Safety Dance” idea, and we got our employees involved, which was key. We wanted to communicate that these are the safety expectations when you fly with us and communicate that in a clever, witty, funny way.
7. How is Alaska’s alliance with oneworld a game-changer for its guests?
Minicucci: I can’t tell you how excited I am about oneworld. One of my aspirations is to get Alaska on the national map – to be viewed not simply as a regional airline. What oneworld does is open the world to our airline and customers. I’ll use Seattle as an example: We have a massive domestic network in Seattle. And when you add our oneworld partners, we’ll add at least seven international destinations out of Seattle. For loyal customers of Alaska, they can accrue miles on Alaska and redeem them on British Airways, Qantas, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, among others. The ability to redeem and accrue miles, and access the 650 worldwide lounges in the alliance, wherever an Alaska customer is, make their Mileage Plan benefits go so much further.
We also have an alliance with American Airlines, the West Coast International Alliance, where our customers can access American’s international and domestic network across the country. All of this is huge in terms of accessibility and benefits, priority bags and priority boarding, so it’s a really exciting springboard for growth.
8. What do you want people to think of when they hear “Alaska Airlines”?
Minicucci: I want people to smile at the thought of Alaska Airlines and say, “Alaska’s a great company.” Not just because we’re a great airline, but also for what we stand for. Whether it’s racial equity, the environment, how we treat our people or how we treat our customers and run the business—it’s all done with the utmost integrity and through our values.
And when I say I want Alaska to be on the national map, it means I want people to say, “I wish they flew everywhere. I want them to fly everywhere so I can fly them all the time.”
Ben’s Firsts & Favorites:
First job in aviation: The Canadian Armed Forces. First time on an airplane: “I was about 10 when I visited my grandparents in Italy. I can’t remember what type of aircraft or airline but remember sitting by the L1 door and it was very noisy.” First job at Alaska + one thing from that job that stays with him: 2004, staff vice president of maintenance. “I’ll always remember a graveyard shift I worked with mechanics at the line and how much I enjoyed it.” Favorite travel destination: Hawaii. Must-pack item for any flight: Workout clothes. Favorite sport: Cycling trips with friends. “We’ve been to Corsica, we’ve been to Italy, France, Spain – I just love doing big weeklong bike trips around the world.” One thing people are surprised to learn about you: “My taste in movies. I love to laugh, and I love movies that are silly – like Will Ferrell movies. Everything from ‘Talladega Nights’ to ‘Wedding Crashers’ to ‘We’re the Millers.’ A lot of people think I’m into sophisticated stuff, but I just want to watch movies that make me laugh.”
Today, March 31, marks our official first day as the newest member of oneworld. It’s a major milestone – for the first time in our 89-year history, we’ve joined an airline alliance. We’re now part of a family of the world’s best airlines.
As Alaska joins forces with 13 member airlines in oneworld, you might be wondering: What does this mean for me?
There’s plenty of goodness. Starting right away, oneworld opens a world of travel possibilities for all our flyers.
As a Mileage Plan member, you can earn Alaska miles on all 14 member airlines when you fly to as many as 1,000* destinations in more than 170 countries and territories. And as part of oneworld, we’ll have dedicated resources that will allow us to better help you when you’re traveling on a member airline.
“As our guests return to the skies after a year of staying close to home, we’re eager to showcase the advantages of seamless travel with our membership in oneworld,” said Ben Minicucci, Alaska’s CEO. “The alliance transforms Alaska into a truly global airline, connecting our strong West Coast network and destinations across North America with the worldwide reach of our alliance partners.”
If you’re an elite flyer with Alaska – someone who has earned MVP, MVP Gold or MVP Gold 75K with us – there’s a lot to get excited about.
Many of the benefits our elite flyers currently enjoy will seamlessly carry over to the oneworld tiers when they travel on any of the member airlines. You’re an MVP Gold? Without doing a thing, you now also have Sapphire tier status in oneworld (75K fliers are Emerald and MVPs are Ruby in the alliance).
Depending on your tier status, oneworld travel privileges can include priority check-in, access to more than 650* international first and business class lounges, preferred boarding, fast track through security, priority baggage benefits and more.
For example, for a traveler such as Kayla, an Alaska MVP Gold 75K who lives in Seattle, the benefits are incredible. Here’s why:
She just booked a trip to Tokyo in September to catch up with friends. She chose to fly oneworld member Japan Airlines. Why? Because she’ll earn Alaska miles on her trip. Plus, since she invested in extra comfort and booked business class, she’ll earn a heap of bonus miles.
With Alaska being a member of oneworld, she’ll enjoy all the Priority benefits on Japan Airlines that come with oneworld Emerald tier status, which includes lounge access in the airline’s Business Class Sakura Lounge, priority security, priority boarding and priority baggage.
In November, she plans to visit family in Barcelona. To get there, she’ll redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles she’s saved up for flights on American Airlines and Iberia, both oneworld members. Along the way, she’ll once again receive the same Priority benefits for her oneworld Emerald tier status.
Capturing elite status on Alaska can happen sooner than you think. You can become an MVP once 20,000 eligible miles are earned, which then gives you oneworld Ruby tier status. And through June 30, 2021, you can accrue 50% more Mileage Plan elite-qualifying miles on Alaska flights to help you attain status faster.
Before you know it, you can be redeeming miles for bucket list adventures – maybe sunning in the Maldives, a safari in South Africa, an epic journey to India.
The 14 members of oneworld ready to take you nearly anywhere are: Alaska Airlines; American Airlines; British Airways; Cathay Pacific Airways; Finnair; Iberia; Japan Airlines; Malaysia Airlines; Qantas; Qatar Airways; Royal Air Maroc; Royal Jordanian; S7 Airlines and SriLankan Airlines. Fiji Airways is a oneworld connect partner offering select services and benefits on sponsored airlines.
As part of Alaska becoming an official member of oneworld, we have a special livery joining our fleet. The aircraft is donned with the signature blue oneworld orb and will fly its inaugural flight today. By this summer, we’ll have three oneworld liveries in our fleet. Photo by Ingrid Barrentine.
See the livery (paint scheme) come to life from start to finish:
Watch other member airlines welcome us to oneworld:
NOTE: * pre-COVID figures
Six things to know about Alaska’s new DEI Director James Thomas
This week we are thrilled to welcome James Thomas, an exceptional leader who will help lead Alaska Airlines in delivering on our commitments and goals as director of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Thomas joins us from the world of wine at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates near the Seattle area, serving as its first-ever director of inclusion, equity and diversity. We couldn’t be more excited to work with James, and we know he will do great things for our guests, employees and company.
“I have always said this work is about humans,” said James. “My motto is: ‘if I can help just one person, then I’ve made a difference.’”
Learn more about him, his vision for Alaska’s DEI efforts and, of course, where he wants to fly next below.
Q&A with James Thomas
1. What are you most excited about in your new role at Alaska, and what do you hope to achieve?
James flew Alaska on his first ever trip to Hawaii and Oahu back in 2013—he says it’s one of his favorite trips.
James: I’m a believer that timing is everything, and nothing happens by chance. This stage we’re at in our DEI journey right now is powerful, and I’m excited to be part of it. I’ve always been an Alaska guest, and I’m even more of a fan now that we’re taking bold and courageous steps in the DEI space. I hope to continue to push us on that path, perhaps in ways we haven’t considered.
I know it sounds cliché, but I want to leave it better than I found it. More importantly, I want to make a systemic change that lives beyond any one person. That’s the measure of true change.
2. What’s your take on our DEI goals and commitments – do you have thoughts on how to achieve them, and is there an area you see that needs more attention?
James: I was thrilled to see Alaska’s goals and commitments. To come out publicly and share what the organization wants to accomplish is commendable. I also believe commitments and goals are only as good as the ability to execute and achieve them; otherwise, they are just words.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to this work, and it requires thoughtful conversations, intentions and time to create meaningful, lasting change. That said, we will need to be intentional in moving from a space of dialogue and conversation to action.
My first objective is to listen to understand the unique challenges we face at Alaska. From there, we will take strategic steps forward to address this work. I’m eager to tackle the goal of cultivating an inclusive environment that supports our company’s ability to recruit, develop and retain talent. It’s imperative our employees feel safe and welcome, seen and valued, and they can authentically show up every day and be themselves.
I also believe diversity, equity and inclusion help our business. I’m looking forward to helping educate leaders on leveraging diversity to grow our company and create an inclusive brand all customers feel connected to.
3. Where would you like to see Alaska’s DEI program in 3 to 5 years?
James: I’d like to look back and say as a company that we exceeded our goals and are a leader in the DEI space. More than anything, I want guests and employees to say they feel and experience what we say they should experience. So when we say our commitment is guests should always feel welcome on board and our employees deserve to feel safe and a sense of belonging when they come to work, it isn’t just words but truly their experience. The result is as, if not more, important as the desire and commitment to get there.
4. What lessons will you bring to the aviation industry from the wine industry?
James: In the wine industry, a great vino is all in the details. Many variables make or break wine, from the types of grapes used to the fermentation process to the temperature during the winemaking process and more.
BTS of James’ interview with Ste. Michelle Wine Estates CEO David Dearie for the launch of “Diversity Under the Cork,” an internal video series he created and launched focused on authentic conversations about diversity.
The airline industry is similarly unique because it’s the gateway to the world — serving and employing people from around the globe with different cultures, languages and backgrounds. The details may not always be apparent at first glance, but they are essential.
Alaska has a rich history and reputation synonymous for many with quality and customer service. The differentiator will be our ability to identify the details and be the best at them. I’m looking forward to helping Alaska be better at executing the details of DEI that will help improve the overall employee and guest experience while contributing to business excellence and growth.
5. If you haven’t traveled during the pandemic, where is the first place you’ll fly?
James: Although I have safely traveled during the pandemic (albeit locally in the states), I’m looking forward to traveling internationally.
A socially distant selfie in the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma from Oct. 2020. James visited Ste. Michelle Wine Estates employees and properties in the aftermath of the California wildfires to ensure they were okay.
I had a trip to Europe planned for 2020, which included one of my bucket list countries of Portugal. Unfortunately, because of COVID, my trip had to be canceled. When things get better, I’d like to get this trip back on the schedule for sure.
6. Fun fact about you:
James: Many people don’t know I have a Harley motorcycle and like to ride on a sunny, warm day in beautiful Washington state. I’ve only been riding for eight years, but I tell people I love the way the wind feels blowing through my hair (wink, wink).
“It was the moment when I woke up to the idea of other cultures and how food was at the center,” Erickson says. “I came home and immediately started thinking about how I could go back.”
