Download the Alaska Airlines app to make travel smoother from start to finish. You can check in 24 hours before departure, pull up your mobile boarding pass, track real-time flight updates, and preorder meals up to two weeks ahead. Pack one carry-on and one personal item, keep your ID and liquids bag handy, and use TSA Pre✓ or SEA Spot Saver to move faster. If you keep going, you’ll uncover even more ways to fly with ease.
Download the Alaska Airlines App
If you’re flying Alaska Airlines, downloading the app is one of the easiest ways to make your trip smoother from start to finish. You’ll access app features that put control in your hands, from seamless check-in to digital boarding passes you can keep ready on your phone. That means you can move past crowded counters and travel with more freedom.
The user experience feels straightforward: you can see real-time flight updates, gate changes, and departure details without hunting for information. Need to plan ahead? You can preorder a meal two weeks to 20 hours before departure, choose your seat, and pay for checked bags with ease.
These tools help you stay organized, calm, and informed while you move through the airport on your own terms. The app doesn’t just save time—it helps you reclaim it, so your journey feels lighter, smarter, and more in your control.
Check In and Track Your Flight
Twenty-four hours before departure, you can check in through the Alaska Airlines app, grab your mobile boarding pass, and even choose seats or preorder a meal in the same window. This simple move lets you skip long airport lines and travel with more freedom, less friction, and no paper hassle.
Use these check-in tips: open the app as soon as check-in starts, confirm your details, and keep your boarding pass ready on your phone. From there, track your flight in real time for delay alerts, gate changes, and updated boarding times.
Turn on flight reminders so you stay ahead of every shift without constantly updating. The app sends notifications when your status changes, helping you move with confidence and ease.
Before you head to TSA screening, make sure your valid ID and boarding pass are easy to access, so your journey stays smooth, empowered, and on your terms.
Preorder Meals and Pack Smart
To make your trip smoother, preorder your meal through the Alaska Airlines app or website anytime from 2 weeks to 20 hours before departure, so you can skip in-flight food lines and secure the option you want. You’ll browse meal selection early, compare choices, and board knowing your seatmate’s scramble won’t define your rhythm.
| Smart move | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Review menu options early | Choose what you actually want |
| Preorder before the cutoff | Lock in availability |
| Pack one carry-on and one personal item | Boost packing efficiency |
| Use a quart-sized liquids bag | Keep essentials ready |
| Add an ID tag inside luggage | Identify bags with ease |
For packing efficiency, keep your carry-on within 22 x 14 x 9 inches and place liquids of 3.4 ounces or less in an accessible bag. Slip an identification tag inside your luggage, then move through the airport with a lighter load and a freer mind.
Get Through Security Faster
When you’re trying to get through security faster, a little prep goes a long way. Start with smart security tips: enroll in TSA Pre✓ or Global Entry for expedited screening through dedicated lanes, where you can keep shoes, belts, and jackets on.
If you’re flying from Seattle, use SEA Spot Saver to reserve a screening time and skip the scramble. Before you reach the checkpoint, have your boarding pass and valid ID in hand so you’re not digging through pockets.
Strip off outerwear, belts, and bulky jewelry early, and place larger electronics in bins without delay. Keep your liquids organized in a quart-sized bag, with each item at 3.4 ounces or less, so your carry-on moves through smoothly.
A few intentional moves can turn a stressful line into a quick, free-flowing step toward your flight.
Travel With Kids, Pets, and Help
When you fly with Alaska Airlines and bring kids along, you can gate-check strollers and car seats for free, and your young children’ll sit with your family at no extra cost.
If you’re arranging travel for an unaccompanied minor, you’ll find helpful forms and booking resources online to make the process smoother.
For pets, you’ll need to check breed restrictions and kennel rules before you head to the airport, while only service dogs can travel as service animals on board.
Traveling With Kids
- Pack snacks and kid friendly activities.
- Download unaccompanied minor forms if needed.
- Arrive early for check-in procedures.
- Keep IDs and documents ready.
These small steps help you travel with confidence, protect your freedom to move, and make the whole trip feel more open, calm, and workable.
Pet Travel Rules
If you’re flying with a pet, Alaska Airlines lets small animals ride in the cabin as long as they stay in an approved kennel that fits under the seat. You can’t place pets in the baggage compartment, and they’re not permitted in First Class on Airbus flights.
Before you go, review the pet carrier requirements and make sure your kennel gives your companion room to stand and turn. You’ll also need to meet health certificate regulations, and some destinations enforce breed restrictions, so check early.
Choose cooler flight times when possible, since extreme temperatures can stress animals. If you’re traveling with kids, take advantage of complimentary gate checks for strollers and car seats.
Only service dogs qualify as service animals, so notify Alaska in advance.
Use Mileage Plan to Earn More Miles
With Alaska’s Mileage Plan, you earn miles on every flight, even on lower fare tickets, so each trip works harder for you.
You can also boost your balance through everyday spending with shopping and dining partners, not just when you’re in the air.
That extra earning power helps you build rewards faster for your next flight or upgrade.
Earn On Every Flight
Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan helps you earn miles on every flight, even when you book the lowest fare tickets, so you’re not leaving rewards behind just because you chose a budget-friendly option. That freedom makes it easier to build mileage earning strategies that fit your life and keep maximizing rewards without extra effort.
- Fly often and watch miles grow.
- Book smart, even on discount fares.
- Track earnings in your account.
- Redeem miles for future trips.
On average, you’ll earn 30% more miles than with similar airline programs, giving your travel budget more power.
You can also collect miles through shopping, dining, and hotel stays, then manage everything in one place.
With clear tracking and easy redemption, Mileage Plan turns each trip into a step toward your next escape.
Boost Miles With Partners
Beyond the runway, Mileage Plan keeps working for you, letting you earn miles through Alaska Airlines partners in shopping, dining, hotel stays, and even oneworld® Alliance airlines. You can turn everyday spending into freedom-fueling rewards.
| Partner Type | How You Earn |
|---|---|
| shopping partnerships | buy through linked offers and earn miles |
| dining rewards | register your card and collect miles when you eat out |
| hotel stays | book with partner hotels and stack rewards |
Alaska often gives you about 30% more miles than many airlines, so your loyalty goes further. Check for promotions, because bonus miles can appear on select purchases or activities. Log in to your Mileage Plan account often to track earnings, uncover new partners, and keep your mileage growing fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Alaska Airlines’ Baggage Fees for Checked Bags?
You’ll usually pay $35 for your first checked bag and $45 for your second, each way. Watch baggage weight limits, since overweight bags trigger excess charges that can quickly free your budget.
How Can I Change or Cancel My Alaska Airlines Reservation?
You can change or cancel your reservation online or in the Alaska app—it’s easier than moving mountains. Check your reservation policies, review cancellation options, and follow prompts for refunds, credits, or fees.
Does Alaska Airlines Offer First-Class or Premium Cabin Upgrades?
Yes—Alaska Airlines offers first-class seats and premium upgrades, so you can elevate your trip fast. You’ll enjoy a first class experience with extra space, priority service, and easier comfort if you choose premium upgrades.
How Do I Use My Alaska Airlines Miles for Award Flights?
You book award flights by signing into your Mileage Plan account, searching flights, and choosing miles redemption at checkout. You’ll compare options, pay taxes, and enjoy flexible travel that frees your journey.
What In-Flight Amenities Are Available on Alaska Airlines?
You’ll find it like a well-stocked haven: Alaska offers in flight entertainment options, complimentary snacks, Wi‑Fi on many flights, power outlets, and attentive service, so you can relax, stay connected, and travel freely.
Conclusion
With the Alaska Airlines app, you can check in faster, track your flight with ease, and stay one step ahead of delays. By preordering meals, packing smart, and moving through security efficiently, you can travel with less stress and more confidence. Whether you’re flying with kids, pets, or extra help, Alaska makes the journey smoother. And when you earn with Mileage Plan, you’re not just flying—you’re building toward your next adventure.