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.
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.)
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