Page 43 - Globale Traveler

awards to prove it. For the third year in a row, Alaska Airlines Carriers in North America for 10 consecutive years from 2008
received top honors according to U.S. News & World Report’s to 2017.
list of Best Airline Rewards Programs. The ranking is based One thing is certain: Alaska Airlines retains a huge fan Alaska Airlines is
on a combination of six factors for frequent-flyer programs: base of frequent flyers for a variety of reasons. Midgi Moto,
ease of earning a free round-trip flight, benefits, network owner, Juneau Food Tours, recently flew Alaska Airlines from known for having one
coverage, flight volume, award flight availability and airline Juneau to Anchorage, accidentally leaving her Kindle on the of the most rigorous
quality ratings. plane. “One quick FB message to Alaska Airlines and within training programs in
Chief among reasons for Alaska Airlines’ award streak a couple of hours we were reunited! Thank you, Alaska
is travelers’ ability to earn miles more quickly than in other Airlines!” Moto wrote on her Facebook page. the world. Pilots need
airline programs based on award points for spending rather Besides stacking up awards and customer loyalty, Alaska six years of train-
than flying. “Unlike other programs in the industry, our Airlines is known as an innovator when it comes to passen-
members earn miles based on how far they fly on us — not ger incentives. For example, it recently featured a specially ing to qualify for a
just what they spend — and we offer a generous upgrade chartered solar eclipse flight for invited astronomers and certificate for Arctic
policy for elite members,” said Sangita Woerner, vice presi- guests to experience the first total solar eclipse in 99 years to
dent of marketing, Alaska Airlines. cover America from coast to coast. On Aug. 21, 2017, the flight operations.
Additionally, J.D. Power and Associates ranked Alaska Alaska Airlines flight left Portland International Airport for a
Airlines Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional journey at 35,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean. With prime seat

FEBRUARY 2018 globaltravelerusa.com 43