Alaska Offers Holiday Tips to Travelers.

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 22, 1999--

Alaska Airlines offers the following tips to travelers to ease their travels this holiday season:

1. Check in at an Instant Travel(TM) Machine (ITM). If you purchased

an electronic ticket, you can bypass the ticket counter by

checking in at one of Alaska's 200-plus ITMs, located at airports

throughout Alaska's route system. Just enter your confirmation

code or insert the credit card you purchased your ticket with,

and you'll receive your boarding pass in no time at all.

2. Check in via the Internet. If you purchased your ticket at

www.alaskaair.com, you can check in via the Internet from the

convenience of your home or office if your flight is departing 

the same day and if you plan to carry on all luggage.

3. Pack smart. Be sure to pack essential items like prescription

medication, passports, etc., in your carry on luggage. Because

planes are typically full during the holidays, remember that the

carry-on luggage limit is two bags, including large purses,

briefcases, laptop computers and knapsacks. Overhead bins can

fill fast on full flights, so be sure that at least one of your

carry-on bags fits beneath the seat in front of you.

4. ID your luggage. Be sure to clearly identify all your luggage

with baggage tags. It's also a good idea to place your business

card inside each piece of luggage in case your baggage tags are

accidentally removed. Include your name, address and phone

number, as well as a phone number where you can be reached at

your destination.

5. Don't wrap gifts. Instead, wrap them once you get to your

destination. Heightened security at the nation's airports might

require you to open wrapped gifts for inspection. If you must

wrap gifts before you depart, place them in your checked luggage

only.

6. Check your flight status. Sometimes flight times change for

weather-related or mechanical reasons. You can check your

flight's status before you leave for the airport by phone by

calling 1-800-ALASKAAIR, or better yet, over the Internet at

www.alaskaair.com.

7. Get there early. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get

to the airport and check in. A good rule of thumb over the

holidays is to plan to be at the airport at least one-and-a-half

hours before domestic flights and two hours before international

flights. Cut it too close, and you might lose your seat

assignment, or worse yet, your seat. And remember, aircraft doors

usually are closed three minutes before the scheduled departure

time.

8. In excess? If you're planning to bring along excess luggage, pets

or oversized items such as skis, snowboards or golf clubs, be

sure to check ahead to make sure those items conform to airline

requirements.

9. Catch a ride. Airport parking garages are extremely congested 

during the holidays, especially at airports with active

construction. If possible catch a ride to the airport or park at

satellite parking lots nearby.

10. Curb your bags. If you have luggage to check, take the easy way

out and check it curbside. That way, you'll easily bypass the

ticket counter. And at some curbside locations, you can check in

at an ITM.

Alaska serves 42 destinations in Alaska, Canada, Mexico and five Western states. Recently, readers of Travel & Leisure and Conde' Nast Traveler named Alaska the "World's Best Domestic Airline" and the nation's best major airline respectively. For reservations, call your travel agent, or call Alaska's toll-free reservation line at 1-800-ALASKAAIR (800/252-7522). Or visit Alaska Airlines on the Internet at www.alaskaair.com.