Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) and Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) are battling for the hearts and minds of potential customers in the Seattle area. Delta has been adding billboards and ads around town and even ads on the deck floors of the Puget Sound ferries telling everyone it is now Seattle’s hometown “international” airline.
Alaska is fighting back with Russell Wilson, the third year champion quarterback for the hometown Seattle Seahawks. Seattle is football crazy town. The Seahawks defend their Superbowl championship starting tomorrow night as the National Football League kicks off the 2014 season in (where else?) Seattle.
Copyright Photo: NFL Shop. The authentic Number 3 Seattle Seahawks jersey will set you back $149.95.
Starting today any passenger wearing Russell’s Number 3 Seattle Seahawks jersey (above) will get early boarding. Don’t try this with Delta in Seattle, as Russell has signed a promotional deal with Alaska Airlines as Alaska’s “Chief Football Officer”.
Fans back the team by also wearing the “12” jersey as the “12th man”. No word from Alaska on whether wearing the 12 jersey will get you early boarding.
Alaska Airlines has issued this statement:
Customers wearing star NFL quarterback Russell Wilson’s Number 3 jersey will be able to board early on Seattle-departing Alaska Airlines flights starting on September 3. The promotion, which began during the team’s playoff run last year, is good through the duration of the Seahawks’ 2014 NFL football season.
“We’re thrilled to kick off the 2014 football season by bringing back priority boarding for fans wearing the jersey of our ‘Chief Football Officer’ Russell Wilson,” said Joe Sprague, Alaska Airlines’ senior vice president of communications and external relations. “This year Alaska Airlines is hoping to bring even more blue and green to the skies. In addition to early boarding, we’re making travel to away games a little more affordable for 12s who wish to join us in supporting our hometown team wherever they play.”
Starting today football fans can follow Wilson and the Seahawks on the road this season and receive 10 percent off airfare to select away games.
Select away games include:
Sept. 14 game in San Diego
Oct. 6 game in Washington, D.C.
Oct. 19 game in Saint Louis
Nov. 16 game in Kansas City
Dec. 7 game in Philadelphia
Copyright Photo: Alaska Airlines. Russell Wilson addressing the employees of Alaska Airlines.
These promotions are part of an exclusive multi-year partnership between Alaska Airlines and the Seahawk’s star quarterback. Since being named Alaska’s “Chief Football Officer” last December, Wilson has appeared at several exclusive events in Seattle, has been featured in four television commercials and had a plane dedicated in his honor . In addition, Alaska has supported a number of youth and education programs including the Russell Wilson Passing Academy, which provides inner-city and underprivileged youths an opportunity to attend football camp with the star quarterback.
Copyright Photo: Alaska Airlines.
Wilson and Alaska Airlines enjoy a relationship that began in 2013 after his rookie year in the National Football League. Wilson and Alaska have since teamed up to inspire youths to finish school and accomplish their goals. An event last summer— dubbed “Pledge It. Prove It. Take Flight “— attracted more than 600 students from 21 high schools in Western Washington, who heard from Wilson and employees of Alaska Airlines and its regional carrier, Horizon Air, about careers in aviation.
Copyright Photos: Alaska Airlines.
Alaska Airlines Aircraft Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Video: Alaska Airlines: We’ve enlisted the support of our Chief Football Officer Russell Wilson to design a training camp that only he could imagine. Wilson, the starting quarterback for the champion Seattle Seahawks, led Alaska employees through a high-stepping obstacle course, a lost teddy bear running drill, snack delivery accuracy training – #snackuracy – and more.