SEATTLE- Alaska Airlines (AS) global partner STARLUX Airlines (JX) inaugurated nonstop service between Seattle (SEA) and Taipei (TPE). The premium carrier operates the route thrice weekly, offering connections to numerous Asian destinations from Taipei.
Passengers can now book STARLUX flights from Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco to Taipei directly through the Alaska Airlines website. Alaska Airlines plans to launch a codeshare partnership with STARLUX, enhancing the seamless travel experience.
Alaska Airlines Starlux Codeshare
Mileage Plan members earn elite qualifying miles on STARLUX flights when purchasing tickets through Alaska Airlines. They can also redeem miles for STARLUX flights.
STARLUX’s Taipei hub connects to over 20 Asian destinations, including cities in Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Macau, Hong Kong, and Japan.
Brett Catlin, Vice President of Loyalty, Alliances, and Sales at Alaska Airlines, highlighted STARLUX’s industry-leading product and onboard service.
He noted that STARLUX’s arrival in Seattle brings the number of Alaska’s global partners serving their hometown hub to 13, reinforcing Alaska’s position as the carrier with the most daily flights and destinations on the West Coast.
Seattle: Gateway to the US
STARLUX CEO Glenn Chai highlights Seattle’s strategic importance in their U.S. expansion plan. The partnership with Alaska Airlines enables connections from over 100 U.S. cities to Asia Pacific via West Coast hubs.
STARLUX initiated transpacific operations with Los Angeles in April 2023, followed by San Francisco in December 2023. These routes, along with Seattle, serve as key gateways for Alaska Airlines’ network.
The Seattle-Taipei route utilizes STARLUX’s Airbus A350, featuring a four-cabin configuration: First (4 seats), Business (26 seats), Premium Economy (36 seats), and Economy (240 seats). This diverse seating arrangement caters to various passenger preferences for the 6,000+ mile journey.
STARLUX emphasizes luxury on transpacific flights, offering in-cabin aromatherapy and Michelin-rated meals. First and Business classes provide private spaces with sliding doors and fully flat seats with Zero-G mode. Premium Economy features extra legroom with 40-inch RECARO seats, while Economy offers comfortable leather headrests and a wide seat pitch.
All passengers enjoy 4K personal screens for in-flight entertainment. STARLUX’s dining service includes Taiwanese signature dishes, with an option for passengers to pre-order meals online.
New Terminal at Portland
Alaska Airlines partners with Portland International Airport (PDX) to unveil a renovated terminal, implementing new technology to streamline passenger experiences. The airline aims to process guests through the lobby and security in five minutes or less, marking Portland as the first location for this innovative approach.
Charu Jain, senior vice president of innovation and merchandising at Alaska Airlines, notes that 90% of passengers now check-in before arriving at the airport. This shift enables the implementation of a “lobby of the future” concept, simplifying bag drop-offs and expediting lobby transit.
The airline introduces custom Apple iPad-powered bag tag stations, allowing passengers to print tags by scanning mobile boarding passes. Alaska Airlines collaborates with Embross to deploy Automated Bag Drop stations, which scan and accept checked baggage while securely matching travelers to government-issued IDs without agent intervention.
Alaska Airlines has maintained its position as Portland’s largest carrier for over two decades, with continued growth. Flights operated by Alaska and Horizon Air have increased by 17% from 2023 to 2024, offering 110 peak daily flights to 55 nonstop destinations. The airline exclusively serves 29 of these locations, providing critical transportation links to smaller cities and communities.
Recent network expansions include new nonstop services to Miami and Nashville from Portland. Alaska Airlines plans to add nonstop flights to Atlanta and New Orleans in the coming months, further enhancing its route network from Portland International Airport.
What are your thoughts on Strulux and Alaska Airlines’ new partnership? Let us know in the comments.
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