Seattle-based Alaska Airlines is a major US carrier serving more than 120 destinations across North America and Central America. The airline stands out for its generous Atmos Rewards program and creative perks you won’t find elsewhere.
Alaska’s unique offerings include Flight Pass subscription service, the Wine Flies Free program and a 20-minute baggage guarantee. The airline’s branded credit cards sweeten the deal with priority boarding, a free checked bag and a companion fare offer.
The airline has hubs in Seattle (SEA), San Francisco (SFO), Portland, OR (PDX), Los Angeles (LAX), Anchorage, AK (ANC), San Diego (SAN) and Honolulu (HNL). With Horizon Air and other regional partners, Alaska serves more than 120 destinations across the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico.
As a oneworld alliance member, Alaska also has partnerships with 24 global airlines, so your miles can take you pretty far.
Cabin classes and fares on Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines Saver Fares
Alaska Airlines Saver Fares can be a good bargain, but they come with notable restrictions. You won’t get a seat assignment until check in, you’ll board last (in Group F), tickets are eligible for a 50% credit if canceled at least 14 days before departure (though same-day confirmed changes are allowed for a fee), and Atmos Rewards members only earn 30% of actual points flown. A checked bag isn’t included.
I’ll book these fares on short flights when I’m traveling light and my budget is tight, but otherwise usually opt for a Main Cabin fare.
Main Cabin
Main Cabin fares are the standard economy ticket. They let you choose your seat ahead of time and are changeable prior to departure with no change fees. If you do make a switch, you’ll just pay any difference in the fare. A checked bag isn’t included, so pack accordingly.
Premium Class
Premium cabin fares offer priority boarding, four inches of extra legroom and complimentary wine, beer and cocktails on most flights over 350 miles. You can upgrade from Main Cabin fares to Premium by paying an extra fee, while your Atmos Rewards status may get you upgraded for free.I’ve received the complimentary upgrade just enough to be convinced that I “need” a premium seat all the time. Now I spend the extra cash (and it often doesn’t take that much) to buy the upgrade.
First Class
In the first-class cabin, your ticket gets you a seat with extra legroom, footrests and up to a 41” pitch. You’ll also get two free checked bags, priority boarding, and 75% more Atmos Rewards bonus miles than with a main or economy class ticket.
Complimentary meals are available (and you should order ahead from two weeks to 20 hours prior to departure via the mobile app or website). Lounge access is included when at least one leg of your flight is 2,000 miles or more.
Atmos Rewards frequent flyer program
Alaska Airlines’ Atmos Rewards is the airline’s frequent flyer program, and it’s a solid option with good value. Award travel can start at just 5,000 miles for nonstop flights under 700 miles and perks kick in after 20,000 miles flown.
In certain locations, your Atmos Rewards membership (no status needed) and your boarding pass will even get you free wine tastings (see below).
Bag fees
Alaska Airlines lets each traveler bring one personal item and one carry-on bag. First-class ticket holders can check two bags for free. Bag fees may also be waived for Alaska Airlines credit card holders, Status level Atmos Rewards members and active-duty US military personnel.
Alaska Airlines 20-minute bag guarantee
Alaska Airlines stands by its 20-minute baggage guarantee. With a few exceptions (like international flights requiring customs clearance and flights between Anchorage and Dutch Harbor), if your bags don’t hit the carousel within 20 minutes of the plane arriving at the gate, the airline will give you a $25 discount code for a future flight or 2,500 bonus miles (claimed within two hours).
Lounges
Alaska Airlines has lounges in Anchorage (ANC), Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO). There are two lounges in Portland, OR (PDX) and three in Seattle (SEA), including the airline’s largest lounge in the North Satellite.
Perks include comfortable seating, complimentary food and drink (including many regional specialties), and barista-made espresso drinks. Whether you’re there at breakfast time or not, be sure to check out the unique machine that ‘prints’ pancakes.
Lounge access is available through Alaska Lounge memberships, single-entry passes (subject to space), First Class tickets (on flights 2,100+ miles) and for oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members. If you have an Alaska Lounge+ membership, you can also access American Airlines Admirals Clubs when arriving or departing on a same-day flight marketed or operated by Alaska Airlines or American Airlines.
Wi-Fi and entertainment
Alaska Airlines offers over 800 free movies and TV episodes you can stream on your own device. On flights equipped with in-flight Wi-Fi, the airline offers all passengers free texting (iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp), but charges $8 per flight for full Wi-Fi access on mainline aircraft.
Depending on your plan, T-Mobile customers may get free Wi-Fi. My plan, for example, gives me unlimited free one-hour sessions and four full-flight sessions per year. Other plans offer unlimited sessions.
Alaska Airlines’ aircraft
Alaska Air Group’s operational fleet consists of Boeing 737 series, Embraer 175, Airbus A330, Airbus A321neo, Boeing 717 and Boeing 787 aircraft. You’ll recognize Alaska’s planes by the face of an Alaska Native on the tail, a nod to the airline’s history and commitment to Alaskan communities.
Keep an eye out for the airline’s commemorative liveries, or paint schemes. They celebrate everything from Disney themes to regional sports teams and honor members of the US military. My favorites are the orca-adorned West Coast Wonders plane and the X̱áat Ḵwáani plane, which translates to “Salmon People” in the Alaskan Tlingit language.
Alaska Airlines’ Flight Pass subscription
Alaska offers a flight pass subscription with two tiers: Flight Pass (six roundtrips per year) and Flight Pass Plus (12 roundtrips per year). The pass works for flights between 17 destinations in California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah.
If you travel a lot between cities like San Francisco and Palm Springs, this can be a convenient and cost-effective way to do it. I’m just jealous my home city isn’t included in the plan.
Ship wine for free. Drink wine for free.
Bringing wine home from a trip can be a hassle. Alaska Airlines’ Wine Flies Free program solves that problem. If you’re an Atmos Rewards member (and 21 or older), you can check a case of up to 12 bottles of wine weighing 50 pounds or less for free from 32 airports in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California. The best part? It doesn’t even count toward your checked bag allowance.
Here’s another ‘secret’ benefit of the program. In Idaho, Oregon and Washington, you can get free wine tastings at participating wineries just by showing your recent inbound boarding pass and your Atmos Rewards number. I’ve taken advantage of this perk a few times, and the wineries are always happy to honor it.
Show your boarding pass, ski for free
And here’s one more insider perk for you. If you’re flying Alaska to ski destinations like Anchorage (ANC), Boise (BOI), Spokane (GEG), Steamboat Springs/Hayden (HDN), Edmonton (YEG) or Calgary (YYC), you can show your inbound boarding pass and matching ID to get a free ski pass at participating partner resorts.
Alaska Airlines Company Store
You can buy branded Alaska Airlines swag, airplane models and all sorts of cool travel gear at the Alaska Airlines Company Store. The shop is online and at their headquarters at 19235 International Blvd, near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
The physical store is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm. Bonus tip: you can do some good plane spotting from the parking lot any day of the week.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
