Alaska Airlines is taking a more structured approach to inflight credit card sales as it looks to deepen customer loyalty and unlock additional revenue streams. The Seattle-based carrier is recruiting a senior manager dedicated to boosting employee engagement around its co-branded credit card program, signaling a renewed focus on inflight acquisition as a strategic priority.
The newly posted role, Manager, Loyalty Inflight Engagement, is designed to help flight attendants more confidently and consistently promote Alaska’s Atmos Rewards Visa Card during flights. Anchored at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, the position brings together inflight operations, loyalty leadership, and banking partners to drive measurable growth in applications and revenue.
A New Role Focused on Inflight Engagement
According to the job posting, the manager will own the employee engagement strategy for inflight credit card promotion, with responsibility spanning strategy, operations, and marketing execution. The role centers on enabling flight attendants and other frontline employees to represent the credit card program with clarity, confidence, and consistency.
Key responsibilities include designing training programs, overseeing communication frameworks, and managing field marketing efforts that support inflight sales. The manager will also work closely with internal teams across Loyalty, Inflight, Airport Operations, and Alaska’s lounge network to ensure alignment and smooth execution.
External coordination is another core element of the position. The role calls for close collaboration with Bank of America, Alaska’s co-branded card partner, as well as third-party activation vendors. Together, these groups will be responsible for maintaining compliance, consistency, and performance across all inflight engagement activities.
Building Structure Around Credit Card Sales
Alaska Airlines is formalizing what has traditionally been a decentralized activity. While inflight credit card promotion has existed for years, the new role introduces centralized oversight and long-term planning.
The manager will lead efforts to establish operational processes for program execution, including scheduling, incentive tracking, and compliance with both internal and banking requirements. Planning horizons will typically extend six to twelve months, reflecting the airline’s intent to move from short-term campaigns to sustained engagement strategies.
Other responsibilities include developing tools and resources that allow flight attendants to promote the card without disrupting onboard service, integrating sales efforts seamlessly into existing workflows, and using KPI-based reporting to refine targeting and test new approaches.
Leadership expectations are also extensive. The role involves coaching or influencing cross-functional teams, including inflight ambassadors, project specialists, and vendor field staff, while promoting a participatory and performance-driven culture.
Why Loyalty Cards Matter to Airlines
Across the U.S. airline industry, loyalty programs are among the most profitable business units, often generating billions of dollars annually through partnerships with banks and card issuers. For many carriers, these programs contribute a disproportionate share of total profits compared with ticket sales alone.
Inflight credit card pitches are particularly effective because flight attendants interact directly with a captive audience that has time to listen and complete applications. For employees, the incentives can also be meaningful. At some airlines, a small group of flight attendants have historically earned nearly as much in commission income from approved applications as from their base salaries.
Alaska Airlines has long been viewed as outperforming similarly sized peers in loyalty value. With the launch of the Atmos Rewards program and the integration of Hawaiian Airlines, the company sees an opportunity to expand and professionalize inflight acquisition at scale.
Compensation and Experience Requirements
The role requires at least five years of experience in program management or marketing, along with a minimum of two years in a leadership capacity. Alaska Airlines lists an annual salary range between USD 117,850 and USD 176,800, reflecting the strategic importance of the position within the organization.
Bottom Line
By hiring a dedicated Manager, Loyalty Inflight Engagement, Alaska Airlines is signaling that inflight credit card sales are no longer a secondary activity but a core revenue strategy. The objective is clear: optimize and expand flight attendant–led credit card promotion to support long-term loyalty growth and financial performance.
As competition intensifies and airlines increasingly rely on non-ticket revenue, Alaska’s move highlights how inflight teams are becoming central players in the business strategy—not just service delivery.
