Alaska’s New Boarding Process Will Go Into Effect in July
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.
Come July 18, Alaska Airlines promises that your relationship status will change – at least where boarding is involved.
“You may have a complicated relationship with boarding an aircraft,” the airline waxed eloquent in a blog announcement published June 6. “On the one hand, it means you will soon settle into your seat and you’re almost on your way. On the other hand, it can sometimes be stressful if you’re not sure when it’s your turn to board.”
Alaska plans to change all of that this summer. The procedural updates will begin with the boarding pass, which will feature larger fonts and more streamlined presentation of relevant information. “Your boarding pass is really a guide for your journey,” Alaska said in the blog post. “You want to know, first and foremost, where you need to be (your gate) and when you need to be there (your boarding time).”
The next phase of change will take place at the gate, where announcements will now be broadcast on screen displays at each gate. Since most travelers have headphones on these days, the visual alerts will make it far easier for passengers to catch relevant information.
Finally, the boarding process itself is undergoing a complete overhaul. Alaska’s five boarding groups – First Class, and Groups A-D – will take turns boarding approximately five minutes apart. The first passengers to enter the plane will be travelers with special needs – families with children under 2, or any guests with special services or require additional time to settle in. Active duty military and first class passengers will follow. Group A passengers include Million Milers, Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold status elites; Group B will seat Alaska Mileage Plan MVPs and Premium Class. Finally, Group C will board all remaining guests who are seated in the back half of the aircraft, brought up by Group D, which encompasses all remaining guests seated toward the front half of the aircraft.
Alaska isn’t the only airline hoping to revamp the current boarding process, which is often rife with “gate lice” – passengers who mill about the boarding area well before boarding time. United just began pilot-testing a similar procedure in Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles, which will be rolled out to more locations later this summer.
The boarding process update isn’t Alaska’s only recent procedural change: the airline introduced basic economy fares in April, and restricted its previously generous change fee policy.
Featured photo by Shutterstock
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer ends 8/3/2022.
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.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer ends 8/3/2022.
- 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.
- 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 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 $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.
- 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.
- 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.