SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 2002--Did you hear about the nine-foot polar bear and Mayan idol visiting West Coast malls on an Alaskan dogsled?

No need to worry about bear attacks or ancient curses, but the stuffed bear and the Yucatan god are the guests of honor as Alaska Airlines (NYSE:ALK) launches a ground-breaking travel show aimed at getting vacationers back in the air.

"Alaska Airlines and the travel industry have pulled together to create a travel show that lets people experience vacation destinations," said Dave Palmer, the airline's assistant vice president of marketing.

Shoppers learn firsthand from the colorful displays and from vacation representatives from Alaska, British Columbia, Alberta, California and Mexico.

The show, whose primary sponsor is the Alaska Airlines Bank of America Platinum Visa card, began today at the Northtown Mall in Spokane.

Noting that vacation travel was down following the September 11 terrorist attacks, Alaska Airlines decided to gather vacation partners throughout the West to counter public concerns about travel.

Shoppers will be encouraged to visit each destination island located throughout the malls, where they can gather information about vacation travel. Once they get their "Alaska Airlines Passport" stamped at each of the six destination islands, they are eligible to win the daily prize of a trip for two from Alaska Airlines. At the end of the nine-mall tour, grand prizes, including cruises from Holland America Cruise Line and Princess Cruises, will be awarded.

The show, which is held from Friday to Sunday at each mall, also features resort and vacation fashion shows and occasional entertainment from the destinations.

The road show dates and locations are:

  Date                     City               Mall
  ----                     ----               ----
  March 1-3                Spokane            Northtown Mall
  March 8-10               Seattle            Bellevue Square
  March 15-17              Vancouver          Park Royal Mall
  March 22-24              Bay Area           Village of Corte Madera
                                               in Marin County
  April 5-7                Portland           Washington Square
                                               in Beaverton
  April 12-14              Las Vegas          Galleria at Sunset
  April 19-21              San Diego          UTC - La Jolla
  April 26-28              Los Angeles        Westside Pavillion
  May 3-5                  Los Angeles        Topanga Plaza

    For more news and information visit the Alaska Airlines Newsroom
on the Internet at http://newsroom.alaskaair.com.

--30--MRO/se*

CONTACT:	Alaska Airlines
	Jack Walsh, 206/901-8753
	or
	Jack Evans, 206/433-3134