SEATTLE — Travelers flying through the Pacific Northwest woke up Friday to find lingering fallout from an overnight technology failure at Alaska Airlines, the fifth-largest carrier in the United States. Although operations officially resumed before dawn, hundreds of passengers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and other West Coast hubs were still coping with canceled or substantially delayed flights.
Seven hours on the ground: What happened to Alaska Airlines?
Alaska Airlines and its regional affiliate Horizon Air requested a nationwide ground stop at 7:21 p.m. EDT Thursday after what the company called “a significant IT outage.” For the next seven hours every Alaska-branded departure remained parked, affecting aircraft from Portland, Oregon, to San Diego. Service gradually restarted around 2:30 a.m. EDT Friday, yet the domino effect on schedules was immediate and widespread.
Scope of the disruption
- 229 flights canceled Thursday, according to Alaska Airlines.
- Hundreds more delayed, FlightAware data showed.
- SEA experienced cancellations on more than 10 percent of all departures.
- By 7:30 a.m. EDT Friday, 115 additional flights—about 14 percent of the day’s lineup—were preemptively scrubbed.
The airline stressed that Hawaiian Airlines, which shares a parent company with Alaska, was not affected.
Why a tech outage ripples for days
Airline schedules operate on tightly choreographed aircraft rotations and crew duty limits. When a network halts for seven hours, planes and pilots end up in the wrong cities, creating knock-on disruptions long after the original problem is fixed. Re-positioning aircraft, re-routing crews within legal work-hour limits, and matching them to specific aircraft types can often take a full day—or longer—before normal rhythms return.
Advice for travelers holding Alaska tickets
In a statement, the airline said it “appreciates the patience of our guests whose travel plans have been disrupted” and encouraged customers to verify flight status before heading to the airport. Here’s what that means in practical terms:
- Check your inbox and the Alaska Airlines app. Gate changes and departure times are being updated continuously.
- Use the flexible travel waiver. The carrier is allowing no-fee changes or cancellations for tickets dated Thursday or Friday, with travel rebooked any time through Monday. A difference in fare may apply after that window closes.
- Know your passenger rights. U.S. Department of Transportation rules require a full refund—not just a credit—if your flight is canceled and you choose not to travel.
- Consider self-rebooking to a later flight. With 115 Friday cancellations already logged, evening or even Saturday departures may offer better odds.
- Keep receipts if you are stranded overnight. Under Alaska’s Customer Service Commitment, the airline provides hotel and meal vouchers for disruptions within its control, which an IT failure typically is.
Major hubs hit hardest
Seattle-Tacoma International, Alaska’s primary base, bore the brunt of Thursday’s shutdown. Portland International Airport, San Francisco International, Los Angeles International and San Diego International all reported packed gate areas and long customer-service lines Thursday night. Travelers with connecting itineraries through Seattle reported missed red-eye departures to destinations as far-flung as Orlando and Cancun.
How to navigate SEA during irregular operations
SEA’s centralized security checkpoints can become chokepoints even on normal days. During large-scale disruptions, the airport authority recommends:
- Allowing at least three hours from curb to gate for morning departures.
- Using the SEA Spot Saver program to reserve a security-line slot for free.
- Checking the Port of Seattle’s live security wait-time trackers before leaving home.
Knock-on effects beyond the West Coast
Alaska operates a hub-and-spoke network that stretches from Reagan National in Washington, D.C., to Anchorage. Even passengers in Boston or Chicago may feel Friday’s ripple, because the aircraft operating those flights often originate on the West Coast the night before. If you are connecting to a partner airline such as American, build an ample layover buffer.
Expect full flights through the weekend
Summer demand is already pushing load factors toward the high 80-percent range industry-wide, leaving little slack for reaccommodating stranded passengers. When flights are oversold, volunteers may be sought to accept travel vouchers in exchange for taking later departures. If you have flexible plans, proactively volunteering can yield generous compensation.
Financial moves: When to seek refunds versus travel credits
The DOT’s FlightRights.gov dashboard positions IT system failures squarely within the airline’s control, obligating Alaska to offer meals or lodging when disruptions exceed three hours and an overnight stay is required. Travelers often struggle to decide between refunds, credits and rebooking:
- Refund: Recommended if alternate flights do not match your trip purpose—especially for events tied to a fixed date, like weddings or conferences.
- Credit: Makes sense when you intend to fly Alaska within the next year and current fares are higher than what you initially paid.
- Rebooking: Best choice when your schedule is flexible and you find seats on a later flight that still meet your needs.
What caused the outage?
Alaska has not yet detailed the root cause beyond labeling it an IT systems failure. The airline postponed its third-quarter earnings call—originally slated for Friday—to focus on operational recovery. Cybersecurity experts note that airlines rely on hundreds of interconnected systems, from crew scheduling software to passenger check-in kiosks. A single corrupted database or failed server cluster can bring networks to a standstill, as United, Southwest and several European carriers have experienced in recent years.
When will schedules normalize?
Industry analysts predict Alaska will watchfully rebuild its network throughout Friday and Saturday. Most flight banks should be back on time by Sunday morning, provided no further mechanical or weather issues intervene. Frequent flier upgrade inventories may, however, remain tight as displaced passengers vie for open seats.
Tips for Travelers
- Monitor FlightAware’s Misery Map for real-time delays affecting Alaska hubs.
- Save Alaska’s customer-service number—800-252-7522—into your phone; hold times can exceed an hour during irregular operations.
- Use live chat in the Alaska Airlines mobile app; chat agents often have the same rebooking authority as phone representatives.
- If self-booking alternative flights, avoid tight connections under 60 minutes.
- Carry-on essentials—medication, chargers, a change of clothes—in case your checked bag arrives before you do.
FAQ
Does the waiver cover award tickets?
Yes. Mileage Plan redemptions dated Thursday or Friday can be changed without fees to any date through Monday, though saver-level availability may be limited.
Are partner airlines honoring Alaska tickets?
Not automatically. You must contact Alaska first; only if no same-day options exist will agents explore partner metal.
Will I earn additional mileage compensation?
[Not specified in release]. Historically, Alaska has offered bonus miles after major disruptions, but none have been announced.
Can I expense meals during a long delay?
Yes, if the delay is under Alaska’s control. Keep itemized receipts; reimbursement guidelines appear on AlaskaAir.com.
How do I claim a refund?
Submit the refund request form online under “Manage Trip.” Refunds typically post to your original payment method within seven business days.
Bottom line
Alaska Airlines is flying again, but the tech breakdown that forced a coast-to-coast ground stop Thursday evening will affect travelers for at least another day. Check your flight status, take advantage of the flexible waiver, and understand your rights before heading to the airport. Staying proactive now could save you hours—if not days—of frustration later.
