Alaska Airlines Adds 8 Routes, Drops 11 in West Coast Shakeup
Alaska Airlines is doubling down on its West Coast footprint, announcing eight new nonstop routes within the region and increased frequencies on several existing routes.
Alaska’s hub in Los Angeles (LAX) got half of the new routes while San Francisco (SFO) landed three. San Diego (SAN), a focus city for Alaska, landed the last of the new routes.
Also coming up big was Oregon’s Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM), which also landed three new routes. With the additions, the airport — which also serves the central Oregon city of Bend — will get nonstop service both of Alaska’s California hubs as well as to San Diego. Alaska also targeted Spokane (GEG), Washington, for expansion, adding new routes to both Los Angeles and San Francisco.
"We're excited to offer even more nonstops between vibrant Pacific Northwest communities and our growing hubs in California," Brett Catlin, Alaska’s managing director of capacity planning and alliances, said in a Wednesday statement detailing the new routes. “Whether it's travel for a weekend getaway to Missoula or a day trip to San Francisco, we're proud to offer nearly 600 daily flights between West Coast cities."
Related: How to Earn Miles With the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Program
However, Alaska’s additions are being at least partially offset by cuts elsewhere. The carrier is dropping 11 nonstop routes and will reduce another five from year-round to seasonal service. The biggest cuts were at San Diego — six permanent cuts and one seasonal downgrade — and San Francisco (two permanent cuts and four seasonal downgrades).
Many of the routes that were dropped or reduced were between between California and Alaska's destinations in the eastern and central US. Philadelphia (PHL), Raleigh/Durham (RDU), Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP), Kansas City (MCI) and Omaha (OMA) in Nebraska were among the markets seeing dropped flights or seasonal changes.
The move comes after Alaska Airlines in July announced plans to beef up service from its stronghold markets in the Pacific Northwest to warm-weather sun-focused destinations in California, Hawaii and Florida.
“We expect those leisure markets to perform better in the low season,” Alaska Airlines said in a statement to TPG when asked about the route changes announced Wednesday. “California seasonal exits are allowing us to reallocate aircraft for those added frequencies. In the spring, we’ll add flying to our California hub and focus cities, bringing them back up to or above current levels of service.”
Related: Alaska Airlines’ Newest Route From Everett’s Paine Field Is Palm Springs
A full list of Alaska Airlines adds, drops and changes are below.
NEW ROUTES
Los Angeles
Boise: Begins March 19; two daily round-trip flights on Embraer E175 aircraft
Missoula: Begins March 19; one daily round-trip flight on Embraer E175 aircraft
Redmond/Bend: Begins Jan. 7; one daily round-trip flight on Embraer E175 aircraft
Spokane: Begins Jan. 7; two daily round-trip flights on Embraer E175 aircraft
San Diego
Redmond/Bend: Begins March 19; one daily round-trip flight on Embraer E175 aircraft
Related: Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card Review
San Francisco
Anchorage: Begins April 20; one daily round-trip flight on Boeing 737 aircraft
Spokane: Begins Jan. 7; two daily round-trip flights on Embraer E175 aircraft
Redmond/Bend: Begins March 19; one daily round-trip flight on Embraer E175 aircraft
DROPPED/REDUCED ROUTES
San Francisco
Permanent exits
Albuquerque: Last flight is Nov. 4
Kansas City: Last flight is Nov. 4
Becoming seasonal
Nashville: Last flight is Nov. 4, resumes April 20
Baltimore: Last flight is Nov. 4, resumes March 18
Philadelphia: Last flight is Nov. 4, resumes April 20
Raleigh/Durham: Last flight is Nov. 4, resumes April 20
Los Angeles
Philadelphia: Last flight is Nov. 4
San Diego
Permanent exits
Albuquerque: Last flight is Nov. 4
El Paso, Texas: Last flight is Jan. 6
Kansas City: Last flight is Jan. 6
Minneapolis/St. Paul: Last flight is Jan. 6
Omaha, Nebraska: Last flight is Nov. 4
St. Louis: Last flight is Nov. 4
Becoming seasonal
Baltimore (BWI): Last flight is Sept. 29, resumes May 20
Other markets
Boise, Idaho-Reno, Nevada: Last flight is Jan. 6
San Jose, California-Burbank, California: Last flight is Nov. 4
FREQUENCY INCREASES
San Francisco
Chicago O’Hare: Beginning March 19, schedule goes to two daily round-trip flights from one
Orange County/Santa Ana, California: Beginning Jan. 7, schedule goes to seven daily round-trip flights from six
San Diego
Boise: Beginning March 19, service goes to two daily round-trip flights from one
Boston: Beginning May 21, service goes to two daily round-trip flights from one
Orlando: Starting Jan. 7, service goes to daily from five times a week
San Jose, California: Beginning March 19, service goes to six daily round-trip flights from four
Santa Rosa, California: Beginning March 19, service goes to two daily round-trip flights from one
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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. (Partner offer)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.