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Breathe easy on your next flight with fresh, clean air on Alaska Airlines

The air you breathe on Alaska Airlines flights is probably cleaner than the air you’re breathing right now. Surprised? Just keep reading.

Most flyers tend to think of an airplane as a closed environment with recirculated air. Not true! And that misconception has led to a lot of anxiety among flyers during the COVID-19 pandemic, so we’re here to set the record straight.

Every Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air aircraft recirculates fresh air from outside and through hospital-grade HEPA filters every 2 to 3 minutes.

Our aircraft recirculates fresh air from outside and through hospital-grade HEPA filters every 2 to 3 minutes. The filters onboard also remove 99.9% of airborne contaminants.

Recent findings from researchers at Harvard even showed the average age of clean air onboard is 1.8 minutes. For context, the average age of the air in a hospital room is 16 minutes, and 240 minutes at home.

Related: Experts say airplanes are among the safest indoor environments in the world

And that’s just the beginning. In the mere couple of minutes air is onboard, it goes through numerous steps to keep you safe and healthy.

How does it work? Let’s go with the flow:

Step 1: Fresh outside air comes in

During your flight, fresh air is continuously pulled into the plane from outside, completely refreshing the air onboard every few minutes. This system was initially created back in the days when smoking on planes was common. Since then, it has evolved into a powerful system for keeping the air you breathe germ-free.

Step 2: Clean air flows from the top down

After fresh air comes onboard, it takes the most direct route to your seat, entering the cabin through vents in the ceiling, before getting pulled back out of the cabin through the vents by your toes.

This flow may seem like a minor detail, but it’s actually clever engineering. Because air flows top down, rather than traveling the length of the plane, the air you breathe only comes in contact with your immediate surroundings, keeping you in your very own travel bubble. This constant flow of air is a big part of why researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health concluded recently that flying can be safer than eating at a restaurant or shopping in a grocery store (pg 3, 5, 7).

Data from Table 4.3 Comparison of Clean Air Ventilation Rates for Various Space Types Expressed in Air Change Rates per Hour and Average Age of Air, HSPH-APHI-Phase-One-Report pg 76.

Step 3: Hospital-grade filters stop germs in their tracks

After flowing from the ceiling to the floor, air from the cabin is pulled through two HEPA filters in the belly of the plane. These filters use the same technology hospitals and laboratories rely on to stop the spread of pathogens, removing 99.9% of airborne contaminants.

According to researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health HEPA filters remove more than 99% of particles of the size that cause SARS-CoV-2.

Step 4: Mixing it up

Once air travels through the HEPA filter, it gets mixed 50/50 with fresh air from outside and flows back through the cabin. There is a full exchange of cabin air with outside and HEPA-filtered air every 2-3 minutes and 100% fresh air every 6 minutes.

All of these steps working together, along with mandatory masks, make it nearly impossible to contract COVID-19 when flying. In fact, research by the Department of Defense concluded that even if you were sitting right next to someone that has COVID-19 on your flight, it would take at least 54 hours to be exposed to an infectious dose.

So, if you’re on the fence about flying sometime soon, rest assured that you can breathe easy on your next flight. It’s all part of our Next-Level Care, which includes 100+ layers of safety to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including mandatory masks, enhanced cleanings between flights, electrostatic disinfectant spray and more.

Throw in finishing touches like complementary lavender-scented EO sanitizing wipes and contactless options to make your journey nearly touch-free, and you’ve got the recipe for a relaxing and safe flight.

We look forward to flying with you soon!

Once a Marine, always a Marine: Teague brings the same standards of excellence and safety to his job every day

When employees at the Portland Operations Center see the flag in front of their building at half mast, they know to pause for a moment and reflect—and to thank their coworker Mike Teague.

A former Marine, Teague leads up a small team of volunteers who keep Horizon in compliance with federal and state flag protocols. “This is our way of honoring those who served and gave everything for our country,” he says.

Mike Teague, Horizon Air Quality Assurance Auditor

It was while serving his country that Teague honed his skills in aircraft maintenance. He worked primarily on F-4 Phantom fighter jets and KC-130 tankers in locations around the world, including in the Persian Gulf during the first Gulf War.

Teague has been with Horizon Air for 26 years—starting as a technician, then lead technician, along with being a temporary supervisor on various maintenance projects. In his current job as quality assurance auditor, he spends about 50 percent of his time overseeing Horizon maintenance operations. The rest, he’s traveling to various repair stations and inspecting vendors to ensure they’re in compliance in repairing Horizon’s aircraft parts.

He’s great at his job, but at the same time, misses having a wrench in his hand.

“As corny as it sounds, I still sometimes miss being a mechanic because I’ve always enjoyed working on planes and getting the job done.” Teague says. “It’s a satisfying feeling when you work all night to get a plane fixed and then you’re there to see it getting loaded with people and taking off.”

But being an auditor and overseeing all functions of the Maintenance & Engineering processes allows him to see a broader scope.

I see the the tremendous pride and dedication that everybody has in their jobs, striving to make our little airline the best it can be,” he says. And he is an ambassador for Horizon to our more than 300 repair vendors worldwide, ensuring compliance. “So, I don’t get to fix airplanes anymore, but that same level of job satisfaction is still there.”

Once a Marine, always a Marine (Teague served for 14 years) he brings the same standards of excellence and safety to his job every day. Founding the flag team is just one example of that.

Teague remembers the exact date that he took on the flag duty, because it was Sept. 11, 2012. There, of course, was a proclamation to lower the flags that day in remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but when he arrived at work, he saw they weren’t at half-staff. So, he took it upon himself.

That was almost 8 years ago, and he continues to perform the duty today.

Researchers at Harvard say masks, air circulation & cleaning make air travel safe

Alaska’s robust 100+ layers of safety—from mandatory masks, to more space and enhanced cleaning—are making travel safe, according to a new study released by researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Recent findings from the report indicates air travel “is as safe or substantially safer” than the routine activities “such as grocery shopping or eating out.” Similar studies also support aircraft are among the safest indoor environments in the world.

These new insights by the researchers at Harvard indicate multiple layers of precautions like mask-wearing, diligent cleaning protocols and advanced ventilation and filtration systems can effectively reduce the risk of COVID-19 disease transmission during air travel.

Interview with Dr. Leonard Marcus on APHI Phase One Report:

How to reduce the risk of COVID-19 while flying:

Fly healthy and with your mask on.

No mask? No travel. When you have to face the world, we want to make sure we’re all doing it safely—and with each other in mind.

According to the study, the universal use of face masks were the most essential way to reduce COVID-19 transmission during air travel. For the safety of everyone, as part of Alaska’s Next-Level Care, guests must complete a health agreement and comply with our mask policy to fly.

The vast majority of flyers follow our strict mask policy. Guests who refuse to wear masks on board or at the airport, will be banned. So far, more than 145 individuals have been suspended from flying with us for a period of time for failing to comply with this necessary safety precaution.

Clean, filtered air plus advanced ventilation and filtration are critical.

The risk assessment from this study, among other studies, reinforce air filtration and ventilation systems are a crucial part of lowering the risk of COVID-19 transmission on board.

Every Alaska aircraft is equipped with airflow systems that are comparable to what’s found in hospitals. We operate using HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters that remove more than 99% of airborne particles (even the size that causes COVID-19). The study by the researchers at Harvard showed passengers and crew members breathe a combination of 50% filtered and 50% fresh outside air every 2-3 minutes, which is consistent on Alaska and Horizon Air flights.

The air onboard is filtered not just in flight, but also during boarding and while guests exit the plane.

Every Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air aircraft is equipped with HEPA filters.

Additional processes to prioritize the disinfection of high-touch surfaces between flights.

EO alcohol-based, relaxing French lavender-scented sanitizing wipes are available to guests on all Alaska and Horizon Air flights.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, the study found airlines’ disinfection processes dramatically increased in frequency and intensity, reducing the indirect spread of infection through contaminated surfaces on aircraft.

Between every flight, dedicated cleaning crews clean the most critical areas of our aircraft using a high-grade EPA disinfectant.* We’re also using electrostatic disinfectant sprayers, which emit a safe, high-grade EPA cleaning solution that sanitizes high-touch surfaces, such as overhead bins, armrests, tray tables, seatbelts, lavatories and more.

Once complete, our procedures are thoroughly audited by a crew leader, who signs and validates a cleaning certificate. Alaska’s cleaning procedures are in line with guidelines and cleaning recommendations from manufacturers and exceed CDC recommendations.

Read the full comprehensive report by visiting npli.sph.harvard.edu.

5 ways to make your trip to Hawaii as smooth as possible using Pre-Clear

Alaska Airlines President Ben Minicucci and Alaska employees visited Hawaii on the very first day of the pre-travel testing program last week to experience it first hand and to meet with local officials.

Hawaii began to welcome visitors back to its beautiful islands in October with its pre-travel testing program. The new program allows anyone entering the state who tests negative for COVID-19 in advance to proceed without the current 10-day mandatory quarantine.

Update Dec 3: All travelers to the islands must have a negative test result BEFORE beginning the final leg of their trip. Anyone without a negative test result PRIOR to departure must quarantine upon arrival. Learn more The negative test result must be uploaded onto Safe Travels prior to departure or printed out prior to departure and hard copy in hand when arriving in Hawai‘i.

We had to see for ourselves what the first wave of travel to Hawaii was like for our guests and employees. President Ben Minicucci and other Alaska employees packed their bags, tested negative for COVID-19 and flew to the Aloha State on the very first day of the program last week. Below are their tips to make your journey as smooth as possible.

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. “As more of our guests fly to Hawaii, it’s important to take care of one another and the islands by visiting responsibly, wearing your mask and following the state’s safety guidelines.”

1. Get tested.

Getting a negative COVID test before traveling to Hawaii is key to enjoying the islands without sitting in a hotel room to quarantine.

“Once you find out you’re COVID-negative, the goal is to hold onto that status as long as possible before your flight—you can always run to the store to buy sunscreen when you land,” said Alaska photographer Ingrid Barrentine.

Within 72 hours of flying to Honolulu, Minicucci and others were tested for COVID-19 using Alaska’s testing providers, which offer rapid and standard COVID-19 testing — these options are available by appointment in-person, at-home, or drive-thru. If you’re making plans to travel to Hawaii, follow all travel guidelines and use a testing provider approved by the Hawaii Department of Health. Only test results from trusted partners, completed within 72 hours of travel, will be accepted in order to be exempt from the 14-day mandatory quarantine.

Steps to enter Hawaii with your test results:

Step 1: Go to Hawaii’s Safe Travels website: https://travel.hawaii.gov/#/
Step 2: Create an account and add your trip information. Within 24 hours before your flight, log back into your account to complete the state’s health questionnaire and upload a PDF of your negative COVID-19 test from one of Hawaii’s trusted testing partners. When all of that information is complete, you will receive a QR code.
Step 3: When you get off the plane and enter the gate area, your temperature will be automatically taken by a thermal screening image camera.
Step 4: Be prepared to show state officials your QR code by clicking “trips” in your Safe Travels account. You may also need this QR code when you check into your hotel.

Watch how to get your QR code.

If you must quarantine, most hotels just give out a one-time use room key to ensure visitors don’t leave their rooms until their test results come back negative, or the mandatory time period is complete. This policy is in place to protect the islands from the spread of COVID-19 and is a good reason to get tested before you travel!

As part of our standard flight check-in process no matter where you fly, every guest must complete a health agreement. For your safety and of those around you, the agreement confirms you have not exhibited COVID-19 symptoms in the past 72 hours, have not been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive, and will bring and wear a face covering in the airport and on board.

2. Mind your wingspan at the airport.

Most airports around the country have stepped up their safety protocols to ensure the safety of travelers and employees. At any Alaska Airlines touchpoint, we’re giving you the tools you need to feel confident about your travels such as the ability to print your bag tags, touch-free using our mobile app. You can also expect our countertops to be topped with plexiglass shields and the floors and walls to be covered with social distancing signage as a reminder to stay six feet apart.

“This was my first time flying since March and I noticed a huge difference in the amount of safety precautions since COVID happened,” said Barrentine. “Everyone was wearing a mask and sanitizer and plexiglass dividers are everywhere you look.”

3. Enjoy the flight.

Cleanliness and safety have always been our top priority, but the next level involves techniques that reduce the already low risk of onboard transmission inflight such as enhanced cleaning procedures, mandatory masks and limiting the number of guests on our flights and blocking seats through January 2021.

Through January 6, 2021, middle seats are blocked and we’re capping the number of guests on our flights. Gate agents may reassign seats to create more space between guests or to seat families traveling together, which may include the use of the middle seats. There can be occasions where extra space cannot be guaranteed due to unforeseen changes such as reaccommodating guests from a previously canceled flight. If you’re uncomfortable with the distance between you and others on your day of flight, please speak with a customer service agent about your options.

4. Welcome to Hawaii.

Upon arriving at Hawaii’s airports, it might feel similar to going through airport customs in Mexico or Europe. Anticipate long wait times for the arrival screening process, which vary by island.

Speed up the process: Hawaii Pre-Clear has arrived! To help speed things up for you and your fellow travelers, Alaska Airlines guests are now able to pre-clear at the departure gate, and bypass airport screening upon arrival in Hawaii. Learn more.

Please be sure you have uploaded your test results (PDF file) to your Safe Travels account and completed the mandatory online health questionnaire prior to your arrival.

5. Travel responsibly.

With more people flying to Hawaii again, the islands are asking visitors to malama, to “care for” each other, for local communities and for the land. As visitors, you’re encouraged to keep one another healthy by following safe health practices like always wearing a mask in public, and to experience the destination on a deeper level—to buy local, learn about local history and culture, and give back to Hawaii.

“We love the concept of malama, which means to care for the land and to care for the people,” said Minicucci. “Caring is such a big part of what Alaska’s all about. It’s part of our core values and that’s why we’re going to take great care as we start flying more people to the islands and will work closely with local officials to make sure we’re doing the right thing and are great stewards of travel to and from Hawaii.”

During their visit, Minicucci and Alaska employees did their part to help protect and preserve Hawaii for the future by planting native trees and learning the history of the land at Gunstock Ranch on Oahu’s North Shore, in collaboration with the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative and the Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach.

Every time I travel to Hawaii I am inspired by the amazing natural beauty of the islands. But we are each responsible for ensuring that beauty sustains for our children, grandchildren, and the people of Hawaii,” said Alaska’s vice president of external relations, Diana Birkett Rakow. “We’re conscious as an airline about our impact, and responsible for reducing it. And if each of us as individuals brings a reusable bottle, plants trees, and supports local business, we will come out of this pandemic stronger together.”

Fly Alaska to Hawaii.

Alaska currently flies to each of the four major Hawaiian Islands with twice daily service from Seattle. On Nov. 1, Alaska’s nonstop service to Hawaii will resume from Portland, Oregon; San Jose, California; and San Diego, California. Hawaii service will begin from Anchorage, Alaska and Los Angeles on Nov. 20.

Book your next trip today!

Related:

Alaska Airlines and Microsoft are making travel a little greener—see how you can reduce your carbon footprint

Alaska Airlines and Microsoft will fly more sustainably thanks to the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supplied by SkyNRG to cover Microsoft employee travel on the routes they fly most. Microsoft has ambitious sustainability goals, including a commitment to be carbon negative by 2030 and remove all historical carbon emissions by 2050. We’re grateful for the opportunity to support them on this path.

SAF is produced from sustainable resources, including feedstocks and waste oils, and is an important way for the aviation industry to reduce CO2 emissions on a life cycle basis.

As an airline, we are responsible for reducing the negative environmental impacts of air travel in our community and the communities where we operate. To do that, we’re focused on ongoing efforts to improve our operational efficiency, including growing our use and the market for SAF,” said Diana Birkett Rakow, vice president of external relations at Alaska Airlines. “We believe deeply in the transformational benefits of air travel. It’s what connects people—and helps communities worldwide grow and thrive. We know to continue to deliver these benefits, we must operate sustainably.”

We’re excited about this milestone and remain committed to a long journey of reducing carbon emissions, including creating a marketplace for SAF, especially here in the Pacific Northwest. More than a decade ago, we were one of the first airlines to demonstrate the use of SAF in passenger travel, and by managing a fuel-efficient fleet and using technology to make flight paths most efficient, we have reduced its intensity target of Greenhouse Gas emissions by 16% since 2012. But there is a lot more work to do, and many partners on this journey, from airports like our home hub SEA to California hubs and research institutions. 

So today, we also announced a two-year investment with Washington State University to support additional research at the WSU-PNNL Bioproducts Institute to advance the mid- and long-term development of SAF as an economically viable option, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. 

What if I don’t work for Microsoft, but want to offset your carbon footprint? Good news! Travelers can invest in carbon offsets from our new partner The Good Traveler, which is then invests in carbon reduction projects that restore the climate balance. Since the inception of the program, more than 667 million miles have been flown and with the help of The Good Traveler – who also partners with airports from SEA to SFO and beyond – and 229 million pounds of CO2 has been removed from the air through funding projects like planting trees, protecting habitats, composting waste and using renewable energy.

Experts say airplanes are among the safest indoor environments in the world

Is it safe to fly on airplanes during the pandemic? Yes, according to science.

While we understand everyone will travel when they’re ready, we’re pleased to share that a recent expert study has shown the transmission of COVID-19 on airplanes to be nearly non-existent (even when seated next to someone).

Mask-wearers are at near zero risk of being exposed to the virus.

According to the most recent study of aircraft air quality conducted by the United States Department of Defense (DoD), even if every seat is occupied on an aircraft, travelers who are wearing a mask are at 0.003% risk of being exposed to the virus.

The DoD study, which simulated a packed plane using mannequins—both with and without masks seated around the cabin—released 180 million particles into the air (the equivalent of 300 to several thousand coughs) to mimic the amount needed to transmit the infection. The results showed only 0.003% of airborne contaminants reached the breathing zones of those wearing a mask.

The DoD research also concluded it would take at least 54 hours of sitting next to someone with the Coronavirus to be exposed to an infectious dose. Currently, Alaska’s longest nonstop flight is 6 hours and 46 minutes from Boston to San Francisco.

Aircraft air filtration systems help reduce the risk onboard.

As part of Harvard’s Health Aviation Initiative, current research recommends taking a multi-layered approach (like Alaska is doing) to minimize the risk of infection, such as:

  • Wearing masks and practicing good hand hygiene.
  • Health agreements and/or screenings to exclude symptomatic people from travel.
  • Using advanced ventilation and filtration systems in airports and on aircraft.
  • Cleaning high-frequency touch surfaces on aircraft between flights such as tray tables, seatbelts and armrests as well as high-touchpoint areas in airports like check-in kiosks and countertops.

Alaska’s Next-Level Care includes over 100 ways to make you feel safe and confident while traveling, from enhancing our cleaning measures to offering sanitizing wipes and touch-free travel options and so much more.

Every Alaska aircraft is equipped with air flow systems that use HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters—the same kind of filters used in hospitals—that remove 99.9% of infected air particles in the air. Air flows from the ceiling to the floor and creates completely new air in the cabin every six minutes on every flight. There is a full exchange of cabin air with outside and HEPA-filtered air every 2-3 minutes.

Very few COVID cases have been linked to air travel.

According to insights from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), nearly 1.2 billion passengers have traveled since January, in that same period only 44 cases of COVID-19 were reported in which transmission is thought to have been associated with air travel. Even if 90% of those cases were unreported, the risk is 1 in 27 million.

IATA graphic published on Twitter, see IATA’s original tweet.

As for the low number of confirmed cases, IATA’s findings, combined with joint research conducted by aircraft manufacturers Airbus, Boeing and Embraer point to aircraft airflow systems as the reasoning, limiting the spread of viruses by controlling the movement of particles in the cabin.

Airflow systems like HEPA filters, and the natural barrier of the seatback and downward flow of air, plus high rates of air exchange reduce the risk of airborne disease transmission on board. The addition of mask-wearing also adds a further and significant extra layer of protection, which makes being seated in close proximity in an aircraft cabin safer than most other indoor environments.

Some of the ways our Next-Level Care is making travel safer:

  • Mandatory masks
    No mask? No travel. Per Alaska Airlines policy, a cloth face mask or covering is required for the duration of your flight, including boarding and deplaning. This is for the safety of all guests and employees.
  • HEPA filters
    Alaska Airlines has one of the newest fleets in the country, which ensures our aircraft have the latest filtration technology in use. Every aircraft we operate is equipped with HEPA filtration systems that are 99.9% effective or greater in removing infected air particles, including viruses like COVID-19, from the cabin air. The air flows from the ceiling to the floor and creates completely new air in the cabin. There is a full exchange of cabin air with outside and HEPA-filtered air every 2-3 minutes and 100% fresh air every 6 minutes.
  • next level careElectrostatic disinfectant sprayers & enhanced cleaning
    We’re using electrostatic disinfectant sprayers, which emit a safe, high-grade EPA cleaning solution that sanitize surfaces (overhead bins, armrests, tray tables, seatbelts, lavatories, etc).
  • No change fees. Ever.
    That’s right, we’ve sent change fees on a permanent vacation. Your peace of mind is always top of mind, which is why we’re permanently eliminating change fees. Fare differences may still apply.
  • Complimentary hand-sanitizer wipes
    We partnered with EO products to provide hand sanitizing wipes that are 99.9% effective at killing germs.
  • Touch-free options
    To help create more distance between guests, we’re providing our agents with the ability to scan a boarding pass from six feet away—if the conditions are just right. And, with the Alaska Airlines app guests can print their boarding pass(es) at airport kiosks touch-free from their mobile device. Learn more.
  • Social distancing stickers
    To better allow for personal distancing, boarding procedures have been updated so guests board by row numbers in smaller groups from the back to the front.
  • Plexiglass shields
    Plexiglass shields are being installed in all stations throughout our network. The shields will be placed at multiple touchpoints, including the ticketing and customer service counters, the gate areas and our Lounges.
  • Learn more about how we’re making it safe to travel on alaskaair.com.

From a plane to a helicopter employee Terri goes above & beyond the mountains to help an Alaska guest

Last year, Terri Gamble-Potter arranged for a helicopter to deliver a delayed bag to a guest who had arrived in Anchorage from the East Coast on his way to a remote area outside Talkeetna, Alaska.

Knowing that logistics can be challenging for delivery to a remote location, I researched options and was able to have the bag driven to Talkeetna and then airlifted directly to the guest,” says Gamble-Potter, who has been an Anchorage-based customer service agent (CSA) since 1983. On a video of the helicopter’s approach, the guest enthuses: “That’s my freakin’ bag. … Thank you, Alaska Airlines. How ’bout that, huh? That’s service—customer care!”

Terri Potter, Customer Service Agent, 36 years

On another occasion, when a film crew had a tight connection through Anchorage on their way to Nome, she accompanied their checked luggage through security and arranged for a ramp agent to grab it the minute it was cleared so that he could race it to the aircraft.

Gamble-Potter is dedicated to providing excellent service. If someone’s bag is lost, she’s determined to find it. And she not only helps direct guests at baggage carousels, she also assists travelers with offloading their bags.

Success in service comes from having empathy for people, and follow-through, and doing the very best you can for them,” she says.

Throughout her career at Alaska, she has worked in positions ranging from reservations to the ticket counter to training, as well as bag-gage claim, and she says that Anchorage CSAs are “a very dedicated and caring group of people.”

Gamble-Potter, who was previously a travel agent, joined Alaska Airlines because airline salespeople calling on the travel agency were always talking about how wonderful their jobs were, and how great Alaska Airlines was, and how it was like a family, she says. “I felt the airline had the same values I did, and I thought, ‘I’ve got to work there.’ ”

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

What is important to you at work? Giving 100%. We have a responsibility to help each other as co-workers, and to do things safely, and also to put ourselves in the guests’ shoes. I love everything about my job, including being a cheerleader for colleagues and for customer service.

What do you like to do outside of work? I was born and raised in Alaska, and I love living here and being active in the out-doors. I have cruised the Inside Passage and explored other areas of this beautiful state. Outside Alaska, I have traveled to wonderful destinations such as Portugal and the East Coast, and I was even on the first flight from Anchorage to Honolulu on Alaska Airlines. I enjoy organizing community service and volunteering with charities. Each September, my family hikes in Yosemite National Park in support of the Histio Cure Foundation.

What’s most important to you in life? My husband, four children and five grand-kids, who all reside in Alaska.

KUDOS FROM TERRI’S CO-WORKERS

“Terri goes above and beyond for guests. She is a baggage expert and is always there to help new employees learn. She shows compassion to our guests, and is a valuable and important part of our airline family.” — Misty V., CSA Manager, Anchorage

“Terri puts a smile on everybody’s face. She turns a difficult situation into a posi-tive one. She always has positive things to say. She does what she does, not be-cause she is trying to impress anyone, but because that’s just who she is.” — Nathan H., CSA Station Supervisor, Anchorage

“I can go to Terri if I need anything, and she knows exactly where to go so we can help guests out.” — Duane G., Ramp Service Agent, Anchorage

“Terri is passionate about her family, her friends and her airline guests, and that is why she excels in her job.” — Dana S., CSA (retired), Anchorage

Mandy praises flight attendants, says “they are my true heroes in this pandemic”

You’ve heard the term “walk a mile in my shoes.” Mandy Mundy, onboard product & services senior specialist, is a shining example of that. Although she traded flying the skies as a flight attendant for a job behind the scenes, she makes it her mission to continue to walk in the shoes of Horizon Air’s flight attendants, supporting them in their jobs.

Everything I learned from all my experiences flying set me up for the role I have now,” Mundy says. “I work for an incredible group of flight attendants that remind me every day the reason I am here,” she says.

Mundy, who has been with Horizon for 15 years (12 years as a flight attendant) makes it her mission to listen—a lot. She’s always looking for ways, large and small, to make inflight processes better for her flying colleagues.

“Flight attendants can go weeks, if not months, without seeing their inflight leaders. We are always observing for opportunities to improve their work and work environment based on the data we receive from their feedback,” she says.

Mandy with her daughter.

Those that work with Mundy know that she spends as much time with flight attendants as she can. You can regularly find her in the PDX Village and attending as many recurrent ground school classes that she can, which she finds incredibly valuable.

“We have had a lot of great discussions. I am given the opportunity to explain the ‘why’ behind our decisions,” Mundy says.

An example of Mundy’s commitment is when we brought on the E175 aircraft and there were differences between the Q and E galleys so mock galleys were created. She took it upon herself to provide over 20 flight attendants one-on-one training on the jet. She helped film videos to explain service expectations, and often stayed long hours to ensure the training was in place to make our employees successful while aiming to deliver award-winning service to our guests.

No one had to tell Mandy what needed to be done. She knew the destination needed to be reached and found a path to get there. She truly is a Pathfinder,” said Matt Prainito, VP of Horizon Air station and inflight operations.

Leading the way to help others is a theme in Mundy’s life. A self-described horse-lover, she founded a nonprofit organization for mounted search and rescue. She also recently welcomed a baby girl to her household.

Mundy truly loves her job, because she loves people, especially the flight attendants she supports.

“They are incredible, stepping up to the task at hand and willing to adjust to everything that keeps coming at us as we navigate COVID-19.,” says Mundy. “My heart goes out to all those that have essential roles—but flight attendants, they are my true heroes in this pandemic.”

Hawaii welcomes you back and to malama (care for) the Aloha State

Hawaii is eager to welcome visitors to paradise. Starting Oct. 15, Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program will allow anyone entering the state who tests negative for COVID-19 in advance to bypass the current two-week mandatory quarantine (details below).

Test or no test, it’s important to visit safely and thoughtfully. Everyone is invited to experience the destination on a deeper level—connecting with the community, its culture and taking care of each other and the land itself. 

Malama: take care of yourself and Hawaii.

Malama, meaning “to nurture” or “care for,”  is a core value of the Hawaiian culture, and it relates to preserving the land and taking care of all those living there as well. As tourism starts to recover, the islands encourage travelers to be open-minded and respectful of Hawaii’s beauty and leave with a better understanding of what it means to care for the earth, each other and ourselves.

We believe our visitors care about perpetuating the uniqueness of this place,” explains Jay Talwar, chief marketing officer at the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (which is part of the Hawaii Tourism Authority). “If even a small portion of Hawaii travelers took part in such activities, the effect would be enormous.”

Here’s how you can help:

  • Fly to Hawaii with either a negative COVID-19 state-approved test or prepare to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. Learn more.
  • Follow the state’s recommendations to stay safe while in the islands (wear a mask, social distance etc.).
  • Be alert at all times in or near the water, don’t take the sea for granted. Avoid turning your back on the waves. If you or others in your party are not an experienced ocean swimmer, select beaches with lifeguards.
  • Exercise good-judgment when hiking in the islands like carrying essential gear, check the weather and be watchful that you only enter lands that are open to you and respect the landscape and its history.
  • Seek experiences that enhance your knowledge of natural and cultural history. Try booking a tour to hike hillsides to learn about Hawaii Island’s volcanoes or the history of local sugar cane farming on Maui and more.

Fly to Hawaii

Starting Oct. 15, Hawaii will allow travelers from out-of-state to proceed without the 14-day quarantine if they test negative for COVID-19 before they arrive in the islands.

Travelers who are five years of age and older must be tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours of your departure flight to Hawaii. Only test results from trusted testing partners approved by the Hawaii Department of Health will be accepted.

Everything you need to know before you go to Hawaii

Guests can enjoy a safe and relaxing flight to the islands thanks to Alaska’s Next-Level Care, which has more than 100 different ways we’re preventing the spread of COVID-19, including mandatory masks, enhanced cleanings between flights, electrostatic disinfectant spray and more.

Alaska is offering you convenient and reliable testing options.

COVID-19 testing options for Alaska Guests

 

We’re making it simple and easy for our guests by providing testing options that guarantee turnaround times for results within the state’s required 72-hour timeframe. All tests meet the requirements of the State of Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program.

  • We’re partnering with Carbon Health to offer rapid COVID-19 testing in pop-up clinics — starting in Seattle on Oct. 12, 2020, and expanding in the coming weeks as we resume nonstop service to Hawaii from other cities on the West Coast.
  • We’re also working with Bartell Drugs to offer PCR-based COVID-19 testing at select locations in Seattle, with guaranteed results within 72 hours.

Learn more about flying to Hawaii here.

 

Alliance countdown: Alaska joins oneworld in six months

Alaska enters a new frontier in six months. On March 31, 2021, for the first time in our 88-year history, we’ll become a member of a global airline alliance: oneworld.

“Every airline has pivotal moments in its history. Decisions that are made for future success and stability, and to provide increased service and a better travel experience for its customers. oneworld offers us those opportunities,” said Nat Pieper, Alaska’s senior vice president of fleet, finances and alliances. “We are officially joining a family with some of the best airlines in the world. The possibilities are tremendous.”

There’s a huge amount of complicated work that’s being done behind-the-scenes at Alaska to meet our aggressive deadline. Changes are required to every one of our major systems so they can ‘talk’ to each oneworld member airline, and ensure we have a smooth and seamless guest experience.

It’s a lot of effort, but we believe it’s worth it:

  • oneworld further opens the world to our guests with more than 1,000 global destinations. You’ll fly more easily from Boise to Beijing or Portland to Prague. We’re already Global Partners with six oneworld members which include American Airlines, British Airways, Japan Airlines and Qantas, but soon we’ll add seven new partners under the alliance umbrella including Iberia and Qatar Airways.
  • Connectivity becomes easier with oneworld as our network (especially strong on the West Coast) supports the major, long-haul international flying of our fellow member airlines.
  • With our award-winning Mileage Plan program, our guests will be able to accrue and redeem miles across the oneworld global network.
  • For our elite travelers, oneworld prides itself on providing a consistent, high quality guest experience across the alliance. Status with us means status with oneworld and its 13 member airlines. This includes access to oneworld member airlines’ lounges when traveling internationally, priority check-in, access to preferred and pre-reserved seats, priority boarding and many other benefits. This key improvement to our guest experience will help us compete with our bigger U.S. rivals who offer their own global network.
  • oneworld also boosts the visibility of the Alaska brand. Being a member of a prestigious global alliance will help us be better known around North America – and around the world.

As spring begins next year, the famous blue orb of oneworld will find its home across our airline. It’ll be on employee name tags; in our airport lobbies, ticket stands and gate areas; in our guest emails, in advertisements, on our billboards; and positioned on our aircraft.

Also, you might be wondering about our partnerships with our current Global Partners that are not a part of oneworld. We value the benefits those partnerships provide our guests, and we’ll continue to maintain them as long as it’s mutually beneficial to do so.

8 ways Alaska Airlines is committed to making travel more accessible

Alaska Airlines aims to make flying and our workplace accessible for everyone. We recognize there’s always room for improvement and continue work to create equal opportunities for our guests and employees with disabilities in the following ways:

1. Building a better future with employee ACCESS business resource group

For nearly a decade, Alaska’s business resource group ACCESS has helped promote inclusive and accessible programs and services for employees and guests with disabilities. Since its founding, ACCESS has helped with countless accessibility related changes and events that have benefited our guests and employees. ACCESS has also helped Alaska continue being a great place to work by promoting diversity & inclusion and respecting people for their differences.

2. Learning and listening from guests and experts on Alaska’s Disability Advisory Board

Gary Peterson

Alaska’s Disability Advisory Board is made up of people from outside the company, who have disabilities and vast experience in disability advocacy. Since 2018, the board has provided recommendations to create more inclusive training, policies and procedures within the company to improve travel experiences of people with disabilities, including our Next-Level Care efforts to combat COVID-19.

“We need numerous people with disabilities to advise us,” said Gary Peterson, a recent retiree and former supervisor of line maintenance. “Disabilities are very diverse, and people with even the same disability have different experiences. I have a mobility disability, so I understand what that means. With other disabilities, I may have empathy for what they go through, but I can’t totally understand until I have to live with it every day.”

3. Easing travel anxiety with technology & relaxing remedies

Last year, Alaska launched a free app in the Apple Store and Google Play called “Fly for All.” Designed for first-time flyers, unaccompanied minors and those with cognitive and developmental disabilities, including autism, the app is designed to help ease the anxiety of air travel by walking guests through the steps they’ll follow when getting ready to fly. Since its creation, the app has been downloaded by over 20,000 people.

On a related note, if guests are overwhelmed while flying they can enjoy relaxing remedies like our free Headspace meditation sessions via Alaska’s onboard entertainment or calming lavender scented EO sanitizing wipes which are a couple ways we’re providing Next-Level Care to our everyone onboard.

4. Offering accessible travel options

While Alaska recognizes guests are experts when it comes to their needs, our employees are there to assist every step of the way from boarding, in the air and anywhere in between. We offer many accessible travel services and accommodations to make travel easier, which can be found on alaskaair.com.

5. Organizing airport, flight tours for families in the autism community

Alaska employees come together every year in various cities around the country to offer guests with cognitive and developmental disabilities including autism and their families the chance to go through the steps of air travel in a realistic, relaxed environment without ever leaving the airport.

Photo taken by Ingrid Barrentine at an event last year.

During October, which is Disability Employment Awareness Month, we partner with airports and disability partners to offer unique guided tours that cover the check-in and security process, to waiting at the gate area and boarding an Alaska aircraft. Wings for Autism in Washington and Ability to Fly in California and others in Oregon and Alaska are temporarily on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

6. Traveling with a trained emotional support animal or service animal

Alaska routinely collaborates with Guide Dogs for the Blind and Canine Companions for Independence to provide airport access for puppies in training, partners with the Paralyzed Veterans of America to improve employee education for the proper handling of guests’ mobility devices, and is working with Open Doors Org, United Spinal Association, to increase the hiring of individuals with disabilities and provide inclusive travel experiences for our guests with disabilities.

7. Making travel almost entirely touch-free

With hygiene and safety concerns top of mind, we’ve made it easy for your travels to be almost entirely touch-free. With the Alaska mobile app, you can check in for your flight, generate a mobile boarding pass and so much more. Plus, our improved technology will soon allow us to scan boarding passes up to six feet apart, print bag tags without touching the check-in kiosk and purchase food and beverages on board using your stored payment preference.

8. Always open to feedback

We are dedicated to providing convenient and comfortable service for all our guests. If you have concerns regarding discrimination, accommodations, or services for any guests with disabilities we welcome you to directly share your feedback with us.

Related:

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month year-round with these eats, sights & flights

Now and always, we honor the Hispanic, Latinx, and Latino-identified communities and their tremendous impact on our country. Below are some of our favorite destinations that embody, contribute to and are influenced by Hispanic culture year-round.

Alaska Airlines has a long history of flying to Latin America, starting with the launch of service to Mexico more than 30 years ago — with routes to Cancun, Guadalajara, Loreto, Los Cabos, Manzanillo, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta and Zihuatanejo. You can also discover the Caribbean and other parts of the world via our Global Partners, including American Airlines that flies to more than 50 Spanish-speaking destinations including the Dominican Republic, Central and South America.

You can use or earn miles on Alaska for traveling to your favorite worldwide destinations—and book with peace of mind knowing we’ve permanently eliminated change fees and are bringing you Next-Level Care.

So go ahead and take that trip you’ve always dreamed about. Here are some places to keep in mind:

El Paso

“Animo Sin Fronteras” Mural by El Mac | Photo by Federico Villalba

Eats: Enjoy authentic Mexican culinary experience—whatever you do, order the sopapillas.
Sights: Hotel Indigo is a dream location for Instagrammers. This boutique hotel offers some quirky and hip things that you can document with pictures. Animo Sin Fronteras is a giant “Courage Without Borders” mural that pays homage to the Mexican influence in El Paso. If you’re looking for some outdoorsy splendor, the Chihuahuan Desert or the Rio Grande are also a must-see, don’t forget sunscreen & water!
Flights: Fly to El Paso

San Antonio

Photo by Ingrid Barrentine.

San Antonio is a city of deep roots and vibrant culture, located in the heart of South Texas.
Eats: From River Walk favorites to family-owned restaurants, San Antonio’s timeless classics and modern takes on Mexican and Latin American food keep visitors coming back for more. Get ready for flavor & fun!
Sights: Mission San Antonio de Valero, better known as the Alamo—what remains of the oldest mission is one of the most-visited sites in the state and is easily the most sacred.
Flights: Fly to San Antonio

San Diego

Eats: San Diego’s cuisine is a delicious Cali-Baja blend of fresh-inspired ingredients combined with traditional Mexican style eats. At the iconic Barrio Logan eatery Las Cuatro Milpas, locals line up for authentic homestyle Mexican food and freshly made tortillas.
Sights: The outdoor murals at Chicano Park are home to the largest collection of Chicano murals in the U.S., it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2017. Latinx influences can be discovered through the region’s colorful neighborhoods and don’t miss stopping by Latinx and Hispanic owned businesses while in San Diego.
Flights: Fly to San Diego

Los Angeles


In a city where Latinos are nearly 50% of the population according to the U.S. Census, there is certainly much to celebrate.
Eats: A stop at Cielito Lindo is a must. Since 1934, the stand has served up freshly made, mouth-watering taquitos with avocado sauce. Appease your sweet tooth with the chocolate-filled churros.
Sights: El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument is historical, but it’s vibrant draw is Olvera Street, a brick-paved colorful walkthrough that serves as the setting for a lively Mexican-style market to find food, handicrafts like pottery, leather goods, masks, and folk art.
Flights: Fly to Los Angeles

New York

With vibrant neighborhoods, world-class museums, authentic dining experiences, exciting stays and more to safely explore visitors & New Yorkers have lots to enjoy in the five boroughs to celebrate Hispanic Heritage.
Eats: Grab a bite at the Zona de Cuba, a Cuban restaurant offering delicious and authentic food like vaca frita and ropa vieja.
Sights: Wander East Harlem, or “El Barrio” and check out El Museo to see Puerto Rican, Caribbean, and Latin American art.
Flights: Fly to New York

Costa Rica

Tucked into Central America, Costa Rica is packed with stunning tropical rainforests, epic beaches and things to do.
Eats: Seafoodies can eat it up at the Vargas family’s marisquería restaurant. For more than three decades the seafood eatery has offered fresh fish, tropical drinks and cold brews right on the beach. No visit is complete without arroz con mariscos (seafood rice), featuring the day’s catch or the raw ceviche de chuchecas (blood clams) paired with a shrimp cocktail.
Sights: There is no festival in Costa Rica that takes place without a nod to its agricultural heritage, horses and cowboys are ubiquitous to the culture. Take a ride for yourself to see some pretty breathtaking views!
Flights: Fly to Costa Rica

Miami

Miami is home to one of the largest melting pots of Latin and Caribbean culture in the U.S.
Eats: Satisfy your snackable cravings and more at some of the best Spanish restaurants in Miami. Looking for some traditional tapas? Bulla’s bar serves up a buzzy, trendy vibe with deliciosa gourmet tapas and craft cocktails.
Sights: Wander and enjoy Latin activity as downtown’s Flagler Street, the unavoidable Elián González house, and Little Havana’s Domino Park and Tower Theatre, among others.
Flights: Fly to New York

Chicago

Eats: Chicago doesn’t just have deep dish pizza. It’s also known for excellent Mexican cuisine that includes traditional favorites and new fusion flavors.
Sights: The windy city also has vibrant Latino communities such as Pilsen, Little Village and Humboldt Park. That’s where you’ll find top cultural institutions like the National Museum of Mexican Art and colorful street art by renowned Hispanic artists.
Flights: Fly to Chicago

If you have a favorite place that we missed, we’d love to hear from you, comment below!

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