Love for the plug: Alaska Airlines adding power outlets to new seats

alaskaairplugsmall

For those who fly on Alaska Airlines and need to keep the gadgets juiced, help is on the way. Starting this fall, the Seattle-based airline will be adding power outlets to every seat for three-quarters of its fleet. The outlets will supply both 110-volt and USB power for tablets and smartphones. It’s part of a… Read More…

Alaska Air apologizes after network outage impacts check-ins, causing long delays

alaskaair-situation222

The severing of a fiber optic cable in Wisconsin is causing havoc for those traveling on Alaska Airlines today, with the Seattle-based airline saying in a message on Facebook that it has been forced to revert to manual check-ins. That’s causing delays and long lines at Sea-Tac, the home base for Alaska Air. Alaska’s network… Read More…

The Geek’s Guide to Air Travel

geeksguideairtravel

You say you know what it’s like to live like a geek. But do you know how to fly like one? I do. And not like the annoyingly self-important “look at these cool-expensive-huge headphones that I just bought with the red light that make me look like a Star Wars Cloud City administrative aide“ road warriors…. Read More…

Inside Alaska Airlines’ new Boeing Sky Interior

Sculpted ceiling, sloping bins and window recesses add to a feel of spaciousness

For 17 years, I have qualified to be a sardine. That is to say that — since some time in 1996 —  I have so often tightly packed my 6’4″ self into winged metal containers filled with people that I have qualified for MVP Gold status on Alaska Airlines every year. “Sardine” is one of… Read More…

In-flight Wi-Fi provider GoGo is looking to take off with $100M IPO

gogo1

In-flight Wi-Fi provider GoGo is looking to raise as much as $100 million through an initial public offering, one of the latest technology companies to take advantage of an open IPO window. Based in Itasca, Illinois, GoGo is hoping to trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol GOGO. The company currently provides its technology… Read More…

Alaska Airlines to test biofuel, powering commercial flights with used cooking oil

alaskasmall

Your next cross-country flight, powered by the residue from your frying pan? Seattle-based Alaska Airlines will test biofuels on commercial flights starting this week, hoping to usher in a new, environmentally friendly era for jet fuel. Alaska Airlines and its sister carrier, Horizon Air, will use a 20 percent blend of biofuel — made from… Read More…

How to skip airport lines: Alaska Airlines latest to debut mobile check-ins for iPhone users

alsaska-boardingpass

Alaska Airlines has been soaring to new heights when it comes to technology offerings, replacing paper flight manuals for pilots with iPads and rolling out free wi-fi to smartphone users on flights. Now, the Seattle-based carrier is introducing a new feature that should be well received by those who hate to get stuck in airport… Read More…

Smartphone users to get 2 months of free Wi-Fi on Alaska Air flights

wifi1

Smartphone users traveling on Alaska Airlines will soon have an added benefit. During the months of August and September, any passenger with a Wi-Fi enabled smartphone will be able to access the airline’s inflight wireless system for free. The promotion also is available to those passengers who rent one of the airline’s digital media players…. Read More…

Alaska Air expands inflight Wi-Fi, offers free Facebook access for June

wifi1

Alaska Airlines continues to go high-tech.  The Seattle airline is expanding its inflight Wi-Fi system, saying today that 92 percent of its fleet will be equipped by the end of the month. The announcement comes just a few days after the airline said that it would equip pilots with iPads. To promote the offering, Alaska… Read More…

Goodbye paper flight manuals: Alaska Airlines to outfit pilots with iPads

alaskaair-ipad

Last fall, I reported that Alaska Airlines planned to provide pilots with iPads, speculating that the touchscreen devices could be used to replace bulky paper manuals. Now, Alaska Air has made it official, announcing today that the Seattle-based airline plans to outfit all of its pilots with the tablet computers by mid-June. It becomes the… Read More…