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How to maximize your Alaska Mileage Plan elite status

Some travelers earn elite status by accident, a byproduct of traveling for work. Other people are tempted by the possibility of upgrades and bonus miles and do everything they can to qualify. Whichever camp you fall into, Alaska Mileage Plan has some unique benefits that go over and above the competition. By familiarizing yourself with some of these perks you can earn more miles and potentially save yourself hundreds of dollars each year.
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6 must-visit spots in and around Indianapolis

Juan Flores, a born and raised Hoosier, has lived in Indianapolis, IN for a decade now. During that time, he earned his BFA in visual communication design while picking up photography as a creative side project. Fast forward to today, he is a social media manager for a local camera store, which he uses his technical and informal skills to capture Indiana through his point of view. Take his upbringing near Lake Michigan with a fond love for architecture, he documents the natural and architectural landscape that this city has to offer. He recently took over the Alaska Airlines Instagram account as a “Local Wanderer” as a part of Alaska’s Weekend Wanderer series.

Happy Monday! I am taking over the @AlaskaAir IG the next few days to showcase my favorite areas around Indy and central Indiana. Come juander along // #localwanderer
Happy Monday! I am taking over the @AlaskaAir IG the next few days to showcase my favorite areas around Indy and central Indiana. Come juander along.

Six must-visit spots in and around Indianapolis:

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13 signs you’re an Alaska Airlines super fan

Alaska Airlines “super fans” are easy to spot. They can be found carrying around their very own mini plane, or glued to the window trying to capture a photo of the airplane’s winglets. They can be overheard talking with a flight attendant like they are longtime friends, or saying, “I love Alaska Airlines!” when seated at an airport bar. They are experts on Mileage Plan, inflight amenities and the pancake machine at the Alaska Lounge.

The feeling of love is mutual – are you an Alaska Airlines super fan?

You know you’re an Alaska Airlines superfan when…

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Alaska and Virgin America: Creating an airline people love

Imagine arriving at the airport and immediately feeling welcomed to a fresh, modern experience.

You know you’ll reach your destination on time with minimal hassle, and the airline you’ve chosen offers consistently low fares and more nonstop flights to more destinations from the West Coast than any other. At your gate, you can’t help Shazaming every song on the upbeat playlist, and the overhead announcements tell you what you need to know with a healthy dose of fun.

On the plane, you make your way to a comfortable leather seat in a mood-lit cabin. For the next three hours, you’ll enjoy fresh, West Coast-inspired food and drinks; Free Chat with friends and family on the ground via iMessage, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp; and all the free movies you have time to watch. Not to mention the personal power outlets throughout the cabin, so your devices arrive at your destination as ready for adventure as you are.

Your airline is unconventional, just like you are.

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Video: Alaska pilot donates kidney to flight attendant

March 16, 2017 update:

The surgery to transplant a kidney from Alaska Airlines Captain Jodi Harskamp to Flight Attendant Jenny Stansel was performed successfully Monday at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, and both women are well on their way to recovery.

Following the four-hour surgery, the women’s conditions were listed as satisfactory and they were both able to walk around the hospital together Tuesday morning. Their recovery rooms are next to each other.

They both reported being in great spirits and were enjoying having their families there.

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Weekend Wanderer: Anchorage, Alaska to Maui, Hawaii

From the winter wonderland of Anchorage, Alaska comes Bex Farleigh. Scrolling through her Instagram feed is no problem as she showcases the adventures she has had in some of the most majestic places in America. She just returned from an Instagram takeover in Maui, Hawaii as part of Alaska’s Weekend Wanderer series. For more Weekend Wanderer posts, be sure to follow Alaska Airlines on Instagram.

When we touched down in Maui, we were overwhelmed by the sweet, thick ocean air. There’s really nothing like that feeling – it’s one you can only get in Hawaii.

More Maui: 5 must-do’s on Maui, Hawaii’s Valley Isle

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Alaska Airlines to hire for 2,300 frontline jobs in 2017: Why you should apply today

Alaska's frontline employees

A forecasted more than 2,300 frontline jobs will be up for grabs at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air throughout 2017. The growing airlines are looking for candidates to fill hundreds of flight attendant, pilot, reservations and customer service jobs throughout the airlines’ route network.

Jobs will be posted to alaskaair.jobs and horizonair.jobs throughout the year. More than 2,000 of the positions do not require previous airline experience.

“This is an exciting time for our airlines – we are growing and that means more new job opportunities in the communities we serve.” says Laura Fowler, Managing Director Talent Acquisition & Inclusion.  “Our team is on the lookout for people who want to be a part of a great culture and help create an airline people love.”

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Teamwork at 35,000 ft. helps dad with child in ICU

Family at Pensacola Beach

Finding out your child is in the hospital is terrifying, especially if you get the news while you’re in the air, aboard a flight headed in the opposite direction.

Jason Carlton, a resident of De Queen, Arkansas, was flying on Feb. 20 with two friends from Dallas to a ministry conference in Seattle.

Prior to the trip, Carlton’s 8-year-old daughter, Mia Beth, had been sick with a cold. Mia Beth has severe asthma and has struggled with respiratory distress. Carleton’s wife, Melanie, had scheduled a doctor’s appointment for Mia Beth that morning.

“Since I had an early flight on Monday morning, I had left home on Sunday afternoon to spend Sunday night with friends in Dallas,” said Carlton. “During the night, Mia Beth’s cold went from bad to worse. We were concerned, but it had been two years since her last hospitalization. I decided to go ahead and make my trip to Seattle.”

At the doctor’s office, Mia Beth’s percentage of oxygen saturation had dropped below normal, and her doctor decided to transfer her to the local hospital via ambulance, and then on to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, about 120 miles away.

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Weekend Wanderer: Portland, Oregon to Austin, Texas

Living in the Rose City, Kari Young has a taste for adventure and delicious foods. From close ups of her favorite happy hour snack to the best burger you’ll ever eat, she knows how to show off drool-worthy content to our feed. She just returned from an Instagram takeover in Austin, Texas. as part of Alaska’s Weekend Wanderer series. For more Weekend Wanderer posts, be sure to follow Alaska Airlines on Instagram.

1.Leaving rainy PDX to eat, drink and shop around Austin, TX for my #weekendwanderer trip and I cannot wait to land in Austin and start on this incredible and delicious weekend.
Leaving rainy PDX to eat, drink and shop around Austin, TX for my #weekendwanderer trip and I cannot wait to land in Austin and start on this incredible and delicious weekend.

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What’s happening behind the scenes before your flight

people boarding a flight

When you arrive at the airport for a flight, you probably have your routine down. To get to your gate with time to spare, you should be arriving two to three hours before your flight (depending on what airport you are departing from, whether you are checking bags, and whether your flight is domestic or international).  Maybe you check in at a kiosk and self-tag your bag to save a bit of time so you can grab a Starbucks once you clear security.

During that time, Alaska employees are working hard to prepare your flight. As the No. 1 on-time airline in North America, Alaska Airlines has it down to something of a science. So what is going on behind the scenes to make sure your flight gets off the ground safely and on time?

By the time you get to your gate, you may have already missed a lot of the magic, and a lot of the action happens out of view.

Here are just a few things going behind the scenes:

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Alaska’s newest Charity Miles partner brings dreams within reach for Black students

Dureti Jamal always knew she wanted to go to college. She just didn’t know how to get there.

As a first-generation college applicant, she didn’t know how to build a resume. She’d never heard of the Common App and didn’t know where to look for potential scholarships.

Then Jamal heard of the Portfolio Project, a program of UNCF that provides mentorship and guidance to minority high school students as they navigate the college application project.

“Neither of my parents went to college, so I knew I would have to find help with the applications,” she said. “I definitely could not have done that on my own. I didn’t know anything about the college process – I don’t know what I would have done.”

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2016 year in review: Mileage Plan by the numbers

Last year was a big year for Alaska Mileage Plan members. While the airline was busy adding new benefits, members were literally flying around the world.

Over the course of 12 months, Alaska’s frequent fliers said goodbye to foreign transaction fees on their Alaska Airlines Visa Signature cards and enjoyed new perks including lower prices for award travel, increased mileage earning on select global partners, and upgradable award tickets for elite members. In the meantime, they were flying. A lot.

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