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Look like a local: 5 Alaska fashion must-haves

Photo of person wearing brown XTRATUF boots with the tops rolled down, featuring a red Octopus Salmon Sisters design. Person is standing on top of tree stump in front of an old, grounded fishing boat

Alaskans have always had a “unique” sense of fashion – one that combines the practical with local flair. Alaskans may not be overly concerned with the usual frills, but ruining a fishing trip due to a lack of appropriate footwear is a sin that’s not easily forgiven in the Great Land. Far removed from fancy designers and department stores, Alaskans have developed their own local brands to meet their needs in a challenging and often isolated environment.

And in many local communities, most of these Alaska fashion staples can be found at the local hardware or outdoor store.

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Share your spare: Captain and flight attendant return to work after kidney donation

This is a photo of Captain Jodi Harskamp sitting in the flight deck with Flight Attendant Jenny Stansel. The two are looking at each other and holding up a "hang loose" hand gesture.

Nothing can keep these two women down. An Alaska Airlines captain with a big heart and two great kidneys gave a flight attendant a new lease on life earlier this year, and now Captain Jodi Harskamp and Flight Attendant Jenny Stansel are back to work. Read More

Improved communication between our pilots and ATC – without even talking

For decades, air traffic controllers have relied on a system that uses two-way radio to transmit instructions and route changes to planes waiting to take off. Pilots jot down these notes on paper, and then read the instructions back to the air traffic controllers.

If there’s a misunderstanding, the process must be repeated until it’s correct. Due to radio congestion at airports, this can take 10 to 15 minutes (sometimes longer) — all while passengers sit in the cabin waiting to begin their trip. It’s very old school.

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Earn miles every day to get closer to your next award

A photo of an Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card sticking out of a billfold on a restaurant table.

It’s possible to earn miles from lots of everyday activities — not just when flying with Alaska Airlines or Alaska Global Partners. In fact, these alternative methods are how my wife and I earn the majority of our miles each year. Our strategy for booking upgrades and award tickets depends on earning lots of miles in everything we do.

First, always pay attention to the credit card you use for making purchases. The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card, for example, earns 3 miles for every dollar you spend on Alaska Airlines flights or onboard purchases. You can also earn 1 mile for every dollar on other purchases. I personally value Alaska miles close to 2 cents each, so that’s comparable to a 2 percent cashback card. (The actual value depends on how you choose to redeem your miles.)

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Calling all eclipse chasers: Enter to win and prepare for the “Great American Eclipse”

This is a photo of an Alaska Airlines winglet, taken while flying above the clouds. A total solar eclipse is happening in the distance.

Not since 1918 has a total eclipse of the sun crossed the continental United States. But on August 21, 2017 history will again be made when a total solar eclipse is set to travel coast-to-coast for the first time in nearly 100 years.

An estimated 12 million people live in the path of totality, with millions more expected to travel to these areas for the event, which will last for a matter of minutes. But as with any natural phenomenon, a perfect view is not always a guarantee.

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A decade of awesome: 10 ways Alaska and Virgin America continue to shake up the airline industry

Creating an airline people love is a bold goal, but if anyone is up for the challenge, it’s Alaska Airlines and Virgin America.

Today, Virgin America was named the “Top Domestic Airline” 2017 in Travel + Leisure “World’s Best Awards” for the 10th year in a row. In May, Alaska Airlines ranked highest in airline customer satisfaction among traditional carriers for the 10th consecutive year in the J.D. Power 2017 North America Airline Satisfaction Study.

As for the next ten years and beyond, the future is bright as these two airlines, with their innovative spirit and award-winning customer service, combine efforts and continue to push the status quo.

Here are 10 ways Alaska and Virgin America have shaken up the airline industry:

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Weekend Wanderer: San Francisco to Sitka

Photo of mountains behind water at sunset with a small photo of Madeline in the bottom left corner.

Living life by the California Bay with her family in tow, Madeline Lu isn’t afraid to add a touch of decadence to her photo feed. From cityscapes to epic crepes, Madeline captures exactly what we’re hungry for. She just returned from an Instagram takeover in Sitka, Alaska as part of Alaska’s Weekend Wanderer series. For more Weekend Wanderer posts, be sure to follow Alaska Airlines on Instagram.

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Weekend Wanderer: Los Angeles to San Francisco

Photo of Instagram handle over the Golden gate bridge with Weekend Wanderer logo.

As a native to the City of Angels, Mark Miller, won our hearts with endless photos of adventure, love, and delicious eats. Together with his boyfriend, Ethan, the two have mastered the element of exploration and taken Los Angeles by storm. Mark and Ethan just returned from an Instagram takeover in San Francisco, California for the Pride Parade as part of Alaska’s Weekend Wanderer series. For more Weekend Wanderer posts, be sure to follow Alaska Airlines on Instagram.

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When a mile flown is a mile earned, flyers can earn their next awards more quickly

This is a photo of an elite Alaska Mileage Plan card

It used to be that a mile flown was a mile earned — and it still is with Alaska Mileage Plan. However, many other loyalty programs have switched to new models that issue miles based on the price of your ticket. Which is more rewarding to frequent travelers? I (and the powers that be at Alaska) believe it is the former, but to fully answer this question, I need to start by clarifying a few terms:

  • Miles flown are straightforward. Most airlines will list the distance next to the ticket you’re looking to purchase.
  • Elite qualifying miles are used to determine your elite status. You will typically earn EQM based on the miles flown, plus a bonus for certain fare classes.
  • Award miles can be redeemed for a future flight. You will typically earn elite qualifying miles based on the miles flown, plus a bonus for certain fare classes and another for your elite status.

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Local Wanderer: San Luis Obispo

Daydreamer and San Luis Obispo, California native, Karen Grubb knows just how to bring adventure to our small screens with her amazing photography. From epic mountain scenes to dreamy deep forests, we’d follow her to any adventure. She is being featured as part of Alaska’s Local Wanderer series. Follow Alaska Airlines on Instagram as Karen gives you a glimpse of San Luis Obispo through her lens.

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Like father, like daughter: Pilot team flies together on Father’s Day

This is a photo of a father-daughter pilot team in front of an Alaska Airlines jet

This Father’s Day, a special pair of pilots is scheduled to fly together for Alaska Airlines: Captain Nick Cosmakos and First Officer Niclina Cosmakos plan to work as a father-daughter flight crew on Sunday.

They are scheduled to fly together all month.

Niclina credits her love of flying to her father, and fondly remembers flying with him when she and her brother were kids.

“He had us in small airplanes flying out of Paine Field as far back as I can remember,” she said. “I really enjoyed the sensation of operating an aircraft, it was fun and challenging. I knew at 16 it was what I wanted to do as a profession.”

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Alaska Airlines CEO takes pledge to further advance diversity and inclusion

Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden is one of more than 160 U.S. business leaders to sign a “diversity and inclusion pledge” this week, the latest effort by the company to embrace diversity in all its forms.

In signing, Tilden is committing Alaska Air Group to “to cultivate a workplace where different points of view are welcomed, where employees feel empowered to discuss tough issues at work, and where successful—and unsuccessful—practices can be shared across organizations.”

“Fostering diversity and inclusion is not only the right thing to do, it has the power to improve performance, drive growth and engage employees,” says Tilden.

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