Traveller reference · AS
Alaska Airlines
oneworld · IATA AS · the dominant carrier on the US west coast
Travelaidnow is an independent travel agency and is not Alaska Airlines, nor affiliated with or endorsed by it.
This page is a general reference written by our team. Baggage allowances, fees and policies are set by the airline and change without notice, so confirm anything that affects your trip with Alaska Airlines directly before you travel.
Official site: alaskaair.comAlaska is the strongest carrier on the US west coast, anchored at Seattle with substantial operations in Portland, Anchorage and California. Its network reaches further than many travellers expect, and its merger with Hawaiian has extended it across the Pacific.
Joining oneworld changed what an Alaska ticket is worth. Mileage Plan, long regarded as one of the more generous US programmes, now sits inside a global alliance, which affects both earning on partner flights and what status gets you when travelling on British Airways, Qatar Airways or Japan Airlines.
Alaska Airlines at a glance
- IATA code
- AS
- ICAO code
- ASA
- Based in
- United States
- Alliance
- oneworld
- Type
- Full-service
- Frequent flyer
- Mileage Plan
How Alaska Airlines baggage works
Alaska structures allowance by cabin and fare, with Mileage Plan status and the co-branded card adding entitlements. Saver is the restricted entry fare and behaves like a basic economy tier.
Domestic tickets generally include a carry-on and personal item with checked bags priced separately. Itineraries involving oneworld partners can follow the operating carrier's rules on some segments, which matters on longer international routings.
Check the allowance against your own booking on alaskaair.com, particularly on itineraries that mix Alaska with a partner airline.
Check-in
Online check-in typically opens 24 hours before departure through the website or app.
Cutoffs differ by airport. Alaska serves a number of smaller regional airports where the operation is leaner and the cutoff can be earlier than at a major hub.
Boarding
Alaska boards by numbered groups, running from pre-boarding and First through status tiers and Premium Class to the Saver fare last.
On regional aircraft serving smaller communities, full-size carry-on bags are commonly gate-checked as standard, so keep essentials in the smaller item.
Before you fly Alaska Airlines
Saver is the restricted fare
It carries limits on seat selection and changes, and boards last. On short flights that may not matter; on a full flight with a carry-on, it can.
Mileage Plan works well across oneworld
Since joining the alliance, Alaska miles and status interact with British Airways, Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines and the rest. If you fly those carriers occasionally, crediting to Mileage Plan is worth considering.
The Hawaiian integration is still in progress
The two airlines are combining, and details such as booking systems, loyalty accounts and baggage handling on through-itineraries continue to change. Confirm specifics rather than assuming full integration.
Planning a trip rather than researching a carrier?
Our route and airport guides cover the journey itself — when demand peaks, which airports work, and how long the connection really takes.
FAQ
Alaska Airlines — common questions
General guidance only. Alaska Airlines sets these policies and can change them, so confirm anything that affects your trip at alaskaair.com.
Is Alaska Airlines part of an alliance?
Yes, Alaska is a member of oneworld, alongside British Airways, Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific and others. That affects where you can earn and redeem Mileage Plan miles and what elite status gets you when flying partner airlines, which was not the case before it joined.
What is Alaska Premium Class?
Premium Class is an extra-legroom section within the main cabin with earlier boarding, not a separate premium economy cabin. First Class on Alaska is the distinct forward cabin. As with most US carriers, the naming compresses two quite different products into similar-sounding words.
What is happening with Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines?
The two carriers are in the process of combining operations. Integration of this kind takes time and affects booking systems, loyalty programmes and how baggage is handled on itineraries that span both. If your trip involves both airlines, confirm the current arrangements rather than assuming they operate as one.