Flying Alaska’s Horizon Air from Seattle to Boise via Portland 

Have you noticed a bright orange and yellow striped aircraft while taxiing at SEA Airport? Last summer, I had the pleasure of riding that aircraft, and in this blog post, I’ll share all about my journey. 

We were on a trip to South Idaho, and instead of driving 8+ hours one way, we booked an Alaska flight! The best part? You can get flights under $100 one way and sometimes even for 4.5K miles. Little did we know that we’d end up flying in Alaska’s sustainable, small, and stylish aircraft, Horizon Air. 

Our flight to Boise was via Portland, a route that was significantly cheaper than the direct option. However, on the way back, we got a direct flight from Boise to Seattle. 

This was our first time flying Horizon Air, so we had no idea how the legroom would be or how much storage space was available in the overhead bins. And if you haven’t flown on this aircraft, I’m sure you’ll have similar questions. So here’s everything we experienced on our flight and how it went. But before I share more details about our flight journey, here are three fun facts about the airline. 

3 Fun Facts About Horizon Air 

I was curious about the airline since this was my first time hearing about it. So, I did a little digging on the internet and found some cool facts. 

1. Historic Origins – Horizon Air is one of the youngest regional carriers in the USA, taking its first flight from Seattle to Yakima on September 1, 1981. 
2. The “Meatball” Livery – The four-color sun on the tail of Horizon’s aircraft is known as the “meatball.” However, only a few aircraft retain this original livery; the rest have adopted Alaska Airlines’ brand colors. 
3. Route Extremes – The longest flight on Horizon Air’s route is Seattle to Fresno, covering 748 miles, while the shortest is Pullman to Lewiston, covering just 26 miles. 

Seat & Cabin Experience 

The aircraft is small, so I was a bit skeptical about the legroom, not for me, of course, but for Abhi. Surprisingly, the legroom was excellent. Perhaps it’s because the aircraft has two seats per row, giving passengers more room for their legs. 

I’ve noticed this on other small aircraft with two-seat-per-row configurations: the legroom is significantly better than on larger carriers. 

The overhead bin capacity was comparable to other aircraft, and we had no trouble fitting in our carry-on luggage. The space under the seats was also generous, and I was able to sit comfortably throughout the flight. 

The seat width was generous and comfortable, and the best part was the absence of a middle seat. Moreover, there was no noticeable difference between the First Class and Main Cabin seating. 

Onboard Amenities & Service 

Like other Alaska Airlines flights, we were served beverages and snacks. The flights weren’t too long, our first flight from Seattle to Portland was just one hour, and the next one was two hours and 13 minutes. This meant we got to enjoy the flight service twice, which meant more ginger ale for me! 😋 

The Wi-Fi, messaging, and in-app entertainment options were the same as any Alaska Airlines flight and came in handy during our second flight from Portland to Boise. 

The bathroom was clean and a standard airline size. Overall, the aircraft was small with fewer seats, but everything else was more or less the same as other Alaska flights. 

Layover in Portland Airport

This part obviously isn’t about the airline, but I wanted to give Portland Airport a shoutout. The city is so close to Seattle that most people don’t fly unless they’re trying to earn some airline status or points, at least from Seattle. So this was my first time exploring Portland Airport, and since we had ample time between flights, I decided to take a look around. And I’m so glad I did!

The airport’s design really appealed to me. It was well-lit, airy, and looked incredibly clean and stylish. Plus, the airport features a mini art gallery that I had so much fun exploring, all the bird-themed artwork on display caught my eye. It’s the kind of hidden gem that makes a layover feel like a mini-adventure rather than a travel inconvenience.

If you want a closer look at the airport’s design and the art installations, you can check out my vlog where I give you a full tour!

My Takeaway 

Horizon Air flights are mostly used for short journeys within Washington state, routes covering cities like Yakima and Walla Walla. However, these flights can’t be booked directly, and I don’t think there’s a way to know if Horizon will be assigned to your itinerary. Additionally, there’s no price difference, and honestly, I didn’t find any cons except for a little turbulence, which is similar to what you might experience on a Boeing 737 MAX. 

So let this beautiful aircraft surprise you! Have you flown Alaska’s Horizon Air before? Drop a comment below, I’d love to hear about your experience! Check out what I did in Boise in one day and my complete South Idaho itinerary.