Russell Wilson

Alaska Airline’s new Russell Wilson plane

Football season is starting and Seattle-based Alaska Airlines has unveiled a plane bearing a fresh image of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.

 

The Boeing 737-800 has Wilson‘s tagline, “Dream Big. Fly High,” above the door.

In celebration of the Seahawks season opener against the Denver Broncos this Sunday, passengers flying on the plane to Denver on Friday, Sept. 7, will be treated to a tailgate party with food, a live DJ and a photo-booth. 

Better yet, during the football season, Alaska Airlines will once again be granted early boarding privileges to passengers wearing a Russell Wilson jersey (#3) on all Seattle-departing flights.

 

 

Alaska Airlines offers early boarding for (some) football fans

It’s getting harder and harder to snag a spot in the group of passengers that boards the airplane early, but during the 2017 football season Alaska Airlines is once again offering that perk to passengers departing from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport who are wearing the number 3 football jersey worn by Russell Wilson, the Seattle Seahawks quarterback who serves as the carrier’s “Chief Football Officer.”

The perk started earlier this month, with the Seahawk’s first pre-season game, and will continue through the end of the regular season.

So dress accordingly.

This is Russell Wilson’s fifth year as Alaska’s Chief Football Officer  and as part of his duties Wilson helps the airline support youth and education programs and various charities, including the Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation, Strong Against Cancer and Wilson’s Why Not You Foundation.

Wilson also appears in some commercials for Alaska Airlines. Here are a couple of the corny-but-cute latest, featuring Russell Wilson as a talk-show host.

 

Alaska Airlines give some Seahawks fans extra perk

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Alaska Airlines, Seattle’s hometown carrier, is charged up about the fact that the Seattle Seahawks are the reigning Super Bowl champions.

So charged up that the airline is offering early boarding privileges on its Seattle-departing flights to anyone wearing a No. 3 jersey – the number worn by Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.

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Photo courtesy Angela Wagner – and her brother, Jon

The promotion will continue through the team’s 2014 NFL football season.

The perk began being offered during the Seahawks’ playoff run last year.

“Then the Seahawks fever caught on and was out of control for both customers and our Seattle-Tacoma International Airport employees,” said Alaska Airlines Seattle customer service manager Michelle King. “We’re excited to extend the promotion again to support our hometown team.”

While fans will certainly be seen wearing the jerseys of other popular players, Alaska Airlines has a multiyear promotional partnership with the Seahawks’ star quarterback and last December named Russell Wilson the airline’s “Chief Football Officer,” featuring him in a series of cute commercials and dedicating a plane in his honor.

In addition to the early-boarding perk for jersey-wearing fans in Seattle, the airline is offering promotional fares – for everyone – for flights to away games in San Diego, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, Kansas City, Mo. and Philadelphia.

(My story about Alaska Airlines giving early boarding perks to some Seattle Seahawks fans first appeared on USA TODAY in a slightly different form.)

Alaska Airlines hosts Russell’s 12th Fan Airlift

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Courtesy Alaska Airlines

 

There are plenty of tailgate parties going on for Super Bowl Sunday, but perhaps only one that took place 35,000 feet in the air.

63,000 residents of Oregon, Alaska and Washington entered a contest hosted by Alaska Airlines and Seattle NFL quarterback Russell Wilson for a chance to win two seats on a party plane headed to New York, two nights lodging in the city and a viewing party in midtown Manhattan.

The 56 winners and their guests got to fly to New York on Saturday on a flight dubbed Russell’s 12th Fan Airlift. Along for the ride: the winners of a mileage auction for five pairs of first class seats that, with the airline’s mileage match, means that six million miles will be donated to Seattle Children’s Hospital.

I got to go along for the ride:

Here are some photos from the trip:

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Before boarding, everyone got t-shirts and a chance to have a photo snapped with a variety of props. This was the favorite.

The props came out during the flight as well:

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Meals in-flight included a snack back with Skittles and a Volume 12 chocolate bar and breakfast served by Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden:

ALASK AIRLINES CEO SERVING BREAKFAST (courtesy Alaska Air)

And, after a trivia contest, drawings were held for two pair of Super Bowl tickets. Here’s one of the lucky winners:

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