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  Alaska Airlines

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  AS/ASA

  Airline Type:

  Full Service Carrier

  Hub(s):

  Anchorage International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Portland International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

  Year Founded:

  1932

  Alliance:

  oneworld

  CEO:

  Ben Minicucci

  Country:

  United States

  Region:

  North America

In celebration of its 90th birthday, and in recognition of its dedicated workforce, Alaska Airlines is surprising each employee with a gift of 90,000 miles. The carrier said,

“Alaska is taking a moment to thank each employee for their relentless commitment to caring for our guests for 90 years & counting by giving them 90,000 miles to fly anywhere in the world.”

The gift recognizes the hard work and resilience of Alaska Airlines' employees over the past 90 years, and in particular throughout the pandemic. The past two years have brought a host of new challenges, restrictions, and regulations to airline employees, and while operations are still far from normal, this gesture is sure to bring some good cheer to the lucky recipients.

Based at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Alaska Airlines was founded as McGee Airways on April 14th, 1932. Today, the carrier boasts a fleet of almost 350 aircraft, and around 16,000 employees, all of whom will receive the surprise gift.

The airline’s CEO, Ben Minicucci, joined in the celebrations, stating,

"As we celebrate 90 years of flying, we wouldn't be where we are today without our incredible people who work nonstop to keep things moving, even throughout a global pandemic. When you think about how many airlines have come and gone since 1932, it's an amazing achievement that we're still here and stronger than ever – it's because of the genuine care and hard work our people bring to our operation every day."

Alaska Airlines’ COO, Constance von Meuhlen surprised a number of employees in person with the special gift, as seen in this video on the carrier’s social media on Monday:

What can you do with 90,000 miles?

Employees will have over 120 Alaska Airlines destinations to choose from, across the US, Canada, Belize, Costa Rica, and Mexico.

According to Alaska Airlines, a roundtrip flight from Seattle to destinations on the West Coast starts at 10,000, meaning employees could make up to nine roundtrip journeys.

For those looking to go further afield, roundtrip flights from Seattle to New York start at 25,000 miles, and roundtrip tickets from San Francisco to Hawaii start at 30,000 miles.

In addition to flights on Alaska Airlines, the miles can be redeemed on other oneworld airlines such as British Airways, Qantas, and Qatar Airways. This puts over 1,000 destinations worldwide within reach, with a roundtrip flight from the West Coast to Europe, for example, starting at 60,000 miles through the airline’s oneworld partners. The miles can also be used to upgrade existing tickets or on hotel stays.

What do you think of Alaska Airlines’ gift to its employees? What would you do with 90,000 miles? Share your thoughts by commenting below.

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