Our thoughts continue to be with those affected by Hurricane Laura. You can support the relief efforts by donating miles to the Alaska Airlines Disaster Relief Pool and Angel Flight West to help support charities involved with disaster relief efforts. Your miles will be used to transport medical staff and volunteers, and even those needing to be transported for a medical treatment in another city and who otherwise would not be able to afford the cost of getting there. Thank you for your generosity.
Horizon Lead Technician Paul Skahill keeps planes flying on schedule
“Our maintenance guy came on board and did a great job,” said a Horizon Air pilot grateful for a timely, accurate maintenance diagnosis, and expeditious replacement of an aircraft component, announced to his plane full of guests in Seattle. Everyone clapped for Seattle Line Maintenance Lead Technician Paul Skahill, whose good work meant the flight could leave on time.
I’m eager to get the job done—safely, and as quickly as possible,” says Skahill, who has been with Horizon since 2002. “I’m dedicated, and I’m picky. I want to ensure that everything gets done right.”
As a lead maintenance technician, Skahill oversees a team of six who handle whatever arises each day, as well as scheduled maintenance such as oil and tire changes. He seeks to ensure his team members’ success, including anticipating their needs.
Paul Skahill
“When a call comes in, I strive to determine from the description what the issue might be, and while the technician is assessing the situation at the aircraft, I go ahead and get the likely part delivered from the maintenance warehouse at the airport so that the part is all ready to go if I made a correct determination. I also have the step-by-step task in- formation ready for the technician. This helps get guests safely on their way sooner.”
Despite starting his day at 4 a.m., he often works late and on weekends to ensure optimal operations. He also often volunteers to fly out of town to work on planes, since the Seattle and Portland stations handle most major maintenance needs for Horizon’s E175s and Q400s.
Skahill’s been interested in aviation since he was a child watching from his bedroom window as planes landed in Seattle. After high school, he spent 14 years as an aircraft-parts machinist before getting his airframe-and-powerplant license and then joining Horizon on the advice of an airline employee who frequented the same gym he did.
“Horizon is a great place,” he says. “I like what I do, and I like the people.”
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
What do you enjoy about your job?
I like working on the planes, and I like to stay busy. As the lead, you field all the maintenance calls; schedule and delegate the work; and communicate with a lot of people, including at the station and in operations. I like that every day is different.
How do you define job success?
Getting planes out safely and on time, or at the very least, within our estimated time of return to service. Those are the top priorities of everybody on the team. We use a methodical step-by-step approach, per the manual. What we do is important to the safety of all our guests and the flight crews, and it needs to be done 100% correctly. When you get a plane back in service in a timely manner, and safely, it gives you a good feeling.
What do you do outside the job?
Working out is my fun. I go to the gym two or three times a week—it’s keeping your body tuned up, kind of like keeping your car tuned up. I’m also always busy working on our house, doing remodeling.
Where do you like to travel?
We go to Brazil every year to visit my wife’s family. I also like Hawai‘i, Cancún and San Diego for warm weather and the beach. I typically pack too much and then usually just end up wearing shorts the whole time.
PRAISE FOR PAUL
“Paul is a very experienced lead with a passion for ensuring things get done and get done right. His ability to lead and direct his team is top-notch. When there are challenges, Paul will be the first one to roll up his sleeves and go out to work side by side with his team. He will be the first person to help the operation during weather events, and will even pick up a shovel to remove snow to ensure our customers have a safe path leading from the aircraft to the terminal.” — George K., Horizon Vice President of Maintenance & Engineering, Seattle
Precious Cargo: Our aircraft carry the gift of sight
Debby Mulligan loves to dance. The Alaska Airlines airport employee from Portland especially loves ballroom dancing—swirling in step-patterns, moving rhythmically and expressing the music’s characteristics. She’s danced on the ballroom circuit for eight years.
Corneal transplant recipient Debby Mulligan in the cockpit of an SR-71 Blackbird aircraft.
But a rare eye disease that cropped up over her adult years nearly cost Mulligan her dancing—and her livelihood. In her 20’s, due to a failing cornea—the clear front surface of the eye—she had difficulty seeing, even with glasses. In her 30’s she could no longer read the big “E” on the eye chart. She was going blind.
Over the last 20 years, Mulligan has had three different corneal transplants, which have given her the ability to see again. “I am incredibly grateful every day for having my sight back, thanks to the generosity of donors,” she says.
The intricate dance of scheduling the surgery and having donor tissue available to transplant makes timeliness a priority for doctors and their patients in need of crucial transplant surgeries like Mulligan’s.
“Everyone is ready and waiting for the donation to arrive,” Mulligan says.
The journey often involves her very own airline.
Working with Seattle global health organization SightLife, Alaska Air Cargo regularly ships corneas via its GoldStreak Package Express overnight service. The tissue, which comes from donors who made the selfless decision to help others before passing away, goes to labs and eye banks around the U.S., and sometimes overseas. In a year, Alaska will ship more than 5,000 corneas eventually bound for patients waiting for corneal transplants, according to Rick Bendix, the airline’s cargo marketing & business development program manager.
“We’re literally carrying the gift of sight,” says Ravelle Snyder, regional cargo sales manager who works with SightLife on the precious cargo. “Our employees often hand-carry these GoldStreak packages to the aircraft, taking personal responsibility to ensure that the tissue is safe at all times during transit.”
Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Seattle, SightLife is the world’s leading and largest nonprofit eye bank dedicated to eliminating corneal blindness worldwide. In 2019, SightLife and its global partners provided a record-breaking 37,456 donor corneas for sight-restoring transplants worldwide.
Recently, when a SightLife courier arrived right at the acceptance cutoff without pre-booking, we quickly made it happen, according to Helene Romero, of Alaska’s airfreight team in Seattle, who knows the importance of timeliness in these shipments. Typically, shorter times between donation and corneal transplant result in better outcomes for patients.
Speed, service and reliability are why shippers love GoldStreak.
It’s reassuring to work with a partner who values the gift of sight as much as we do,” says SightLife’s COO Jim McCorkle. “When we have a deadline to get tissue to the lab, the Alaska Airlines staff is always willing to help radio a driver to prioritize our shipment since time is of the essence when it comes to sight-restoring, life-transforming corneal transplants.”
Mulligan’s journey recently came full circle. When her father passed, he was too elderly to donate his corneas for sight-restoring transplants, but the family supported the option to donate for research or training.
From recipients like me, from the families who support donation of their loved ones, every hospital worker, eye bank worker, and transportation worker—thank you to all who are part of the donor network. It’s so incredibly important,” she says.
More convenience––less contact! Alaska Airlines is making travel almost entirely touch-free
As more of our guests prepare to fly again, we’re gradually, thoughtfully and safely reintroducing onboard food and beverage services and have implemented numerous ways to make your travels almost entirely touch-free.
With the Alaska mobile app, you can check in for your flight, pre-order meals, generate a mobile boarding pass and so much more. Plus, our improved technology allows 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.
See what’s in the works to make your journey more convenient and touch-free:
Pre-order meals & store payment for touch-free purchase in the air
Great trips call for great planning! Now available in all cabins on trips 1,100+ miles, you can reserve your favorite snacks/meals using the Alaska mobile app or alaskaair.com from 2 weeks to 20 hours prior to your flight.
You can also store your payment preference using your Alaska Airlines account so when it comes time to pay for your meal in the air, you can do so touch-free.
Print bag tags without touching the check-in kiosk
At the airport, you can print your bag tags by simply scanning your boarding pass (mobile or printed at home) at one of our kiosks.
Here’s how it works: Once you pay for your baggage fee(s) using the Alaska mobile app or online, you can simply walk up to our kiosk at the airport, scan your boarding pass and your tags will be printed from the kiosk where you can safely grab the tag from the machine to place it onto your bag(s). You can also print your bag tags from home if that’s easier or ask one of our agents for assistance.
Once you’ve placed your tag on your bag(s), you can safely drop off your baggage to one of our agents, while maintaining physical distance.
Scan boarding passes from a distance
Our gate agents are able to scan guests’ boarding passes using a mobile tablet or scanner while boarding. 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. To scan from that far away, the boarding area will need to have good lighting and the barcodes need to be printed clearly. While we can’t achieve this laser-focus every time, our agents are working hard to “mind their wingspan” and taking every measure to keep our guests safe.
Touch-free check in, mobile boarding pass, prepaid bags
The Alaska mobile app is still the single best tool to limit contact while traveling. You can make sure your trip is as smooth as possible every step of the way by using it to check in for your flight, generate a mobile boarding pass, change seats and prepay for your bags. The app also keeps you up to date on your flight status, gate changes and boarding notifications. Download the app today if you don’t already have it!
Get a text or email instead of paper
Coming soon to an airport near you will be a messaging tool that our customer service agents will use—to avoid printing & handling boarding passes or receipts—that is capable of sending you a text message that includes all of your travel information with a link to your boarding pass, gate and seat assignment.
Agents can also email any receipts, such as bag fees, if needed.
Staying safe and connected: A message from Ben Minicucci
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Alaska has implemented nearly 100 actions to keep guests and employees safe, all part of Alaska’s commitment to Next-Level Care.
Some examples include:
Require guests and employees wear a cloth mask or face covering at all times when at the airport or onboard Alaska aircraft. Flyers must also complete a health agreement at check-in to acknowledge and attest to their willingness to adhere to the mask requirement.
Sanitizing wipes readily available to guests during beverage service on all Alaska and Horizon Air flights.
Enhanced cleanings of our planes in between every flight.
Hospital-grade HEPA air filters on every aircraft; an air filtration system that circulates fresh, outside air into the cabin every three minutes.
Limited onboard service to reduce interactions.
Hand-sanitizer stations throughout the journey and more.
Alaska Airlines is offering a handy way to be germ-free plus other relaxing remedies on board as part of Next-Level Care
In travel, details make all the difference. As soon as COVID-19 hit, we quickly implemented over 100 ways to bring you peace of mind while traveling, including pre-travel wellness checks, requiring face coverings, disinfecting aircraft between flights and much, much more. So, when we set out to choose a partner for providing in-flight sanitizing hand wipes, we didn’t just settle for effectiveness. We asked: “Who can help make our guests’ experience more enjoyable?”
The answer? EO– the leading personal care brand that produces luxurious, pure, essential oil-infused hand sanitizer, body care and hand soaps in scents inspired by nature – facilitating meditative moments of self-care, anywhere and any time.
Starting Aug. 21, EO’s alcohol-based, relaxing French lavender-scented sanitizing wipes will be available to guests during beverage service on all Alaska and Horizon Air flights. Aside from being 99.9% effective against common germs, EO’s sanitizing wipes are created with sustainably-farmed organic ingredients and biodegradable bamboo cloth. Even better? EO is a zero-waste, B-corp and certified green business – a perfect match for Alaska’s industry leading environmental efforts.
We understand traveling during the “new normal” can feel overwhelming so we hope these thoughtful details make it feel more comfortable.
Here are more ways you can make your trip relaxing, comfortable and healthy:
Take a moment for mindfulness
We’re all coping with a lot of change right now. Taking a little time to re-center can do a world of good. We have just the thing. Through our partnership with Headspace, we offer free inflight meditation sessions. Just look for Headspace in our entertainment portal, breathe deeply and let the stress melt away.
Plan your PPE (don’t forget your mandatory mask!)
Have you ever spent a travel day in the wrong pair of shoes? The same rules apply to traveling while wearing a mask. For a travel day that includes time in airports and on flights, you may want to opt for a mask that fastens around the back of your head, rather than your ears.
And, think ahead about disinfecting supplies you’ll want along the way. Bringing a travel sized bottle of hand sanitizer is probably top of mind, and now TSA allows you to bring even more – one 12 oz. bottle is allowed in your carry-on until further notice.
Pack strategic snackage
With limited airport and in-flight food and beverage services right now, you may want to shop in advance for snacks before your flight. Look for strong flavors but be careful not to get sucked into exclusively buying salty or sweet snacks. Dried fruit and nuts, pre-cut veggies, olives, cured meats and flavorful herbed crackers are great options to keep your stomach feeling full and satisfied. And maybe spring for that chocolate bar you’re always eyeing (Seattle Chocolate is a favorite) travel is supposed to be sweet, after all.
#FillBeforeYouFly
It’s easy to forget about hydration while traveling–and end up feeling pretty lousy as a result. The best and most sustainable way to drink enough water while you travel is to #FillBeforeYouFly. Bring your favorite (empty, of course) water bottle through security and fill it at your gate. We recommend filling up at a hands-free fill station if accessible. And, spread the word on social with a picture of your bottle and our hashtag #FillBeforeYouFly.
Clear the air with our HEPA filters
Speaking of breathing deeply, your overhead air vent is your friend–it provides clean, filtered air from outside the plane. While many people think airplane air is recirculated, it’s actually completely refreshed with outside air every three minutes by a system that uses two HEPA filters that are 99.9% effective in removing contaminates including viruses, bacteria and fungi. It’s a similar system to those used in hospitals, so don’t suffer in stuffy silence–keep the air flowing.
Feel like you’re at the beach by simply washing your hands
That’s right. Our signature soap “Ocean Citron,” made by Seattle-based Antica Farmacista, was specially created to give you cool blue ocean vibes with notes of California lemon, soft jasmine, lavender, green tea, among others. Antica’s refreshing ocean-inspired products can be found in all our aircraft lavatories (sanitizer if you’re traveling on a Q400) and in our lounges where you can enjoy it’s pairing lotion.
Flying may feel a little different these days, but with Alaska thinking of every detail and a little planning, the sky is still a pretty great place to be.
A genuine trailblazer, Alaska employee Toni triumphed Mt. Rainier & airline merger
One of the best things that ever happened to Toni Freeberg, director of business transformation and a 2019 Alaska Legend, may have been failing to summit Mount Rainier on her first attempt.
A graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder who grew up climbing mountains near Denver, Freeberg moved to Seattle in 1987 after 15 months of traveling the world. Trained in business, she took a temporary job in Alaska Airlines’ Accounting department, figuring she might keep traveling after reaching the tallest local peak. But after being turned back by a blizzard, the chance to try again factored into a decision to stay in town another year. In that year, she found a permanent job at Alaska, met her future husband, and fell in love with working at the airline and living in Seattle, as well.
She summited Rainier the following summer.
Toni Freeberg
Freeberg’s persistence and adventuresome spirit have helped her greatly in her career. Over 32 years with Alaska, she has relished taking on varied projects—often very challenging ones—in the Marketing, Sales, e-Commerce, Mileage Plan and Revenue Management departments.
“I’ve been fortunate that I’ve been put into roles for things we hadn’t done before, where we were breaking new ground,” she says.
Today, Freeberg is part of the new Business Transformation team that explores broad, companywide initiatives.
Among her top past accomplishments was helping lead the integration of Alaska and Virgin America systems. And since the early 1990s she has been a leader in the Compassionate Assistance Relief Effort that is part of Alaska Airlines’ emergency response and preparedness team.
Freeberg finds time to volunteer at a local YMCA, as well. And she and her husband enjoy taking outdoor trips with their son and daughter, now grown. She says that there’s one thing she’s particularly glad they’ve instilled in their children: a sense of adventure.
Questions & Answers
What do you like most about your job?
I’ve had chances to move into new roles in areas of new focus for the airline, getting to build things from the ground up and getting to work with great people.
What is your best piece of job advice?
The advice I give my kids is to always strive to be the best at whatever job you have. You make the job what it is. Always believe you have the most important job, and make it the best you can.
What have your favorite trips been?
My thing is really adventure travel. Some highlights: Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and riding camels in Morocco.
What’s on your travel to-do list?
I’m planning Mongolia and Patagonia trips in the next two years. Antarctica is No. 1 on the wish list. … I’m a freak for penguins!
What do you pack when you travel?
The least amount possible.
Kudos from Toni’s Co-Workers
“Toni sets the stage for high-performance culture. She’s a go-getter who doesn’t turn away a challenge. She delivers results beyond expectations, especially under tough circumstances and under pressure.” —Agnes Zajac, Manager, Pricing, Seattle
“Integrity is one word that embodies Toni. She always says what she is going to do and does it. She sets clear expectations for her team and encourages others to believe in themselves.” —Rosalie Hallenbeck, Director of Business Transformation, Seattle
“She never hesitates to jump in and help, even if there is not a formal request. Toni leads by example, offering support, guidance and knowledge.” —Deena Parker, Senior Product Manager, e-Commerce, Seattle
“Toni is a woman of core strength, fierce caring, enthusiastic passion and unwavering commitment … with no fear of the unknown or new adventures. She leans in … to learn, lead others, have impact and have fun.” —Sandy Stelling, Managing Director of Business Transformation, Seattle
Alaska Airlines employees such as Toni are the reason for our excellence. Join us in creating an airline people love. Visit alaskaair.jobs.
Q&A: Why is Alaska Airlines using sustainable aviation fuel in San Francisco?
Alaska Signs a 4-Year Sustainable Aviation Fuel Offtake Agreement with Neste
Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air have long been pioneers in testing and implementing the use of Sustainable Aviation Jet Fuels (SAF) to reduce our carbon footprint and advocate for more sustainable flying. From testing sustainable aviation fuel made from forest residuals and non-edible corn, to conducting infrastructure studies around SAF production in the Pacific Northwest — sustainable flying is critical to our employees, guests, communities, and our future.
Building on our history and efforts to develop and prove the viability of SAF, we’re proud to share that we’ve entered a SAF offtake agreement with renewable fuel producer Neste!
Alaska’s partnership with Neste started over two years ago. The journey of developing SAF for the industry has been long coming, as experts meticulously evaluated the science behind varied production methodologies and how best to scale. Now, the science is proven and it’s a matter of building the market for a commercially-viable supply and continual use of SAF. This new partnership signals the first time that our airline will have a continuous supply of SAF to fuel our flights.
“This is a huge milestone for Alaska Airlines,” said Marianne Csaky, director of environmental affairs. “We’ve moved from single, one-off demonstration flights and proving SAF was safe and demand existed, to operationalizing this fuel as a standard part of our business at one of our hubs. There’s no more waiting, we’re here.”
Q&A
To get the low-down on how this works and the significance of this major milestone, we conducted a Q&A with experts at Neste and our own internal experts at Alaska, Kirk Myers, director of sustainability, Lauren Kriegler, director of fuel, and Marianne Csaky, director of environmental affairs.
Q. Why are we starting in San Francisco?
In 2018, Alaska, along with other airlines, producers (Neste being one) and fuelers, signed a Memorandum of Agreement with SFO to do a feasibility study on how to bring SAF to SFO. As Chair of the MOU Committee, Alaska’s fueling departments worked on finding solutions both with the airport and with Neste. The state of California has special incentives to promote the use of SAF (it’s called the low carbon fuel standard or LCFS).
Q. Is SAF safe?
Yes— Neste’s sustainable aviation fuel is a drop-in fuel with existing aircraft engines and airport infrastructure, requiring no extra investment. SAF is certified every step of the way to meet all ASTM standards for jet fuel safety. Currently, SAF can be blended with conventional jet fuel until additional testing with pure SAF can be done. The US military is currently performing those test flights. Alaska Airlines has been a leader in sustainable jet fuel testing and has flown test flights on SAF produced from a number of different feedstocks starting in 2011.
Q. What kind of measurable difference is this making in the environment?
Over its lifecycle, Neste’s sustainable aviation fuel could have up to 80% smaller carbon footprint compared to conventional jet fuel, however, due to blending limitations this is a lower percentage Neste expects that the volume of SAF it plans to deliver to SFO for all three airlines could enable the equivalent of 1,200 carbon neutral commercial flights between SFO and NYC on an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737.
Q. What is it made from, and where is it made?
Neste’s sustainable aviation fuel is made from wastes including animal fats and greases and used cooking oil.
Neste operates renewable fuel production facilities in Finland, The Netherlands and Singapore. Production of this SAF starts at Neste’s Finland facility and is completed in the US, where Neste works with a local partner on the final stages of processing and product quality testing.
Q. Is SAF better for our planes?
SAF is superior jet fuel that will upgrade the jet fuel pool. Compared with fossil jet fuel, SAF burns cleaner in our engines and can reduce sulphur and particulates.
Q. What is the difference between SAF/Biofuel terminology?
SAF is jet fuel produced from renewable, biogenic raw materials (e.g. waste animal fats and greases, used cooking oil, vegetable oils), as opposed to fuel produced from petroleum-based raw materials (e.g. crude oil, coal, natural gas). Once SAF is blended with petroleum jet fuel, the blend may also be referred to as SAF.
Biofuel is a more general term used to describe fuel made from living matter, including the most common biofuel: ethanol used in gasoline.
We stand for racial equity and justice. We must do better.
As the world has reacted to the most recent racist attacks across our country and protests have continued in cities large and small, we’ve been listening to and learning from our employees, reflecting – and taking a hard look at the work we must do to advance racial equity and justice at Alaska Airlines and in our communities. We have taken time on this, because it is vital that our actions drive truly systemic change. We know we will continue to learn as we build our plans to advance equity. And we must do this together with our employees, guests and communities.
Some of the work so far has happened in listening sessions across the company, where courageous employees have shared what it’s like being the only Black employee in a workgroup, expressed frustration that they don’t see enough people in leadership who look like them, and shared the hurt of micro-aggressions that aren’t acknowledged.
“The most important thing is that this becomes an ongoing conversation where we listen to understand, and then respond,” says Sarah Keimig, Seattle station supervisor and chair of ABEA, Air Group’s Black Employees Allies and Advocates group, which advocates for employee advancement, community involvement and business alignment. “We have to make it so that if you bring up race, the room doesn’t tighten up. You talk about it and then you can fix some things. And then you need to talk about it some more.”
These listening sessions are a small but vital step for employees to help company leaders shape a plan of action to advance racial equity and create lasting change.
“We must work together to ensure our country is a place where all people are treated equally and have equal access to opportunity. Black Lives Matter. They matter in our company, on board our aircraft and within our communities.” – CEO Brad Tilden, from anemail to employees on May 31
OUR COMMITMENTS
We stand with our Black employees and guests. We live our values – to do the right thing and be kind-hearted. Racial equity is a human rights issue. Every person deserves to be treated with respect. This is a journey. We will continue to learn and drive change.
Today, we start by stating our commitments, what we heard from employees, and some of our next steps in the work ahead to advance racial equity. As we move forward, we will share our actions and learnings along the way.
1. REPRESENTATION
“Representation came out as, ‘I don’t see anyone who looks like me. Therefore, I have no one to speak to when difficult situations come up.’” – John-Antony Dubreuil, IT senior test manager and an ABEA leader
“If you look at the challenging conversations we’ve been having, much of it has fallen on Black employees to lead and engage. That’s a byproduct of a lack of representation. I’m glad that we as a company are committing to address this.” – Brandon Knight, senior project manager and an ABEA leader
We will increase the representation of Black employees throughout our company – including at the highest levels of leadership. This means revising our recruiting and hiring practices to do a better job of reducing bias and hiring diverse talent as our company grows again in the future. We will also provide mentorship, sponsorship and leadership development to retain and develop the diverse talent we currently have.
2. CREATE AN INCLUSIVE
AND ANTI-RACIST CULTURE
“Empathy, understanding and support is so important. The fear of backlash was a serious concern that came through in multiple listening sessions. Having leadership that leans in and pushes back against those who would rather maintain the status quo is so important and impactful.” – Dubreuil
We will cultivate an inclusive and anti-racist culture where we are always learning, seeking to understand, and where everyone is seen and respected. We have long held safety as our number one value. Our employees deserve to feel safe when they come to work, and guests should feel safe on board. This means racism has no place in our workplace or on our airplanes. We commit to keeping all our spaces safe for everyone. We will ensure this safety by creating a workplace where we all continue to learn, including through annual training requirements, policy enhancements that are clearly communicated, and measurement systems that drive accountability and progress.
“Yes, Black Lives Matter. If you believe this, then together we must say that how our Black employees feel when they’re at work matters, opportunities – including promotions – for our Black employees matter, Black children (and their schools) matter, true criminal justice matters, and this thinking applies to many other areas of our lives.” – Tilden, from an email to employees on Aug. 7
3. RACIAL JUSTICE LEADERSHIP
“As long as I’ve been at Alaska, we’ve supported the UNCF in Seattle [United Negro College Fund]. As I look to the future, that gives me hope. We don’t have it all right at Alaska now. But at our core, this is something that we believe in, something that we’ve been actively contributing towards and something that we’re committed to do more of in the future.” – Knight
While we focus on change within our company, we will proudly share our belief and commitment to racial justice and take actions to advance racial equity in the community beyond our operation. We will stand with those who are working to transcend politics to bring people together for a more equitable future. We will deepen our partnerships and support for Black organizations to advance racial justice and educational equity and evaluate ways to advance that through policy and civic engagement. We will use our voice, our travel, our actions, our grants and support to move our communities and our country forward.
“In our hearts, I think that every one of us recognizes the injustice and inequity that our Black employees and customers live with, and I think we all know that we have an obligation to do everything within our power to make things more fair and more just…. We are starting on a journey. It is not going to be an easy journey, and it’s not going to be a short journey. But it’s time for us to start.” – Tilden, from an email to employees on Aug. 7
It can be hard for some people to wear a cloth mask or face covering at first, especially for a long period of time. However, the Center for Disease Control recommends everyone wear a cloth face mask in public where it may be difficult to maintain social distance. Plus, it’s required when you fly on Alaska Airlines.
You may be anxious about wearing one while you travel, but we’ve got you covered with some suggestions that will help you get used to wearing your mask. You might even become BFFs (best flying friends).
Masks come in all shapes and sizes, straps and colors to represent your personality. Like clothes, the first pick may not always be a winner so we recommend trying out different styles before you fly.
The key is to find something that covers your nose and mouth. Your mask should NOT be leaking air (especially around the bridge of your nose and cheeks). It should feel snug and also comfortable around your ears. The biggest pain point we hear is ear irritation, which most likely means the mask might be too tight or the straps need to be adjusted.
Find your perfect match
Before buying a ton of different masks to find your BFF, we recommend taking measurements of your facial structure at home to figure out your exact mask size. Here’s one way to do it:
Find a ruler or measuring tape to measure your face from the bridge of your nose (which is usually just below your eye line) to the indent on your chin (just below your bottom lip). It may be helpful to have someone assist you.
Match your measurements with the average mask sizes below:
Small 3 to 3.5 inches
Medium 3.5 to 4 inches
Large 4 to 4.5 inches
X-Large 4.5+ inches
Test the waters
To extra prepare, test out wearing your mask at home for the same amount of time as your flight and time it will take to travel at the airport. Nowadays, it is required to wear a mask while traveling through the airport and on Alaska Airlines.
Take them on a lunch date
Practice placing your mask on a clean paper towel or napkin before taking a drink or eating (pro tip: the exterior of the mask should be face down with the ties placed away from the inside). Or, store your mask in a clean paper bag. Don’t forget to use proper hand hygiene before putting on and taking off your mask.
Remember to freshen up
After use, it’s recommended to give your mask a good wash to clean the dirt and oil from your skin that gets trapped in your mask, which can lead to breakouts (nobody wants mask-ne). We’ve heard the best choice of cloth that can be washed multiple times is anything 100% cotton. It is effective, yet gentle on the skin. And you can also add your favorite spritz of perfume/cologne or essential oil to give it a nice lasting fragrance. Directions: How to wash cloth face coverings.
Don’t lie about your BFF
As part of a final warning, this yellow card could be issued to a guest who repeatedly refuses to wear a mask or face covering on our aircraft. Learn more
As of August 7, all Alaska passengers will be required to wear a cloth mask or face covering over their nose and mouth (except for children under the age of two) – with no exceptions.
Don’t be caught neglecting your mask or pretending to wear one when a flight attendant walks by, only to then remove it. Lying is not nice nor safe and if you don’t comply with the rules, expect a yellow card (not the type of card you hope for).
How NOT to treat them
Do not wear your mask under your mouth.
Do not pull your mask under your chin, even to drink.
Do not wear your mask on your elbow.
Do not hang your mask from one ear.
We want you & your BFF to have a great flight with us — mask up!
Alaska employees look forward to seeing you with your mask and promise to take the best care of you during your travels. Rest assured, we’ve thought of every step of the way to ensure you have a safe flight. Read more about our Next-Level Care.
Stay safe!
Top golf destinations, perks & travel essentials if you fly Alaska Airlines
As people seek safe outdoor recreation activities amid the coronavirus outbreak, golf is a safe bet where you can tee up while social distancing. And with Alaska’s Next-Level Care, you’re good to go!
Golfers who are ready to travel can get their daily dose of iron this fall with Alaska Airlines’ low fares to some of the country’s premier golf destinations.
“Golf is inherently consistent with the concept of ‘social distancing,’ as it can be played, even in groups, without any close physical interaction among players, or among the course staff,” said Brian Mogg, voted Golf Magazine Top 100 Golf Instructor & Golf Digest 50 Best Teachers in America. “In many ways, it’s the perfect activity for our new normal and has never been more popular.”
Brian Mogg
We asked Mogg and some of our partners who fancy golf to tell us their favorite spots around the country to go on golf trips and the essential items to bring. Here’s what they told us:
Play it safe
These days, most golf courses have implemented strict safety measures to protect golfers and course staff. Common adjustments may include:
Require staff members to wear masks and gloves — most courses allow customers to play without a mask if they are on the course but are required if they cannot remain 6-feet from someone outside of their party.
Make sanitizers, masks or tissues readily available.
Flags remain in the hole to reduce contact.
Install foam to fill the bottom of the holes to eliminate the need for golfers to reach into the cup to retrieve their ball.
Eliminate ball-washers and bunker rakes.
Remove on-course scorecards, pencils, golf tees, ball markers, etc.
Before you go, triple check the specific course’s website for the most up to date rules.
Spend time with family & friends
If you’re longing for a trip with your buddies, family or some alone time, golf is a great way to unwind and experience some of the best sights. Take it from some of our favorite pros:
Alaska Airlines Chief Football Officer Russell Wilson:
Seattle Mariners Pitcher Justin Dunn:
Justin Dunn
“Quarantine gave me the chance to start playing more so I started to really get into it. Me and my college roommates talk about doing a guys trip somewhere every year to just get away and go to a golf resort for the weekend or week and hang out and do a little get together,” said Dunn. “It’s definitely something I’m looking into and we’re trying to figure out how to make happen.”
Something Justin always brings to the course: “I’m superstitious. If I play well, I’ll wear the same clothes out again, and then my shoes, always my (Nike) shoes. I got to make sure they look good.”
Cody Ross former San Francisco Giants Outfielder:
Cody Ross
“I love golf because I get to do it with my family. I get to still play with my dad who’s 70,” said Ross. “My advice to golfers trying to get better during this time is get outside and play as much as you can if you are able. Watch videos online that show you the correct way to swing the club. I’ve never had a golf lesson but if you can, I highly recommend it.”
Cody’s favorite golf course: “Pebble Beach in San Jose, California. One of my most memorable golf trips is when I flew Alaska Airlines to San Jose to play golf at Pebble Beach for an event put on by the USGA to promote the US Open. I made my first Hole in one on the iconic hole #7 that trip. It is by far my most memorable golf experience.”
Pack the essentials
University of Washington Head Men’s and Women’s Golf Coaches, Alan Murray and Mary Lou Mulflur suggest the following items to stay stylish and prepared no matter what comes up on your next golf trip:
A long sleeve shirt or jacket for a chance of cooler weather
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Yardage books and rangefinders if you really want to get into the swing of things
A protective, high quality travel bag to protect your clubs—Mogg suggests Club Glove, a brand used by the pros for more than 20 years. Watch Mogg’s packing tutorial below ↓
Packing 101: Follow these steps so your clubs have a nice flight
Fly your clubs for FREE
That’s right, clubs fly free if you’re an Alaska Airlines MVP Gold 75K, MVP Gold, MVP, Club 49 member, or booked a First Class ticket. The same benefit applies for Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® cardholders and counts toward your free checked baggage allowance. Otherwise, golf clubs fly for just $30.
Location, Location, Location
Pebble Beach, California
To help plan your next golf trip, below is a list of great golf destinations you can fly to on Alaska and tips from Mogg where you can have the time of your life.
Destination
Must-visit public & private courses
Boston
The International Golf Club (GC) is the longest course in the U.S. and has two championship courses, the Oaks and the Pines. Overlooking the lush Nashua River Valley, the Oaks course has a scenic and diverse landscape that Fazio fully utilized.
The Country Club has hosted multiple USGA events with Francis Ouimet’s huge upset in winning the 1913 US Open and the USA Ryder Cup victory in 1999. The 2022 US Open will be played here.
The PGA Tour annually hosts the Deutsche Bank playoff event at TPC Boston each September.
Charleston
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island has hosted one of the most memorable professional golf events of all time in 1991 with the USA winning on the final putt. It also hosted the PGA Championship won by Rory McIlroy in 2012.
Yeamans Hall is a Top 100 course.
Columbus
Columbus might have the best private clubs in the US for a medium sized city. The public courses are good too with The Ohio State University course being the best.
Wilson Road Golf Course is Ohio’s only executive 9 hole golf course that features six par 3’s and three par 4’s making it a great place to learn or to tune up your golf game.
Denver
The views in Denver can be stunning, and Cherry Hills was the scene of Arnold Palmer’s great comeback win in the 1960 US Open.
Fossil trace is also an unusual course where you have to clear boulders, rusty pieces of equipment and footprints left by dinosaurs on holes 11 through 15.
Honolulu
Hawaii Prince GC is home to one of my academies and has 27 holes along with the only grass based driving range on the island.
Ko Olina is spectacular on the West side of the island while Turtle Point is adjacent to the North Shore and where world class surfing takes place.
Waialae Country Club (CC) hosts the annual PGA Tour Sony Open every January.
Kona
Spectacular resorts dot the Big Island, PGA Champions Tour begins their season at the Hualalai Golf Course every January.
Las Vegas
TPC Summerlin hosts a PGA Tour event every October.
Shadow Creek is ranked 26th in the Top 100 Rankings, and can be played if staying at Wynn Resort. It has rolling hills and canyons from the flat desert floor north of Las Vegas and plenty of water.
Lihue
Huge variety of golf can be played here, with Princeville on the North side of the Island, Wailua on the East and Poipu Bay on the South. Poipu Bay used to host the PGA Tour Grand Slam of Golf for many years.
The opportunity to play The Club at Kukuiula is one of the best experiences in golf with both the service and the views.
Los Cabos
There are an abundance of great courses and options around Cabo San Lucas. Cabo del Sol has one of the best par 3 holes literally on the ocean as its signature hole.
Diamanté El Cardinal is one of the few Tiger Woods designed courses so far.
Maui
Given Maui’s idyllic setting, there are no bad places to play golf. Yet there’s a must-play venue, the Plantation Course at Kapalua, recently revamped by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The PGA Tour starts every year here with the Tournament of Champions on the North side of Maui.
The Gold and Emerald courses at Wailea deserve consideration as well that are close to the main hotels and beach area, as does King Kamehameha rising 750 feet above the island’s north shore.
Milwaukee
Erin Hills hosted the 2017 US Open and is about 30 minutes west of Milwaukee.
Whistling Straits is about 90 minutes north of the city on Lake Michigan and has hosted multiple PGA Championships and will be the host site for next September’s Ryder Cup matches (was supposed to host in 2020 but was postponed).
Black Wolf Run is an underrated gem adjacent to Whistling Straits and hosted the US Women’s Open in 2012.
Milwaukee CC is a Top 100 course.
Brown Deer Park is also where Tiger Woods played his first PGA Tour event as a professional.
Monterey
This is a rich area for golf with Pebble Beach always ranked close to #1 for best U.S. courses. The courses in this area have hosted so many Major Championships, with the 2019 US Open being the last one there.
Spyglass Hill, the Links at Spanish Bay, Poppy Hills and even modest Pacific Grove highlight are also great courses.
Orlando
Disney World began their phased reopening July 11 almost four months of being closed. Walt Disney World Golf remains available on their regular schedule and can be a fun family golf trip.
Moggs’ Academy resides at Waldorf Astoria GC. There is a great opportunity to cross paths with Tour Players if playing one of these courses in Central Florida.
Palm Springs
Palm Springs is the home of golf when the weather turns cold up North. PGA West and its numerous courses is part of the PGA Tour event in January.
Mission Hills has hosted the LPGAs first Major every April for the last 30 years and is the site of the famous winners who jump into the Dinah Shore pond by 18th green with family and caddy.
Phoenix
The Valley of the Sun offers endless combinations of multi-round golf days with 200-plus golf courses surrounded by stunning desert landscape, including We-Ko-Pa GC, Grayhawk GC, Talking Stick GC and Wickenburg Ranch.
If you only have time to play one of two courses in Scottsdale, opt for Pinnacle at Troon North GC, it’s a standout sweep through the desert.
While the PGA Tour only uses the TPC of Scottsdale for one week during the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the Stadium course maintains top-notch playing conditions for most of the year.
Portland
Portland is a very visitor friendly city with plenty of sights and attractions to explore, including solid public and private golf courses, starting with Columbia Edgewater CC located immediately west of the Portland International Airport and two courses at Heron Lakes just a few miles from downtown. Waverley CC is also another beautiful private course that sits right on the Willamette River.
If you’re looking to drive a short ways out of the city for a green escape, head south toward Salem where you’ll find two popular golf courses at Langdon Farms and the Oregon Golf Association.
Bandon Dunes is likely the most well known golf course in Oregon and is highly ranked among golfers, although 5 hours south of the Portland, the resort can also be reached 3 hours from the Medford Airport where Alaska flies.
Puerto Vallarta
One of the most famous holes in golf is the extra 19th hole at PuntaMita Golf Course. A 170 yard par 3 out into the ocean where only access is by boat (if it’s not too dangerous). It can be played as part of the regular course or as an extra hole, it is truly one of the most fun. and challenging shots to see if your ball can stay dry and on the green.
Redmond
Central Oregon has become quite a bucket list topper for true golfers from around the world. With 30 courses within 45 minutes of each other (three named Golf Digest’s Top 100). it’s hard to beat. Toss in endless outdoor adventures, nearly 30 breweries and perfect weather it’s a golfer’s dream.
Bend has beautiful golf resorts including Crosswater GC at Sunriver Resort, Pronghorn GC and Tetherow Golf Resort (a Scottish links course). Links courses – though not all – are typically located in coastal areas like Bend, on sandy soil, often rougher turf that lets the ball roll much further, with few water hazards and little – if any – trees.
San Diego
No golf trip to San Diego is complete without a visit to the city-owned North and South Courses at Torrey Pines, host of the 2021 US Open.
But more gold awaits in SoCal’s crinkled hills in the form of Omni La Costa Resort, Rams Hill GC, and Barona Creek, reopening this summer after a comprehensive renovation.
Salt Lake City
Park City has multiple courses that are spectacular in the summer.
Jeremy Ranch has hosted PGA events.
Seattle
Chambers Bay is in Tacoma, about 40 minutes south, and hosted the 2015 US Open won by Jordan Speith plus the 2010 US Amateur. It’s also home to Mogg’s Golf Academy, a premier venue for teaching the game of golf.
Gold Mountain GC in Bremerton is an 18-hole golf course with a relaxed restaurant, driving range & shop and has hosted the US Junior also won by Jordan Speith.
Sahalee CC has hosted the PGA Championship and US Senior Open.
It’s official! Kraken is the name of the National Hockey League (NHL) expansion team from Seattle.
In an announcement Thursday at the construction site for the new Climate Pledge Arena in downtown Seattle, the NHL’s 32nd team revealed its name, logo and colors. Flanked by construction workers charged with building the new site, team officials said the name was an ode to the region’s maritime history and was born of the fans.
The long-anticipated news follows last January’s big announcement that Alaska Airlines is the founding partner and official airline of the Seattle NHL team, and will have naming rights to the stadium’s atrium.
The Seattle Kraken will beginning playing in the 2021-22 season and already has an enthusiastic following across the region and beyond.
“I love it!! It’s such a cool logo!” said Alex Wigoda, senior schedule planning analyst who, being from Pittsburgh is a die-hard Penguins fan. “I’m having an internal conflict though. Guess I can have an East Coast team and a West Coast team.”
RELEASE THE KRAKEN MERCH & SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE
Seattle hockey fans can support the community by simply buying the franchise’s new branded gear at releasethekrakenstore.com, including blue (with a dash of red) t-shirts, hoodies, hats and more.
Through Aug. 21, the Seattle Kraken will give all net sale proceeds to local non-profits YouthCare, Community Passageways and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle to end youth homelessness an create positive pathways and opportunities for BIPOC youth in our region. We couldn’t be more on board with that kind-heartedness!
When Hampton Isom joined Alaska Airlines in 2015, he had no idea what would become of it and the joy he’d bring to people in the skies and his community.
Nominated by his peers, Isom, who is a flight attendant based in Seattle and also runs his own food truck business, recently won an initiative from the Brawny® paper towel brand for going out of his way to support his community.
Hampton Isom
The Brawny® Giants Initiative was created to recognize and support people who are going out of their way across the country to help those who’ve been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
After roaming the globe, first as a professional basketball player and later a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines, Isom aka “The Boss,” had big plans to bring his love of Cajun Cuisine to the Pacific Northwest while also giving back to people in need. Through “sweatin‘ and workin hard” and his Louisiana-rooted culinary skills, he created Dat Creole Soul, a nonprofit business in Seattle. He takes his cooking a step further by sharing hot plates with people who are homeless.
Whether he’s setting up shop down on Pine St. or at an annual festival or family reunion, when you see his Creole Soul truck pull up you know you’ll be taken care of with some hot food that “will stick to your ribs” like gumbo jambalaya, shrimp et tu fe, red beans and rice.
“When I got my food truck, every time I go out on location to sell food, the food that I have left over, instead of throwing it away, I will park somewhere and I got this sign that says ‘If you’re hungry stop on by and come get something to eat,’” he said.
Hampton says he hears the same questions and quips from guests almost every flight. From “If you were any taller, you wouldn’t fit in this plane” to “Do you play basketball?” And to reply, he says “You should’ve seen me with an afro,” and “yes” to playing basketball – Isom played in college and professional for 12 years in Turkey, Italy and Australia.
Born and raised in New Orleans, Isom says he grew up poor and knows what it’s like to be hungry. He says if he can help someone avoid it, he will.
“I grew up in the projects, food stamps the whole nine yards. I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to be hungry, I know how it feels to be cold,” he said. “It’s easy to give. Everyone has to eat plain and simple. More importantly, the world just needs to come together as a whole and everybody needs to be nice to somebody, it doesn’t cost anything to be nice.”
Before applying to work at Alaska, Isom was nervous that a 7-foot tall Black man might not be the best fit for working inside of an airplane all day or night, but it happened. Not only is he giant by nature—many airlines do have maximum height limitations that fall well under 7-feet—but he’s also a ‘Giant’ to people in his community.
“When it comes down to the grind, everyone I work with is ‘in.’ I use that same motto when I’m helping the homeless—I’m all in—whether I get donations from somebody or whether I gotta do it myself,” Isom said. “If I don’t get donations or a lot of stuff I just go out of pocket because I chose to go down this road to feed people and I will do it until I can’t do it anymore.”
Isom received a supply of Brawny® paper towel and a donation toward his business as part of the recognition.
Over eight weeks, Brawny® asked consumers to nominate their friends, family members and neighbors who are making a difference. Brawny® recognized and supported recipients like Isom (of course) with paper towels and donations to help him and others continue the work they are doing.
“Being a giant has nothing to do with a person’s height but everything to do with the action they take to bring good to this world,” says Katie Kolesky, Senior Director of Brand Building, Brawny®. “Giants like Hampton embody the Brawny® brand purpose of inspiring others to overcome life’s challenges with strength and resilience and do things from their hearts without expecting anything in return. We’re honored to help him continue to cook meals with love, kindness and compassion.”
Michelle Spackman, an Alaska flight attendant based in Los Angeles, nominated Isom for the award. She says she’s only met him a handful of times but he made a lasting impression on her and that he just has something about him.
“He could not be a more deserving person. Forget the fact that he is 7 feet tall and what he is doing with the community. Just as a person, Hampton is remarkable. There’s no other word that describes him,” Spackman said.
Michelle Spackman
Alaska talks about going above and beyond and when you go through his posts, you see what he’s doing with the community and he even takes his time to go out to hand out flyers that say ‘my truck will be here at this date and this time and if you want a hot meal I will be here.’”
Spackman says she is normally the type of person who fast forwards through commercials and for whatever reason, she stopped to watch the Brawny® Giants Initiative commercial. She says the first person that came to my mind was Hampton.
“Whether he won or not, I’m glad there was somebody, a virtual stranger, who did something for him and to affect his life. He’s a legend in the making.” – Michelle Spackman
Our gate agents are able to scan guests’ boarding passes using a mobile tablet or scanner while boarding. 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. To scan from that far away, the boarding area will need to have good lighting and the barcodes need to be printed clearly. While we can’t achieve this laser-focus every time, our agents are working hard to “mind their wingspan” and taking every measure to keep our guests safe.
Before buying a ton of different masks to find your BFF, we recommend taking measurements of your facial structure at home to figure out your exact mask size. Here’s one way to do it:
After use, it’s recommended to give your mask a good wash to clean the dirt and oil from your skin that gets trapped in your mask, which can lead to breakouts (nobody wants mask-ne). We’ve heard the best choice of cloth that can be washed multiple times is anything 100% cotton. It is effective, yet gentle on the skin. And you can also add your favorite spritz of perfume/cologne or essential oil to give it a nice lasting fragrance. Directions: 
