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Planning your first trip to Asia

Asia is everything. Beautiful, timeless, cutting edge, affordable, safe, friendly, diverse, loud, meditative, delicious. In a word, unforgettable. And it’s closer than you think, particularly from the West Coast. Seattle, for instance, is about 10 hours from Tokyo on a direct flight, slightly less than the time it takes to reach London.

If you’ve not been, this guide is here to help you plan a debut trip to East and Southeast Asia flying one of Alaska’s Global Partner airlines. Trust me, there’s benefits to doing so, especially with new nonstops from Seattle to Hong Kong and Tokyo. (More on that below.)
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5 things to do during your first visit to Dublin

Whether or not you’re planning an Irish stopover, it’s fun to dive into the local culture – and don some Kelly green – this Sunday. To get a local’s perspective on what to do in the land of dark beers and sprightly jigs, we connected with Eoin Higgins, a local writer and photographer, to learn what he would suggest to friends who visit his city for the first time.

Did you know Global Partner Aer Lingus offers nonstop flights between Seattle and Dublin? Alaska Mileage Plan members can earn miles connecting to Ireland and beyond. And starting June 20, 2019, Mileage Plan members can redeem their Alaska miles to fly on Aer Lingus, as well. Award travel to Dublin starts at just 30,000 miles each way.

Catch a ‘trad’ sesh

Higgins says you can’t go wrong with a “trad” session (traditional Irish music session) accompanied by pints of a beautifully poured stout at the longstanding Cobblestone – the self-described “drinking pub with a music problem” – pictured above. Traditional Irish musicians take to the corner table in this traditional Irish bar and belt out jigs, reels and everything-in-between to an appreciative crowd.

Glam it up then by getting down at Nine Below on upmarket St Stephen’s Green. The city’s most luxurious watering hole is a Grade I-listed space in which to get shaken and stirred. Expect to kick back with world-class bartending and sophisticated drinks in an elegant environment.
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10 summer travel destinations, all an easy nonstop flight away

You don’t have to leave the United States to enjoy your summer vacation. From pristine beaches and epic mountains to state parks and bustling cities, both sides of the country are worth exploring, especially when they’re a nonstop transcontinental flight away. Here are 10 locales to consider before you book your trip with Alaska Airlines.

Boston

Boston is an East Coast treasure steeped in history. The Freedom Trail should not be missed and includes some of the city’s most historic sites, like the Bunker Hill Monument and the Paul Revere House. For a more leisurely stroll, take a walk through Beacon Hill and don’t miss the cobblestone streets and 19th-century row houses on Acorn Street. Boston Public Garden was the first botanical garden in the United States, and you can rent a swan boat to pedal across its 4-acre pond. Museum-goers should stop in the Museum of Fine Arts to browse the Art of Americas Wing and ogle famous paintings by John Singleton Copley and John Singer Sargent. Seafood is abundant, so make sure to grab a famous Boston lobster roll and look for specials to slurp fresh $1 oysters.
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#iAmAlaska: A little extra lift for boy and his dad

Sometimes a little kind-heartedness goes a long way. When Patrick Tucci watched his 11-year-old son Ian board a recent Alaska Airlines flight, he couldn’t hold back the tears.

“My son comes to visit me during the holidays, school vacations and his summer break,” said Tucci in a Facebook post. “Each time it is always heartbreaking having to say our goodbyes.”

For Ian, one of the consistencies of traveling between Seattle, Washington and Orlando, Florida is flying Alaska. But this flight was a little different.

“Ian always has an exceptional experience. Unfortunately, another consistency is the grief Ian goes through when he has to leave,” said Tucci. “After arriving at the gate that day and having to wipe away his tears, he walked a few steps onto the jetbridge, came back for one last hug and the door closed.”

Tucci says he wanted to be strong for Ian after he left, but seeing his son leave is never easy.
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Celebrating our own Captain Marvels

Alaska Airlines First Officer Kim Ford is working to inspire the next generation of young women to achieve their dreams in aviation.

Damsel in distress? Not today. This week’s new box office release, “Captain Marvel,” shatters the image of a weak and powerless woman who needs rescuing. Now the damsel is replaced by a strong, intelligent and conquering woman who is doing the rescuing herself.

What I love about Captain Marvel is that she isn’t partnered with or overshadowed by a male hero. She stands in the spotlight alone and wins her battles the same way. Here at Alaska Airlines, we have many of our own Captain Marvels, and I couldn’t be more proud of the incredible women in our operation, working in the sky as well as on the ground.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, I would like to highlight some of the concerted efforts we’re making in diversity and inclusion, while shining the spotlight on some of our own leading ladies.
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Leading the airline industry with 50% women on our board

“It starts at the top”

Alaska Airlines Lead Director Patty Bedient is proud to serve on our board, where more than 50 percent of the independent directors are women, arguing diversity and inclusion starts at the top of an organization.

“It means we ‘walk the talk’ on diversity at the board level,” she says.

Alaska is proud to be the only airline – and the first West Coast Fortune 500 company – to achieve gender parity among independent board directors. Women Inc. Magazine recognized Bedient as well as Phyllis Campbell, Marion Blakey, Helvi Sandvik and Susan Li as five of the Most Influential Corporate Board Directors in 2018.
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A new era: Our first commercial flights launch at Paine Field

At 10 a.m. today, Alaska Airlines Flight 2878, with service provided by Horizon Air, made history when it departed from Everett to Portland.

“This is a huge moment for Horizon, and being here you can see what a big deal it is for the local area. This is what we’re all about,” said La’Princia Miller, a Horizon Air flight attendant.

The aircraft – with 76 guests and four crew members onboard – became the first flight from the new commercial air terminal at Paine Field-Snohomish County airport, unleashing a wave of pride, excitement and so many possibilities.
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Q&A: Meet our Paine Field terminal leaders

Horizon Air’s Mario Doiron, supervisor, and Renee Parson, manager, at Paine Field

At Alaska, we’re all about the journey – getting you safely to your final destination, and empowering our people to explore where their careers may lead.

For Renee Parson, our new Paine Field manager, and Mario Doiron, who is stepping into our Paine Field supervisor role, the journey has been anything but linear. But both long-time employees couldn’t be happier about landing at our brand new terminal in Everett, Washington.

We sat down with Parson and Doiron to learn more about their new roles and the terminal north of Puget Sound, opening its doors with daily departures this Monday, March 4.
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Inside our new cabin: Thoughtful touches for the modern traveler

Today, we’re excited to take you inside our retrofitted Airbus aircraft. Months of research, focus groups and iteration went into the new cabin, but we started by asking a single question: What makes you comfortable on a plane?

Turns out, your comfort is about a lot more than ergonomics, though that’s part of it. You want to feel more in control – control of your space, your belongings and, ultimately, your flight experience.

Our goal is not to be different for different’s sake,” explained Sangita Woerner, Alaska Airlines vice president of marketing. “We want to be different for our guests – and we believe the details matter.”

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Fresh, local, feel-good: Airplane food with no compromises

Tell us everything. Don’t hold back.”

In a room full of differing opinions and hungry stomachs, these aren’t the words you expect to hear. But Todd Traynor-Corey, Alaska Airlines director of onboard food and beverages, means it.

At one of Alaska’s multiple menu tastings every year, he solicits honest feedback from guests and flight attendants. The group isn’t shy, with feedback ranging from a sandwich that’s “too tall,” to a dish that’s “very Whole 30” and a unanimous request for “more ketchup, please.”
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New tech: Fly smarter with satellite Wi-Fi, mood lighting

Did you know satellite Wi-Fi means you can start watching movies as soon as your flight leaves the gate? Or that blue lighting is scientifically proven to have a calming effect?

Today we’re pulling back the curtain on our new cabin interior. The latest technology played a central role in the design.

Advanced satellite Wi-Fi

We’re actively rolling out high-speed satellite internet, with about half of our mainline fleet getting the new technology by 2020.

Our Gogo 2Ku service provides a faster connection speed, which will let you stream, browse and chat from gate departure to gate arrival, virtually everywhere we fly. You can choose from one of 500 free titles in our Alaska Beyond™ Entertainment library – the most movies in the sky – or watch your own content from providers like Netflix, Hulu and HBO Go.
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10 binge-worthy inflight movies and TV shows

361,000 people reportedly watched the entire second season of “Stranger Things” the day it was released. If this doesn’t come as a surprise, then you know how easy it is to keep watching your favorite flicks when they’re packed with plot twists and the next one is only a click away.

But who has time to binge? Luckily, when you’re on a long-haul flight, time is on your side. And you won’t find a bigger free inflight entertainment library on domestic airlines than on Alaska. You can choose from over 300 free movies and more than 200 free TV shows, accessible on your own device on most flights.

To inspire your next inflight viewing marathon, check out a few binge-worthy titles in rotation starting next month:

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – 8 episodes (season 1)

Don’t have Prime? Now’s your chance to watch season 1 of the award-winning new series. Set in the late 1950s, the show follows the journey of a female comedian from the Upper West Side. With the director of “Gilmore Girls” at the helm, it’s fast-paced and witty like you’d expect – and the show’s leading lady doesn’t hold anything back.

Ready to binge season 2? Stay tuned this fall.

Toy Story – 3 movies

If you feel like being a kid again – or introducing your kids to Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the rest of the gang – we’ve got all three “Toy Story” movies. They’re a great segue into animated new releases like “Incredibles 2” and “Ralph Breaks the Internet.”
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