Alaska Airlines Launches Subscription Service Called Alaska Access

Alaska Airlines is launching a new subscription service that it says will save travelers both time and money throughout the year.

Called Alaska Access, the new program is not the same as Flight Pass, a different, separate subscription service that Alaska launched in 2022. Flight Pass, at $49 per month, gives subscribers access to one consistent, low fare for frequent flights on the West Coast.

The new Alaska Access program costs $5 per month and instead of locking in a fare, it provides consumers with three main benefits:

1. Early access to sales: subscribers will be the first to know about Alaska’s flight sales with in-app notifications the night before a sale launches to the general public.
2. Personalized fare page: members will get access to their own, personalized fare page that will show fares by dates, allowing subscribers to see the differences in pricing depending on travel date. Alaska says this perk “takes the guesswork” out of booking travel.
3. Monthly Wi-Fi voucher: Alaska Access subscribers get a one-time use voucher discount code for onboard Wi-Fi (usually costs $8).

Alaska said that the idea behind the program was affordability and convenience—it said that the benefits will save subscribers time and money by giving flyers access to early sales and making it easy to see the best time to book a flight.

Time will tell how successful the program is. Alaska already provides free Wi-Fi to T-Mobile users, and corporate travelers, a large percentage of the frequent flyer community, who use travel managers won’t necessarily need personalized fare pages.

Still, consumers who frequent Alaska’s most popular routes, particularly on the West Coast, could opt for access to the convenience the program provides for just $5 per month.