July 23--One case of Oregon wine can fly free as checked baggage on Alaska Airlines, from four Oregon airports, Sept. 10 through Nov. 20.
The Oregon Wines Fly Free program is valid on domestic Alaska Airlines return flights from airports in Portland, Eugene, Medford and Redmond, as well as Walla Walla, Wash.
In addition, passengers showing their Alaska Airlines boarding passes within a week of their arrival in Oregon will receive complementary tastings at any of more than 180 participating Oregon wineries.
"Partnering with Alaska Airlines and Travel Oregon to help visitors to Oregon experience the beauty and bounty of our amazing wine country is a no brainer," said Tom Danowski, executive director of the Oregon Wine Board, in a statement. "Increasingly, the customers of Oregon wine are the same customers being courted by Alaska Airlines and Travel Oregon."
Alaska Airlines has similar Wines Fly Free programs in other wine regions, but Oregon is the first to implement the promotion for an entire state. Alaska Airlines is also a sponsor of Feast Portland, a flagship food and drink festival in the Pacific Northwest to be held Sept. 19-21.
Wine must be safely packaged for transport in a protective shipping container. The Transportation Security Administration asks that containers not be sealed, but remain open for inspection. Shipping boxes are available at many of the region's wineries, as well as visitor information centers, and will vary in price. Note that it is the responsibility of the Alaska Airlines passenger to be sure the wine is properly packaged for checking as luggage.
-- Terry Richard
Copyright 2013 - The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.
