How to Get Early Boarding on Alaska Airlines During the Holidays

I travel to 20+ countries a year sharing my firsthand knowledge of reward travel, travel credit card deals, travel tips and more.

Alaska Airlines made national headlines last week when they announced that they’re acquiring Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 billion (here are the details). Like many of their passengers, I love flying Alaska and Hawaiian because their in-flight service is usually fun and unique with local snacks and drinks. FYI: I last flew Alaska in late July from Newark to Los Angeles and Hawaiian in January between Maui and Honolulu.

Alaska Airlines often runs fun promotions that give customers special perks. One of those is National Holiday Sweater Day, which is coming up on Friday, December 15th. Anyone wearing a holiday sweater on flights served by Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air that day can board early, following Group B.

It’s the sixth year in a row that the Seattle-based airline has embraced this festive tradition but I’m pretty sure it used to be called Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. I can understand why they got rid of the word ugly because not all holiday sweaters are.

If you don’t own a holiday sweater, Alaska Airlines is selling one. I’ll let you decide if you think it’s ugly or not (photo above). But you can purchase the sweater in person at Alaska’s Company Store: 19235 International Blvd, SeaTac, WA 98198 or on the Alaska Company Store’s website.

Note: “Due to the volume of guests in the store, we are unable to accept phone orders on the first day. You can also email the Company.store@alaskaair.com, and we’ll fulfill the order received while supplies last.”

I do own a couple of holiday sweaters myself, including one Alaska sent me last year as a gift so I might have to bust mine out and take advantage of early boarding. Although … I do have elite status with American Airlines and they’re a oneworld member, just like Alaska, so I already get early boarding.

Eric Edge, Alaska Airlines’ managing director of marketing and advertising said in a press release: “Amidst one of the busiest travel periods of the year, we’re focused on delivering care and bringing joy to our guests. As the ‘merrier carrier,’ we want to make every moment of your journey memorable. Our holiday sweater is just one of the many ways the team at Alaska is delighting guests and employees this holiday season.”

For those who have no desire to wear a holiday sweater, good-looking or not, you will probably be pleased to know that Alaska Airlines is celebrating the holidays not just on December 15th but throughout the whole month. In fact, they will have festive décor and boarding music, as well as free holiday movies to help flyers have a merry flight.

I was happy to see that Alaska Airlines was reminding their customers in the press release that, “Airports are busier than ever in December. As a reminder, anyone traveling during the holidays is encouraged to arrive to the airport at least two hours before their flight given anticipated congestion at the airport.” This is one of my 14 tips and tricks for avoiding holiday travel headaches.

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