Alaska Airlines says it has managed to create new boarding music that will not only appeal to a wide range of passengers but won’t irritate flight attendants who have to listen to the soundtrack on repeat several times a day.
The Seattle-based carrier said it wanted its new boarding music to convey a ‘vibe’ and views the music that passengers hear as they wait for their flight to depart as an integral component of the entire passenger experience.
Alaska’s inflight product and experience director, David Scotland, says the airline knows that boarding music can set the tone for the rest of the passenger experience, especially if passengers have already had a stressful experience in the terminal.
“Boarding music doesn’t exist in isolation—it’s a core component of the premium experience we provide to our guests,” Scotland explains.
“The music, the lighting, and the care shown by our amazing crew members all work together to create a great first impression for our guests when they board.”
Scotland added: “The airport and boarding process can be stressful; settling into your seat and hearing thoughtfully curated playlist can start to put your mind at ease as you prepare for your flight.”
That’s why Alaska decided to tap Sub Pop Records to curate a playlist that is inspired by summertime and West Coast vibes – a playlist that the airline hopes is “upbeat, catchy, and uniquely memorable, without being intrusive.”
This is Sub Pop Records’ first foray into boarding music, and the label wanted to avoid immediately recognizable hits that passengers could soon tire of. Instead, Sub Pop’s artists and repertoire manager, Nick Duncan, had to design a playlist designed for Alaska’s passengers – a task that he said required “some threading of the needle”.
“I want to help people find more art they can connect with, to make their eyes light up a little bit and find out what they’re listening to,” Duncan explained. “That lightbulb moment is my favorite part of my job”.
The playlist will be available on all Alaska flights departing Seattle Tacoma, and Paine Field Airports, while the airline’s in-house team will continue curating boarding music for flights departing from all other destinations.
And if you don’t happen to be flying with Alaska anytime soon, you can also check out the playlist on Spotify here.
Could someone signpost this to BA please … their hijacking of the Flower Duet since the 1980s, when they legitimately were able to claim a classical class, is embarrassing now.