Alaska Airlines

Frying with Finnair to the UN Climate Summit

Environment, , , , ,

FinnairAirbus 330 HR_edited

Smell that?

The Airbus A330 making Tuesday’s Finnair flight from Helsinki to New York will be running on biofuel partly made from recycled cooking oil from restaurants.

It’s perfectly safe – and Finnair and several other airlines have done it before – but this flight is designed to coincide with the UN Climate Summit taking place in New York and draw attention to the fact that progress is being made on developing environmentally sustainable biofuel.

As Finnair reminds us, “most of an airline’s environmental impact arises from aircraft emissions during flight and switching to a more sustainable fuel source can reduce net CO2 emissions by between 50 and 80 per cent.”

But while everything from used cooking oil to plants, algae, municipal waste, recycled vegetable cooking oil, animal fat and sugarcane have been considered or tested in aircraft in search of safe, alternative, sustainable biofuels, the cost to make that alternative fuel is still at least twice as much – or more – than conventional jet fuel.

But along with Finnair, other airlines, including KLM and Alaska Airlines, airport operators, manufacturers and a variety of governments around the world are working on ways to lower the costs of creating these alternative jet fuels.

So it’s possible that soon you’ll be flying on a jet burning fuel made with old frying oil too.

Alaska Airlines give some Seahawks fans extra perk

Sports, , , , ,

RussellWilsonboardingplacard

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.

Alaska football

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.)

After the flight? Try a bike share in the city.

ground transporation, Transportation, , ,

It’s great to fly to a new city for business or leisure travel, but how will you get around once you’re in town?
In more and more cities, bike-share programs – along with mass transit- are the answer.

Here’s a story I put together for CNBC Road Warrior on some of the bike-share programs rolling out around the country:

Pronto Bikes

Despite some financial and legal challenges, bike-sharing programs are rolling out in cities throughout North America.

Locals and visitors in Minneapolis, New York, Washington and about 30 other North American cities can now buy daily, weekly or annual program memberships and/or pay hourly fees to check out a bike to ride around town.

Cities such as Tampa; San Diego; Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia, will soon be launching programs.

Seattle is the latest city to announce that it is joining the bike-share bandwagon, with a start date in September for Pronto Emerald City Cycle Share, which will kick off with 50 docking stations around town for 500 blue and green bikes.

As in other cities, grants, private sponsorships and user fees will make the bike-share program possible. But with a contribution of $2.5 million from Seattle-based Alaska Airlines, the Emerald City is the first to have its bike-share program sponsored by an airline.

“We’re excited to help residents and visitors get out and explore,” said Joe Sprague, the airline’s vice president of marketing. “Our investment in this program is an investment in our community.”

It may seem odd that a traditionally fuel-guzzling form of transportation is supporting a very green one, but Alaska Airlines has a strong sustainability program.

“Biking in a city puts smiles on people’s faces, and airlines want to be associated with people having fun while traveling,” said Andy Clarke, president of the Washington, D.C.-based League of American Bicyclists.

That fun has bubbled over to political and policy decisions in other cities.

“When Paris introduced their system a decade ago, it was striking how many mayors around the world said ‘I want that,’ ” said Clarke.

And biking through a city is no longer seen as unconventional.

“Maybe 10 years ago biking would have been a granola effort in the sense that people choosing to bike were part of the environmental movement,” said Joshua Schank, president and CEO of the non-profit Eno Center for Transportation.

“Bike-sharing has helped change that. In places like Washington, D.C., and Chicago you see people in suits and ties riding the bikes because it’s a convenient and effective way to get to work. Not because they’re saving the Earth,” said Schank.

While setting up a bike-share program may seem as easy as putting up some racks with bikes, “it’s complicated and not cheap, easy or free. There’s a lot to it,” said Clarke.

And these programs are not without flats.

In January 2014, Montreal-based Public Bike System Company (known as Bixi), which provided bike-share equipment to programs in several countries, sought bankruptcy protection with more than $44 million in debt.  Contributing to the company’s financial downfall was a problem with the software for bike docking stations in some major cities, which caused those cities to withhold payments.

The company was sold in April.

“That raised a bunch of question and has hampered a few cities from pushing ahead,” said Clarke. “They’re asking more questions about the financial implications, but I don’t think it will have much of a lasting effect on the take-up of bike share programs.”

Portland, Ore.-based Alta Bicycle Share, which manages bike-share programs in cities including Chicago, New York, Boston, and Washington, is working with 8D Technologies to begin installing improved docking and software systems in bike-share cities that once relied on Bixi. Seattle’s Pronto program will be the first.

The cost of setting up bike-share programs is also coming down.

“When the bike-share concept came to the U.S. in 2010, it cost about $6,000 per bike to get on the street, including the kiosks, racks and installation,” said Josh Squire, CEO of Miami-based CycleHop, which is working on launching programs in Tampa, Atlanta, Phoenix, Orlando, Louisville and Ottawa.

Now with smart bikes and new technology, it’s possible to get a program going for $3,000 to $5,000 per bike, said Squire. “And more sponsors—including banks, health-care companies and, now, airlines—are stepping up to help shoulder the costs, paying $500 to $1,000 per year per bike to sponsor the programs.”

For travelers wanting to try out a bike-share program in a new city, Clarke has a few tips.

Bring a helmet. And if you think you’ll want a bike for a half or full day, consider getting one from a traditional bike rental outlet. That may end up being less expensive than bike-share programs, which often don’t charge members for rides under 30 minutes, but start a meter running after that.

“But in a city like Washington, D.C., that can still be cheaper than one cab ride,” said Clarke.

And nothing beats the experience of riding up and down the National Mall on a bike.”

Has travel made your life different or better?

Contests, ,

Is your life different or better because of where you’ve traveled?

That’s what Alaska Airlines and the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) want to know. And to encourage you to make a short film about that topic, they’re offering prizes of round-trip trip travel for four on Alaska Airlines to any city Alaska Airlines serves, full festival passes to the Seattle International Film Festival and some other perks.

SFO art exhibit

Here are some details about the contest rules – and the prizes:

Films may be anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes long, in any genre from documentary to stop-motion, and must include an Alaska Airlines element (such as website, mobile app, aircraft or other).

Other than that, you’re on your own, although examples of possible themes put forth include those of “experiencing somewhere you’ve never been, experiencing food unique to a destination, enabling travel for those who may never have had the opportunity, experiencing a natural geological phenomenon – and anything that changed you as a result from going from Point A to Point B.”

Three winners will be selected by a panel of representatives from SIFF and Alaska Airlines in these three categories: Critics’ Choice, Best Emerging Filmmaker (18 to 24 years old) and Best Individual Youth Film (to a filmmaker under 18 years old).

Good luck!

Free beer on two Alaska Airlines routes in Alaska

Food, Free Stuff, , , ,
BEER on ALASKA AIRLINES_ Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

Kleen Kanteen – full of Silver Gulch Beer – courtesy Alaska Airlines

 

While complimentary amenities for economy passengers continue to fade away, Alaska Airlines is bringing one of its most popular free treats to two routes in the northernmost state: free beer.

Starting March 3, when the airline’s sister carrier, Horizon Air, begins flying 76-passenger Bombardier Q400 planes between Anchorage and Fairbanks and Anchorage and Kodiak, complimentary Alaskan-made microbrew will be offered.

The beer—Old 55 Pale Ale—is made by Silver Gulch Brewing & Bottling in Fox, Alaska, 10 miles north of Fairbanks, and “will be as fresh as can be,” said Lisa Luchau, Alaska Airlines’ director of onboard food and beverage.

“Silver Gulch will bring the beer down from Fairbanks to their facility at the Anchorage Airport and put it daily into environmentally friendly, stainless steel growlers called Kleen Kanteens, which our caterers will pick up and load onto the flights,” she said.

While cups of Silver Gulch beer will be served only as part of the new Horizon Air service in Alaska, complimentary Northwest wines and microbrews are served on most all Horizon Air flights longer than 40 minutes.

According to Luchau, Horizon Air, which flies to 39 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, updates the wines each quarter and the microbrews each month.

“The service is an important part of what we offer. And customers really enjoy it, as you can imagine,” she said.

Most Horizon flights are short, and Luchau said flight attendants are told to pour about 6½ ounces of the complimentary beverages into each 9 ounce glass. “Some flight attendants may be pouring more generously, but most passengers are just getting a sample,” said Luchau.

Although Luchau declined to say how much the airline spends on the beer and wine service, she said it remains “part of the brand … an expense built into the budget.”

Like Porter Airlines, a Canadian regional airline that serves complimentary beer from a brewery near the airline’s base airport in Toronto, Horizon’s beer and wine service “is a small signature touch that has a large impact on how passengers perceive their flight with the airline,” Raymond Kollau of Amsterdam-based Airlinetrends.com said in an email.

“It also shows how a relatively small airline such as Horizon is rooted in the local communities it serves, while the airline’s relatively small scale allows local breweries to guarantee supply.”

Old 55 Pale Ale—described by Silver Gulch president Glenn Brady as “a really nice beer that has a broad appeal”—will likely be served on Horizon’s two Alaska routes for about two months and then swapped out for another Silver Gulch craft beer.

“We’ll see how Silver Gulch works as a partner and how the logistics of the Kleen Kanteens work out,” said Luchau.

In March, the Horizon Air high-speed, twin-engine Q400 turboprops will be begin flying in Alaska and be used for eight of nine daily flights between Anchorage and Fairbanks. The Q400 will also replace an Alaska 737 plane on one of two daily seasonal (October to April) round-trip flights between Anchorage and Kodiak.

(My story about complimentary microbrews being served on Alaska Airlines’ new Horizon Air service in Alaska first appeared on CNBC Road Warrior)

Alaska Airlines & Uber giving Seattle a lift to the airport

Transportation, ,

ALASKA UBER

Yes, it’s a promotion. And, no, you don’t need to be holding a ticket on an Alaska Airlines flight in order to take advantage of the offer:

If you’re heading to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on today or tomorrow, Dec 23 or 24, you may be able to get a free ride to the airport courtesy of Alaska Airlines and on-demand car service Uber.

During the two-day promotion, Alaska Airlines will pay for one ride, up to $50 (if the ride is more than that, you pay the difference), to shuttle travelers to the airport in a Uber town car.

Here are the details from Alaska Airlines:

Travelers can request a ride through the Uber application, which is available
for Android and iOS devices at www.uber.com/go. After entering their credit
card information, travelers can request a ride to Sea-Tac Airport from their
current location. During the two-day special, Uber rides will be charged to
Alaska Airlines and, as is customary for Uber riders,no tipping or cash is
necessary.

The offer is valid “while supplies last,” so if you’re heading that way – sign up right away.

Alaska Airlines joins gate-to-gate electronics club

Advisories, Airline policies, , ,

Alaska Electronics

On Saturday, November 9, Alaska Airlines joined the club of airlines that allow passengers to use their personal electronic devices from gate-to-gate.

Already in the club: United, American/American Eagle* JetBlue, Delta and US Airways.

We’re still waiting to hear when Southwest and Virgin America will get FAA approval.

Horizon Air passengers should be able to use their electronic devices during all phases of their flight next week.

But beware: the rule does not yet apply on US Airways Express, United Express, Delta Connection and *American Eagle flights operated by some of its regional partners.

Stay tuned.

Wine flies free on Alaska Airlines in OR & WA

Food, Free Stuff, luggage, ,

Wine

Visiting wineries is a popular tourist activity in Oregon and Washington.

But taking home a case of a new favorite wine on the airplane can be a problem.

Now Alaska Airlines is working with wineries, wine boards and tourism groups in the region to allow travelers to fly their wine home for free.

The Oregon Wines Fly Free program starts September 10 and will enable domestic passengers on Alaska Airlines to check one case of Oregon wine free on a return flight out of four Oregon airports – Portland, Eugene, Medford and Redmond – as well as Walla Walla, Wash, through November 20, 2013.

Passengers showing their Alaska Airlines boarding passes within a week of their arrival in Oregon will also be eligible for free wine tastings at any of more than 180 participating Oregon wineries.

In Washington state, the Taste and Tote program, already underway, allows passengers to check one case of wine free from the Yakima, Tri Cities/Pasco or Walla Walla on Alaska Airlines. Wine tastings are free at participating wineries as well for those who show their in-bound boarding pass.
In Washington, the program began in September, 2012 and was designed as a minimum two year project.
Let’s hope it continues.

Student’s design lands on Alaska Airlines airplane

liveries, ,

ALASKA HAWAII PLANE

It must be quite a thrill to see your artwork on an airplane.

A design created by a 17-year-old high school student from Honolulu won Alaska Airlines’ latest “Paint-the-Plane” contest and on Monday a Boeing 737-800 with Aaron Nee’s “Spirit of the Islands” paint theme touched down at Honolulu International Airport.

Students across the Hawaiian Islands turned in more than 2,700 submissions for the contest and, after a team of judges narrowed down the winners to three finalists, Hawaii residents got to vote for the winner.

In addition to getting his design on the airplane, Nee won a trip for four to any Alaska Airlines destination and a $5,000 scholarship. 12 finalists and honorable mention winners also received prizes and scholarships.

The 2nd place winner, 12th grader Izabela Hamilton, created a design with a male and female hula dancer against a backdrop of ocean waves and mountain cliffs. The design made by the 3rd place winner, 6th grader Sophia Cleek, includes a canoe sailing around the Islands.

Alaska 2nd place plane design

Alaska 3rd place plane design

You can see more of the top designs here.

Airlines encouraging disaster relief donations

Assistance, , , , ,

Heartbroken over the images and stories coming out of Oklahoma?

Oklahoma Tornados 2013

Courtesy American Red Cross

 

 

Airlines are joining in to encourage you to help out by donating some money or miles.

Here are a few that have posted notices on their websites:

Through June 30, 2012, American Airlines AAdvantage members can earn a one-time bonus of 250 AAdvantage miles for a minimum donation of $50, or 500 AAdvantage miles for a minimum donation of $100 or more to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. More details here.

You can also to donate to disaster relief through the Alaska Airlines Charity Mile Pool  and through Southwest Airlines, which is working with American Red Cross Disaster Relief to raise funds to help those affected by the tornadoes, as well as for military members and their families and other relief services.