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.
Sign up for TPG's brand new biweekly aviation newsletter for more airline news
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
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.