Weather happens

Recently due to some strong headwinds from the S-SW (the cause of the very mild weather in SEA) some of Alaska Airlines scheduled non-stop flights from SEA to the islands are making a stop down in PDX or OAK for fuel; and some passengers aren't happy.

Well guess what folks - it isn't unusual for flights anywhere to be affected by heavy rains & thunderstorms (why aren't they called lightning storms?), fog, snow, ice, floods, earthquakes, let alone just the "normal" heavy traffic into hub airports at peak times of the day. So why is the stronger than usual wind that Mother Nature periodically throws our way any different?

Our Hawaiian flights are typically made at our max. takeoff weight to allow for the greatest fuel amount the plane can carry, since stopping midway isn't an option. And the fact that there are limited options for alternate airports once in range. Sure there are airports on the other islands if something happens to the primary airport runway at the island of your destination (lava flow, disabled plane on the only runway, downed palm tree, heavy rain squall, etc.), but it's also typical that if one island is having bad weather they all are. So arriving with as much fuel as possible is preferable.

PDX is just that much closer, and OAK much more so that the flying time & fuel required from those cities are less than what would be required from SEA. If routed through OAK for example - that 1st leg will be about 2 hours, and then the leg to Maui will be about 5:30. This'll be about an hour or so longer than if they did it non-stop (to upload fuel and make the required ETOPS maintenance inspection).

To make it non-stop they'd have to off-set fuel weight necessary so off comes a corresponding weight of bags & passengers. So what would you rather do, watch the plane leave without you (potentially empty) or arrive slightly tardy? The upside is that on your return (even with a late departure), with that strong wind now on your sunburned tail - you'll be arriving pretty close to on-time.

Have a tantrum - you're going to Hawaii, they'll schedule another important lu'au for you. The great beaches & Mai Tai's await your arrival. The wonderful soft breezes, rainbows, and sunsets will still be there. Though Don Ho won't. Chill bruddah!