Dec 30, 2020, 7:30 pm
Last edit by: dayone
Edited to add: Glassware and warm nuts returned to First Class on November 4, 2021.
Updated August 2021 at https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...ightExperience
Shockingly good in F from KOA-SEA today, 8/2 AS854. That would be a Taro/Ube (couldn’t tell) roll, with the beef filet, salad, and a sort of passionfruit cake. Normally meals are decent, good microwave quality, but today was awesome. Great job Alaska! We did not get a cookie but perhaps the cake makes up for that.
Updated August 2021 at https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...ightExperience
First Class
Beverages
- Coca-Cola®, Diet Coke™, Sprite®, ginger ale, seltzer water
- Orange juice
- Starbucks® Pike Place® Roast coffee
- Teavana® Royal English Breakfast Tea, Teavana® Mint Majesty Herbal Tea
- Boxed Water
Alcohol and mixers
- Fremont Brewing Lush IPA
- Kona Brewing Longboard Island Lager
- Broken Earth El Pasado Red Blend, California
- Canoe Ridge The Expedition Chardonnay, Washington
- Tito’s Handmade Vodka
- Woodford Reserve Bourbon
- Jack Daniel’s Whiskey
- Tanqueray London Dry Gin
- Bailey’s Irish Cream
- Bloody Mary mix
- Tonic water
Food
- Snack basket with assortment of individually wrapped sweet and savory snacks
Food – Available on trips 670–1,099 miles operated by Alaska and on all Horizon and SkyWest flights
Pre-order recommended, departing 5:00 am – 8:00 pm- Choice between two cold entrees
- Signature Fruit & Cheese Platter available as pre-order option
Food – Available on trips over 1,100 miles operated by Alaska
Pre-order recommended, departing 5:00 am – 8:00 pm- Choice between two hot entrees
- Signature Fruit & Cheese Platter available as pre-order option
Date: 8/10/21
Route: DCA-LAX
Flight No.: 5
Departure Time: 9:15
Menu: No
Meal Description: Breakfast - caramelized onion frittata with bacon, sweet potatoes, spinach, a button mushroom, warm raisin roll with butter, fruit salad, and Greek yogurt.
Other options: kale breakfast bowl or fruit and cheese plate.
Snack basket was offered once and then packed away.
Overall, this was a great meal.
Route: DCA-LAX
Flight No.: 5
Departure Time: 9:15
Menu: No
Meal Description: Breakfast - caramelized onion frittata with bacon, sweet potatoes, spinach, a button mushroom, warm raisin roll with butter, fruit salad, and Greek yogurt.
Other options: kale breakfast bowl or fruit and cheese plate.
Snack basket was offered once and then packed away.
Overall, this was a great meal.
Date: 8/10/21
Route: LAX-DCA
Flight Number: 6
Departure time: 13:00
Menu: Yes
Meal description (if given): Chicken (sorry, I don't remember the description)
Snack basket offered: Yes (left in the galley for open F use)
Options: Chicken or Risotto, I chose chicken.
The chicken breast was dry, as expected, but still tasty. The saffron rice and lemon meringue were very good. Still better than what most other airlines are serving these days. No cookies were offered on the flight.
Route: LAX-DCA
Flight Number: 6
Departure time: 13:00
Menu: Yes
Meal description (if given): Chicken (sorry, I don't remember the description)
Snack basket offered: Yes (left in the galley for open F use)
Options: Chicken or Risotto, I chose chicken.
The chicken breast was dry, as expected, but still tasty. The saffron rice and lemon meringue were very good. Still better than what most other airlines are serving these days. No cookies were offered on the flight.
Date: 8/7/21
Route: SEA-FAI
Flight Number: 1465
Departure time: 11:46AM
Menu: No
Meal description (if given): Miso Marinated Cod: "Alaskan cod marinated in white miso and rice wine. Served with a sesame-garlic farro pilaf, sauteed yu choy with bell peppers and shiitake mushrooms, and a sesame-miso butter sauce.
Snack basket offered: Yes
I thought the cod was...fine? To me it seemed mildly flavored and the cod was cooked well and not dry. Overall, it tasted like a lighter/healthier meal. Also, mine definitely looked less black than the one in gold10829's post. Our F/A also wrote different quotes for each of our meals which I thought was interesting.
No plated dessert meant the cookies came out, which ended up being southern toffee with nuts (maybe pecans?), and as expected, delicious.
Route: SEA-FAI
Flight Number: 1465
Departure time: 11:46AM
Menu: No
Meal description (if given): Miso Marinated Cod: "Alaskan cod marinated in white miso and rice wine. Served with a sesame-garlic farro pilaf, sauteed yu choy with bell peppers and shiitake mushrooms, and a sesame-miso butter sauce.
Snack basket offered: Yes
I thought the cod was...fine? To me it seemed mildly flavored and the cod was cooked well and not dry. Overall, it tasted like a lighter/healthier meal. Also, mine definitely looked less black than the one in gold10829's post. Our F/A also wrote different quotes for each of our meals which I thought was interesting.
No plated dessert meant the cookies came out, which ended up being southern toffee with nuts (maybe pecans?), and as expected, delicious.
Date: 8/7/21
Route: PAE-SAN
Flight Number: AS2179
Departure time: 7:15
Menu: No
Meal description (if given): unsure
Snack basket offered (Y/N): yes
Upgraded 5 hours prior to departure.
power up platter was only option - description “dried fruits, walnuts, grain-free granola, and milk”
Route: PAE-SAN
Flight Number: AS2179
Departure time: 7:15
Menu: No
Meal description (if given): unsure
Snack basket offered (Y/N): yes
Upgraded 5 hours prior to departure.
power up platter was only option - description “dried fruits, walnuts, grain-free granola, and milk”
Date: 8/1/21
Route: ATL-SEA
Flight Number: 745
Departure time: 17:40
Menu: No
Meal description (if given): Dinner
Snack basket offered: Yes
Options: Miso Marinated Cod or a Ravioli. I chose the cod
Cod was really dry. However couldn’t complain as I was hungry. Snack basket came out 1 hour prior to arrival. Cookie was given shortly after meal was cleared
Route: ATL-SEA
Flight Number: 745
Departure time: 17:40
Menu: No
Meal description (if given): Dinner
Snack basket offered: Yes
Options: Miso Marinated Cod or a Ravioli. I chose the cod
Cod was really dry. However couldn’t complain as I was hungry. Snack basket came out 1 hour prior to arrival. Cookie was given shortly after meal was cleared
Date: 7/28/21
Route: SEA-ATL
Flight Number: 442
Departure time: 16:14
Menu: No (preorder available 2.5 weeks out)
Meal description (if given): “Snack” but it was dinner
Snack basket offered: Yes
Options: Clementine Chicken or a Risotto I think (?). I got the chicken. Rice was somewhat over cooked, chicken required use of salt and pepper.
cookie handed out 1 hour prior to arrival. Snack basket came out
Route: SEA-ATL
Flight Number: 442
Departure time: 16:14
Menu: No (preorder available 2.5 weeks out)
Meal description (if given): “Snack” but it was dinner
Snack basket offered: Yes
Options: Clementine Chicken or a Risotto I think (?). I got the chicken. Rice was somewhat over cooked, chicken required use of salt and pepper.
cookie handed out 1 hour prior to arrival. Snack basket came out
Shockingly good in F from KOA-SEA today, 8/2 AS854. That would be a Taro/Ube (couldn’t tell) roll, with the beef filet, salad, and a sort of passionfruit cake. Normally meals are decent, good microwave quality, but today was awesome. Great job Alaska! We did not get a cookie but perhaps the cake makes up for that.
will go back to the omelette definitelyJust completed LAX-DCA, another flight I purchased in first for $191 using the “QUEENJEAN” code last December. An excellent value.
Drinks were served with a decent sized bag of Chex mix, which was pretty good. I enjoyed a few of the Fremont Lush IPA. I’d pre-ordered the Roasted Chicken Clementine which is pictured below. It was pretty decent tho unremarkable and came with a lemon meringue tart. Service was very good and professional with a pass of the snack basket around an hour out of DCA.
Drinks were served with a decent sized bag of Chex mix, which was pretty good. I enjoyed a few of the Fremont Lush IPA. I’d pre-ordered the Roasted Chicken Clementine which is pictured below. It was pretty decent tho unremarkable and came with a lemon meringue tart. Service was very good and professional with a pass of the snack basket around an hour out of DCA.
Flew JFK-SEA this morning. Bought tickets in first for my family of three for ~$220 each last December during the big sale right before Christmas. Smoking deal in my book.
This was my first transcon since COVID, but things mostly seemed normal except the coffee was in paper cups. My wife and I pre-ordered the kale bowl, which we both thought was pretty tasty. My neighbor had the onion frittata, I passed on that as I hate onions but it also looked pretty good. My son pre-ordered the fruit and cheese plate, which came with yogurt. There was one pass of the snack basket about an hour before landing; I selected the pea-toes based on reviews here and was not let down. We landed around an hour early due to favorable winds, all in all a very smooth flight although JFK Terminal 1 is pretty sad these days.
Kale Bowl
This was my first transcon since COVID, but things mostly seemed normal except the coffee was in paper cups. My wife and I pre-ordered the kale bowl, which we both thought was pretty tasty. My neighbor had the onion frittata, I passed on that as I hate onions but it also looked pretty good. My son pre-ordered the fruit and cheese plate, which came with yogurt. There was one pass of the snack basket about an hour before landing; I selected the pea-toes based on reviews here and was not let down. We landed around an hour early due to favorable winds, all in all a very smooth flight although JFK Terminal 1 is pretty sad these days.
Kale Bowl
AS810 SEA-SNA on 6/12 .
I was hesitant but tried the Bahn-mi. It was OK. The pickled slaw and Sriracha really made the sandwich. The bread was a bit too thick and some small bits were very soggy. Also, the banhmi had this sauce (Sriracha mayo???) that didn't really belong in a banhmi, imo. Overall though, it was fine. I woke up hungover that day so the carby bread was really appreciated. 😂
I was hesitant but tried the Bahn-mi. It was OK. The pickled slaw and Sriracha really made the sandwich. The bread was a bit too thick and some small bits were very soggy. Also, the banhmi had this sauce (Sriracha mayo???) that didn't really belong in a banhmi, imo. Overall though, it was fine. I woke up hungover that day so the carby bread was really appreciated. 😂
DCA-LAX, June 8, 2021
Breakfast: Kale breakfast bowl (other option was caramelized onion frittata).
This was MUCH tastier than it looked - I really enjoyed it! Excellent service from the flight attendant in First, who gave me a warm welcome as a oneworld frequent flyer.
LAX-CUN
Lunch: Entrée Salad with egg. (Other option was Beef Sandwich)
This was ok - the cauliflower was marinated in curry, which overwhelmed the flavor of the dish.
Breakfast: Kale breakfast bowl (other option was caramelized onion frittata).
This was MUCH tastier than it looked - I really enjoyed it! Excellent service from the flight attendant in First, who gave me a warm welcome as a oneworld frequent flyer.
LAX-CUN
Lunch: Entrée Salad with egg. (Other option was Beef Sandwich)
This was ok - the cauliflower was marinated in curry, which overwhelmed the flavor of the dish.
Date: June 15, 2021
Route: SEA-EWR
Flight #: AS27, 1:45PM dep
Description: Baked chicken with salad and lemon tart. Got bumped to FC too late to preorder in app, so no description. Only details offered inflight were "butternut squash risotto or baked chicken". No cookie offered.
Menu: No, wasn't early enough to see on phone app
Snack Basket Offered: Yes
Route: SEA-EWR
Flight #: AS27, 1:45PM dep
Description: Baked chicken with salad and lemon tart. Got bumped to FC too late to preorder in app, so no description. Only details offered inflight were "butternut squash risotto or baked chicken". No cookie offered.
Menu: No, wasn't early enough to see on phone app
Snack Basket Offered: Yes
Saw this on a friend's Facebook feed and thought I would share it here (he's not a frequent flyer, or FTer) as he did two things: (1) Traveled on a unicorn that is a flight from JFK to the West Coast (LAX, in this case) and (2) also gave a great description of the vegetarian L/D option:
Date: June 3, 2021
Route: PDX-HNL
Flight #: AS889 - 8:05 AM Departure
Description: Cheddar Cheese Omelet
Menu: Pre-ordered on the app
Snack Basket Offered: Yes
Date: June 7, 2021
Route: HNL-SAN
Flight #: AS892 - 11:50 AM Departure
Description: Beef Filet
Menu: Pre-ordered on the app (overheard people who had not preordered only being offered the F&C or the other option. Beef filet had to be preordered on this flight)
Snack Basket Offered: Yes
Both meals were delicious. The breakfast was very filling, as was the dinner. I know it has been mentioned before, but I can't get over the fact that it's a real filet! I would pay $35 in a restaurant and be happy. It's also great to see that even the disposable napkins retain the button hole.
Route: PDX-HNL
Flight #: AS889 - 8:05 AM Departure
Description: Cheddar Cheese Omelet
Menu: Pre-ordered on the app
Snack Basket Offered: Yes
Date: June 7, 2021
Route: HNL-SAN
Flight #: AS892 - 11:50 AM Departure
Description: Beef Filet
Menu: Pre-ordered on the app (overheard people who had not preordered only being offered the F&C or the other option. Beef filet had to be preordered on this flight)
Snack Basket Offered: Yes
Both meals were delicious. The breakfast was very filling, as was the dinner. I know it has been mentioned before, but I can't get over the fact that it's a real filet! I would pay $35 in a restaurant and be happy. It's also great to see that even the disposable napkins retain the button hole.
What Will Alaska Airlines Be Serving in First Class on Your Flight? (2021)
Jul 11, 2021, 3:07 pm
#916
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 5,956
I don't think this is about saving money - rather it's about simplifying the catering and providing something people are asking for. I think the kitchens are having a hard time, like everyone else, finding enough people to do the work. While on the surface it seems to be negligible, there is probably one person that spends a good chunk of their work day cutting lemons and limes, putting them in cups and covering them with saran - much of which were often thrown out because little of them were used. That one person can now be assigned to a job that is more essential to making sure food can be prepared and sent out to the planes. In a time when cheap labor is a thing of the past and it's hard to find workers at all, kitchens are probably struggling to keep their costs reasonable - reducing the number of people you need to do various jobs is essential. I don't think the dehydrated, powdered lime and lemon are cost savers, and I don't think that's the motivation. There will be far less waste so maybe in the end they'll save a little $$$.
Jul 12, 2021, 4:35 pm
#917
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,621
Is AS going to do anything special on National Caviar Day (next Sunday)?
https://nationaltoday.com/national-caviar-day/
https://nationaltoday.com/national-caviar-day/
Jul 12, 2021, 4:44 pm
#918
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: On a plane or a beach
Programs: Yes
Posts: 3,146
The butter pecan cookie is making a come back. On 3 recent flights through SEA, 1 had a chocolate chip cookie and 2 had butter pecan but the FAs / the manifest said they were chocolate chip.
🤥
🤥
Jul 12, 2021, 4:44 pm
#919
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,621
sounds like warm breakfasts are coming soon to replace the cold frittata. Don't know specifics but I imagine it will be a choice of cheese and fruit or a warm entree. Should see the changes shortly. Also, coming soon - lemon/lime natural flavor packets to replace actual lemons and limes. JetBlue has used these for quite some time and I thing they're actually pretty good. Better than the nothing they have at the moment.
You know all that orange juice you all love, "not from concentrate?" Well, folks, unless you are drinking actual fresh squeezed OJ, you're probably tasting nothing more than natural OJ packet flavo(u)r in your favo(u)rite juice. How is this? Most OJ, to keep it "fresh," is deoxygenated. Accordingly, it is essentially killed to keep it "fresh" and this process also conveniently removes the flavo(u)r. Scientifically concocted flavo(u)r powders are added along with the oxygen for bottling your now "re"fresh"ed" juice. And this is why you prefer one brand over another, because it will always taste like the powder formula, no matter how good or bad the orange vintage may have been.
Accordingly, the flavo(u)r in the lemon or lime packet is about as natural as the orange juice you're likely drinking. In fact, if the juice companies added those to the OJ when exposing it to air, your OJ would taste like lemon or lime juice.
Last edited by Eastbay1K; Jul 12, 2021 at 4:54 pm
Jul 12, 2021, 4:51 pm
#920
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: PNW
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 1,548
Jul 12, 2021, 4:55 pm
#921
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,621
I didn't know a manifest could talk! Yay for the BP cookies, although I'm almost equally as happy with the CC.
Jul 12, 2021, 9:14 pm
#922
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1
While I'm the first one to want a few fresh lemon squeezes in my beverages, I'd like to offer those who may have "essence of high and mighty" a culinary history lesson.
You know all that orange juice you all love, "not from concentrate?" Well, folks, unless you are drinking actual fresh squeezed OJ, you're probably tasting nothing more than natural OJ packet flavo(u)r in your favo(u)rite juice. How is this? Most OJ, to keep it "fresh," is deoxygenated. Accordingly, it is essentially killed to keep it "fresh" and this process also conveniently removes the flavo(u)r. Scientifically concocted flavo(u)r powders are added along with the oxygen for bottling your now "re"fresh"ed" juice. And this is why you prefer one brand over another, because it will always taste like the powder formula, no matter how good or bad the orange vintage may have been.
Accordingly, the flavo(u)r in the lemon or lime packet is about as natural as the orange juice you're likely drinking. In fact, if the juice companies added those to the OJ when exposing it to air, your OJ would taste like lemon or lime juice.
You know all that orange juice you all love, "not from concentrate?" Well, folks, unless you are drinking actual fresh squeezed OJ, you're probably tasting nothing more than natural OJ packet flavo(u)r in your favo(u)rite juice. How is this? Most OJ, to keep it "fresh," is deoxygenated. Accordingly, it is essentially killed to keep it "fresh" and this process also conveniently removes the flavo(u)r. Scientifically concocted flavo(u)r powders are added along with the oxygen for bottling your now "re"fresh"ed" juice. And this is why you prefer one brand over another, because it will always taste like the powder formula, no matter how good or bad the orange vintage may have been.
Accordingly, the flavo(u)r in the lemon or lime packet is about as natural as the orange juice you're likely drinking. In fact, if the juice companies added those to the OJ when exposing it to air, your OJ would taste like lemon or lime juice.
That said, consumers do prefer juice that is older or oxidized, especially lime juice and grapefruit juice. And I'm actually excited about lemon and lime packets because they can be more consistent and tasty than dried out old citrus wedges.
Jul 13, 2021, 12:24 am
#924
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,723
So the weird nutty cookies have not only returned but have an official name now...butter pecan??
Jul 13, 2021, 8:09 am
#925
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA ExecPlat; AF Gold; UA GS; Hyatt L. Globalist; Marriott Plat; Hilton Diamond; National EE
Posts: 6,157
So I'm very much a lurker for years but wanted to join to respond to this to add more context. I'm a food scientist in research and development and used to work in the orange juice industry and these things are tossed around a lot but can be misleading. The orange essences that are added back to orange juice do come from the squeezed juice (they evaporate when the juice is pasteurized but are collected and added back.) We call them "add back" in the industry, no one calls them "flavor packets."
That said, consumers do prefer juice that is older or oxidized, especially lime juice and grapefruit juice. And I'm actually excited about lemon and lime packets because they can be more consistent and tasty than dried out old citrus wedges.
That said, consumers do prefer juice that is older or oxidized, especially lime juice and grapefruit juice. And I'm actually excited about lemon and lime packets because they can be more consistent and tasty than dried out old citrus wedges.
Jul 13, 2021, 9:10 am
#926
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: On a plane or a beach
Programs: Yes
Posts: 3,146
Jul 13, 2021, 9:57 am
#927
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,621
Jul 13, 2021, 10:34 am
#928
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: On a plane or a beach
Programs: Yes
Posts: 3,146
Jul 13, 2021, 11:01 am
#929
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,723
Lol....the level of disappointment you feel when you think you're getting a chocolate chip cookie and then that weird smell from the nutty cookie leaves the bag and you realize that cookie is going directly into the carry-on to be given later as a gift to a friend or family member.....so sad. If they want to change from chocolate chip, I'm good with Snickerdoodle or maybe even Oatmeal raisin....but the nutty one should be ashamed to call itself a cookie. If they're not going to serve the chocolate chip cookies, at least bring back the Swedish Fish.
Jul 13, 2021, 11:19 am
#930
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,299
Please add another vote for snickerdoodles.