Being located on the east coast flying Alaska Airlines is impractical unless flying coast to coast. In order to attend the final Boeing 747 delivery in Seattle, Alaska Airlines had the most ideal direct flight in terms of nonstop options and convenient arrival times. Through their Oneworld Alliance the cost of the ticket was redeemable through AAdvantage miles. The flight from Boston Logan to Seattle Tacoma International Airport was operated on a Boeing 737-9MAX covering 2,169 miles. In this Alaska Airlines review we go over what it was like taking Alaska Airlines from coast to coast.
In this post:
✈ Ground Experience
✈ Cabin and Seats
✈ Snacks and Beverages
✈ Inflight Entertainment
✈ Final Approach
Ground Experience
Checking in online or at the airport is a simple process. Despite the ticket being booked through American Airlines the record locator to check in and select seats is through Alaska Airlines. You are given an Alaska confirmation number, and an American Airlines confirmation number. You then use the Alaska confirmation on Alaska’s website to check-in. In Boston bag drop and boarding pass printing can be accomplished at the kiosks or ticketing counter. We opted to use the kiosks and were able to print our boarding pass and bag tags without difficulty.
Cabin and Seats
The cabin on the 737 MAX9 is configured in 178 Recaro slimline seats in a grey and dark blue color scheme. Siting down the thin structure of the slimline seats were immediately noticeable. The seat had around 31” of legroom which was more than adequate for the 5 ½ hour flight. In the seatback was a standard tray table and literature pocket. Also included in this space is a tablet holder which can be used to stream movies or tv shows. Power outlets were available mid-seat. This differs from other aircraft where the outlets are located between or under the seat. The seat had a large recline which was appreciated given the lengths of the routes the 737 Max aircraft fly.
Snack and Beverages
An hour after takeoff the crew began a snack and beverage service. Choices for complimentary snacks were limited to just a Biscoff cookie on the first round of snacks and pretzels on the second round of snacks. We found this to be limited when compared to other offerings from competing airlines. Snack boxes are available for purchase with prices ranging from $7.50 to $10.50. We purchased the Northwest Deli Picnic Pack containing chips, almonds, cheese spread and a salami stick. An hour before landing the crew came down the aisle to perform a second beverage service.
Inflight Entertainment
Inflight entertainment is provided via streaming Wi-Fi. The system had a wide variety of TV shows and movies to watch. The system was responsive and operated without difficulty for the entire duration of the flight. Also included in this system is a 3D flight map that provided various information regarding our flight. WIFI is available for purchase for $8.00 for the entire flight. During this particular flight the system would cut in and out requiring refreshing the browser. This issue is not exclusive to Alaska. On a recent Air Canada flight the same issue happened after purchasing Wi-Fi.
Final Approach
Overall, this Alaska flight was not bad by any means, the seat had generous legroom and recline. Our flight landed early thanks to the tailwinds and our bags made it to Seattle. There were however some parts of Alaska Airlines that leave much to be desired. Our aircraft was dirty despite its young age. The seats and tray tables had crumbs and stains on them. The complimentary snack selection was also lacking. Considering that this was a near 6-hour flight the complimentary snack selection felt extremely basic and limited. Many competing airlines offer a more robust snack selection on this long of a flight. Limited snack selection aside, Alaska Airlines offers a decent economy product with more than generous legroom but it does not stand out among its competitors. It felt no different than any other domestic flight with more similarities than differentiators.