Jaunted - Tag: Alaska Airlines

It's British Airways, Alaska Airlines and Frontier Up and Away with New Routes

kjb — 2012-02-10T09:21:46-05:00

Sometimes it’s hard to stay on top of all the new route announcements that come our way, so we’ve complied a little bit of a rundown below. As long as you can afford the fares, this should definitely help add to your passport stamp collection.

· Alaska Airlines:
All that Starbucks has them buzzing about the nifty fifty, and that’s why Alaska Airlines is looking to expand towards the East Coast. The carrier is launching a nonstop option to Philadelphia all the way from Seattle beginning on June 11.

The flights will run each and every day of the week, and the planes leave from Seattle and in the morning and depart from Philadelphia in the evening—no red-eyes needed. Alaska Airlines is also connecting to one other new spot, as they’ll also be sending jets back and forth between Seattle and Ft. Lauderdale each and every day of the week. These Florida flights start up on July 16, and if you book before February 13 there’s even some introductory fares where you might just score a deal.

· Air New Zealand:
If you’re looking to head to Bali you might as well stop over and check out New Zealand first, as the airline is launching some new nonstop service between Bali and Auckland a couple times per week. It will just be seasonal service for them between June and October, and the new options will all get done thanks to some of the airline’s Boeing 767-300s. The flight will take about eight hours or so, and that should save you a decent amount of time by not needing a layover. Tickets for the new flights go on sale later this month, so if you’re thinking about adding on a little bit of paradise to your Kiwi adventure now’s the time to do it.

Alaska Airlines Takes Their Seattle Love to the Sky with Starbucks Coffee

kjb — 2012-02-08T08:55:07-05:00

A couple years ago United decided to ditch Starbucks as the preferred supplier of their in-flight java, but now Starbucks is coming back with another airline buddy. Alaska Airlines just announced that they’re bringing some improved in-flight coffee to the skies above the nifty fifty.

Starbucks might not be brewed in Alaska, but both Alaska and Starbucks sure enjoy spending time in and around Seattle. The coffee machines were flowing with the new brew as of last week, so if you’re flying anytime soon aboard an Alaska Airlines flight you might just want to wait until 35,000 feet before getting your caffeine fix. Alaska Airlines’ airline partner Horizon Air has been serving Starbucks since like 1990, so it was only a matter of time before both carriers shared the same coffee supplier. So what if it took 20 years.

Alaska Airlines Stops Handing Out Prayer Cards, but They're Not the Only Airline with Them

JetSetCD — 2012-02-01T09:32:30-05:00

By now you've probably already heard the news that Alaska Airlines is doing away with dispensing mealtime prayer cards onboard. For many travelers, the fact that an airline would do this in the first place is surprising. Like flyer need to be reminded that their lives are in the hands of a few people sitting up front, and the buttons and switches they're operating to keep the plane aloft and on course.

Well, while Alaska Airlines sends all those prayer cards to the recycling bin, at least one other airline is continuing the practice. Twitter user @Jonathan_Liem tipped us off that Lion Air, an Indonesian carrier that flies around SE Asia, includes "invocation pamphlets," printed with prayers for several religions, in your seatback pocket. "Please do not remove from aircraft." Ay yai yai.

Virgin America, Porter Airlines and Southwest Star in This Week's New Route News

kjb — 2012-01-20T09:16:16-05:00

· Virgin America:
We’ve already mentioned the big new route news of the week, but we can’t resist discussing the newest option from Virgin America once again. They’re heading to the land of cheesesteaks and rowdy sports fans, as Virgin America is planning nonstop flights to Philadelphia from both San Francisco and Los Angeles. Some of these will start doing their thing as early as April, so if you’re looking for a delayed Spring Break—either on the west coast or east coast—give this new route a little consideration.

· Southwest Airlines:
They’re continuing to move in all their belongings at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, but Southwest Airlines is already planning another new option to and from the airport. They’ve decided to a do a nonstop flight between Los Angeles and Atlanta beginning on June 10. This is in addition to the options that are already offered up by their best friends—and soon to be family—over at AirTran. The initial route boost from Southwest in Atlanta begins next month and continues through March, so we expect plenty of more comings and goings from ATL as 2012 chugs along.

Watch the Skies for United's Eco Plane, Already Flying on Biofuels

jetflyboy — 2011-11-08T09:00:03-05:00

Huge news. Yesterday marked the first time a US airline used biofuel in a commercial flight. No, it wasn't Alaska Airlines even though they are trying; it was United, and they flew their eco-friendly 737-800 from Continental's's former home base, Houston, to the United home base of Chicago.

For the #avgeeks: The biofuel is algae-based and includes 60 percent petroleum fuel and 40 percent biofuel produced by a company named Solazyme.

The eco-consciousness isn't limited to what goes in the tank, either. United flight attendants now push lighter serving carts and pilots traded in their 38-pound flight bags for more weight-conscious iPads (already loaded with their in-flight navigation charts and aircraft manuals). Furthermore, United makes it easy for plane spotters to identify the Mother Earth-friendly aircraft by its green winglets and 'eco-skies' written towards the front of the fuselage.

New Routes from United, Etihad and Hawaiian Airlines to Get You Planning Vacation

kjb — 2011-11-04T10:00:15-05:00

· United:
While United isn’t spilling the beans—or potatoes—just yet it sounds like the carrier is planning to link Washington-Dulles with Dublin beginning next May. Sure it might not bring the same kind of sprit that Aer Lingus does—with their green, Shamrocked planes and all—but a new international option out of our nation’s capital is always a good thing. Don’t expect crazy airfare deals to celebrate the new route, but a little healthy competition might help everyone out a bit.

· Frontier Airlines:
Along with in-flight cookies, Frontier Airlines should be known for sending plenty of folks from Kansas City around the nifty fifty, as this week they’re boosting their domestic network out of KC. The furry-animal-tailed airline is linking Kansas City with Houston as of this week everyday of the week. That’s not all either, as Frontier is also doing Kansas City to Las Vegas each day of the week except for Saturdays. We guess there’s just too much going on in Sin City to come home on a Saturday.

If You Can Handle Living in Alaska, You Get Free Checked Bags on Alaska Airlines

JetSetCD — 2011-10-19T15:21:51-05:00

Do you live in Alaska or are you moving there? Winter may be descending and bringing the cold and darkness along with it, but there's light for travelers! Alaska Airlines wants residents of the state to only think of them when it comes to booking flights, and so the airlines has just announced a new set of Alaskans-only perks.

It's called "Club 49," and members of Alaska's Mileage Plan frequent flyer program with an AK state code in their address can join it for free—right here. So what is Alaska Airlines giving to those who live way up north? Well, for starters, two free checked bags on each flight. That's pretty sweet and you save $20 per bag, sure, but we're also jealous of an annual gift of two certificates for 30% off one-way, full flex Y base fares, bookable within four days of the flight for last-minute getaways. The winter giving you seasonal depression? Time to use those passes for a long weekend in California.

Finally, Club 49 members will enjoy weekly fare sales to and from Alaska, specifically targeted at them. Again we're jealous, but not jealous enough to move across the country and northwards. Now if only JetBlue started a club just for New Yorkers...

[Photo: Pylon757]