After acquiring Virgin America, Alaska Airlines is now the fifth largest domestic airline. Both carriers have large hubs on the West Coast, therefore they provide great coverage of the western United States and Canada. This winter season, Alaska boarding passes can be exchanged for free chairlift tickets at many popular ski resorts the West has to offer.
Terms vary from resort to resort, including certain departure cities and destination airports serving the area. For more details on which routes are covered, click here.
Alyeska Resort – Anchorage, Alaska (ANC)
Present your same-day boarding pass and enjoy free skiing Monday through Friday. Eligible flights are from Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, and Spokane.
Mammoth Mountain Ski Area – Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (MMH)
Show your Alaska Airlines boarding pass at any ticket window on the day of departure and receive a full day ski pass. Eligible flights are from Los Angeles and San Diego.
Squaw Valley Ski Resort / Alpine Meadows Ski Resort – Reno, Nev. (RNO)
Present you same-day boarding pass with a photo I.D. and receive a free afternoon pass for the day of arrival. Eligible routes are from Boise, Orange County, Portland, San Jose, and Seattle.
Steamboat Ski Resort – Hayden, Colo. (HDN)
Receive a free day of skiing on your departure date after presenting a boarding pass for travel from San Diego or Seattle.
Schweitzer Mountain – Spokane, Wash. (GEG)
Show your boarding pass and receive a free ski pass on the day of arrival.
Sun Valley Resort – Hailey, Idaho (SUN)
Fly from Los Angeles or Portland and receive a free sports package rental from Pete Lane’s Mountain Sports or a 50-percent discount on group lessons the day after arrival. If you fly from Seattle, you can also choose a free pass the day you arrive.
Whitefish Mountain Resort – Kalispell, Mont. (FCA)
If you fly from either Portland or Seattle, simply show your boarding pass at a ticket window and ski free on the day of your departure.
Mount Bachelor Ski Resort – Redmond, Ore. (RDM)
Fly to Roberts Field airport from either Portland or Seattle and receive a lift ticket valid for the arrival date, plus a ski or snowboard equipment rental package.
Snowbasin – Salt Lake City (SLC)
Fly to Utah from Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle or Spokane between Monday and Wednesday and receive a free lift ticket for the day after your arrival.
Big White Ski Resort – Kelowna, B.C. (YLW)
Fly from Seattle to Kelowna, B.C., and ski for free the day of arrival with your matching I.D.
Marmot Basin – Edmonton, Alta. (YEG)
Seattle-based skiers must present their Alaska boarding pass to receive a free full-day ticket on departure date or purchase a three-day lift ticket for the price of a two-day lift ticket.
Red Mountain Resort – Spokane, Wash. (GEG)
Located in Rossland, B.C., Red Mountain Resort offers skiers from Anchorage, Boise, Portland and Seattle a free lift ticket valid between Dec. 10 and April 2. There are no blackout dates, but the offer is valid for flights landing in Spokane only.