Alaska Airlines blocks middle seats over Christmas as coronavirus losses shrink
Alaska Airlines will block seats on flights over Christmas and into the new year, continuing the split between carriers that do and do not view the confidence-boosting measure as needed to spur travel during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Seattle-based carrier extended its blocking of middle seats on mainline jets — Airbus A320s and A321neos, and Boeing 737s — through Jan. 6, 2021, Alaska said on Thursday. The policy was previously due to end on Nov. 30.
Alaska's extension comes as competitor Southwest Airlines said it will remove its seating caps on Dec. 1. The move leaves just Alaska, Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways capping the number of passengers on any given flight in the U.S. The policies are widely viewed more as a confidence-boosting measures since social distancing is difficult within the confines of an aircraft.
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Trade group the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has found that wearing masks, coupled with an airplane's air filtration system, is the best defense against COVID onboard a plane. The group estimates that the chance of catching the virus on a plane is less than the risk of being struck by lightning.
“The social distance onboard an aircraft are ensured by the airflow,” IATA medical advisor Dr. David Powell said on Oct. 8. “That’s the best protection onboard an aircraft.”
Alaska intends to begin unblocking seats early in 2021, said president Ben Minicucci during a quarterly earnings call on Thursday. He cited several studies that show that air filtration and mask wearing on planes reduces the risk of COVID infection to near zero.
The airline will likely lift its seating caps gradually. Middle seats will be filled on shorter flights and those with pre-flight testing requirements first before being sold systemwide, said Minicucci.
Related: Risk of coronavirus on planes less than getting struck by lightning
Selling blocked middle seats is key to Alaska's return to financial health. The airline lost an average of $4 million a day during the three months ending in September and is unlikely to hit its goal of break even by year-end, Alaska chief financial officer Shane Tackett said on the call.
“At this point, it will require a further recovery of demand and the likely removal of seat blocks to achieve" cash break even, he said.
Alaska plans to fly about 60% of its 2019 schedule in the last three months of 2020. That represents a steady improvement from the roughly 45% in the third quarter when the carrier reported a $431 million net loss.
Related: Which US airlines are blocking middle seats?
The story was updated with additional details from Alaska's third quarter earnings call.
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- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
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Cons
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- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
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- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees