World Traveller 73 
Review: Alaska Airlines First Class E175, Bellingham – Seattle
Alaska Airlines offers connecting service from Bellingham International Airport to its hub in Seattle Tacoma International Airport Our initial flight today was on Alaska Airlines Embraer 175 aircraft, operated by Skywest Airlines. On this flight, we would experience a smooth and relatively spacious flight from Bellingham to Seattle, and with a minimal amount of First Class service while on board the aircraft.
This post is one chapter on my trip to the Big Island of Hawaii, United States of America. This trip was enhanced through Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. For more information on how this trip was booked, please see our trip introduction. For other parts of the trip, please see this index.
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✈️ Read more from this trip:
- Introduction: Hawaii Five – Oh. A Fiftieth Birthday in Kona, Hawaii, USA via Alaska Airlines First Class
- Alaska Airlines First Class: Bellingham – Seattle
- Alaska Airlines First Class: Seattle – Kona
- My Experience Renting with Hertz President’s Circle: Kona, Hawaii, USA
- The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, Kona, Hawaii, USA
- Climbing in Hawaii’s Volcano National Park, Big Island, Hawaii, USA
- Exploring Nāhuku Lava Tubes, Hawaii Volcano National Park, Big Island, Hawaii, USA
- Restaurant Review: Café Pesto, Hilo, Hawaii, USA
- Restaurant Review: ‘ULU Ocean Grill, Four Seasons Hualalai, Kona, Hawaii, USA
- From Sea Level to 13,845 feet: Driving Up to Hawaii’s Big Island Observatories
- Swimming with Manta’s: The Big Islands’s Manta Rays up Close
- Alaska Airlines First Class: Kona – Seattle
- Alaska Airlines First Class: Seattle – Bellingham
Review: Alaska Airlines First Class E175: Bellingham International Airport – Seattle Tacoma International Airport
This flight was purchased through an Alaska Airlines Famous 2 for 1 Companion Fare. We purchased this flight in upgradable space and received an upgrade to First Class at the time of booking. We credited these flights to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan.
Checking into Alaska Airlines:
Today’s first flight was to depart from Bellingham International Airport. The Bellingham Airport is a small airport that was partially designed to service some Canadian cross border air travellers. Currently, the airport is serviced by Southwest, Allegiant Air, and Alaska Airlines.
We self parked in the economy lot and headed for the Alaska Airlines check in desks. Alaska Airlines continues to occupy space at the far right end of the terminal with prominent Alaska signage.
Despite travelling in Alaska Airlines First Class, and with Alaska Airlines MVP Gold and MVP status (One World Emerald and One World Ruby), our firm Alaska Airlines Agent made us re-pack our sole checked bag as a result of it being 6 lbs overweight. We ended up checking one of the carry on rolling suitcase, which was a bit inconvenient since we then had to lug around MrsWT73’s floppy purse unsupported.
It’s a bit frustrating that Alaska Airlines still operates on the “piece” concept and not the”weight concept”. When compared their fellow competitors at Star Alliance, elite status usually comes with up to 70 lbs of checked baggage weight per bag.
After about fifteen minutes of re-packing and re-sorting, we headed to Bellingham International Airport’s TSA Security Screening check point. Bellingham offers a TSA Pre-Check system, but there is never anyone usually at the check point anyway. It is almost a private security screening experience.
After security screening, we headed over to the Gate “A” area. All of Alaska flights depart from the Gate “A” area.
Alaska Airlines have reduced frequencies to 3x per day. Alaska currently serves Bellingham with an early morning (5 AM), a mid day flight (this review) and an end of day service (10 PM).
Eventually our aircraft arrived and parked at the gate. Strangely, Alaska Airlines uses the same flight number (AS 3400) for this aircraft on the inbound from Seattle to Bellingham, and the outbound returning from Bellingham to Seattle. While this isn’t unheard of, it would mark the first time in recent memory that I’d use the same flight number on the outbound and returning flight.
Alaska Airlines – Operated by Skywest
First Class (U)
BLI – SEA (Bellingham Internationa Airport – Seattle Tacoma International Airport)
AS 3400
August 9, 2023
Booked: Embraer 175
Flown: Embraer 175
Departure: 12:25 PM
Arrival: 1:15 PM
On Board Alaska Airlines First Class:
Alaska Airlines offers pre-boarding to serving and retired members of the military. After that was completed, First Class was given the opportunity to board.
Bellingham International Airport does not offer jet bridges, so we wandered outside to board our aircraft through air stairs (or a ramp in this case) outside on the apron.
As we arrived on board, we settled into Alaska Airlines Embraer 175 First Class Cabin.
The Alaska Airlines First class cabin on the Embraer 175 is set up in a 2 -1 configuration. The seat is relatively spacious for a short flight under three hours.
If you can life without under seat storage in front of you, the bulkhead offers particularly spacious leg room.
On the left hand side of the aircraft, the Embraer 175 offers a single row of seating. I generally find these seats a little exposed, but they are the preferred seats if you happen to be travelling on your own.
Oversized portal windows offer a substantial amount of light into the cabin, despite having less windows along the side of the aircraft.
The Alaska Airlines seats to not offer an in seat back monitor. Alaska Airlines First Class also offers reasonable leg room for a short flight.
Pre-Departure Services:
It is a bit hit or miss getting a pre – departure beverage on Alaska Airlines. In this case, we weren’t offered one. At times, there is a box of water at the seat, although there wasn’t anything there on arrival today.
In Flight Entertainment:
Alaska Airlines offers in phone flight entertainment. This is accessed through the Alaska Airlines home page on the wifi sign in screen.
Alaska offers free messaging.
Food and Beverage:
Like many of it’s other short flights, Alaska Airlines does not offer any food and beverage service for this short 26 minute flight.
I can’t really fault Alaska Airlines for not offering food or beverage on this segment. It’s pretty difficult to serve a whole series of passengers within the short duration of the flight.
Arriving into Seattle Tacoma International Airport:
With a minimal amount of delays, we arrived into Seattle Tacoma International Airport. After landing, we arrived to Gate C2F under bright blue skies.
We had a short walk up the ramp and into the Seattle Tacoma International Airport Terminal where we’d locate our connecting flight.
We headed off to the American Express Centurion Lounge Seattle (which I’ve reviewed previously) before getting onto Alaska Airlines First Class Seattle – Kona and the Big Island of Hawaii.
My Thoughts on Alaska Airlines First Class:
Alaska Airlines First Class service between Bellingham and Seattle was pretty straightforward. For a short twenty six minute flight, we flew in comfort but without and food and beverage service or pre-departure beverage services.
The cabin was more comfort than I needed. Despite this, I wouldn’t expect all to much in the way of First Class services while on board if you find yourself flying this route.
World Traveller 73 
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