Alaska Airways is betting huge that the U.S. has room for a fourth true international airline to hitch energy gamers American Airways, Delta Air Traces and United Airways.
The Seattle-based airline this week took its largest step but onto the worldwide stage: Alaska Airways made its first-ever transatlantic touchdown Wednesday afternoon, when it touched down in Rome.
The flight marked a brand new period for a provider that, for many of its historical past, has been one thing of a distinct segment West Coast airline.
However not anymore.
Recent off its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska now has the massive, twin-aisle jets essential to fly to abroad locations — and it is planning at the very least a dozen routes by the top of this decade from its dwelling base at Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA).
However this week’s flight to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Worldwide Airport (FCO) was a real milestone for the airline, marking the “arduous launch” of a brand new Alaska Airways flagship worldwide journey expertise that the airline has been teasing for nearly a year.
I tagged alongside for the inaugural flight within the consolation of Alaska’s business-class suites and obtained a firsthand have a look at the brand new flagship product.
Here is what it was like — and what you may count on — flying Alaska to its new long-haul locations, from Rome and Seoul to Tokyo and the upcoming Heathrow Airport (LHR) route.
Why Alaska Airways goes long-haul
Alaska wouldn’t have been flying to the Everlasting Metropolis this week had been it not for its 2024 Hawaiian merger.
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That deal solidified Alaska and Hawaiian, collectively, because the nation’s fifth-largest airline and created a popular new loyalty program. It additionally gave Alaska entry to the order of brand-new Boeing 787 Dreamliners that Hawaiian had positioned earlier than the 2 joined forces.
Now with a fresh coat of paint and new-look amenities on board, these spiffy jets will likely be entrance and heart as Alaska pushes past its long-standing home and short-haul worldwide footprint and challenges the “Large Three” U.S. airways 35,000 toes above the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
New check-in expertise
Earlier than stepping onto one in every of Alaska’s freshly painted Dreamliners, passengers using in Alaska’s candy seats are handled to one of many extra premium floor experiences obtainable to business-class flyers within the U.S. at the moment.
Alaska took the proverbial wrapper off a elaborate new check-in lounge at SeaTac. It is obtainable to anybody flying in a lie-flat seat on Alaska or Hawaiian — or to members who attain top-tier Titanium standing within the airways’ shared Atmos Rewards loyalty program. (Keep in mind: Alaska and Hawaiian do proceed to function as two separate manufacturers.)
Should you’ve tried out American Airways’ premium check-in facility at New York Metropolis’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) — or Delta’s in Seattle, for that matter — it is a comparatively comparable idea.
As an alternative of braving the crowds within the terminal, you may verify in with some peace, quiet and refreshments, earlier than continuing down a tunnel and resulting in the entrance of the Transportation Safety Administration checkpoint line.
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An Italian-themed get together on the bottom
From there, it was out to Alaska’s worldwide gates on the N Concourse. I paid a go to to the Alaska Lounge there, which is personally one in every of my favourite “normal” airline-branded lounges within the U.S.
Bartenders served up destination-inspired Aperol spritzes to flyers with business-class tickets, or premium bank card holders who receive complimentary access to top-shelf cocktails within the lounge.
Associated: Alaska Airlines plots global expansion — with a little help from Portland, San Diego and Atmos Rewards
Keep tuned: Alaska has huge plans for a business-class-only idea that might assist it compete higher with a certain TPG Award-winning outpost at SeaTac.
Down on the airport concourse — on this present day, at the very least — music was blaring, passengers had been scooping up spoonfuls of gelato and Alaska Airways CEO Ben Minicucci was serving up cannolis forward of the flight that might formally blaze Alaska’s path to Europe. (I would not count on the latter on any future flights, to be clear.)
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After a ribbon-cutting, it was time to go.
Amongst these boarding Tuesday evening’s flight to Rome? Twenty-year Alaska veteran Kirsten Amrine, who now serves because the airline’s chief community planner. She could not assist however marvel on the significance of this inaugural flight versus these she has scheduled prior to now.
“I bear in mind once we would begin routes to San Antonio, and Oklahoma and Minneapolis … and that was thrilling,” Amrine stated, standing within the shadow of the gate. “I feel me, on the time, did not dream this huge to suppose that we would be beginning flights to Tokyo and Seoul and Rome, so … simply type of overtakes me somewhat bit, how thrilling it’s.”
On board Alaska Airways’ new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Once I stepped onto the aircraft, one factor was apparent: This was very a lot the identical (lovely) Dreamliner that Hawaiian debuted in 2024. Look no additional than the blue, coral-inspired seat coverings.
Additionally the identical had been the 34 enclosed business-class suites, which — sure — have the sliding privateness doorways which have change into the usual up entrance. There have been 18-inch inflight leisure screens, phone-charging pouches, in-suite mood-lighting and, after all, lie-flat beds.
Going ahead, Alaska is kind of succinctly calling this cabin its “Suites.”
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Past that, although, the provider has taken steps to make sure every thing else on board evokes its Pacific Northwest heritage — quite than that of Hawaiian.
A brand new Alaska-branded ‘smooth product’
Alaska this week formally rolled out its lineup of latest “smooth product” components that’ll be staples on its long-haul flights going ahead.
This contains tan-colored bedding and amenity kits from Pacific Northwest outdoorsy model Filson, magnificence merchandise from Salt & Stone, and a meals and beverage menu that clearly pays homage to the West Coast — from Stumptown Espresso to ice cream sundaes courtesy of Portland, Oregon-based Salt & Straw.
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Truly, I discovered the complete catering expertise to be spectacular, which began with a predinner cheese plate (a longtime staple of Alaska flights) and continued with asparagus soup, caprese salad and butternut squash ravioli that fairly clearly obtained my palate prepared for the vacation spot forward.
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Wanting forward: Wi-Fi and premium financial system
Any new flight or worldwide franchise, like Alaska, may have its rising pains when launching a brand new route — and this one was no completely different.
The 2 most obvious gaps on this in any other case spectacular Dreamliner?
First, the aircraft lacked any type of Wi-Fi. Alaska is planning to put in quick Starlink service across its fleet, which will likely be free for Atmos Rewards members. That is anticipated to occur later this 12 months, although; so, for now, obtain these reveals and podcasts forward of time.
Second: In distinction to different main international carriers, this 787 didn’t have a premium financial system cabin, although Alaska executives have said that will come within the subsequent few years.
These strikes will doubtless be essential to maintain tempo with full-service, international airways with whom Alaska is now more and more competing. Probably the most notable competitor is Delta, because it shares a Seattle hub with Alaska, and it determined to match Alaska’s Rome route with its own new service to the Italian capital in 2026.
Coloration Alaska leaders unbothered.
“We all know that our competitors’s taking a look at what we need to do and that they will match us,” Amrine stated. “However I feel we’ve the larger hub than our competitors — it is the most important hub on the West Coast. We imagine in our individuals and the service that they supply, and truly, the bookings are stating that company, significantly in Seattle, are selecting us over our competitors.”
A brand new transoceanic chapter
The flight landed in Rome shortly after 1 p.m. native time Wednesday. It was Alaska’s first journey to Europe however will not be its final.
Service to London begins on Might 21, proper earlier than Memorial Day weekend. Additionally coming quickly: Flights to Iceland.
Plus, the flights from Seattle to Asia through Tokyo’s Narita Worldwide Airport (NRT) and Seoul’s Incheon Airport (ICN) had been temporarily flown with Hawaiian-branded Airbus A330s final 12 months, however are actually totally Alaska.
What long-haul vacation spot could possibly be subsequent?
“I need to blab all the opposite locations I need to go,” Minicucci stated Tuesday, earlier than considering higher of it.
I assume we’ll keep tuned.
Find out how to e book Alaska Airways flights with factors and miles
For vacationers seeking to e book Alaska flights within the meantime, you may rapidly accrue factors within the Atmos Rewards program, which serves each Alaska and Hawaiian, with one in every of their cobranded bank cards.
Or, you may transfer Bilt to Atmos at a 1:1 ratio.
You may also e book Alaska associate award flights utilizing miles from one in every of its Oneworld alliance companions, together with American Airways.
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