The state of Alaska happens to be one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, scientifically known as the Aurora Borealis. And, since weโre the airline with the most flights to Alaska, we know a thing or two about seeing this natural wonder.
โIโve seen the aurora at least 40 times. My most reliable spot is Ester Dome, just outside of Fairbanks. Drive up to the antennas and adjacent is a large snowfield you can walk on. If youโre visiting Anchorage, Iโve had the best luck seeing the Northern Lights from the end of the runway (at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport) near Earthquake Park. In my experience, Iโve found that midnight to 1:30 a.m. is when the lights are most active.โย ย โ Kevin, Manager of Market & Competitive Analysis
โIโve had the best luck seeing the lights in and around Fairbanks compared to anywhere else – it generally has clearer skies. I often monitor theย aurora forecast provided by the University of Alaska Fairbanks. My advice is to find conditions where skies are forecasted to be clear and the aurora Kp (strength) forecast is high. If booking a trip far out where youโre unsure about the weather, itโs a great idea to plan to stay at least a few days.โย โ Garrison, Yield Management Analystย
โMy favorite spot to view the lights is from Chena Hot Springs Resort outside Fairbanks. Itโs a lovely spot to wait for the aurora while soaking in the hot springs.โย โ Jacqueline, Manager Revenue Managementย
Explore Fairbanks:
In an early Aurora Season appearance, the Northern Lights create a spectacular display over Chena Lake Outdoor Recreation Area. Photo by Andy Witteman.
If youโre visiting Fairbanks, be sure to check out Aurora Pointe, Murphy Dome, Cleary Summit, Chena Lakes Recreation area, or up the Elliott Highway. These offer some of the best views of the lights, just make sure you go at night. If you prefer to watch the Northern Lights indoors, try out a heated โauroriumโ cabin, yurt or lodge.
Though the Northern Lights are more vibrant a few miles out of town where itโs darker, youโll be able to see the Northern Lights in and around Fairbanks too. Many accommodationsโ front desks will even offer a wake-up call for guests when the Northern Lights appear.
There are quite a few misconceptions about the Northern Lights, and when and how they appear. Mark Conde, a professor of physics and a geophysicist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, dispelled some for us below.
A dramatic time lapse of the stars and Aurora just outside of Fairbanks, Alaska during Aurora Season. Photo by Sherman Hogue, Explore Fairbanks.
1. You can turn the Northern Lights on and off. โ MYTH
โThereโs no known way for human technology to turn the naturally-occurring aurora on and off. There also arenโt any human facilities that can match the total power of the active aurora โ that power can be more than 100 gigawatts, which is a lot. If someone wanted to generate that much power, they would need an entire electricity grid.โ
2. The Northern Lights make noise. โ TRUE, ish
โThere are numerous reports of the aurora producing audible sounds. Science doesnโt have a good explanation for how or why this occurs, nor any really definitive measurements to show that it does. There are enough first-hand human reports that, in my opinion, would be unwise to completely discount any possibility that there is something to this. The types of sounds that people report hearing are hissing or crackling. There are suggestions that sounds like this may be caused by electrical discharges from airborne ice crystals or spruce needles. This doesnโt necessarily mean that the aurora is making noise.
โI personally have heard hissing from radios or intercom systems when the aurora is active. This isnโt auroral sound. Its electrical interference associated with the aurora being turned into sound by the radio or intercom.โ
3. The aurora only happens at night. โ MYTH
โThe aurora happens at all hours of the day. However, you can only see the aurora if itโs dark (unless you have a spacecraft or very special ground-based equipment). A person will never be able to see the aurora from the ground with their unaided eyes during full daylight. However, itโs not uncommon for humans to see the aurora by eye during twilight, which isnโt really night.
Also, if you travel far enough north in the winter, itโs dark during the day and then youโll be able to see the daytime aurora. Spacecraft and special ground-based instruments tell us that bright aurora do occur in broad daylight. My own graduate study was based on seeing the aurora in the daytime blue sky above Antarctica, so itโs not a nighttime-only phenomenon.โ
4. Winter is the only time you can see the Northern Lights. โ MYTH
โIn high latitude locations like Fairbanks, the sky wonโt be dark enough in the summer if youโre observing the aurora by eye from the ground. But during a magnetic storm at solar maximum, the aurora expands a long way toward the equator, even as far south as Texas. At mid-latitudes, such as those in the continental U.S., it will be dark at midnight, even in the summer. So, observers in those locations can and do see the aurora in the summer.โ
5. Clear skies cause the aurora to occur. โ MYTH
โIf youโre watching the aurora from the ground, you wonโt be able to see it if itโs cloudy because the aurora occurs above the clouds. Itโs easy to take your personal experience of seeing the aurora when the sky is clear. We have instruments that can see auroral light through the clouds. We also have spacecraft viewing them from above. Both techniques show that the aurora occurs regardless of whether the sky below is clear or cloudy.โ
Youโre now one step closer to your aurora adventure โ Head north to Alaska for your chance to chase the lights by booking your flight on alaskaair.com.
Itโs safe to say 2019 was among the most eventful years Hawaiian Airlines has had in nine decades. The yearlong observance of our 90th anniversary โ a milestone reserved toย only a handful of commercial airlinesย โ was marked by exciting new routes, renovations to our airport lobbies, a fleet expansion, and a host of sustainability and cultural initiatives.
โIt has been a remarkable time of high-paced growth and fleet transition while honoring our past and connecting people with aloha,โ said Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, in a year-end letter to employees. โI extend a sincere mahalo for all you have done and continue to do for our company and the communities we serve.โ
Please join us in reliving our 90th anniversaryย and keep reading to learn more about key 2019 accomplishments. ย
Supporting our Community
We held a plane pull fundraiser at the Castle & Cooke Aviation Hangar for our 90th birthday on Nov. 11. Approximately 2,000 people representing Hawaiian Airlines and corporate teams throughout Honolulu competed in the charity event that raised $33,000 for Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii.
Earlier that morning, we surprised guests aboard HA1111,a commemorative flight back in time. The trip replicated our first service from Honolulu to Hilo on the Island of Hawaiโi, with a stop on Maui, and flight attendants wore vintage company uniforms from the 1960s through the โ90s. Each guest received a birthday card with a gift of 90,000 HawaiianMiles.
An independent ICF analysis, commissioned by Hawaiian, reported that our airline generated the equivalent of $9.3 billion in economic benefit for Hawaiโi and supported more than 60,000 jobs in 2018.
In November, our employees hosted a special welcome at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport for two veterans traveling to Honolulu from Sacramento for the 78th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor โ Col. Clarence Anderson, a World War II pilot and Pearl Harbor survivor, and Lt. Cmdr. Lou Conter, one of three remaining survivors of the USS Arizona. The Hawaiian Airlines Veterans Employee Resource Group, alongside a cohort of active-duty U.S. Navy sailors, gave them an honorable recognition, including a red-carpet walkway, patriotic flags, recognition bell, and a group salute. Additionally, flight HA19 was staffed with an air and army national guard flight crew and captain, and a veteran first officer.
Our Air and Army National Guard flight crew, Air National Guard pilot and veteran first officer with Lou Conter (center).
Protecting the Environment
We, along with nine other members of the Hawaiโi Green Growth Sustainability Business Forum, invested in a pilot carbon offset project by The Nature Conservancy. The project will result in the management of 8,245 acres on Hawaiโi Island, also known as the Kona Hema Forest Preserve, and allow The Nature Conservancy to sell the carbon captured to entities that wish to offset their carbon emissions.
โWe hope that this project demonstrates that a carbon offset market can be developed in the islands, which would be a great new industry for Hawaiโi that currently keeps our land in agricultural use,โ said Ann Botticelli, Hawaiianโs senior vice president of corporate communications and public affairs.
We partnered with local and international organizations to host a series of beach cleanups throughout the Pacific, including Sydney, Australia; Chigasaki, Japan; Auckland, New Zealand; Waimฤnalo and Kahuku, Oโahu; and South Point, Island of Hawaiโi. Each gathering exposed volunteers to the realities of plastic pollution and the effects it has on the oceans and the worldโs coastal regions. We also deepened our partnership with New Zealandโs Sea Cleaners to create opportunities for Pacific youth to access environmental stewardship exchange programs. The result of our collaboration brought waves of positive impact to coastal communities throughout Hawaiโi and New Zealand.
Chigasaki Beach cleanup
We became the first U.S. carrier to adopt the Pacelab Flight Profile Optimizer in our cockpit. The technology augments flight plans done hours before departure by informing pilots about real-time aircraft data and meteorological information while recommending optimal altitudes to reduce fuel consumption throughout the flight. Additionally, we teamed up with Carbon Lighthouse to improve energy efficiency at the Hawaiian Airlines Airport Center.
Hawaiian Airlines and Raw Elements USA, our official reef-safe sunscreen partner, came together in the heart of Waikฤซkฤซ to recognize June 1 as the inaugural World Reef Day and spread global awareness about the health of coral reefs and oceans.
Photo credit: Raw Elements USA/Nolan Omura
From left: Theresa van Greunen of Aqua-Aston Hospitality, Brian Guadagno of Raw Elements USA, Peter Ingram of Hawaiian Airlines, Rafael Bergstrom of Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, and Lisa Bishop of Friends of Hanauma Bay
Perpetuating Hawaiian Culture
This year, Hawaiian Airlines proudly became a major sponsor of the 34th annual Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational. With heโe nalu (wave sliding) holding deep roots in Hawaiโiโs history, it was a natural fit and honor for us to sponsor one of the worldโs premier surfing events.
This summer, we embarked on a refresh of our lobbies with new, culture-centric designs. Our neighbor island renovation started at Kahului Airport (OGG), the second busiest airport in the state, and concluded with Hilo International Airport (ITO). All of our Hawaiโi lobbies now feature new and faster self-service kiosks to enhance the day-of-travel experience for our guests.
The Hawaiian Airlines lobby at OGG
After the launch of our nonstop service to Boston, we transported cultural practitioners from Bishop Museum, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Paepae o Heโeia Fishpond to Massachusettsโ Peabody Essex Museum. There, they conducted a cultural ceremony for one of the last remaining Kลซ renderings. Kลซ, a carved statue of the Hawaiian god Kลซkaโilimoku, required a proper moving ceremony before being transported to its new home.
Ingram later reflected on the opportunity, sharing, โAs our route map has grown, we have had increasing opportunities to unite precious cultural artifacts with those who care deeply about their preservation. It is an enduring benefit of remaining firmly tethered to this archipelago, and one that I deeply appreciate.โ
Photo credit: Peabody Essex Museum
In celebration of โลlelo Hawaiโi (Hawaiian language) Month in February, we established an โลlelo Hawaiโi certification program for our employees. The certification, which is still available to our 7,400-plus employees at no cost, is an extension of our commitment to perpetuate Hawaiโiโs culture.
Look for the Hawaiian flag on our employees’ name tag to learn if they are certified speakers or not.
In the same month, we also unveiled a pop-up Hawaiian Culture Resource Center in the heart of our Honolulu headquarters.
Enhancing our Network and Operations
Traveling between Japan and Hawaiโi got even more seamless this November after we began serving Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu. And our footprint on the U.S. East Coast expanded with the launch of our Boston service, bringing New Englanders closer to the Aloha State. The service launched in April, becoming the longest U.S. interstate route.
President and CEO Peter Ingram (right) at the BOS Inaugural
We retired our Boeing 767-300ER fleet after aircraft N594 completed its final commercial flight from Sacramento to Honolulu. The Boeing 767s flew Hawaiian skies for over 17 years and our fleet, at its peak, consisted of 18 aircraft.
2019 was also the year of the Airbus A321neo, a fuel-efficient aircraft that allowed us to introduce new nonstop service that connects Sacramento and Las Vegas to Maui and expands our service to San Francisco, Los Angeles (seasonal) and Seattle. Our network growth reinforces our commitment to being the leading carrier between Hawaiโi and the U.S. West Coast.
Down under, our Aussie โohana celebrated 15 years of service between Honolulu and Sydney and launched a codeshare agreement with Virgin Australia to welcome more guests throughout Oceania.
โOhana by Hawaiian, operated by Empire Airlines, celebrated five years of service between Honolulu and Molokaโi and Lฤnaโi by gifting 1 million HawaiianMiles to two nonprofit organizations and helping restore the Molokaโi Land Trustโs Mokio Preserve.
The icing on the cake: we marked 15 straight years as the nationโs leader in on-time performance!
Improving our Products
We released a new line of in-flight amenities and soft goods called โฤkaha. Produced in partnership with Molokaโi-based brand Kealopiko, the collection pays homage to Hawaiโiโs rich culture and environment.
Our mobile app was completely redesigned with new, modern features that simplify the day-of travel experience.
Guests were introduced to a refreshed menu of island-inspired drinks crafted by On the Rocks Premium Cocktails. We also teamed up with Lion Coffee to bring their distinct, locally roasted brew onboard.
Mahalo, from Hawaiian Airlines, for a wonderful 2019. Weโre looking forward to the opportunities in the new year and decade.
Start off the new year fresh and fly with Evergreens salads
We are telling the stories behind some of the foods and drinks guests can enjoy inflight, highlighting companies whose sustainable business practices help Alaska โFly Greener.โ These businesses also offer unique experiences in West Coast destinations we love to visit. Today, we are featuringย Evergreens, a made-to-order salads company headquartered in Seattle with 26 locations in Washington and Oregon. Evergreensโ Beets So Fly salad is available for purchase on Alaska Airlinesโ coast-to-coast and Hawaii flights through March 15.
Photography by Ingrid Barrentine
The team of six started early this morning in downtown Seattle, steaming quinoa and brown rice, slicing cucumbers and tomatoes, and chopping the five types of greens that anchor Evergreensโ salads, grain bowls and wraps. A rainbow of fresh and house-pickled produce sparkles across the tidy grid of the salad bar.
The lunch rush is a short hour away, and locals and visitors alike will soon line up at this location of Seattleโs homegrown chain around the corner from Pike Place Market. But first, there are dozens of online preorders to fill. The team dashes along the counter โ tongs and scoops dancing between fixings and the clear compostable serving bowls that have been Evergreensโ signature from its start in 2013.
โAll hands on deck!โ calls out general manager Ricardo Salinas, sporting a T-shirt that says โRomainager,โ as he starts a line of 70-plus El Sombrero salads topped with avocado, black beans, fire-roasted corn, jalapeรฑos and Beecherโs cheese โ the runaway favorite among 2.5 million bowls served in 2019.
Since the made-to-order salad chain launched six years ago, Evergreens has grown to 26 restaurants in Washington and Oregon. The first airport location arrived at Sea-Tac last year and was an instant hit with flyers, dishing up four times as many bowls as a typical urban location. Travelers in the know place their orders on the Evergreens app, where they can set a pick-up time for their salads and avoid standing in line. At Portland International Airport, Evergreens is coming to the expanded Concourse E in late spring.
Tina Holdman and the Beets So Fly salad.
And now health-minded Alaska Airlines guests also can enjoy Evergreensโ Beets So Fly salad on coast-to-coast and Hawaii flights through March 15. Beets So Fly features romaine and mixed greens, pickled beets, pickled red onions, cucumbers, walnuts, feta and black pepper with Dijon balsamic dressing and is served with roasted chicken. โItโs a really colorful salad that offers great flavors for the inflight experience,โ says Tom Small, Evergreensโ chief operating officer and head of the culinary-development team.
Small, who was a chef in fine-dining restaurants for many years, says his team draws on the experience of crafting high-end cuisine to create Evergreensโ flavor combinations. In addition to four core salads, the menu features five seasonal bowls that change twice a year, and a unique salad is highlighted each month.
To kick off 2020, the Evergreens team has packed Januaryโs Dance Dance Resolution bowl with romaine, spinach, roasted carrots, red bell peppers, green onions, toasted almonds, apricots, garbanzos and veggie chips with a Greek yogurt dressing. โWe added simple layers of flavor along the way to add interest without adding a lot of calories,โ Small says. โThe garbanzo beans are marinated with Middle Eastern spices and the dried apricots are poached in chai tea. Both add exotic flavors.โ
This fall, Small took a break from taste-testing dressings and menu planning at Evergreensโ central commissary kitchen to reflect on the companyโs ingredients for success and sustainability efforts โ and to share how salads like Cobb Your Enthusiasm get their names.
Q&A with Tom Small, Evergreensโ chief operating officer and head of the culinary-development team:
What makes Evergreens stand out among the fast lunch options available in metropolitan Seattle and Portland?
Tom Small:ย โWeโre focused on super freshness. We go through a ton of produce, and we’re really focused on getting food in and out as quick as possible. We also do a lot of transparency around nutritional information. On our website, you can see a full list of every ingredient and every salad and full nutritional labels. You know what you get.
โAnd we tend to be more lighthearted and fun. Our teams are super dynamic, and we’re super fast. We time the experience from when a guest comes into when they finish at the register, and our fastest stores are able to do that in less than two minutes.โ
The Evergreens team at the Second and Pike location in Seattle: Marialena Macanas, Raul Soto, Dakota VanBrunt, Yuri Alvarez, Tina Holdman and Ricardo Salinas.
About a quarter of Evergreens guests preorder online โ an option for all locations, including Sea-Tac. Do you have any tips for online orders?
Small:ย โWe don’t mix the ingredients into the salad for online orders. That’s for transparency so when the guest gets the order, they know they got everything before they mix it up. We wish more people knew that on the online ordering form there’s a button to tell us to put your salad in a big bowl for easier mixing. Then, we’ll make a 32-ounce salad in a 48-ounce bowl, which gives two extra inches of headspace so it’s super easy to mix.โ
What are some of the ways Evergreens has incorporated eco-friendly practices into its business?
Small:ย โIn the stores, almost 100 percent of the items that you get from us are compostable. That’s bowls and beverage cups โ even soup cups, lids and utensils. Everything can go straight into compost. We use compostable plastics that are corn-based and have from the beginning. There was recently some news about compostable fiber bowls used by some restaurants that have chemicals and additives that might be a concern. We don’t use those at all.
โWe’ve also been working withย EnviroStarsย [an organization that recognizes businessesโ environmental commitment]. We have the highest rating for our locations, and that has to do with energy output, the use of LED light bulbs and water efficiency.โ
How did you come up with the Beets So Fly salad for the Alaska inflight menu?
Beets So Fly is available inflight until mid-March on coast-to-coast and Hawaii flights.
Small:ย โLast year in the fall and winter we had a salad called Beets by Evergreens โ like the headphones Beats by Dre. It was such a popular salad that itโs one of only a few we’ve brought back. That salad in particular looks really great. It also has a big flavor. This is a style we thought was going to carry through to the inflight experience really well.โ
How does your teamโs fine-dining background influence the salads you create?
Small:ย โIt’s ingredients, it’s technique, it’s color, it’s flavor balance and thereโs some trend to it. Seasonality plays a huge part.
โThe progression of our Asian salads is a good illustration. The first Asian-inspired salad we launched was called the Rice Rice Baby. It was the classic Chinese chicken salad, with a very familiar teriyaki sauce. And then a couple of years ago, Thai food was really popular, and we ran a couple of different Thai salads. Last year, Korean food came on-trend, so we had a Korean salad called Lilโ Kimchi.
โNow, as we move into the new season, we’re going in a Japanese direction. I Pity the Tofu is a salad that has pickled ginger. It’s basically a California roll in the form of a salad. Thatโs the kind of flavor progression that we do.โ
Whatโs your personal go-to salad?
Small:ย โPlanet of the Apricots is my favorite right now. It brings some different flavors and textures with the roasted Brussels sprouts and feels super seasonal. But there have been so many that I’ve liked. A summer and a half ago we had the Evergreens Barbeque Salad. We had house-made pickles and barbecue sauce and smoky Southern spices. It was jokingly called a dude salad because of the heavier, bigger flavors. It was fun that we could do a vegetarian salad that felt so much like an outdoor barbecue.โ
How do you come up with the salad names?
Small:ย โThe team has so much fun with the names. Itโs a companywide competition and we solicit names from all 475 employees. We share photos of the salads and weโll get 50 or 60 fun names to choose from.โ
Was there a salad name ever suggested by guests?ย
Small:ย โThere was! It’s Hard Out Here for a Shrimp.โ
How does the mission of healthy living influence the work culture at Evergreens?
Small:ย โI’ve actually lost 75 pounds since I’ve started at Evergreens. Not just from eating salad, obviously; I worked on it as well. We talk with our internal team a lot about โLiving the brand.โ We give our team members $40 a month to do something that’s on-brand: buy a pair of shoes, buy a gym membership, take yoga classes. Itโs all about having a healthy lifestyle and work-life balance.โ
How to visit:
Find Evergreens menus, online ordering and directions to locations around metropolitan Seattle and Portland, Oregon, atย evergreens.com.
Others who help us Fly Greener:
Fremont Brewing,Seattle: โThe mission is to brew great beer and do goodโ
Broken Earth Winery, Paso Robles, California: Sustaining the land and the wine it yields
Seattle Chocolate, Seattle: โA culinary journey around the worldโ
When in Fiji โ a paradise of nearly 330 islands and more than 500 islets, with clear blue waters and lush mountains โ youโll be able to unwind and free yourself of everything but tranquility.
It begins, after a welcomingย bulaย greeting and soft voices singing over gently strummed guitars followed by lulling silence. Fiji is quiet. People speak softly because itโs polite not to interfere with the low-key sounds of sea breeze and bird song.ย
Then, thereโs the pace. โIsland timeโ is a real thing in a country where everyone has time for everyone. Donโt expect things to go fast. And, most of all, thereโs the culture that feels rich, deep and close to its timeless roots.ย
Start planning your trip to Fiji with the guide below.
When to go
Always warm, Fijiโs Southern Hemisphere setting means itโs โsummerโ during the Northern Hemisphereโs โwinter,โ and vice versa. Peak season for travelers is June to September, plus December and January (particularly popular for Australian and New Zealand families during school breaks).
Napping in a hammock next to the crystal clear ocean at Yasawa Island Resort is a must.
Rainy season โ from November to April โ can still be an excellent time to visit, depending on where you go. In the Nadi area of the main island of Viti Levu and the Yasawa Islands just west, rains typically come and go quickly, leaving long spells of sun. Meanwhile, the capital Suva โ and the east end of Viti Levu โ is much wetter in rainy season (as are northern and eastern islands, including destinations like Savusavu).ย
Diving conditions are best anywhere from May through September.
Getting there
Fijians welcomed a new Airbus A350 aircraft from France with a traditional kava ceremony in November.
Alaska Global Partner Fiji Airwaysย offers direct service from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Fijiโs main airport, Nadi International Airport (NAN), then continuing on to Sydney, and also from San Franciscoโs international airport (SFO).ย
The ten-and-a-half hour trip from LAX now offers extra comfort on Fiji Airwaysโ new Airbus A350, beginning service December 2019.
Lay of the land
Key areas to visit are Viti Levu, including its resort-lined south-facing Coral Coast. Just west are two chains of islands with great diving and powdery beaches arcing northward. Closest is the Mamanuca Islands, reached by regular ferries in as little as an hour. The tiny Mamanuca island of Modriki became home to Tom Hanks in the 2001 film Cast Away.ย Mana, meanwhile, is famous for its marine life, white-sand beaches and resorts.
Sandy beaches are tucked between craggy rock formations covered in lush green vegetation all around Yasawa Island Resort.
North of the Mamanucas is the more remote Yasawa Islands, with accommodations options ranging from backpacker spots to high-end luxury resorts. Ferries reach most of the islands, and planes arrive a few, including the Yasawasโ eponymous island.
Fijiโs second-biggest island, Vanua Levu (Big Island), is generally dubbed โthe friendly Northโ by Fijians. Itโs worth the effort to reach the gorgeous bay of Savusavu and Fijiโs best diving at Namena Marine Reserve. Nearby, lies Taveuni Island, known as Fijiโs โGarden Islandโ for its steamy rainforest jungles and smattering of alluring coastal resorts.ย
Essential experiences
Sea & Sand
Contemplate a tree, ocean waves and the timeless feeling of Fiji in swing chairs in the Yasawa Islands.
Much of Fijiโs 700 miles of coastline are seven shades of blue-green water. Even rockier shorelines have immediate access to swimming and snorkeling spots in the corals and waters abundant with marine life.
You will be happy here.
Generally, the best beaches are in the Mamanucas and Yasawas island chains west of Nadi, where youโll find powdery white-sand beaches in calm lagoons or on uninhabited offshore islets. Great diving spots are all over, some involving close-up access to coral reefs, sharks and manta rays. Probably the best is Savusavu, home to the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort (founded by the son of Jacques), where on on-site marine biologist takes guests on daily snorkeling trips.ย
Fijiโs local currency is the Fiji dollar (F$), currently worth about USD$0.46. ATMs tend to huddle in bigger towns (Nadi, Suva and Savusavu), and resorts typically accept credit cards. Elsewhere, you should have some cash on hand. Tipping is not expected for taxi drivers and waitstaff, though some resorts suggest gratuities for the staff of up to F$40 or F$50 per day.
Surreal pastels surround during sunsets in Savusavu at Jean Michel Cousteau Resort.
Villages
โYou havenโt been to Fiji if you havenโt been to a local village,โ is a typical local claim. Nothing in your time here will be more rewarding than experiencing local culture in a local village. Many resorts and tours include local village tours, usually including a kava ceremony, traditional โspirit danceโ and a look at local handicrafts. Even these curated experiences touch on authentic traditions that span centuries.
The stunning interior landscapes of Fiji are home to small villages of friendly locals who are proud to show their way of life.
A superb village to visit is Navala, made of 200-some traditionalย bureย huts. It can be combined with hikes on the Ba River, to waterfalls and over lush mountains. Set on the river, Bulouโs Lodgeย is a modest place (generator-run electricity is on only a couple of hours a day). Food is superb and itโs hosted by a profoundly sweet mother-and-son team, who helps arrange tours.
Villagers sell all sorts of handmade souvenirs to visitors, which supports their community.
Kava
There is no exaggerating the importance kava (yaqona) has on daily life in Fiji. Once exclusively a ritual for chiefs, this powdered peppercorn root has become part of every day local social interaction โ weddings, birthdays, funerals, even to welcome the new Fiji Airways jet to Nadi in November 2019. For visitors, itโs an exciting (and typically mandatory) part of visiting any village.
Drinking kava, a peppercorn root ceremonially mixed with water, is an essential part of visiting a Fijian village–as it gives permission from the locals to the visitor to explore the area.
When you visit a village, youโre sure to be ushered into aย sevusevuย offering ceremony, where you (or your guide) presents the chief with powdered kava. Itโs mixed with water in theย tanoaย bowl (resembling muddy water), then presented in a coconut-shellย biloย cup. Usually, itโs served โhigh tideโ (meaning full). Clap once before taking the cup, sayย bulaย to everyone, then drink the grassy tasting water whole, then clap three times before handing the empty cup back. Everyone gets a turn, and then you repeat until the tanoaย is empty. Itโs a social situation. After the first round, youโre free to talk about who you are and why youโre here.
Kava isnโt alcoholic. It comes with a bit of tingle on the tongue and a somewhat relaxing quality after many rounds. Usually, visitors have only two or three rounds, not enough to really notice.
Spring Water
A bucket of soft, restoring mud at the family-run Tifajek Mud Pool Thick, near Nadi.
The world-famous Fiji Water is indeed bottled on Viti Levu, but spring water goes well beyond a pricy mineral water export (available locally too). Throughout Fiji, youโll find natural springs rushing through mountains, over waterfalls, and trickling out of wells at roadsides where locals fill empty bottles.
Fiji has no more active volcanoes, but hot springs abound. In Savusavu, locals bake bread and cook food in hot spring pools that spill into the sea. Near Nadi, Tifajek Mud Pool is a family-run spot where you coat yourself in soft mud, then rinse off in thermal pools and finish with a massage.ย
Lathering in mud then soaking in hot mineral pools, such as Tifajek near Nadi, is a natural way to restore one’s skin.
Diving, Caves, Reefs
Fiji’s rich marine life begins with walks along the coast, where you can spot ‘linckia laevigata,’ known as a blue star.
Fijiโs diving and snorkeling scene is justifiably world-famous. Savasavu is a superb destination for reefs vibrant with marine life, or Kadavu islandsโ Great Astrolabe Reef, with tunnels, caverns and canyons to explore. The Yasawasโ Sawa-i-Lau, a star of the 1979 filmย Blue Lagoon,ย is a surreal, towering sea cave where you can swim through an underwater tunnel to reach a hidden cave.ย
The Coral Coast, in particular, buzzes with organized activities, many with a family focus. The popular Sigatoka River Safari rides into the mountainous interior by boat and is capped with a village visit. The Coral Coast Scenic Railway chugs past forests, beaches and sugar plantations that ends at lovely Natadola Beach. The Sigatoka Sand Dunes stretch a few miles and are fun to ramble about on.ย
Mountains
Fiji’s Nausori Highlands on Viti Levu see far fewer visitors than the coast.
Interior Fiji towers with mountainscapes that are a lesser-seen, but a rewarding attraction in themselves. Tanaloa Treks offers multiday treks, with incredible village homestays through the gorgeously lush Nausori Highlands.
Remote Taveuni Island, aka the โGarden Island,โ is filled with rewarding hikes through the dense, bird- and orchid-filled rain forest.
More accessible is the outline of the Sleeping Giant mountain that forms a backdrop to Nadi. Here, you can walk through late actor Raymond Burrโs garden through the dense rainforest where you can spot animated orchids, pink bananas and frogs on lily pads.
Explore the rainforest in late actor Raymond Burr’s sprawling Garden of the Sleeping Giant on Viti Levu.
Where to stay
No matter your budget, you can figure out a way to afford Fiji.ย
Accommodations run the gamut from all-inclusive resorts with privateย bureย hut villas (usually with minimum stays of three days) to simpler hotels and guesthouses and backpacker-oriented dorms. Rates range from USD$15 for a dorm bed to $1000 for a high-end private villa with pool, meals and activities thrown in.ย
The honeymoon ‘bure’ bungalow at Yasawa Island Resort comes with your own kilometer of beach and a swimming pool.
Generally, booking in advance saves money, with July/August and Christmas/New Yearโs being the most expensive periods.
Beaches around Nadiโs airport arenโt Fijiโs best, but the area has become a useful base for many travelers. Near Nadi, Denarau is a small resort island thatโs made from reclaimed mangrove with a mall, marina, golf course, Hard Rock Cafe and decent beaches. Visitors begin/end trips here (at resorts like the newly renovated Sofitel), head out on ferries, as well as take day trips to beaches on nearby South Sea, Bounty and Beachcomber Islands. Backpackers tend to stay in dorms or cheese rooms at guesthouses by the water at Wailoaloa, including the longstanding Bamboo Travelers.
A couple of hours away, the Coral Coast is a bit of a tourist zone (particularly for Australian families). Itโs home to many family-friendly resorts and activities, including sand dunes, river rides and village visits.
Getting around
Unless youโre getting around Viti Levu, seeing different parts of Fiji will mean taking a ferry, yacht, prop plane, or seaplane. Fiji Airwaysโ FijiLink offers domestic service in propeller planes (a one-way flight from Nadi to Savusavu starts at USD$100). Pacific Island Air, meanwhile, connects Nadi with the few landing stripes on the Yasawa Islands.
Getting around Fiji sometimes means taking a propeller plane to a grass runway.
Ferry service from Nadiโs Denarau marina offers daily, popular connections with the Mamanucas and Yasawa Islands. Check Awesome Adventures Fiji for schedules and prices.
A few bus companies such as Pacific Transport connect destinations around Viti Levu, including Nadi airport, with Suva in just over four hours.
With a U.S. or Canadian driverโs license, you can rent a four-wheel drive car for DIY road tripping around Viti Levu or Vanua Levu islands. Itโs a bit expensive, generally over USD$100 per day from most international companies. Main highways are pretty good, two-lane roads, but if you venture into the mountains, youโre likely to encounter bumpy gravel roads.
Traveling into Fiji’s interior requires a 4WD as many roads are made of dirt or gravel.
Taxis are regularly available in towns and cities. Suva and (surprisingly) Savusavu use meters, and other places donโt. Agree on a fare before getting in and you wonโt have a problem.
Eating
Considering the access to the sea, unsurprisingly, Fiji restaurants regularly offer fresh fish, shrimp and lobster. Look forย kokoda,ย sort of โFijiโs ceviche,โ a bowl of raw fish marinated in lime andย loloย coconut cream.ย
Sous chef at Solaris, Sofitelโs beachside restaurant pours delicious coconut cream over Kokoda, a traditional dish of fish marinated in citrus juice.
Another special local delicacy to try isย lovo,ย a special banquet of chicken, fish, or pork wrapped in coconut and banana leaves and cooked underground over river stones; many resorts offer these meals.
Village life is often more about local produce, including cassava (tavioka), taro (dalo) and coconuts, all sold in local markets that are fun to visit too.ย
Fijiโs Indio-Fijian community has led to a lot of spicy, Indian-style curries, typically vegetarian or chicken meats, which are served with rice and roti (flatbread).
A tightly wrapped weave of palm fronds or banana leaves to hold chicken, fish or pork before being placed in the bottom of the lovo pit lined with hot rocks.
Now, you’re ready for your island-getaway, book your trip to Fiji on alaskaair.com.
Vinaka! (Thank you)
From Mount Fuji to Mauna Kea: Ringing in 2020 with the First Sunrise
Each year, at the dawn of Jan. 1, a beloved cultural tradition comes to life in the Land of the Rising Sun. It’s a celebration known as hatsuhinode (first dawn), when people in Japan gather with friends and family to watch the sunrise and ring in the new year with hopes of good fortune. Many bear the cold weather for hatsuhinode and flock to premier photo spots like beaches, mountain tops or open fields to catch the first sunrise of the year.
The tradition has also taken to the skies in recent decades as carriers, including our partner Japan Airlines (JAL), conduct special hatsuhinode flights around Mount Fuji. These flights offer an unparalleled experience, where spectators can relax in the comfort (and warmth) of an aircraft while scoring a front-seat view of Japan’s tallest mountain and famous landmark.
This year, we teamed up with JALPAK, the travel services agency owned and operated by JAL, to bring Japan’s annual custom nearly 4,000 miles to Hawai‘i by offering an exclusive sightseeing experience for guests to witness 2020’s first sunrise over Hawai‘i Island’s Mauna Kea.
Takaya Shishido, Japan Country Director at Hawaiian, gives welcome remarks
Welcoming guests aboard HA958
Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano with its peak reaching 13,803 feet above sea level, making it the highest point in the state, and the perfect choice for Hawaiian’s first-ever hatsuhinode flight.
HA958 flight departed Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 6:00 a.m. with 102 Japanese travelers filling the Boeing 717’s window seats. The aircraft held its flight pattern over the volcanic flanks until the sun peaked over the crater at 7:05 a.m., and continued to circle Mauna Kea for 20 minutes, giving guests a spectacular 360-degree experience.
Hawaiian’s fleet of Boeing 717s are named after local indigenous birds, and the aircraft used for the hatsuhinode flight was chosen because of its name. Tail number N485HA is also known as Palila – a finch found only on the upper slopes of Mauna Kea. For a few moments, at the dawn of the new decade, guests on board HA958 started their new year with a Palila's-eye view of the mountain and memories that will last a lifetime.
Hauสปoli makahiki hou (Happy New Year).
View from HA958
DID YOU KNOW?
Hawaiian Airlines pioneered commercial sightseeing tours around O‘ahu beginning in 1929. Using our Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker, a five-passenger monoplane with a fabric-covered metal frame and wooden wing, locals could experience the wonders of air travel and get an aerial look of the island that they’ve never seen before.
Many of us toast the new year with sparkling wine, celebrating with a few friends and family. Ciara? She marked the 2020 ball drop with roughly 10 million people, as one of the hosts of Dick Clarkโs New Yearโs Rockinโ Eve. This is the third year the superstar has anchored the showโs Los Angeles festivities, helping the world ring in not only a new year, but a new decade.
โThe year 2020 feels like such a major milestone,โ Ciara muses. โTo be a part of the start of that, thereโs a strong feeling of wonder. And on a personal level, thereโs a sense of curiosity. Iโm so curious what 2020 will bring.โ
For Ciara, who wrapped up 2019 after a hot streak of accomplishments, the next decade is bound to bring wondrous things, indeed. Born in Fort Hood, Texas, as Ciara Princess Harris, the future media mogul was living in Riverside, Georgia, at age 14 when she watched music artists perform on Good Morning America. That experience inspired an uncanny clarity that she was destined for stardom. The singer, dancer and songwriter was soon signed by a label, and by 2005, she had risen to fame with the triple-platinum album โGoodies.โ In the 15 years since, sheโs released top-10 singles, earned a Grammy Award, led projects that included not only songs that she wrote but also songs that she co-wrote with stars such as Missy Elliott, and been named a Revlon global ambassador. And she was only warming up.
In 2019 alone, Ciara graced the covers of Vogue Arabia and InStyle magazines, toured in support of her album โBeauty Marks,โ and launched a production company with her husband, superstar quarterback Russell Wilson. She appeared atop a float in New York Cityโs Macyโs Thanksgiving Day Parade just a few days after her triumphant hosting of the American Music Awards on November 24. She dazzled in nine outfit changesโeach ensemble breathlessly covered by the fashion mediaโand brought audience members to their feet with a red-hot performance of her new song Melanin. Itโs a proud anthem by and to women of color.
She is understandably proud of Melanin, which features vocals by Ciara and some of her close friends. Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyongo gave her rapper alter ego, Troubleยญmaker, a professional debut on the track. โLupita was game to get into the studio,โ says Ciara. โAnd one of my best friends, La La Anthony, she has never rapped on a track before either, and she did it, too. Everyone had their own flavor.โ For example, Nyongo raps about her heritage, being โMexican born but a Kenyan queenโ; Anthony, who identifies as AfroโPuerto Rican, has a verse about being a confident โButter Rican bae.โ
Ciara says: โThis is a song for every young girl, for every woman, for everyone, who can make their own roll call. What are the words and ways you describe who you are? Itโs a special thing we had, to inspire all the melanin queens to love the uniqueness of your skin tone; to love that about yourself and embrace the tapestry of skin colors that makes up humankind. Iโm speaking to specific cultures, but ultimately itโs a song for everyone.โ
American Family
In 2016, Ciara married Russell Wilson, forming a true power couple. Like Ciara, Wilson has talent, an entrepreneurial spirit and an interest in making the world a better place. (In case you missed it, he also graced the cover of the December issue of Alaska Beyond.) The couple live with their daughter, 2-year-old Sienna, and Ciaraโs son from a previous relationship, 5-year-old Future, in Bellevue, Washington. Ciara and Russell often work side by side on philanthropic projects for the Why Not You Foundation, founded by Wilson in 2014 to empower young people to be future leaders. Last spring, they unveiled a new program awarding $100,000 in college scholarships to eight deserving students in King Countyโjust one of the many initiatives the foundation supports.
The couple also have announced the formation of Why Not You Productions. Building on positive energy, the new company will focus on producing scripted and unscripted film, TV and digital content, with an eye to inspiring narratives.
With such jam-packed schedules, Ciara cherishes the simple times when she and her husband can kick back and relax together. โRuss and I love TV night,โ she says. โIn the evening, as things wind down, we just enjoy a show. Itโs harder now, to find that chill time. Because even when the world slows down, my kids donโt. Someone is always doing something, like karate or swimming.โ
Ciaraโs commitment to family shines through in her role as an executive producer and judge on the new series Americaโs Most Musical Family, which premiered last fall on Nickelodeon. โItโs been such a treat to be a part of that producing team and team in general,โ says Ciara of the show, which features 30 families showcasing their musical prowess to compete for a $250,000 cash prize and a recording contract. โThereโs a lot of diversity,โ says Ciara. โWe had a band where each brother can play seven instruments. We had another group with a grandmother in it. I hope itโs inspiring to people. The power of music is real. Music can bring together people of different backgrounds and economic groups. Music can heal you, inspire you, uplift you.โ
Making Her Own Mark
After years of being on other labels, Ciara stretched her wings in 2017 and founded her own record and entertainment company, Beauty Marks Entertainment. BMEโwhich she heads and is very hands-on withโplaces music in the center of her Venn diagram of interests: media, fashion, philanthropy and technology. โThe landscape of the music industry has changed so much since I was putting out my first album 15 years ago,โ she explains. โItโs a whole different ballgame.โ Ciara is well aware of the impact of social media and the evolving way songs are distributed, having tallied 1.4 billion music video views and 24.1 million followers on Instagram herself.
BME released several singles by Ciara, then in May 2019, an album, also titled โBeauty Marks.โ Ciara plans to continue to release her own music, as well as eventually produce music with other performers. Like many of her peers in the artistic community, she says she is looking for ways to be empowered in her business and to reap the benefits of her own labor, she says. โOwning my own masters, for example. Itโs a new day. Itโs recognizing your value.โ
As one of the entrepreneurs leading change in the music industry, Ciara recently immersed herself in one of Harvard Business Schoolโs Executive Education programs. She calls it โone of the most important experiences of my life,โ and studied with Harvard professor Anita Elberse, an acclaimed expert in digital media strategies, for a short course in โThe Business of Entertainment, Media, and Sports.โ
Ciara has gone from being a young teen watching Good Morning America to being booked onto GMA herself. In fact she had a performance scheduled while she was taking her Harvard course, but was able to make both opportunities happen. She flew from Boston to New York the night before, performed on GMA, and hopped on a return flight to Boston so she could be back in class that afternoon.
The program was worth it, Ciara says. โI left that course feeling like I was enlightened. I felt 10 times more prepared for what I was doing in business. The case studies were amazing. I took lots of notes. I honestly want to go back to school again.โ
For BME and Why Not You Productions, she says, there is โa lot brewing that we canโt reveal quite yet, but we are leveling up with more TV and film, more music, more visuals for the fans. Iโve enjoyed having that direct control and access to my fans. Itโs important to me to keep this unique relationship with my fans Iโve always had. Iโve been learning a lot, having the creative freedom to express what I want to express, when I want to express it.โ
Looking Ahead
Ciara recently served as creative director for Finish Lineโs fall collections of Nike- and Jordan-brand products for kids, imbuing the family-friendly selection of athletic attire, shoes and accessories with her personal sense of style. She also fronted a fall campaign for Nine West for Kohlโs collection. And the standout style trendsetter plans to make more waves in the fashion world.
โIโve always had a love for beautiful designs and fashion. What good are the visuals without the fashions?โ she says, referring to her megaโpopular music videos. Stay tuned, she adds, because โI am cooking up something cool.โ
Sheโs also intrigued by technology. โItโs becoming such a dominant force in how our world functions and thrives,โ she observes. โWill we be flying around like the Jetsons? We havenโt gotten there yet, but we arenโt too far away, either. In 10 years, my children will be teens, and I know Iโm going to go on an incredible adventure with them as a parent.โ
She wants to keep working on ways to level up professionally, too. โIโm going to declare 2020 as the start of the best decade yet.
โFor me, my biggest desire is to have a fruitful life,โ she says. โI think about my life way ahead, and the reality is, we are not going to always be here. Iโm very spiritual. Iโm a believer. I have to talk to myself and say I have to maximize life, maximize opportunities, and put everything into my life and into the universe that is good. Thatโs my approach.โ
Ciara is a firm believer in literally speaking positively. โThereโs life and death in the tongue, I always say. You have the chance to tell your life story, so when you speak, say great things. When you say, โI canโt do thisโ or โIโm so silly trying that,โ youโre speaking energy onto yourself. If you say you can, you start to will yourself toward it happening. Youโre giving yourself confidence; youโre supercharged to make the things you want to happen, happen.โ
For all her intensity and drive, Ciara is not all about seriousness.
โI love laughing, Iโm goofy,โ she says. โIโm one of those people who looks for the positive in anything. If Iโm going through a difficult moment, Iโm like, letโs get to cheer; letโs get back to joy. Iโm really committed to that.โ
This article was originally published in Alaska Beyond Magazine, January 2020 issue.
Year in review: Top destinations & trending moments of 2019
Before heading into the New Year, weโre pausing to celebrate. From carrying a record number of guests โ nearly 47 million โ to serving the healthiest meals in the sky and striving to be the most sustainable airline, weโre smiling wing to wing thanks to some notable moments this year.
Here are some to name a few:
Our first commercial flights at Paine Field
Our start of service at Everett’s Paine Field Airport began in March, where we now operate 18 daily flights to 10 cities, including Palm Springs and Spokane. In that short time, flying in and out of Everett has become a popular, convenient option for many travelers, especially those who live north of Seattle. It prevents a drive to Sea-Tac Airport. As of late July, nearly 300,000 guests have flown with us at Paine Field.
Sipping back, relaxing at Sea-Tacโs Northwest-inspired oasis
At the new 15,800-square-foot flagship Alaska Airlines Lounge, itโs all about the views. And, if youโre a craft beer fan, the brews. Alaska guests can take in expansive views of the Olympic Mountains โ as well as downtown Seattle โ while unwinding by the fireplace with one of the 12 microbrews on tap in the newly upgraded North Satellite Terminal at Sea-Tac International Airport.
Planting trees with #FillBeforeYouFly
In September, we invited guests to #FillBeforeYouFly โ an initiative encouraging guests and employees to bring their own water bottles and become active partners in our goal to reduce single-use plastics. A tree will be planted for every passenger who brings a prefilled water bottle on an Alaska flight and posts it to social media with the hashtag #FillBeforeYouFly thanks to the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. BEFโs goal is to plant 1 million trees on the West Coast to help reduce pollution and restore habitats for local fish and wildlife.
Mileage Plan members are going the distance
Mileage Plan members went the distance in 2019. A whopping 25 billion miles were flown on Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. This includes the 865,529 miles racked up by one traveler (thanks, Olivier).
Whether youโre an MVP Gold or still working toward elite status, itโs fun to see where fellow members traveled using their hard-earned miles. This year, award travel toย San Diego, Portland and Las Vegasย led the way in North America. Around the globe, guests accrued the most miles on ourย Global Partnersย to London, Dublin and Reykjavik.
If youโre feeling a little FOMO, itโs not too late toย join Mileage Plan. Someone joins every 30 seconds!
Faster Wi-Fi, more streaming for you
Better inflight Wi-Fi is well on its way! So far, weโve installed Gogo 2Ku satellite Wi-Fi service on 100 aircraft (out of 241) allowing you to stream, browse, and text from gate departure to gate arrival. Our streaming-fast wifi made its debut last year in April, and will expand to most of our Boeing and Airbus fleet by the end of 2020.
We offer the most free movies in the sky.* Choose from over 500 movies and 550+ TV episodes from 80+ different series when you stream using Alaska Beyondโข Entertainment on your own device or on our premiumย inflight entertainment tablets.
Pro tip: Before you fly, download the Gogoยฎย Entertainment App. You’ll need it to watch movies and TV shows on your device while flying with us.
TV Series
Movies
1. The Big Bang Theory
1. Crazy Rich Asians
2. Friends
2. A Star is Born
3. Young Sheldon
3. Captain Marvel
4. Puppy Dog Pals
4. The Upside
5. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
5. Aquaman
6. Will & Grace
6. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
7. Killing Eve
7. Mary Poppins Returns
8. Riverdale
8. The Meg
9. Criminal Minds
9. Avengers: Infinity War
10. Man in the High Castle
10. Creed II
*Compared to other US Airlines as of Dec. 2019 on flights with Gogo streaming
Most liked #iFlyAlaska post:
People, places, planes! In 2019, we saw more than 15K mentions of #iFlyAlaska across social media. Our guests shared stories of employees going above and beyond for them, stunning landscapes from Alaska to Costa Rica, and many window-seat shots โ including, this one that received the most likes:
Seeing Molokini Crater out the window? Enjoy. You’ll be landing in Maui soon. ๐๏ธ๐๐บ#iFlyAlaska
Join us in 2020 onย Facebook,ย Twitter andย Instagramย and tag your posts withย #iFlyAlaska. We canโt wait to see where you fly to next!
High fives all-around & sending the love right back:
Itโs a huge honor to be recognized as โBest Airlineโ or having the best Mileage Plan program. Weโre thankful to flyers for choosing Alaska, over and over again.ย ย Because of you and our remarkable people, Alaska Airlines racked up awards this year, including:
Highest in customer satisfaction among traditional carriers in North America, 12 years in a row โ In May, Alaska Airlines ranked highest in airline customer satisfaction among traditional carriers for the 12th consecutive year in the J.D. Power North America Airline Satisfaction Study.
Most sustainable airline in North America โ Weโre honored the 2019 Dow Jones Sustainability Index ranked Alaska No.1 among North American airlines for the third year in a row. Globally, we ranked No. 7 and received top scores for corporate governance and efficiency. Learn more about our sustainability effortsย here.
The healthiest meals in the sky โ Alaska Airlines shares the top spot for 2019-20 as the airline with the โhealthiestโ food choices in the sky as determine by the Diet Detective.
โBest U.S. Airlineโ according to Condรฉ Nast Traveler โ Condรฉ Nast Traveler named us โBest U.S. Airlineโ inย theirย 2019 Readersโ Choice Awards for a second year. The award is especially significant because itโs based on theย ratingsย of more than 600,000ย readers who sharedย feedbackย about their recent travel experiences.
Happy flying in 2020!
The gift of miles brings HBCU students home for the holidays โ and opens doors to careers
When Miracle Carter boarded her Alaska Airlines flight to Seattle for Christmas break, she was looking forward to more than the holiday and her first trip home since starting college. She was also excited to plan her momโs wedding.
Carterโs Alaska Airlines ticket was a surprise fromย UNCF (United Negro College Fund), which strives to increase the number of African American college graduates and is one of 10 nonprofits that benefit from Alaskaโsย LIFT Miles program. UNCF doesnโt want travel expenses to hold young people back from pursuing their dreams and uses miles donated by Mileage Plan members to fly students in need, who attend historically black colleges and universities far from home, back to their families for the holidays.ย
Miracle Carter
โWe’re a little tight on money right now and we have to really plan around things,โ says Carter, who is a freshman at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her mother will be married right after the new year, before Carter returns to college. โWhen UNCF sent me that email about the airline ticket, I was really happy I was going to be able to be there.โ
Theย UNCF Seattleย office tracks the students who participate in its college-preparatory programs during high school and selects a group each year to receive airline tickets to return home for the holidays, says Jaliya Washington, UNCF development associate. โItโs a need-based gift, so we look at our roster and the students who can really benefit,โ she says. In addition, UNCF uses donated miles to send high school students to tour college campuses they hope to attend and may not be able to visit otherwise.
Carter, who is studying biology and hopes to become a medical examiner, says it was important to her to attend an HBCU, even though itโs 3,000 miles from home. โ[Johnson C. Smith is] very tight-knit and a lot of teachers get to know you personally,โ she says.
UNCF also uses donated Alaska LIFT Miles to fly students to career-development events like the annualย HBCU Innovation Summit, which brings dozens of students from HBCUs to Silicon Valley to network with tech companies each fall. Since 2013, more than 400 students have attended the summits. Alaska Airlines was a sponsor of this yearโs event, which introduced the students to engineers, recruiters and career paths at tech companies like Google, Salesforce and Adobe.ย
Marbella Daniel at the Walmart Labs in San Bruno, California, during the HBCU Innovation Summit. (Photo by Don Feria, courtesy of UNCF)
“Our top focus is to increase the number of African American students who are entering college, staying in college and graduating college to then go on to meaningful and successful careers,” says Dr. Michael L. Lomax, UNCF president and CEO. “One of the big barriers for our students taking advantage of the opportunities we offer is that they may not have the means to travel. UNCFโs unique partnership with Alaska Airlines helps to remove that barrier for HBCU students who need it most and help brighten the holidays for so many.”
[inset]
Marbella Daniel, a sophomore computer science major at Howard University, was one of several students who utilized UNCFโs LIFT Miles to fly to the five-day summit. โRight off the plane, we went straight to Google for a networking event,โ says Daniel, who was impressed with the inviting, open designs at the tech companies she toured. โWe talked to a lot of different black employees who were so inspiring. They were demystifying the stereotype that African Americans aren’t as prevalent in tech.โ
Daniel is the third generation of her family to attend Howard, and she was excited to meet many HBCU graduates working in a range of careers at tech companies. โThey said their HBCUs really prepared them to go into the tech world because they had gained so much confidence about who they were and the kinds of things that they could accomplish,โ she says.
The summit culminates each year with a career fair, and Daniel left with an invitation to a 2020 externship at Quicken Loans in Detroit โ as well as a new perspective on the career opportunities ahead of her. โHaving those five days before we got back into the nitty-gritty part of school helped me keep my head up because I can see further into the future,โ says Daniel, who aspires to be a software engineer before pursuing a career in product management. โThis is all for a bigger purpose, and I can see where I can be in five years and 10 years. I’m going somewhere.โ
Since 2017, Alaska Mileage Plan members have donated more than 7.5 million LIFT Miles to UNCF.ย Learn moreย about LIFT Miles andย log inย to your Mileage Plan account to donate.
We apologize to our guests who had an un-merry travel experience at Sea-Tac Airport
As of Sunday afternoon, all bags left behind at Sea-Tac Airport have been sent to their intended destinations. Our teams worked quickly to make sure that happened, understanding how problematic and frustrating it has been for our guests not to have their belongings โ especially during holiday travel.
It remains a very busy time at Sea-Tac, with nearly all flights flying full. There will be lines and issues that pop up. We are determined to do our best in each case to help our guests.
Original post: 5 p.m. on December 21, 2019
First off, we sincerely apologize to our guests who endured considerable inconvenience and understandable frustration at Sea-Tac Airport over the past two days. With many different factors working against us, we dropped the ball, and by doing that, created an awful holiday travel experience just when people rely on us the most.
Put simply: a severe staffing shortage during a very heavy travel period, as well as difficult weather conditions, unleashed a cascade of problems for us, and โ unfairly โ for our guests.
Starting Friday morning, we did not have enough ramp workers in place to successfully handle the holiday volume of baggage. A backlog quickly took shape and that prevented many bags from being loaded on flights ultimately causing our guests to arrive at their destinations without their checked bags. We simply did not have enough people to do all the work. This caused us not to operate our gates efficiently and kept our aircraft out on the tarmac waiting until gate space opened up. We have called in many management employees from across the company to assist with the baggage backup and recovery.
What to do if your bag didnโt arrive
In the past 24 hours many guests arrived at their destinations without their checked bag(s). Weโre terribly sorry for the inconvenience! Teams of people are working extended hours, and in some cases around the clock, to reunite guests and their bags.
Hereโs what to do if your bag is missing
1. Donโt leave the airport.
If your bag did not make it on your flight, itโs critically important to file a claim before you leave the airport. Lines at our Airport Baggage Offices are long, but weโve staffed up to process as many claims as possible. Filing a claim at the airport is the fastest way for us to collect your information and get your bag to you.
The faster we get a claim into the system, the faster we can get you reunited with your bag.
2. Weโll reimburse guests with delayed bags for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred while separated from their belongings (such as clothing and toiletries). Please keep a copy of any receipts for purchased items and mail them to the address below.
3. If you have already filed a claim with us, we will reach out to you as soon as we have more information. If not, please reach out to your arrival baggage office (see link below).
4. After your bag has been delivered to the right airport, weโll call you and ask where youโd like us to deliver your bag: to your home, your hotel or other location. 5. If you left the airport without filing a claim, youโll need to call our Central Baggage Office at 1-877-815-8253. Thank you in advance for your patience as weโre experiencing long hold times.
6. If your bag is delayed 24 hours or more, we will be providing you with a discount off a future flight as long as you have a claim open. Weโll reach out to you.
Areย youย fa-la-la-la-ingย in love with the holidays yet? We sat down withย Chief Football Officer Russell Wilsonโฏand Ciara to see what they love most about this time of year.ย Hereโs how they holiday:ย
Whatโs a favorite tradition that you do for the kids?ย ย
Ciara:โฏWe love to fill theย house with good food and good music for dance parties with the kids, as well as playing classic gamesโฏlike checkers, Monopoly, etc. Since our kids are little, we put cookies and carrots out for Santa and his reindeer. Seeingโฏthe joy and excitement on their faces when they open gifts is always so much fun. Itโs definitely one of the best times ofโฏthe year.ย
Russell:ย We love getting their stockings and filling them up. And waking up Christmas morning and saying our prayers, opening up gifts all together, cozying up together. Thatโs like the best day.ย
Whatโs your favorite Christmas song?ย
Russell:ย Oh, thatโs a good one. Let it Snow by Boyz II Men. [Sings quietly, โLet it snow. โฆโ] Itโs one of my favorite songs.ย
Ciara:ย Let it Snowย byย Boyzย II Men,ย All I Want for Christmas Is Youย by Mariah, andย Jingle Bell Rock.โฏย
Whatโs your favorite Christmas movie?ย ย
Russell:ย Home Aloneย is probยญably my favorite. Andย Theย Preacherโs Wife. Shout out to Whitney Houston.ย
The West2East team won the ugly-sweater contest in the Russell Investments Center the past two years, wearing Alaska Airlines ugly sweaters. Now that youโve seen Alaskaโs 2019 sweater,ย do you think youโll bring home another win?ย
Russell:ย Itโs going to be good. I think weโve got a chance.ย
This year,โฏAlaskaโฏis getting in the holiday spirit with a festive holiday-themed plane dubbed the “Snowplane,”which is flying across the airline’s network through the winter ski season. Additionally, Alaska Lounges will feature holiday-inspired beverages and cocktails, including snowflake sprinkled lattes and peppermint mochas, along with a special hot toddy cocktail available on National Ugly Sweater Day.ย ย
DONโT MISS OUT:ย Weโre offering priority boarding to anyoneย wearing any kind of holiday sweater onย Dec. 20,ย National Ugly Sweater Day. The one-day promotion will be celebrated by guests and employees alike and includes allโฏAlaskaโฏand Horizon Air flights.ย
Friendly reminder:ย Airports are busier than ever in December. As a reminder, anyone traveling during the holidays is encouraged to arrive to the airport at least two hours before their flight given anticipated congestion at the airport. Learn ourโฏ8 tips to keep the “nice” in your holiday travel.ย
HONOLULU – Pilots interested in flying for Hawaiian Airlines can move closer to a seat in the cockpit of Hawai‘i’s flagship carrier by first joining the company as an instructor under a new career pathway.
Candidates hired through Hawaiian’s Pilot Pathway Aircrew Instructor program will deliver fleet and ground training to pilots while helping develop courses for Flight Standards & Qualification activities. After one year on the job, instructors will be guaranteed a first officer interview during the next available hiring period. Successful applicants will be added to Hawaiian’s first officer hiring pool and be eligible to transfer to a pilot position two years after becoming a Flight Standards & Qualification instructor.
“This new instructor-to-pilot pathway provides an attractive track for pilots seeking to join Hawaiian while allowing us to meet our training needs as we continue to grow the best network for travel to, from and within our islands,” said Ken Rewick, vice president of flight operations at Hawaiian Airlines.
Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A321neo Capt. Nathan Richards (standing) provides virtual procedures training to a pilot at the carrier’s Honolulu training facility.
Based in Honolulu, Hawaiian’s instructors will work in classrooms and advanced flight training devices. Interested candidates may learn more about the pathway program and apply here.
Hawaiian’s pilots operate a fleet of 20 Boeing 717 aircraft on a comprehensive network of more than 170 daily flights between the Hawaiian Islands. Transpacific flights connecting Hawai‘i to the U.S. mainland, Asia and the South Pacific are operated with 24 Airbus A330 aircraft. The airline also utilizes a current fleet of 16 Airbus A321neo aircraft on flights between the U.S. West Coast and Hawai‘i.
This summer, Hawaiian announced the purchase of a CAE Boeing 787-9 full-flight simulator as it prepares to welcome a new fleet of Boeing 787-9 aircraft beginning in 2021.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 15 years (2004-2018) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.
Now in its 91st year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawaii’s biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawai‘i from more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides, on average, more than 170 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, and over 260 daily flights system-wide.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian’s Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.
For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.
Feld Entertainment and Hawaiian Airlines Renew and Expand Partnership
Ellenton, Fla – Feld Entertainment, the global leader in live family entertainment, and Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaii’s biggest and longest serving airline, are renewing their successful partnership with integrated activations and production elements that extend the carrier’s signature Hawaiian hospitality to guests in a highly participatory way. The program will take place at more than 80 performances of Disney On Ice presents Mickey’s Search Party and Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures, visiting eight West Coast cities, including Anaheim, Las Vegas, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego and San Jose. Additionally, this year the program will expand to Boston, Hawaiian’s newest East Coast market.
The partnership combines and elevates the spectacular encounters that both Disney On Ice and Hawaiian Airlines offer to their guests. At each venue, attendees will experience authentic Hawaiian hospitality courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines via a First-Class seating section. Hawaiian Airlines will be integrated into social campaigns and email promotions, with logo inclusion, in each market. Disney On Ice will host a national “fly-away” sweepstakes through a dedicated microsite where one lucky family will win a trip to the beautiful state of Hawai’i.
“We’re thrilled to expand our partnership with Hawaiian Airlines,” said Jason Bitsoff, Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships at Feld Entertainment. “By focusing on integrated promotions and an in-venue first class experience, we’re able to immerse guests in ‘aloha spirit’ in a unique and organic way that authentically represents both brands.”
“We’re excited to enhance our presence with Feld Entertainment and engage guests in an immersive experience reflective of our signature hospitality,” said Rob Sorensen, vice president of marketing and e-commerce at Hawaiian Airlines.
For a high-res version of the attached photography, click here. For footage of Disney On Ice presents Mickey’s Search Party, click here or for Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures, click here.
About Feld Entertainment
Feld Entertainment® is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live family entertainment experiences that bring people together and uplift the human spirit. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, Disney On Ice, Disney Live!, Marvel Universe LIVE!, Sesame Street Live!, DreamWorks Trolls The Experience and Jurassic World Live Tour. Across the brand portfolio, Feld Entertainment has entertained millions of families in more than 75 countries and on six continents. Visit feldentertainment.com for more information.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 15 years (2004-2018) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.
Now in its 91st year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i’s biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers non-stop service to Hawai‘i from more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, , Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 170 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, with a total of more than 260 daily flights system-wide.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian’s Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.
For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.
