Alaska Airlines adds Miami, which will become its 100th nonstop destination from Seattle
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
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.
Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free new biweekly Aviation newsletter!
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.
Featured photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership. Plus, earn up to $100 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants in the first three months of card membership.
With Status Boost™, earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply.
- Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- Plus, earn up to $100 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants with your card within the first 3 months of membership.
- 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 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.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- 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 $75 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.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®.
- Enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.