What is Alaska Airlines? – Join us to get to know about one of the top-rated major carriers in America!
If you have heard nothing about Alaska Airlines earlier, do not worry, you are not alone. I myself found out about this sky carrier thanks to my sister, who flew from Seattle to Hawaii for work. She was so impressed with the service that she already booked our next flight home, discarding her go-to flight option. So, based on what I learnt from her experience, let me simply tell you what Alaska is all about!

Alaska Airlines is one of the most recognised and admired airlines in North America. It is headquartered in SeaTac, Washington, within the Seattle metropolitan area. It is the fifth-largest airline in North America as of 2024, when measured by scheduled passengers carried. Being a member of Oneworld, the third-largest airline alliance in the world, the parent group has acquired Hawaiian Airlines recently.
Alaska has been ranked by J. D. Power for having the highest customer satisfaction among traditional airlines for twelve consecutive years. It makes sense why my sister was left with such a good impression on them!
Alaska Airlines Flights
“Where does alaska airlines fly?”, you must be wondering. Well, Alaska operates a route network primarily focused on connecting cities along the US West Coast to over 100 destinations. Other than flying domestically over the US mainland, the flights reach destinations in countries like Canada, Costa Rica, and Mexico. For the 93 years in business, Alaska keeps up with offering flexible fare options for both leisure and business travelers.
Alaska Airlines Reservations & Check in Process
As other travelers usually do and my sister already did, you can book your Alaska Airlines flights through online reservations. There is nothing complicated in the process as the official website is user friendly as its best! Travelers can track their Alaska Airlines flight status in real time, including delays, gate changes, and arrival updates. Online Alaska Airlines check in opens 24 hours before departure while you also can manage seat selection and baggage options.
If you are stuck with any issue, you can always count on Alaska Airlines Customer Service. They offer their assistance via phone, online chat, and airport service desks. Like I said earlier, the team has been super helpful for my sister making everything stress free and smooth for her. After all, it was her responsibility to book tickets and accommodation for the team for their outstation project at work.

Alaska Airlines Rewards Program
Alaska’s rewards program is called “Atmos Rewards”. Travelers who got enrolled gain one point per mile they travel. When my sister signed up, she has received a code to obtain a 25$ discount for the next flight. She was also told that she can redeem her points for over 30 global airlines apart from just Alaska flights!
“Do Alaska airlines miles expire?”, I remember asking her soon after. After all, not everyone is a frequent traveler! And according to what she found out, the points do not expire as long as the rewards program is active. Alaska might lock accounts that were inactive for more than 24 months for security reasons which can be resolved later.
Safety of Alaska Flights
We all love our lives and it is natural to be concerenced over the safety of flights from any airlines. Alaska in particular does maintain a strong flight safety record, supported by rigorous training, maintenance standards, and crew coordination.
Incidents like the Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson case and the tragic Alaska Airlines Flight 261 accident did make headlines. The airlines systems were tested in different ways, demonstrating the importance of layered safety measures and accountability. But on the bright side, swift crew intervention prevented harm in the Emerson incident. The lessons learned from Flight 261 led to meaningful improvements in maintenance oversight and aviation safety practices.
Most Frequently Asked Questions
- Which country owns Alaska Airlines?
Owned and operated by Alaska Air Group, this airline is proudly American!
- What countries does Alaska fly to?
Other than flying domestically across the US, Alaska reaches many destinations within Canada, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
- Does Alaska Airlines have free carry-on?
Yes! Alaska allows one free carry-on bag and one personal item, like a backpack or a laptop bag, to carry. According to the Alaska Airlines baggage policy, checked baggage fees depend on ticket type and route.
- Does Alaska Airlines have wifi?
Yes! Alaska offers wifi on most mainline aircraft, though availability may vary by route.
- What terminal is Alaska Airlines at LAX?
Usually, at the Los Angeles International Airport, Alaska operates from Terminal 6.
- What does Alaska Airlines Premium Class offer?
The Premium Class offers extra legroom, priority boarding and complimentary snacks and drinks which are not offered in saver/main plans. Even though this option is less exquisite than the First class, still it is a comfy upgrade for longer flights!
- What is Alaska Airlines Arena?
Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion is an indoor sports arena on the University of Washington in Seattle. Having a seating capacity of 10,000, the brick venue is home to the UW basketball, women’s volleyball and gymnastics teams.
- How to inquire about Alaska Airlines Careers?
To find out career opportunities at Alaska and hopefully join the team, visit https://careers.alaskaair.com/.
As the organisation says, “Sky is the limit!”. Be a part of a team that has been included in the Glassdoor’s list of Best Places to Work in 2026!

Conclusion
“Is Alaska Airlines a good airline for real?” You must be thinking and you know the answer already. You cannot go wrong with an airline that has a remarkable reputation for having the best customer satisfaction rate. With the rise of social media we can already see how many of those “Major airlines” get called off brutally. Alaska staying in business for so long is already a testament on how much the brand is trusted by people!
So if you are an American who got to know about Alaska Airlines now only, it is alright. There is no such thing as being too late, Alaska will take you on board with open arms. I really encourage you to fly with them and experience the best the same way I am doing. Hopefully a pleasant surprise will be ahead of me when I finally fly home with my sister for new year!
