Alaska Airlines and Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance Team Up for Connoisseurs

SEATTLE, Dec. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines and Washington's Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance today launched a promotion for travelers using Walla Walla Regional Airport that offers two key benefits to travelers who visit one of the nation's premier wine regions. Called "Taste and Tote," the offering provides Alaska Airlines' passengers exclusive tasting fee waivers at more than 70 renowned Walla Walla wineries as well as waived baggage handling fees on Alaska Airlines for the first case of wine they check to bring home.

Taste and Tote starts today, just in time for the valley's Holiday Barrel Tasting Weekend celebration Dec. 2-4.

"Alaska's partnership with the Walla Walla wine community on this special program makes it easy for connoisseurs to experience some of the best wine the industry has to offer — and also makes it easy for them to take a case home at no additional cost," said Clint Ostler, Alaska Airlines' manager of retail advertising and sponsorships.

Alaska Airlines flies twice daily nonstop between Seattle and Walla Walla Regional Airport and offers convenient one-stop connections from the West Coast.

"In the past, air travelers were required to pay tasting fees at many wineries and also pay a $20 baggage fee to transport a box of wine on outbound flights. We heard time and again from visitors that they either traveled by car to the valley or did not buy wine when they flew, simply because they were not willing to pay the additional fee to transport wine home," said Duane Wollmuth, executive director of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance. "The Taste and Tote program will be a huge plus for generating inbound air travel to Walla Walla and make wine purchases more affordable for out-of-town visitors."

Wine enthusiasts can take advantage of Alaska Airlines' winter fare sale with one-way tickets between Seattle and Walla Walla offered at $50* (seven-day advance purchase required). Tickets must be purchased by Dec. 5 and can be used for travel between Dec. 8 and March 7, 2012. More information, including a complete list of fares, blackout dates, and complete terms and conditions, is available at www.alaskaair.com or by calling 1-800-ALASKAAIR (800-252-7522 or TTY/TDD line 800-392-0228).

In addition to Walla Walla, Alaska Airlines also allows customers to check one box of up to 12 wine bottles free of charge on flights departing from Santa Rosa, Calif.

About Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance
The Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance is a nonprofit wine industry membership organization whose primary mission is marketing the Walla Walla Valley's American Viticultural Area (AVA). The Wine Alliance functions as the leading informational resource for consumers, media and trade interested in learning more about the valley's wine industry. More information about the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance and details of the Taste and Tote program can be found at www.wallawallawine.com.

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.

* General terms and conditions: Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights or all days. Tickets require a 7-day advance purchase. Some markets may not operate daily service. A ticket purchased at an Alaska Airlines airport location or through a reservation call center will cost $15 more per person than the advertised fare. Tickets are nonrefundable. Travelers are responsible for the following taxes and fees: Airport Passenger Facility Charges of up to $9 (amount depends on itinerary), U.S. Federal Segment Tax of $3.70 per segment (takeoff and landing), Sept. 11 Security Fee of $2.50 per enplanement, and U.S. government excise tax of $8.20. A $20 baggage fee will apply for each of the first three checked bags. Additional fees apply to check more than three bags and for overweight or oversized items. Club 49 members (www.alaskaair.com/club49) are allowed to check two bags at no charge when traveling on Alaska Airlines to or from Alaska. All customers traveling solely within the state of Alaska may check three bags free of charge. Other restrictions — such as day of week, blackout dates and advance purchase requirements — may apply. See www.alaskaair.com or call Alaska Airlines reservations at 1-800-ALASKAAIR for more information.

SOURCE Alaska Airlines