Investigators asked for the public's help Saturday night to find a missing piece of the Alaska Airlines jet that lost a plug in its fuselage on Friday.
18.12.2023 - 20:11 / thepointsguy.com / Kirsten Amrine
Alaska Airlines has been in the news lately for the carrier's proposed merger with Hawaiian Airlines, a move that Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci said will "expand options for West Coast and Hawai'i travelers."
But no one wanted to talk about that Friday morning, when Alaska Airlines celebrated inaugural flights to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, from both Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
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Instead, the songs, speeches and snacks all invoked the "It's better in the Bahamas" vibe.
"We were looking for somewhere new to fly that would attract people in the wintertime, and the Caribbean seemed liked a good choice," Kirsten Amrine, Alaska Airlines' vice president of revenue management and network planning, said during a gate-side interview in Seattle. "With our success with Belize and Costa Rica flights and now moving a little further east, it just fits really well into our portfolio," she added.
Related: Hawaii vs. the Caribbean: Which islands should you visit?
The two new seasonal flights to the Bahamas are Alaska's first flights to the Caribbean. They will operate four times a week from LAX and three times a week from SEA on Boeing 737-9 aircraft through April 9, 2024.
Flights leave LA and Seattle in the morning and arrive at Nassau's Lyden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in the late afternoon. Nassau's airport is a U.S. Preclearance facility, so Seattle- and LA-bound passengers clear customs and immigration before boarding and bypass customs on arrival in the U.S.
The flight from Seattle to Nassau is also notable because it's Alaska's 101st nonstop destination from its hometown airport and the first service from SEA to the Caribbean.
"The plan is to offer the flights between Thanksgiving and spring break for now, and we'll see what happens from there," Amrine said.
The Bahamas consists of more than 700 islands, 16 of which are marketed to tourists. Arriving passengers on Alaska Airlines flights to Nassau can connect to other islands via Bahamasair, one of Alaska's global partner airlines, for experiences that might include swimming with pigs or diving on the Andros Barrier Reef.
Points of View: Which credit card should you use for Alaska Airlines flights?
From the West Coast of the U.S., Hawaii has been the longtime go-to destination for sun and snorkeling. During the winter, Alaska Airlines has been able to support up to 33 flights per day from Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California.
Fourteen of those flights are from Seattle — 13 from SEA and one from Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE) in Everett. While it at first seems counterintuitive to fly
Investigators asked for the public's help Saturday night to find a missing piece of the Alaska Airlines jet that lost a plug in its fuselage on Friday.
Alaska Airlines has reached a new milestone in a multiyear overhaul of its fleet.
Alaska Airlines temporarily grounded its Boeing 737 MAX 9 fleet late Friday night after an aircraft departing the Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon experienced a sudden hull breach and decompression.
Alaska Airlines will temporarily ground its fleet of 65 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft after a cabin panel blowout forced a jetliner loaded with passengers to make an emergency landing on Friday, CEO Ben Minicucci said.
Airlines continue to roll out deals to jumpstart bookings in the New Year. Alaska Airlines' «2024 Takeoff Sale» has flight deals available from nearly all of the 115 destinations Alaska flies to. The sale is currently available until tomorrow, Jan. 5, at 11:59pm. The discounted flights vary in departure dates with the top deals including:
For travelers with a New Year’s resolution to visit more destinations, the time to start planning is now with these latest SkyMiles deals from Delta.
Alaska Airlines recently introduced an innovative year-end initiative for its frequent fliers. Instead of the usual “mileage runs” to accumulate miles at the last minute for elite status, the airline now allows customers to purchase carbon offsets to boost their status for 2024.
Canadian budget carrier Lynx Air is expanding its U.S. footprint.
This week, The Islands of The Bahamas and Alaska Airlines marked a significant milestone jointly welcoming first-ever passengers from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in Nassau, the nation’s booming capital. Respectively launched on December 14 and 15, the new nonstop routes provide West Coast travellers with greater access to the coveted Caribbean paradise renowned for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters and vibrant culture.
Has a precedent been set?
Checking a bag on Alaska Airlines will get slightly more expensive in the new year.
Naturally on a flight to paradise I wouldn't want anything less than a seamless and relaxing travel experience — and thankfully, that's exactly what JSX is offering on its new flight to the Bahamas.