Alaska Airlines Noble way of Reducing Use of Single Use Plastic

There is no denying the fact that plastics are the bane of modern civilization. If our generation is really to be called a civilization, it is pertinent that its activities shall not lead to environment degradation and loss of lives of any living being. The use of plastics has endangered the lives of terrestrial, marine, aquatic and aerial lives. To this end of saving the lives, saying no to the use of plastics is a movement which has been catching on for the last couple of years.

The awareness generated by the various people and groups through various platforms has resulted in taking concrete step by all to stop the use of single use plastics. It shall be noted that single use plastics, or those plastics which are consigned to the garbage bins after using once, are the major environment pollutants. Alaska Airlines, one of the major US airline companies, has tweaked its policy a little and provided a simple solution of reducing the use of single use plastic bottles.

The airline, in a recent notification, has said that it will encourage its passengers to bring their empty water bottles which can be pre-filled after the TSA security screening at airports. It estimates that even if 10 percent of passengers bring their bottles and pre-fill it with water prior to boarding the plane using the water filling facility present at the airport, it will lead to reduction of 7 lakh bottles and 4 million plastic cups annually.

This is a staggering figure. Imagine the scale of reduction if all passengers begin to bring their bottles and pre-fill with water, and this happens not just for Alaska Airlines but for all airlines globally. However, to match that scale of a reform, the airline or the airport authorities will have to put up a number of filling stations since almost everyone would be requiring to pre-fill the bottles before boarding.

It shall be noted that the filled water bottles of more than 100 ml quantity are not allowed during security clearance. Therefore, these have to be filled at the airport from designated filling points where water dispensers are present, after clearing the security check. So, people doing Alaska Airlines reservations can take solace in the fact that it will allow you to carry a standard size empty water bottle for pre-filling water at the airport before boarding.

Read More

Alaska Airlines Grows Sans Joining of Aviation Alliance

Alaska Airlines is not among the four major airline companies of the US but is most certainly the most preferred carrier on routes where it operates. The airline company is based in Alaska and the main objective of its formation was to provide focused and critical connectivity of Alaska region to the rest of contiguous US states. 

This airline, therefore, has a crucial role to play. It can be said without any doubt that this purpose has been served very well by the airline and it has been successful in expanding to different routes in US.

It is not just in the domestic market that this expansion has been seen, but with the help of other airline companies of the world, even the international market has been indirectly tapped. It is notable that the airline is not a member of any of the three major aviation alliances, such as Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam. 

However, it has been able to forge partnerships and agreements with different airlines either by way of codeshare agreements. This has allowed passengers to travel to different destinations across Europe, Middle East, Far East Asia, South East Asia and Australia. Currently, it codeshares with 19 airlines from different countries of the world.

  Alaska airlines flight booking can be done for some of the destinations reached by these airlines from certain cities in US. For the passengers who have been traveling on these routes for some time but have been doing tickets separately, will not be required to do the same separately after codeshare agreements have been put in place. This is a lot of convenience to them.

Now, since Alaska has been able to achieve this expansion in foreign markets without going in for alliances, the question arises whether these alliances are relevant or have they passed their age? We do have many airlines which are members of these alliances but have also been forging out-of-alliance partnerships with other airlines for their own interest.

So, are these alliances really the way forward? Why do airlines feel the need for out-of-alliance agreements? Do these alliances restrict more than promote the cause of all its members? These are some of the questions which lie squarely at the doors of alliances but since these alliances have not dissolved till now signifies that some deeper connections still bind their members. 

These deeper connections are what also make these different from the rather shallower codeshare agreements among the airlines.

We made the trips possible for 300,000 passengers and travelers to all around the world. Follow FlightsChannel on  Facebook | Twitter | Instagram for the latest updates, exclusive offers & discounts to your favorite destinations and learn how to travel the world for less.

Read More

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Program Offers Double Miles

Alaska Airlines, the full service carrier of US, has a plan to get on more passengers from California destinations. While the usual ways of providing discounted air fares have not been implemented, the airline is offering double of its loyalty rewards points. The Mileage Plan program of the airline is based on the miles flown. This has been at variance with many of the other US airlines that have moved away from miles flown-based program to actual amount spent programs.

This offer would be available for those passengers who are flying non-stop from California. So, these would be available for passengers who have done Alaska Airlines reservations for following routes:

a)      San Francisco and Baltimore

b)      San Francisco and Boston

c)       San Francisco and Fort Lauderdale

d)      San Francisco and JFK

e)      San Francisco and Newark

f)       San Francisco and Orlando

g)      San Francisco and Philadelphia

h)      San Francisco and Raleigh-Durham

i)        San Francisco and Washington Dulles

j)        San Francisco and Washington Reagan National

k)      San Jose and JFK

l)        San Jose and Newark

m)    Los Angeles and Baltimore

n)      Los Angeles and Boston

o)      Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale

p)      Los Angeles and JFK

q)      Los  Angeles and Newark

r)       Los Angeles and Philadelphia

s)       Los Angeles and Washington Dulles

t)       Los Angeles and Washington Reagan National

u)      San Diego and JFK

v)      San Diego and Newark.

So, in all these are two dozen such routes where this offer would be applicable. The reason for this offer is to attract more customers from California to travel to these destination using the cheap air tickets from the airline.  

Alaska Airline Drops in Airline Quality Ranking

Alaska Airlines is also in news due to its drop in ranking from 1^st to 4^th in the last on year as per the annual survey conducted by AQR. AQR has been conducting these surveys for the last 29 years now. The airlines are judged on the basis of baggage mishandled, complaints by customers, punctuality performance and involuntarily denied boarding.

A decline of 3 points is a sharp and this is bound to make Alaska Airlines sit up and take notice of things that are going wrong.

Read More