Alaska Airlines puts Wyoming on its route map, adds 3 routes to Jackson Hole
Another airline is turning to the great outdoors to flesh out its route map during the coronavirus pandemic.
The latest is Alaska Airlines, which announced on Thursday that it will launch three routes to Jackson Hole, Wyoming (JAC). Seasonal service from Seattle (SEA), San Diego (SAN) and San Jose, California (SJC), will begin in December and run through April.
The move by Alaska comes as airlines increasingly look to add flights to outdoor-oriented leisure destinations even amid broader schedule cuts during the pandemic. Corporate demand has all but evaporated. And leisure travelers still appear wary of traveling to big-city destinations amid the closure of many popular tourist venues and a raft of local quarantine restrictions.
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But destinations like beaches or mountains that allow visitors to be outdoors have been the lone relative bright spot amid a historic drop in travel since March.
Alaska Airlines acknowledged as much in announcing that it would add Jackson Hole as a destination.
“It has been a challenging time, and for many the great outdoors has become a safe haven,” the carrier said in a statement.
To the beach ... :United Airlines adds 17 routes to Florida, bypassing hubs in pandemic route-map shakeup
... or the mountains:Southwest Airlines unveils Steamboat Springs routes, adds new destination during pandemic
For now, Alaska will fly to Jackson Hole – a popular mountain destination that sits next to the Grand Teton National Park – during the ski season.
"Jackson Hole and the surrounding Grand Teton mountains offer a legendary winter playground with a rich history, amazing service, and plenty of activities both on and off the mountain" Brett Catlin, Alaska's managing director of capacity planning and alliances, said in the statement. "We know our guests on the West Coast are looking for nonstop access to more outdoor locales and we're excited to expand our footprint with the addition of Jackson Hole."
The full schedule details are below.

Seattle
- Jackson Hole service begins Dec. 17. Alaska Airlines regional affiliate SkyWest will fly five round-trip flights a week on 76-seat Embraer E175 jets through April 11.
- SEA to JAC: Departs 1:20 p.m., lands 4:20 p.m. (Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
- JAC to SEA: Departs 5 p.m., lands 6:20 p.m. (Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
More:Alaska Airlines adds another 6 California routes in West Coast build up
San Diego
- Jackson Hole service begins Dec. 17. Alaska Airlines regional affiliate SkyWest will fly five round-trip flights a week on 76-seat Embraer E175 jets through April 11.
- SAN to JAC: Departs 11:55 a.m., lands 3:20 p.m. (Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
- JAC to SAN: Departs 4 p.m., lands 5:45 p.m. (Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
San Jose
- Jackson Hole service begins Dec. 19. Alaska Airlines regional affiliate SkyWest will fly two round-trip flights a week on 76-seat Embraer E175 jets through April 10.
- SJC to JAC: Departs 11 a.m., lands 2:15 p.m. (Wednesday, Saturday)
- JAC to SJC: Departs 3 p.m., lands 4:35 p.m. (Wednesday, Saturday)
More on Alaska: Alaska Airlines quietly cuts inflight entertainment tablets
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- 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.

