oh the humanity
Kelly -- Alaska Airlines wants to fly wherever you want to go. The "catch" is they need to fill planes when they do that. I fly it if Bellingham where they no longer have flights to PDX (my preferred airport for changing planes), do I either change planes in Seattle (adding at least an hour and usually two or more to my itinerary) it I drive an hour to Paine Field. The hub and spoke system (which may have you flying out of your way) is still more efficient for filling airplanes -- translating into higher profits and a lower overall carbon footprint -- than flying half empty planes direct to your destination. Your inconvenience (flying north to fly south) is still better for the environment than flying direct if they don't fill the planes. Trust me, Alaska would much rather fly you direct, but they need more customers to do that...
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