• Through October 31st, 2020, middle seats are blocked and flights will be capped at 65% capacity to allow for extra space between guests not traveling together.
• Families or couples wanting to sit together can make the request with reservations in advance or at the airport on the day of travel.
• There can be limited occasions where extra space cannot be guaranteed due to unforeseen changes such as reaccommodating guests from a previously canceled flight.
• If you’re uncomfortable with the distance between you and others on your day of flight, please speak with a customer service agent about your options.

I’d be curious to see what happens for that third bullet point, about rescheduling from cancelled flights, etc. Most of the flights that I’ve looked at show that the flights are leaving fairly empty when they do fly, so chances are you’re going to have plenty of opportunity to socially distance.

Alaska’s new Bulkhead, from Alaska Airlines

Onboard Service

Many airlines are using this Covid pandemic as a chance to cut costs under the guise of reduced touch points and interactions between clients. Sure, I get that handing out a bottle of water is easier and requires less work, but at the same time, you could also hand me a can of beer or a bottle of wine.

Nonetheless, there are ways to do service differently under covid. Alaska has taken a fairly direct and stark approach. Expect snacks in first class and water in coach. If you want something else, be prepared to bring it yourself.

Gone are the days of cheers in glasses with alcohol onboard.

• Our food and beverage service on board has been reduced to limit interaction. We encourage you to bring your own food and your own water bottle to fill before you fly.
• We’ve also taken all the great information in the seatback collateral and made it available on your own device through our Inflight Entertainment System.
• The CDC recommends our employees wear gloves for cleaning, taking care of anyone who might be sick or handling trash—but not for normal duties. We will continue making sure our crew always has the proper gear and guidance to ensure top-notch hygiene.

Predeparture beverage

Flights longer than 350 miles:

• First Class: A wide range of beverages and packaged snacks. On flights of more than 670 miles, fruit and cheese platters are back!
• Premium Class: Individual bottled water, soda, tea, juice, sealed can of beer, wine, a packaged snack
• Main Cabin: Water, juice, coffee, tea, or soda.
• We have temporarily suspended pre-order meals.

Certain Types of Masks are Required

• No mask? No travel. Per Alaska Airlines policy, a cloth face mask or covering is required for the duration of your flight, including boarding and deplaning. Effective August 7, 2020, mask exceptions apply only to children under the age of 2 (in alignment with CDC age guidelines). If you are unable to wear a mask throughout the airport and for the duration of your flight for any reason, you will not be able to fly with us. This is for the safety of all guests and employees.
• If you forgot your mask at home, we have them available upon request.
• Your mask or face covering must cover your nose and mouth and should only be removed when briefly eating or drinking. Masks with valves, mesh material or holes of any kind will not be allowed.
• Guests who repeatedly refuse to wear a mask or face covering will be given a final warning—in the form of a yellow card—and may be suspended from flying with us for a period of time. Read more about mask enforcement.
• Individual hand-sanitizer wipes are available on board. At our airports, we’re rolling out additional hand-sanitizing stations in check-in lobbies and gate areas.