SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2001--Children in need of medical transportation were the real winners of a charity auction sponsored by Alaska Airlines (NYSE:ALK) for a chance to fly on the first-ever, commercial flight of a Boeing 737-900.

The auction raised more than 2.5 million miles or the equivalent of 125 round-trip flights that will be donated to four charities that provide medical transportation for sick and needy children. Those charities are the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, AirLifeLine and Shriners' Burn Center.

The miles were donated by 50 members of the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, the carrier's frequent flyer program, who were bidding for a chance to take a one-hour flight-seeing tour of Puget Sound on May 16 aboard the largest Next Generation 737 ever built. Alaska is the launch customer for the new aircraft.

Also included in the total mileage donated were miles contributed by four big-hearted Mileage Plan members who did not win their bids for seats on the flight, but asked that their miles be donated to charity regardless of the outcome of the bidding.

"Alaska Airlines has a long history of assisting each of these charities and the noble work they do," said Gregg Saretsky, senior vice president of marketing and planning. "The auction was a great way to educate our frequent flyers about these charities, as well as celebrate the launch of a great new aircraft."

A group of children will represent each of the charities on the first flight, along with the 50 auction winners. Keeping with the theme of "firsts", several famous firsts will also be on board: Buzz Aldrin, a member of the first mission to land on the moon; Fred Brown, of the first Seattle Sonics championship team; Robbie Knievel, the first person to jump the Grand Canyon on a motorcycle; and Dave Niehaus, the first -- and still going strong -- Mariners radio announcer.

Alaska is scheduled to take delivery of five 737-900s this year. Each of the aircraft is configured to carry 172 passengers, 16 in first class and 156 in coach.

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

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