Alaska Airways launches first-ever service to Europe

Alaska Airways is betting massive that the U.S. has room for a fourth true world airline to affix energy gamers American Airways, Delta Air Traces and United Airways.

The Seattle-based airline this week took its greatest 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 service 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 Airways, Alaska now has the large, twin-aisle jets essential to fly to abroad locations — and it is planning no less than a dozen routes by the top of this decade from its residence 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 “onerous launch” of a brand new Alaska Airways flagship worldwide journey expertise that the airline has been teasing for almost a yr.

I tagged alongside for the inaugural flight within the consolation of Alaska’s business-class suites and acquired a firsthand take 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 preferred 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 contemporary coat of paint and new-look facilities on board, these spiffy jets can be entrance and heart as Alaska pushes past its long-standing home and short-haul worldwide footprint and challenges the “Massive Three” U.S. airways 35,000 toes above the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

New check-in expertise

Earlier than stepping onto certainly one of Alaska’s freshly painted Dreamliners, passengers driving in Alaska’s candy seats are handled to one of many extra premium floor experiences out there to business-class flyers within the U.S. in the present day.

Alaska took the proverbial wrapper off a elaborate new check-in lounge at SeaTac. It is out there 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. (Bear in mind: Alaska and Hawaiian do proceed to function as two separate manufacturers.)

When 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 a substitute of braving the crowds within the terminal, you may test 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.

An Italian-themed celebration 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 certainly one of my favourite “customary” 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 obtain complimentary entry to top-shelf cocktails within the lounge.

Associated: Alaska Airways plots world growth — with a little bit assist from Portland, San Diego and Atmos Rewards

Keep tuned: Alaska has massive plans for a business-class-only idea that might assist it compete higher with a sure TPG Award-winning outpost at SeaTac.

Down on the airport concourse — on today, no less than — 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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SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

After a ribbon-cutting, it was time to go.

Amongst these boarding Tuesday night time’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 keep in mind after we would begin routes to San Antonio, and Oklahoma and Minneapolis … and that was thrilling,” Amrine mentioned, standing within the shadow of the gate. “I feel me, on the time, did not dream this massive to assume that we might be beginning flights to Tokyo and Seoul and Rome, so … simply form of overtakes me a little bit bit, how thrilling it’s.”

On board Alaska Airways’ new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

After 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 develop into the usual up entrance. There have been 18-inch inflight leisure screens, phone-charging pouches, in-suite mood-lighting and, in fact, lie-flat beds.

Going ahead, Alaska is sort of succinctly calling this cabin its “Suites.”

Past that, although, the service has taken steps to make sure every part else on board evokes its Pacific Northwest heritage — quite than that of Hawaiian.

A brand new Alaska-branded ‘gentle product’

Alaska this week formally rolled out its lineup of latest “gentle product” parts 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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SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

Truly, I discovered all the 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 acquired my palate prepared for the vacation spot forward.

Wanting forward: Wi-Fi and premium economic system

Any new flight or worldwide franchise, like Alaska, can have its rising pains when launching a brand new route — and this one was no totally different.

The 2 most obtrusive gaps on this in any other case spectacular Dreamliner?

First, the aircraft lacked any form of Wi-Fi. Alaska is planning to put in quick Starlink service throughout its fleet, which can be free for Atmos Rewards members. That is anticipated to occur later this yr, although; so, for now, obtain these reveals and podcasts forward of time.

Second: In distinction to different main world carriers, this 787 didn’t have a premium economic system cabin, although Alaska executives have mentioned that can come within the subsequent few years.

These strikes will probably be essential to hold tempo with full-service, world airways with whom Alaska is now more and more competing. Essentially 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 personal new service to the Italian capital in 2026.

Shade Alaska leaders unbothered.

“We all know that our competitors’s taking a look at what we need to do and that they are going to match us,” Amrine mentioned. “However I feel we now have the larger hub than our competitors — it is the biggest hub on the West Coast. We consider in our folks and the service that they supply, and truly, the bookings are mentioning that friends, 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 Could 21, proper earlier than Memorial Day weekend. Additionally coming quickly: Flights to Iceland.

Plus, the flights from Seattle to Asia by way of Tokyo’s Narita Worldwide Airport (NRT) and Seoul’s Incheon Airport (ICN) had been briefly flown with Hawaiian-branded Airbus A330s final yr, however are actually totally Alaska.

What long-haul vacation spot may very well be subsequent?

“I need to blab all the opposite locations I need to go,” Minicucci mentioned Tuesday, earlier than pondering higher of it.

I suppose we’ll keep tuned.

The best way to guide Alaska Airways flights with factors and miles

For vacationers seeking to guide Alaska flights within the meantime, you may rapidly accrue factors within the Atmos Rewards program, which serves each Alaska and Hawaiian, with certainly one of their cobranded bank cards.

Or, you may switch Bilt to Atmos at a 1:1 ratio.

You can even guide Alaska companion award flights utilizing miles from certainly one of its Oneworld alliance companions, together with American Airways.

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