Alaska Airlines

It was less than a week ago that Alaska Airlines announced four new routes out of California and today the airline is back again with another announcement of new routes that should please travelers based in the Pacific Northwest.

Alaska Airlines appears to be increasing its focus on California. Earlier this week we saw the airline offering California residents free flights just for joining the Alaska Mileage Plan loyalty program, and now we have the airline announcing four new seasonal routes that will operate out of the state's three major airports.

Alaska Airlines has launched a new flash sale which it's running through to the end of the day, today, and in which it's offering great deals on flights across its network. The airline is offering free companion tickets in Economy Class for parties of up to 6 people and 10% off First Class fares for all travelers.

I'm pretty sure no other US airline has run as many promotions as we've seen Alaska Airlines offering in the last quarter of this year (Alaska appears to be the Hyatt of the airline industry), but what is probably the last Alaska Airlines promotion of the year ends today.

Most of California may currently be under a stay at home order of one kind or another (I've had 4 months of stay at home orders this year so you have my sympathies) but Alaska Airlines is doing its bit to put a smile on Californian faces (and the faces of anyone wanting to visit California) with an excellent "buy one, get one free" offer that it's running through to the end of today.

Qatar Airways has confirmed that it plans to operate flights between Doha and Seattle from the first quarter of next year taking its tally of US destinations up to 11. The airline has also said that it also plans to enter into a frequent flyer partnership with Alaska Airlines (headquartered in Seattle) ahead of that airline's entry into the oneworld alliance.

Alaska Airlines is running a fun promotion for the duration of the NFL season in which it has been offering some fantastic discounts on fares out of select states. The promotion is built around the scoring prowess of Russell Wilson, the quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, and runs after every Seahawks home game in which Wilson scores.

In the past few days the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted its ban on Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft (other jurisdictions have yet to follow suit) and we're already seeing airlines lining up to give support to the beleaguered aircraft. Alaska Airlines is the latest US carrier to provide a show of faith to the MAX as the airline confirms that it is swapping a number of its Airbus A320 aircraft for new Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft.

Originally it was meant to happen by the end of this year, but when Alaska Airlines realized just how complicated joining a global airline alliance can be, the date for it to join oneworld was pushed back to "not before the end of the first quarter" of 2021. Well, as vague deadlines go, that one turned out to be remarkably accurate because Alaska Airlines has now announced that it will join the oneworld alliance on 31 March 2020.

Alaska Airlines is running a fun promotion for the duration of the NFL season in which it's offering a fantastic discount on fares out of select states. The promotion is built around the scoring prowess of Russell Wilson, the quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, and runs after every Seahawks home game in which Wilson scores.