Alaska Airlines is stepping up its initiatives aimed at business customers. The latest example: the airline has decided to connect its frequent flyer programme Mileage Plan à Clear Plus. Frequent travellers will be able to join this system at a reduced rate. ticket-breaker based on biometrics. Clear Plus is a pay-as-you-go programme that allows members to pass through security checks more quickly using biometric identification based on retina or fingerprints. So there's no need to take out your identity papers. After passing through a dedicated kiosk, Clear members are escorted by a programme 'ambassador' through a dedicated queue to the TSA checkpoint. The Clear network covers no fewer than 52 US airports. The discount offered by Alaska Airlines to members is relatively small. The annual subscription costs 179 $ - a saving of around ten dollars - but this new connection between the two programmes should also earn travellers miles when they join and renew.
" Our customers tell us that it's important for them to have the best possible experience when they travel with us, and that includes saving time at the airport.says Shane Jones, Vice President Business Development at Alaska Airlines. Our frequent flyers are already big fans of CLEAR Plus. With a discounted membership for all Mileage Plan members, we believe more of our customers will appreciate this valuable travel benefit. ".
It should be noted that the partners are planning to go even further, having already announced: " This is the first stage a partnership to accelerate the adoption of digital identity and eliminate friction along the journey ".
Trade fairs that are thinking bigger
In parallel with this announcement, the airline's strategy to renovate its airport lounges has resulted in the reopening of the lounge located within the hall D of the Seattle. Since 21 JuneThis lounge, described as "historically the most popular" - and which had not undergone a complete renovation for two decades - now has 50 % more seats. A barista area has been added, in particular to enable travellers in a hurry to grab an espresso on the flight before reaching their boarding gate.
The airline's upgraded lounges are not confined to Concourse D at Seattle airport: the Concourse C lounge has also been enlarged, with almost 300 m² and 60 additional seats. And other inaugurations are on the Alaska Airlines flight plan. " We still have a lot to do in the coming years "the company warns. " In San Francisco, we are finalising plans for a new lounge in Harvey Milk Terminal 1, as we will be moving our operations to this part of the airport in 2024. The brand new Flagship Lounge in Portland - in the spirit of our award-winning Flagship Lounge at Seattle's N Concourse - is due to open around 2025-26, with a space of over 900 m². ". Alaska Airlines estimates that over the last five years it has doubled the size of its lounges and invested 30 million their move upmarket.
