Alaska Airlines adds 3 new Alaska routes, including its longest flight on an Embraer jet
Alaska Airlines will offer travelers three new nonstop ways to visit its namesake state next summer, including a new longest route for its smallest jet.
The Seattle-based Oneworld alliance carrier will launch daily service between Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) in Alaska and Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon on May 15 and Saturday-only service between Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) in Alaska and both Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Sacramento International Airport (SMF) with Boeing 737s on June 14. All three routes operate seasonally through the middle of August.
The Fairbanks-Portland route will be flown with a 76-seat Embraer E175, the smallest aircraft in Alaska Airlines' fleet. At 1,640 miles or 4 1/2 hours, the route will be the longest for the plane at the airline by about 100 miles, schedule data for June 2025 from aviation analytics firm Cirium Diio shows.
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That's a long time on a plane that is equipped with Wi-Fi but lacks power outlets in economy — they are only available in first class on Alaska's E175s.
The new routes come as the carrier's merger with Hawaiian Airlines picks up speed. The airlines have begun to rework their schedules to offer travelers more options — particularly between the mainland U.S. and Hawaii but with some surprises elsewhere. For example, Hawaiian's Airbus A330s will fly between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and ANC during the peak summer season.
Alaska and Hawaiian together plan to grow their schedules by about 2% or 3% year over year in 2025, management disclosed in December.
All three new routes are part of that planned annual growth. The new Fairbanks-Portland flight is likely part of a broader expansion in the Oregon city as Alaska shifts its focus in Seattle more toward the local market and feeding its new nonstops to Asia. Alaska will launch flights from SEA to Tokyo's Narita International Airport (NRT) with Hawaiian's A330s on May 12 and to Seoul, South Korea's Incheon International Airport (ICN) in October.
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Andrew Harrison, Alaska Airlines' chief commercial officer, said in December that the carrier would rework its flight schedule in Portland to improve connectivity, including appealing to passengers who previously would have connected in Seattle by offering new north-south flights — like the new Fairbanks route.
The two Anchorage routes will offer travelers new nonstop options to Alaska's namesake state. The airline will face off against Delta Air Lines — a fierce competitor on Alaska's home turf in Seattle — on the Anchorage-Detroit route, Cirium Diio data shows. It faces no competition on the Anchorage-Sacramento route.
"Summer is a tremendous time to visit the great land of Alaska with our long, warm days, tremendous culture and adventure, and amazing wild Alaska seafood," Marilyn Romano, regional vice president of Alaska for Alaska Airlines, said in a statement. "There's so much to do around Anchorage, and the city is a perfect jumping-off point to venture out to communities across the state, as well as hopping on a cruise."
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See the full details of Alaska's new routes below:
- Anchorage-Detroit: Saturday-only from June 14 to Aug. 16 on a Boeing 737
- Anchorage-Sacramento: Saturday-only from June 14 to Aug. 16 on a Boeing 737
- Fairbanks-Portland: Daily from May 15 to Aug. 19 on an Embraer E175
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- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.