Do you like reindeer? Have you always wanted to fly with them? No, this has nothing to do with Santa Claus: Next month, Alaska Airlines will retire its last combi-planes, jets that carry both passengers and cargo to communities across the state. That cargo could include food, consumer goods, or live animals like dogs and reindeer. [More]
Alaska Airlines
Here’s Which Airlines Are Capping Fares, Adding Flights For Travelers Fleeing Hurricane Maria
By 9.19.17
Hurricane Maria continues to gain momentum as it churns through the Caribbean, strengthening to a Category 5 storm after making landfall on the island of Dominica on Monday. Forecasters and safety officials are advising everyone in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to get to safety, and so some airlines are capping fares for travelers trying to get out of the storm’s path. [More]
Say Goodbye To Virgin America: Company Name, Logo To Retire In 2019
By 3.23.17 — Updated: 5.10.17
Now that Alaska Airlines and Virgin America have officially gained approval for their $4 billion marriage, the couple is working out of all the little details of married life, including which airline will be taking the other’s name. To that end: The Virgin America name and logo will disappear, but not right away. [More]
JetBlue Offering Passengers Free WiFi On All Flights
By 1.11.17
When traveling by air it might seem like you have to pay for every little thing: checked bags, seats with leg room, among other things. But passengers on JetBlue will now be getting one thing free: WiFi. [More]
Delta, Alaska Airlines End Codeshare, Frequent Flyer Partnerships
By 12.19.16
Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines customers will be losing one way of earning frequent flyer miles starting next spring, as the two airlines are ending their codesharing and frequent flyer partnerships. [More]
Do Airlines Really Ban Unruly Passengers For Life?
By 11.29.16 — Updated: 2.7.17
Here at Consumerist, we have seen more than our fair share of stories involving unruly or otherwise disruptive passengers who have gotten themselves kicked off flights for bad behavior. But upon hearing that Delta Air Lines had banned a passenger for life after he was caught on video yelling at his fellow travelers, we had to wonder: What do you have to do to get banned from an airline forever, and which U.S. carriers have such a policy in place? [More]
Alaska Airlines Flies First Commercial Jet Fueled By Trees
By 11.15.16
Alaska Airlines flew a bit greener yesterday, powering up one of its jets with a special biofuel made from trees and flying from Seattle to Washington, D.C. [More]
Multiple Airlines Experience Issues With Reservations After Sabre Systems Glitch
By 11.11.16 — Updated: 11.13.16
If you’ve been having issues booking flights today, you’re not alone: multiple carriers have confirmed they were affected by a glitch in the Sabre reservation system. [More]
What’s Holding Up Merger Of Alaska Airlines & Virgin America?
By 10.21.16
Alaska Airlines’ proposed $4 billion merger with Virgin America is taking longer than either airline anticipated. Days after the companies’ targeted merger completion date passed, federal regulators continue to probe the validity and affect the merger would have on competition. [More]
The Newest Feature In Air Travel: Fireproof Bags For Exploding Phones
By 10.14.16 — Updated: 10.17.16
Although it was no doubt scary when a Note 7 recently caught fire on a Southwest flight, the passengers and crew in that case were lucky that the plane was still on the ground at the gate. It was easy to get everyone off the plane safely and quickly. That option doesn’t exist at 30,000 feet, but the number of devices — and therefore, potentially flammable devices — on board is only going to keep going up. The solution? Swift containment. [More]
Alaska Airlines Passengers Get $500 After Fish, Formaldehyde Spill On Luggage
By 10.11.16 — Updated: 10.12.16
We all know that there are risks to checking luggage on a flight — lost bags, damaged or stolen items, mix-ups with other passengers’ luggage — but what you probably don’t assume is that your checked bag will end up covered in formaldehyde and dead fish. [More]
Four Airlines Fined For Misinforming Passengers About Compensation For Lost Bags & Being Bumped
By 8.29.16
If you’re involuntarily bumped from an overbooked flight, or if your bags are lost, the airline owes you some form of compensation. It turns out that four carriers — American, United, Alaska, and Southwest Airlines — haven’t exactly been forthright with all their passengers when it comes to getting what they are owed. [More]
Alaska Airlines Might Not Drop Virgin America Name After Merger
By 6.15.16
Two months after Alaska Airlines put $4 billion on the table and bought up Virgin America, the soon-to-be fifth largest airline operating in the U.S. is spilling the beans — kind of — about its future, and that might include keeping the recently purchased carrier’s name. [More]
Alaska Airlines Testing Flights With Fuel Made From Fermented Corn
By 6.7.16
Fuel prices may have dropped for airlines in the past year, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t looking for alternative means to power their aircraft. To that end, Alaska Airlines today flew two flights using a biofuel mixture derived from fermented corn. [More]
Sour Over Failed Bid For Virgin America, JetBlue Gives Away Free Tickets
By 4.13.16
You’ve probably seen your fair share of those “(Airline Name) giving away (X number) free tickets if you share this post” promotions that infiltrate social media but are actually bogus. In a new twist — and a ploy to bring over loyal passengers of Virgin America after its announced a $4 billion merger with Alaska Airlines — JetBlue really is offering consumers the chance to win one of 500 free tickets from the carrier, no Facebook required. [More]
Alaska Airlines To Buy Virgin America In $4B Deal
By 4.4.16
Virgin Alaska? Alaska American? Either of those — and other combinations — could soon be the fifth largest airline operating in the U.S. after Alaska Airlines agreed to acquire Virgin America in a deal valued at $4 billion. [More]
Virgin America Reportedly Gets Takeover Bids From JetBlue, Alaska Airlines
By 3.28.16
Well that was fast. Less than a week after Virgin America realized it was a pretty hot commodity and said it would consider putting itself up for sale, the company has reportedly received not one, but two takeover bids from rival airlines. [More]
Alaska Airlines Testing Electronic Baggage Tags With Some Passengers, Crew
By 3.28.16
For years now, airlines have experimented with different programs — like real-time baggage tracking — that aim to ensure that passengers and their luggage arrive together and in one piece. Alaska Airlines is jumping on the issue, allowing some passengers to replace traditional checked bag tags with a high-tech, electronic version. [More]
