Alaska Airlines will add an extra flight from Seattle to Detroit for Mariners fans cheering on their home team in the playoffs.
“Our spirit is something we’re known for around Puget Sound, and we want to make sure Detroit knows it too,” Alaska said in a blog post Thursday, after the Mariners learned they would be playing the Detroit Tigers in a five-game playoff series. “To help Mariners fans bring their Mojo from SoDo to the Midwest, we have added seats between Seattle and Detroit.”
It wasn’t immediately clear how long Alaska would offer the extra flight.
Alaska typically has one direct Seattle-Detroit flight, while its partner American Airlines has several options with a layover.
Alaska’s typical one-way direct flight to Detroit on Monday, a likely option for fans hoping to attend the first away game Tuesday, cost $840, according to Alaska’s booking website.
The newly added flight, taking off at 11 a.m. Monday, cost $299 for a ticket in the main cabin and more than $1,200 for first-class, as of Thursday evening.
American flights with one stop in Portland cost about $500, while Delta offers four direct flights Monday, ranging from $500 to $830, according to its website.
Alaska passengers traveling to Detroit on Monday will fly in a Mariners-themed plane, featuring the team name emblazoned on the side and the Mariners Moose giving a cheery thumbs up.
Alaska unveiled the livery, its second iteration of the Mariners design, in 2024.
The airline will also host a celebratory gate event at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Monday, with a DJ and the Mariner Moose.
Though the playoff frenzy will likely spur some travel plans, Sea-Tac won’t be as crowded as the peak travel weeks earlier this year, spokesperson Perry Cooper said. Following a busy summer season, the airport generally sees a downturn in travel after the school year starts. Travel will pick up again around the Thanksgiving holiday.
The airport saw a record number of travelers on Aug. 10, when 207,000 people moved through the airport, Cooper said. For comparison, the busiest days this week will likely see about 160,000 people.
Cooper said the airport is excited to welcome Mariners fans traveling to Detroit and Tigers fans visiting Seattle, but, he added, “we’ll be rooting for the home team.”
Credits: Alaska Airlines
