As a South Florida resident and oneworld frequent flyer, here’s a new route I’m pretty excited about.
In this post:
Alaska Airlines adds second route to Miami
In June 2022, Alaska Airlines launched a route between Seattle (SEA) and Miami (MIA). Prior to that, the airline consolidated all of its South Florida flying in Fort Lauderdale (FLL). I was happy to see the expansion to Miami:
- While technically co-terminal, I’d consider Miami and Fort Lauderdale to be different markets; I won’t fly out of Fort Lauderdale unless the savings are significant
- With Alaska and American both being in oneworld and having a close partnership, it made sense for Alaska to serve an American hub
I guess service to Miami has proven a success, as the airline is now launching a second route to the airport, as flagged by @IshrionA. As of November 17, 2023, Alaska will add a daily, year-round nonstop flight between Portland (PDX) and Miami (MIA).
Between November 17, 2023, and January 7, 2024, the flight will operate with the following schedule:
AS441 Portland to Miami departing 10:00PM arriving 6:40AM (+1 day)
AS440 Miami to Portland departing 8:00AM arriving 11:45AM
Then as of January 8, 2024, the flight will operate with the following schedule:
AS441 Portland to Miami departing 9:00AM arriving 5:40PM
AS440 Miami to Portland departing 6:45PM arriving 10:30PM
The 2,700-mile flight is blocked at 5hr40min eastbound and 6hr45min westbound. Alaska will use a Boeing 737-900 for the route (the airline uses 737-900ERs and 737 MAX 9s interchangeably, so it could be either).
I’m looking forward to this new route!
While Alaska Airlines doesn’t have any “premium” configured aircraft with flat beds, I find Alaska first class to be better than the competition in terms of legroom, service quality, and food & beverage offerings. I’ve always enjoyed my flights on Alaska, and would take this new route in a heartbeat (either via a reasonable paid first class fare, or hopefully via an upgrade as an AAdvantage Executive Platinum member).
Living in Miami, this route could be a good option whether traveling to Portland, or connecting beyond there, either to somewhere in the Pacific Northwest or Hawaii.
As someone who wakes up and goes to bed early (we’re talking very early), I think the schedule change that kicks in as of January 2024 is pretty noteworthy:
- With the initial schedule, personally I love the westbound flight times, as I like the early departure and arrival; however, I wouldn’t take the flight in the other direction, as I avoid redeyes whenever possible
- With the schedule as of early 2024, I love the eastbound flight times, thanks to the early departure and reasonable arrival time; however, the westbound flight is too late for my liking, as I’d rather not land at 1:30AM Miami time (that’s closer to when I’d ordinarily wake up than when I’d ordinarily go to sleep)
Bottom line
As of November 2023, Alaska Airlines will launch a new route between Portland and Miami. This follows Alaska launching a Seattle to Miami route in mid-2022, meaning we’ll soon have two daily Alaska flights to the airport. I’m happy to see Alaska add more service to South Florida, and look forward to taking this flight.
What do you make of Alaska’s new Portland to Miami route?
AS has a seasonal flight from PDX to FLL which is what I prefer, traffic in Miami especially to the airport is just awful and I find MIA always chaotic. This is good news though that AS is flying PDX-MIA year round, I won't have to connect in SEA if I'm flying to South Florida between June and October.
Yes perfect I'm so glad finally nonstop.
Hooray! I’ve achieved LIFETIME status with AA some 5 years ago and will definitely use the flights to visit family in PDX. Will wait until new schedule in January because it’s a more civilized schedule to me. I avoid red eye flights
I personally prefer the former schedule. The latter schedule is too interrupting during peak hours of the day/evening.
This route will do very well. I am surprised AA has not given it a shot.
The 2nd timings after the new year are much better and provide better connectivity to AA (especially Caribbean and short haul South Am).
The original timings are limited for connectivity in MIA.
The schedule is only through top of January. Then switches to morning departure from PDX/evening from MIA.
This post made me think: are there any widebody transcons any more? When I started flying in the mid-90s and on into the 2000s, I regularly flew wide from Atlanta to the west coast. My first ever widebody was a L-1011 (probably still my all-time favorite plane) from ATL to LAX. I have flown 767s from ATL to DFW, SLC, LAX, and SEA (I think). 6h is a long time in a narrowbody, though I...
This post made me think: are there any widebody transcons any more? When I started flying in the mid-90s and on into the 2000s, I regularly flew wide from Atlanta to the west coast. My first ever widebody was a L-1011 (probably still my all-time favorite plane) from ATL to LAX. I have flown 767s from ATL to DFW, SLC, LAX, and SEA (I think). 6h is a long time in a narrowbody, though I suppose once you are in your seat, especially if in economy, it really doesn't matter much.
Delta still flies 767 and United still flies the 777.
Historically even 747 flew transcon.
At the other end of size, it's a matter of time before the A220 flies transcon.
Clarify: A220 does fly them already on few transcon, what I mean is they over take 737 and 320 as majority on transcons.
American used to operate a lot of the MIA-LAX frequencies with 777/767s. Now it’s down to one per day each direction, and there’s none loaded for September onwards. I’m flying back from SYD via LAX and dreading a 5 hour recliner seat red eye after all that travel
AS needs to up it's transcon experience.
I'm not expecting flatbeds, but at least bring it on par to VX.
I can’t think of two cities that are more different from each other.
Portland has the same issues as any big city, but it's great, despite what exaggerated media likes to portray.
They also added JFK-PSP on Dec 14 which is really odd to have a non hub flight to the east coast (SAN is a defecto hub)
Demand from JFK to PSP from mid-December until the end of April is very high. The only game in town has been B6 with a redeye, and its ontime performance on the route has been abysmal. Alaska is a major player in PSP especially in-season. Also, given its relationship with AA - which represents another huge pocket of AA elites in this market - I'm betting this flight flies full all winter long.
Not sure flying all the way to Portland (or Seattle) makes sense from Miami if you are connecting to Hawaii. As an AA flyer you have a choice of more sensible connections (DFW, PHX, LAX)...
But think of the cruise ship traffic out of MIA for PDX residents
Ben - despite the City of Portland being a complete dumpster fire, the Oregon Coast, wine country, Bend and the Columbia River Gorge remain terrific places to visit. LMK if you need ideas for a review trip.
Agreed. The Pacific Northwest is just a gorgeous part of the country. I had a chance to take a job out there about 15 years ago but I just could not do it. Just too far from home (ATL).
While it's fun to write sensational things online, the reality is that *parts* of Portland are dumpster fires (literally). The vast majority of the city is great and getting better. There's still work to do, however!
Hey everyone! This isn't true. We have a highly visible homeless population, but despite what the news says, Portland remains an incredibly safe city by American standards. It is also an adult playground with the food, wine, beer, cannabis, coast, and mountains aplenty. Come. You'll enjoy yourself.
No, Portland represents an unbridled failure from a governance perspective and deniers like you continue to exacerbate the problems by failing to acknowledge and in turn deal with them. Enjoy your massive taxes and urban blight. I’ll be up in Vantucky.
Great news! Especially after the schedule change in January.
Portland isn’t a dumpster fire. It is addressing its problems and is significantly cleaned up from this time last year.