Review of Alaska Airlines
Domestic travel within the United States is on the rise since the onset of COVID-19 in 2020. In fact, domestic leisure trips have exceeded pre-pandemic levels, indicating that Americans are steadily prioritizing travel.
A significant limitation of travel, however, is cost. This causes many Americans to opt for less expensive options, like road trips, over travel requiring flights.
Flying in America is expensive, plain and simple. A round-trip flight from Atlanta to Miami can cost upwards of $250 or more, while a flight from London to Barcelona—a route nearly the same distance—costs a third of that price. To travel coast-to-coast, you can expect a price tag of $500 or more per person for most airlines.
I was surprised, then, to stumble upon lower airfare during my search for a West Coast destination. While major airlines like Delta and United Airlines offered both direct and layover flights for approximately $500 per person, Alaska Airlines offered a flight for half that price. And this flight had no layover- it was direct.
Alaska Airlines was founded in Alaska—no surprise there—in 1932 as McGee Airways, then became Star Air Service, and was ultimately renamed Alaska Airlines in 1944. The airline is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. They fly to over 100 destinations in the United States, as well as to Canada, the Pacific Islands, and some destinations in Central and South America.
This particular Alaska Airlines flight is the least expensive direct flight I have ever seen from the East Coast to the West Coast. Having never flown Alaska Airlines, I questioned whether a 5-hour flight at this price would be an uncomfortable experience. Ultimately, I felt the savings were worth the risk and decided to give it a go.
Now, I am here to present my honest review of Alaska Airlines and discuss my round-trip flight from Atlanta, Georgia, to Portland, Oregon. If you’d like to learn more about traveling to Portland, read further here!
Booking
Booking a flight through the Alaska Airlines website is easy and straightforward. With a standard ticket purchase, you are allowed one carry-on item and one personal item (such as a purse, bookbag, or laptop carrier). The baggage fees are reasonably priced: $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second.
Alaska Airlines offers a rewards program called the Mileage Plan. You earn miles through booking flights and through purchases made with the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card. This plan has consistently ranked as the highest-rated airline rewards program on the market.
As awarded by U.S. News & World Report, the Alaska Airlines Mileage Program has outperformed other airlines for 11 years and counting due to the ease of earning flights (based on miles flown, not dollars spent), mile redemption, and customer satisfaction.
Alaska Airlines App
The phone app for Alaska Airlines is well-designed and easy to use. You may book flights through the app, change your seat, and pre-order a meal for your flight.
On your travel day, the app also provides status updates on flight delays or seat assignments. As a bonus, it integrates with the Apple Watch to deliver real-time notifications, which is convenient if your hands are full as you walk through the airport.
Check-In
Alaska Airlines check-in at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport
Checking in for your Alaska Airlines flight can be done on the app or at the check-in desk near the airport entrance. As is typical, you will also check a bag here if you choose to do so.
At the Atlanta airport, check-in was frustrating since there was only one Alaska Airlines kiosk. Naturally, this caused quite a queue, and it took about 20 minutes to get through. At the Portland airport, however, there were multiple Alaska Airlines kiosks, which made check-in a breeze.
Alaska Airlines check-in at Portland International Airport
Boarding
Finding the gate for Alaska Airlines was fairly simple. The gate number was displayed on the app, and there was a sign at the gate with the Alaska Airlines logo.
Boarding took place, as with most airlines, in assigned groups. My boarding group was F, one of the last, but I had no trouble finding a place for my carry-on bag in the overhead bins.
The seats on my plane were in a 3-by-3 configuration. My first impression of the plane was that it was simple but clean. The seats were not exceptionally spacious, but were comfortable and had sufficient legroom below, with plenty of space to store my personal item.
On Board Amenities
Despite a 5-hour flight time, the seats did not have TV monitors, so I was grateful to have brought a book and my laptop.
Access to free movies and texting is available at AlaskaWiFi.com, and Wi-Fi costs $8 for the duration of the flight (unless you have T-Mobile, in which case it’s free). I consider this price reasonable since other competitor airlines often charge $15 or more for Wi-Fi.
I opted to purchase Wi-Fi and found the connection mostly reliable throughout the flight.
One subtle detail I appreciated was the small, fold-down shelf for a cell phone. This is a nice touch for travelers who forget to pack a tablet or laptop but still want to watch a movie or TV show.
It seems most airlines cut back on food service year after year, and for Alaska Airlines, that was no exception. No meal was included with the 5-hour flight ticket.
If you want a meal, you will need to pre-book through the app, as they are not available for in-flight ordering. There is a good selection of West Coast-based snacks and drinks available for purchase, however.
I forgot to preorder a meal for my flight and opted to purchase a snack box, which was well-packed, tasty, and held me over until landing.
On-Time Performance
In 2024, Alaska Airlines ranked second in the United States for on-time performance with a rate of 82.3%. This closely followed Delta Airlines at 84.72%.
My outbound flight from Atlanta to Portland was unfortunately delayed by almost an hour; however, the inbound flight back to Atlanta departed on schedule.
Wine Flies Free
Considering bringing home wine from Oregon’s famous Willamette Valley
A unique benefit to Alaska Airlines Mileage Program members is the Wine Flies Free program. For members, you can check a case of wine for no charge when flying from more than 30 West Coast cities. This is a major benefit for wine lovers and promotes enotourism (wine tourism) in the West Coast states.
So, is Flying Alaska Airlines Worth It?
In-flight view of Mount Hood, Oregon
Absolutely. Securing a direct flight from the East Coast to the West Coast for less than $250 per person was a steal. That being said, some aspects of Alaska Airlines need improvement.
One of the most pressing issues is the lack of kiosks at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Furthermore, if you are not going to supply a TV monitor, at least offer free Wi-Fi.
All things considered, we cannot forget that to get those amenities with another airline, you must pay at least twice as much or settle for a layover. For the cost savings, I will gladly arrive at the airport early and bring my laptop or book for in-flight entertainment.
Overall, Alaska Airlines was a pleasant experience, and I would undoubtedly fly this airline again, especially given the Mileage Program.
Main atrium in Portland International Airport
Side note: If you travel to Portland, Oregon, take time to appreciate the beautiful Portland International Airport. It is designed with sustainably sourced, local wood in a lattice ceiling with live trees and plants that bring the outdoors indoors. It is really enchanting.
Safe travels!
Published: August 1, 2025 - Updated November 21, 2025
