Pro (the only one I can think of): most check-in staff and air crew try really hard to make up for the glaring deficiencies of this sorry carrier.

Cons (selected): aged planes with uncomfortable seats; very limited leg room; long check-in lines; graceless, miserly baggage policy that gets more expensive the more bags you check.

I actually don't think Alaska is normally all that much worse than the other domestic carriers. The reason it gets 1 star is that on our last flight my wife and I had seats together, and they switched us into different parts of the aircraft during boarding. The irony is that we were pre-boarding with an 8-month-old baby, and they moved us to let another couple sit together. Our protests were met with total indifference, and then on board the air hostesses told us to stop passing our baby back and forth!

I tried to buy 8000 instant miles online and the transaction did not go through but Alaska airlines still charged my bank account but did not credit me the miles. I talked to my bank and they said that Alaska Airlines recieved the money. I talked to customer care of the airlines and they told me to wait 3-5 days for the miles to credit. 4 days later nothing, so I called customer care again and they were trying to tell me to wait longer. I asked to speak to a supervisor and was put on hold and then transfered. I was transfered to Reservations and the lady I spoke with was rude and was telling me to wait longer, I again asked to speak to a supervisor and the lady I was speaking to before she transfered me told me that the supervisor was going to tell me the same thing. She put me on hold and then transfered me to a supervisor. The supervisor listened to my story and then just charged my credit card for a second time and said the other transaction wouldnt go through. 5 days later the first charge is still there and has not dropped from my bank account. Alaska Airlines has the WORST ever service. I recommend avoiding Alaska Airlines at all cost.

I would not fly with them again, dirty plane, dirty bathroom, wanted my 5 year old daughter and 8 year old daughter to sit with strangers, while me and my husband sat at the opposite end of the plane.. they didn't want to help with this, in their eyes this was fine, I said who's going to clean up the milk she is going to spill all over while opening it up herself, they didn't care, i tried to reserve seats, they said no familes can't reserve seats, I even called the night before, no can't help you, i said you need to change this, and she huffed at me and said NO, this is how it is it's a full flight and this is what you get well I lost it but she didn't care, she wasn't willing to talk to me at all.. pay the extra 20.00 and go with a different airline, there was even a family from austrailia on that flight same thing, they just could not beleive it, they had boys the same age as my girls and they were in shock and said they have never seen anything like it...

Expect no customer service, lost planes, lies and a lack of caring. Side note-When they screw up something, make sure that you have the gate agent or the ticketing agent give you the refund. Alaska Air's customer service cannot or will not do anything to fix a bad situation. This is all from a long time customer that flies 40 times a year. Alaska used to be good, now they are just rotten and have gone to hell.

Flown with them several times now. The first time was was horrible, but on the second try they appeared to have cleaned up their act considerably.

Since then, I've found them to be nothing special, but they're nothing terrible either.

1. Instead of the food, which was supposed to be included (due to the ticket) a piece of toast was offered for $5.
2. The same flexibility as the one connected to providing services was NOT observed by check-in. For only two kilos of overweight I was charged $25.
3. Toilets were stinking in the cabin.
4. There was a shortage of blankets and pillows in the cabin. The pillows which were there, were dirty.
5. The temperature in the cabin was varying over the flight so much that people were wearing jackets and caps in one moment and short-sleeve T-shirts in another. My boyfriend got a cold after the flight.

Consistently poor customer service.

Alaska airlines lack of customer support I attempted to change my reservation within 24 hours of making it, 3 weeks from the departure date. Online, the price listed for a new reservation was $497.20 vs $719.20 for the prior reservation a $222 savings but they refused to honor the price difference (What do you think their policy would be if it was more expensive?) Their customer service staff refused to work with me in any way. In fact, the several representatives and a manager that I spoke with informed me that "The computer system takes your money and we cant give it back no matter the price difference." It was obvious to me that my satisfaction was of little consequence to them, regardless of which representative I was speaking to. I will never fly Alaska again!

I gave Alaska Air aka Robbing Hood Air a 1 but wish it could have been a 40 below. Left for King Salmon, Alaska from LAX for a six week kayak trip in the Katmai and surrounding area. Upon arrival found the top to my barrel pack missing and the contents gone including some of the parts necessary to put my kayak together. Robbing Hood Airs response. Oh well! Had to immediately turn around and head back to LAX. Out my planefare, Golite hex tent, MSR filter and dragonfly stove, Northface 800 down bag, system 2l fly reel, Kershaw blade runner, small kayak parts and other gear. Thicker N'theives. You can read about my missed adventure at angelfire.com/ky/soybeans. Just click on Robbing Hood Air Next year it won't be Alaska Air. Sincerly, Flip Stoker P.S. The coffee was okay.

I flew Alaska several times last year between LA and Portland. The flights were ALWAYS on time, the service was good, and the people were generally nice. The planes aren't anything special, but you will definitely save yourself alot of money. The frequent flier program is by far the best out there. Given the choice, I'd choose Alaska over any of the bigger carriers.

Exellent airline for one who lives/travels from the Pacific Northwest. Their frequent flyer mileage program is by far the best out there - tons of partners and easy ways to earn miles.

Pros: numerous frequent flyer partners and codeshares, great crews and good customer service, First Class upgrades for $50/1250 miles, on-demand in-flight entertainment on transcons (digeplayer) Cons: meal service has been reduced (still offer hot sandwiches on flights of 3+ hours)

Alaksa is absolutely the best airline ever. THey are always so courteous and especially helpful with travelers with small children. Almost always on time with reasonable fares. I always fly Alaska because in a world of shrinking customer service they still know that customer service is what brings people back.

Update: I completely forgot about their customer service. I had a flight from Sacramento to Portland and I wanted to change it to 1 day earlier. I figured there would be a $100 fee or at least a hassle. I called their number and was not put on hold (the first time I have ever called an airline and not been on hold) and a woman spoke with me and said it would be no problem and no fee, and I she gave me three different times that I could change my flight to. A month later, I called customer service again, and again I was not put on hold. I had forgotten to collect my points and this rep I spoke with was also extremely friendly and I had my points and was off the phone in 30 seconds. In a day an age where customer service seems to be severely lacking, I can say that customer service on this airline was excellent. Old comment: Old, small, crowded planes, and fairly unorganized. Upside is cheap fares.

reliable and good schedules, but food is disappearing. Love the movie selection on long flights

One of the best out there. there is always friendly service. they also have one of the youngest fleet around except for there MD-80s which will be rerired for new planes soon!

Check in at home and print your own boarding pass. That is real progress!

sub-par airline. small, old aircraft. but cheap.

Alaska ROCKS! I've always had a pleasurable experience with them. They are polite, helpful, and affordable. :) Coleen RULES! :)

Always delayed. Plus they fly the infamous 737.

We flew Alaska Airlines to Baja, Mexico and it was the easiest flight I've ever had. Quick check-ins, lots of empty seats, and friendly service. We took off and landed on time, and we had a great trip.

They are cheap and drive mahor airlines' prices down, so that is why they get a 2 star rating. I would not fly them however. Kind of scary that more than one of their planes have similar problems. I believe the safest time to fly a particular airline is right after they had a disaster, but i would not hop on one of their flights.

Even before the recent tragedy, Alaska Air was an accident waiting to happen. Outdated, crowded planes and crappy service were the norm. If they are put out of business air safety will be improved immeasurably.