Ugly Christmas Sweater parties are so 2016. Flying Ugly Christmas Sweater parties are where it's at.

For the second year in a row, Alaska Airlines is inviting its passengers to don their worst in honor of National Ugly Holiday Sweater Day. On Friday, Dec. 21, passengers who wear an ugly sweater for any Alaska Airlines flight nationwide will get free early boarding.

Is this promotion a game-changer? No. But it is fun. And in the airline industry, any fun is refreshing. Alaska is also playing holiday music during boarding and streaming free holiday movies onboard throughout the month of December.

“This time of year, we consider ourselves the ‘merrier carrier,' so we love going above and beyond to help our guests embrace the fun, festive side of flying during the holidays.,” said Natalie Bowman, the airline's managing director of marketing and advertising. “Whether you're heading home to celebrate tradition or jetting off to a sunny destination to escape the cold, we recognize your journey begins with us, and we're happy to make your travels even brighter any way we can.”

Despite its name, Alaska Airlines isn't headquartered in Alaska but at Seattle (SEA). It's one of the largest airlines in the U.S., with a major presence on the West Coast.

It recently swallowed up Virgin America, and was one of the last major domestic carriers to start selling basic economy fares.

Bottom Line

A little fun never hurt anyone. Kudos to Alaska Airlines for finding a way to stand out in the crazy, cutthroat world of aviation.

 

Lead photo courtesy of Alaska Airlines