You enjoyed your trip to Oregon Wine Country! If you'd like to bring a taste of the Willamette Valley home, you're in luck.
Alaska Airlines, Travel Oregon, and the Oregon Wine Board know how important wine is to visitors and communities throughout the Pacific Northwest—which is why the organizations partnered to offer the Wine Flies Free program to travelers 21 and older.
Since 2013, the program has allowed visitors to check a case of wine for free when flying from certain cities throughout the Pacific Northwest—including Portland and Eugene. So all you need to do is narrow your choices down to 12 bottles and join the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan—even if you're in the middle of your trip.
Around the Willamette Valley, the participating airports are Eugene Airport (EUG) and Portland International Airport (PDX).
Note that all outbound flights must be within the United States to qualify for free transport via Wine Flies Free.
First: Make sure you're an Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan member, and add your membership number to your flight reservation.
Then, after you're visited some of the more than 700 wineries across the Willamette Valley and picked a few favorite wines, safely pack your haul for the return flight. We'd recommend putting bottles in a case or box and using packing materials (such as Styrofoam, bubble wrap, and crumpled-up newspaper). Many participating wineries offer free cases and packing materials. Alaska Airlines offers excellent tips for securely packing your wine to fly.
Once at the airport, check your case of wine with an agent at an Alaska Airlines ticketing counter—and enjoy your flight!
You can buy an entire case from one winery or mix and match bottles from different stops; as long as they're packed into one case or shipping container, they all fly free!
Enjoy a complimentary tasting after showing your recent boarding pass (within 10 days) and proof of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan membership at more than 300 participating wineries throughout Oregon. (Heads up: Free tastings may not be available on holiday weekends or during special events.)
Each traveler can check one free case of up to 12 bottles; any additional cases are subject to Alaska Airlines baggage fees.
Want to learn more? Get the lowdown on Wine Flies Free from the Oregon Wine Board.
