Some things truly qualify as historic moments in aviation and there is little doubt that May 21, 2026 will be remembered as such for many years to come. On that day, Alaska Airlines, the carrier that built its brand identity in the Western USA, landed at London Heathrow for the very first time marking the start of a transatlantic route that had been unimaginable a year ago.

I got on board for the flight to celebrate Alaska's debut in Europe, but the impression left was not about the excellent asparagus soup or the lie-flat seats in the Alaska business class. Rather, Alaska Airlines of old is officially a thing of the past. The West Coast niche airline has become a different player entirely.

The Background of Alaska Airlines Expansion

As most major milestones in aviation history, the start of Alaska Airlines' flights to London has an important precursor. When Alaska purchased Hawaiian Airlines in 2024, it became the owner of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. And while Dreamliner planes had been a dream in themselves, the real opportunity came thanks to their range.

Seattle to Rome opened in late April 2026, allowing Alaska to add a new destination in Europe to its route map for the first time ever. As if to confirm that the Dreamliner purchase marked a turning point, Alaska opened Seattle to London just one month later, on May 21, 2026, followed by Seattle to Reykjavík just seven days later.

According to Shane Jones, Alaska's senior vice president of fleet, product, and guest experience, these new flights make Alaska a global airline. "In fact, we're now calling ourselves the fourth global carrier in the US, having the largest West Coast hub, and being the perfect global premium carrier for all West Coast travelers," he explained on the inaugural flight.

Alaska Seattle to London Route Schedule & Plane Configuration

The transatlantic route from Seattle to London operated daily with the Dreamliner plane and timed to arrive in London mid-afternoon with an earlier departure in the late evening:

• AS100: Seattle (SEA) departs 9:40 p.m., arrives London Heathrow (LHR) 3:05 p.m. next day.
• AS101: London Heathrow (LHR) departs 5:00 p.m., arrives Seattle (SEA) 6:50 p.m.
• The Dreamliner plane is divided into two cabins: Alaska's new business class cabin offering suites, and regular economy. Premium economy as a separate cabin category was deliberately omitted by the airline to allow economy passengers to choose a Premium Class seat offering four additional inches of legroom.

What Does Alaska Airlines' New Business Class Look Like?

I personally flew in Alaska Airlines' new business class cabin, which turned out to live up to all expectations. As expected, Alaska offered fully flat seats with privacy doors allowing for a true lie-flat sleep and providing much needed privacy in the air.

The bedding package offered was generous, including a mattress pad, two pillows, a duvet, a pair of slippers, and even noise-cancelling headphones. Furthermore, the amenity kits in business class were provided by Filson, an iconic Seattle brand specializing in premium products for outdoor enthusiasts.

The in-flight meal service started with drinks and the traditional Alaska Airlines fruit-and-cheese platter, which was followed by asparagus soup and a mixed berry and almond salad with a mini baguette. The main course was chosen before departure in accordance with my special request, which meant that I got a delicious chicken cottage pie with carrots and green beans. To finish the dinner off, I could have chosen either chocolate cake with vanilla sauce or a salted caramel brownie (not sure why they did not offer both), but decided to save some time for sleeping, and thus missed out on the famous Salt + Straw ice cream sundaes offered by the airline as a dessert.

In summary, here is the list of what comes included with the Alaska Airlines business class suite product:

• Fully-flat seat with privacy door;
• Mattress pad, pillows, duvet, and slippers;
• Noise-reducing headphones;
• Amenity kits with Filson products;
• In-flight meal service (with pre-order option);
• Choice of dessert: Salt + Straw ice cream sundaes.

How Can You Redeem Alaska Atmos Rewards Points for Seattle to London Flights?

The route launched by Alaska Airlines on May 21, 2026, is redeemable right away. The base economy reward price starts at 30,000 Atmos Rewards points plus $6 for taxes and fees an acceptable price for an international redemption program. However, the current business class prices on this new route exceed 150,000 Atmos Rewards points for almost all summer dates a relatively high amount.

Still, the newness of the route may explain why it is expensive and award prices may fall over time once the booking pattern becomes more consistent. It might be worth checking the Seattle to London route with Roame or Seats.aero in the following months, especially if you are interested in booking your business class suite with Alaska rewards points.

If you do not have enough Alaska Atmos Rewards points for the trip, you can earn some with your Alaska Airlines branded credit card and even get bonus Atmos rewards points from the welcome offer in return. The Alaska Atmos Rewards points can be transferred into your Alaska Airlines program account through partnerships with multiple travel rewards programs.

The Bottom Line

Alaska Airlines landing in Europe for the first time has definitely made history and, judging by the atmosphere surrounding the event, this is precisely what this historic moment deserves. The carrier that defined itself through West Coast routes and unique livery has finally entered the ranks of international carriers, delivering the premium product from day one.

By claiming a place among the fourth global carriers, Alaska Airlines has proven that it was serious about competing internationally with its counterparts. With its newest European destination launched only a week after Seattle to London and Seattle to Rome already operating successfully, the next step seems obvious opening even more European airports.