Alaska Airlines adds Miami, which will become its 100th nonstop destination from Seattle
Alaska Airlines is spreading its wings with a new longest flight in the Lower 48.
The Seattle-based carrier unveiled a South Florida expansion on Thursday, with daily nonstop flights taking off to Miami on June 16, 2022.
Alaska will serve Miami from its Seattle hub, and it will continue to serve nearby Fort Lauderdale with two daily flights to Seattle, as well as winter seasonal service to Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon.
For Alaska, adding service to Miami is notable for multiple reasons.
For one, the city has long been a fortress hub for American Airlines, the carrier's new domestic Oneworld-alliance partner. Elites of both carriers can enjoy reciprocal perks on the new flights, including upgrades, preferred seats and expanded baggage allowance.
Alaska's service will join American's existing Miami to Seattle route, though flyers will may prefer Alaska's schedule with an early morning eastbound departure and a return flight in the late afternoon. American's once-daily Seattle flight departs Miami in the afternoon and returns to the city as a red-eye.
Additionally, at 2,744 miles and about six hours, the new Miami route will be Alaska's longest in the Lower 48. The airline will deploy a 178-seat Boeing 737-900 on the route, featuring 16 first-class recliners and 162 coach seats.
Miami also marks the airline's 100th destination from Seattle. Interestingly, the city isn't technically "new" for the airline — Alaska last flew there in July 2012, according to Cirium timetables.
Alaska is the latest domestic carrier to land (or expand) at the Miami Airport.
During the pandemic, both Southwest and JetBlue made headlines for starting service to Miami, a city they've long avoided in favor of nearby Fort Lauderdale due to its historically lower operating costs.
Spirit Airlines is on its way to becoming Miami's second-largest carrier by destinations served, with a whopping 31 routes that first started in early October and will ramp into early 2022.
One of Spirit's main competitors, Frontier Airlines added Miami to its route map in 2014 and has since classified the city as one of its hubs. Frontier opened a new crew base there last year and is adding nine new routes there in November alone.
If that wasn't enough, Delta is also planning a big Miami expansion.
In July 2020, the Atlanta-based carrier doubled down on its proposed pan-American partnership with LATAM that includes a new "gateway hub" in Miami. Delta unveiled plans to add at least 20 new U.S. domestic departures under its proposed joint venture with LATAM, though the timeline remains unclear.
Delta took a 20% stake in LATAM in September 2019, wooing the carrier away from the Oneworld alliance and its former partner, American Airlines.
Alaska's new Miami flight schedule
Alaska Flight 305 Seattle to Miami 7:15 a.m. — 4:15 p.m.
Alaska Flight 728 Miami to Seattle 5:40 p.m. — 9:10 p.m.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.