Alaska Airlines Baggage Guarantee

One night this week, I spent way to much time on Alaska Airline's website trying to plan my getaway to Alaska. Before that night, I knew very little about Alaska, but after a few hours doing research, I think I was wrong here to declare US Airways, the best airline for newbies. That is for another post.

One of the things I learned about Alaska Airlines is that they have a baggage guarantee.

A guarantee that within 20 minutes of your plane parking at the gate, you checked bag will be at the baggage carousal. If it takes longer than 20 minutes, you are entitled to a $20 Discount Code for use on a future Alaska Airlines or 2,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan bonus miles. To get either, one needs to see an Alaska Airlines Representative within 2 hour of your plan landing.

One can learn more about their guarantee here.

From my research, Alaska started this guarantee back in 2010. Since it is still available, the airline must not be losing a ton of money due to the guarantee. Why haven't other airlines followed suit with the guarantee? My guess is that they know that they can't do it. It had to come down to the cost, that the guarantee would cost them more than the good.

I very rarely check a bag when I fly. Even if I get a free checked bag, I don't like waiting for my luggage. When I land, I like to be out of the airport as quick as possible. With this guarantee, I may be more likely to check a bag.

Here are the nitty gritty details:

Terms and Conditions

• Baggage Service Guarantee is valid on flights operated by Alaska Airlines (flights 001 - 999), Horizon Air (flights 2000 - 2999), and SkyWest (flights 3450-3499), except for flights arriving from Mexico, and flights between Anchorage and Dutch Harbor.
• Offer is not valid for checked items delivered to the oddsize/oversize baggage claim area (e.g. checked pets, golf clubs, skis, surfboards, assistive devices, firearms).
• Offer is not valid for non-revenue space available travelers, including Alaska Airlines employees and dependents, Guest Pass travelers and employees of other airlines traveling on industry discounted tickets.
• Alaska Airlines reserves the right to suspend the Baggage Service Guarantee in the event of airport baggage system malfunction, severe weather, or other conditions out of the airlines' control that prohibit timely baggage delivery.
• One Baggage Service Guarantee voucher per qualified passenger, for one or more checked bags.
• Baggage Service Guarantee voucher must be redeemed at alaskaair.com by the date provided on the voucher.
• Baggage Service Guarantee vouchers are transferable but may not be redeemed for cash, bartered, or sold.
• If you elect to redeem your Baggage Service Guarantee voucher for Mileage Plan miles, your miles will post to your Mileage Plan account within 3 days.
• $20 Discount Code must be applied at alaskaair.com toward purchase of a ticket on Alaska Airlines by the date provided within the terms and conditions printed on the voucher. Not redeemable at ticket counters or through travel agent.
• Additional terms & conditions apply if you elect to redeem your Baggage Service Guarantee voucher for a Discount Code. Please visit our About Discount Codes page at alaskaair.com for additional information.

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