Alaska Airlines and Starbucks Team Up to Serve Freshly Brewed Coffee Onboard

SEATTLE, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines begins serving freshly brewed Starbucks® coffee today to customers onboard all flights.

"We're proud to offer customers premium coffee from the world's most well-known coffee brand and are thrilled to team up with another hometown company from Seattle," said Joe Sprague, Alaska Airlines' vice president of marketing. "We strive to provide our customers with high-quality food and beverages from local companies and are excited to add Starbucks coffee onboard our flights."

This collaboration reflects Alaska Airlines' longstanding commitment to offer customers high-quality, locally produced food and beverages, including well-known favorites such as Beecher's cheese, Tim's Cascade potato chips and Alaskan Amber beer.

"Starbucks is passionate about providing customers with the unique Starbucks Experience wherever they are, including onboard Alaska Airlines flights," said Doug Satzman, vice president, Channel Development – Branded Solutions for Starbucks. "We are delighted to forge this relationship with Alaska Airlines and to serve Starbucks-brewed coffee to their travelers."

With today's announcement, Alaska joins its sister carrier, Horizon Air, in offering customers complimentary freshly brewed Starbucks® coffee onboard all its flights. Horizon Air became the first airline in the world to serve Starbucks® coffee onboard its flights 22 years ago today on Feb. 1, 1990. Alaska and Horizon together serve more than 5 million cups of freshly brewed coffee on their flights each year.

"Travel Tuesday" free* ticket giveaway

To celebrate this collaboration, Alaska Airlines will host a sponsored event in the afternoon at select West Coast Starbucks stores each Tuesday in February. For one hour, customers at each store can text-to-win* one of five pairs of roundtrip tickets anywhere the carrier flies and enjoy a tall drip coffee, compliments of Alaska Airlines. Store locations and time will be announced to customers on Alaska Airlines' Facebook page and Twitter profile as part of #TravelTuesday, the day of the week thousands of people trade travel tips and stories over social media channels. One store location and the time will be revealed on Twitter and Facebook every Tuesday at 8 a.m. Pacific standard time in the following cities:

• Feb. 7 in Seattle
• Feb. 14 in Portland, Ore.
• Feb. 21 in San Diego
• Feb. 28 in San Jose, Calif.

Note to media: A high resolution photograph of the Starbuck's® coffee cup that will be served onboard Alaska Airlines' flights is available for download from the airline's online newsroom image gallery at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

About Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 North America Airline Satisfaction Studies(SM). For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

About Starbucks Corporation

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest-quality arabica coffee in the world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.com.

* "Travel Tuesday" text-to-win offer restrictions:  The contest is open to all legal U.S. residents, 18 years of age and older, who hold a valid driver's license. Entry instructions will be provided at each store location by an Alaska Airlines representative. Cellular text message and data rates apply. Winners will be notified by phone and text message within 24 hours of each store event. Void where prohibited by law. One entry per person. Employees or agents of (a) Alaska Airlines and affiliated companies, (b) Hipcricket, (c) Starbucks Coffee Company, any entity associated with the sponsorship or conduct of the contest, as well as members of the same household of any such employee or agent, may not participate in the contest. Travel is good for one year from the time the prize letter is issued. Travel is valid solely on Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air flights. Changes to itinerary cannot be made without authorization from issuer and without service fees. Passengers are responsible for baggage fees. Mileage Plan accrual not allowed. First class paid upgrades are allowed. Prize is void if bartered or sold. For complete rules including blackout dates and baggage fees, visit http://bit.ly/TravelTuesday.

SOURCE Alaska Airlines