Seahawks go Hawaiian after Allen cans private jet

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Seahawks go Hawaiian after Allen cans private jet

Seahawks owner and Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen could own his own air force, and has most of the aircraft he could ever need already at his personal disposal.

In fact, when he took over as the football team's benefactor 10 years ago, he turned over use of his private charter jet, a Boeing 757-200, so the team could fly in luxury � each seat with first-class leg room and luxury, individual TVs every four seats with DVD players.

When the Hawks flew to the Super Bowl two years ago, the private jet was the envy of the NFL, as Seattle was the only NFL team to have its own airliner. The jet also was cited several times as a team perk that helped land free agents.

But those days are gone.

P-I Seahawks reporter Clare Farnsworth notes that Allen has since sold the jet and the Seahawks this season are already grumbling a bit about having to go back to traveling like most of the rest of us � or at least those playing NFL football for a living.

Before Allen took over in 1997, the team chartered with locally based Alaska Airlines; before that, it was United Airlines.

Now, in a strange twist, the team will travel on Hawaiian Airlines � yes, that's right, Hawaiian Airlines is now to be known, according to a team media release, as the "Official Airline of the Seattle Seahawks."

READ ON FOR MORE DETAILS

Well, Hawaii does have the annual postseason Pro Bowl even if it has no NFL team or other games played there.

"We want the best for our coaches, players and staff, and Hawaiian Airlines is consistently rated the No. 1 carrier in the nation for service and quality. We'll be proud to put our Seahawks emblem next to theirs on the 767 that will carry us to all of our away games this year," said Seahawks President/GM Tim Ruskell in the release.

The Seahawks will experience Hawaiian's special in-flight charter service featuring extra-large meals that include fresh fruit and other healthy choices, up to three first-run movies per flight and any special team requests.

The partnership marks the first time the Seahawks will regularly fly on a wide-body, twin-aisle aircraft. Hawaiian's Boeing 767 aircraft can carry 264 passengers in a standard two-class configuration � enough space to provide each player with their own row of seats.

Hawaiian will fly the Seahawks to their games in Atlanta, Charlotte, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and St. Louis. Hawaiian also will affix Seahawks logos to the aircraft used for the team's charter flights.

Posted by at August 22, 2007 4:36 p.m.
Categories: Seattle Overnight, Sports

Comments

#47813

Posted by unregistered user at 8/22/07 8:08 p.m.

allen is a screwball

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#48194

Posted by unregistered user at 8/24/07 10:11 a.m.

What ever happened to supporting local businesses? Didn't Alaska Airlines paint the SeaHawk on a plane a while back. It's a bummer that they went with Hawaiian especially considering how consistntly supportive Alaska Airlines has been to the team over the years.

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#48305

Posted by unregistered user at 8/24/07 4:19 p.m.

Hawaiian is a great airline! If you have never flown Hawaiian you are missing some of the best service in the industry! After flying on them, I can see why the Raiders have signed up for the 8th year.

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#48512

Posted by unregistered user at 8/26/07 8:27 p.m.

First, Alaska doesnt support local BOEING. They have Airbus planes. Go figure. Second, Hawaiian airlines sucks. I flew on them last week from Seattle to Maui and back and not only were we 12 hours delayed, we couldnt even get to Maui and had to stay in Honolulu with no luggage. Their response? Zippo. No part for the plane.. Even tho Everett where theyt build the plane was only 30 miles north. No getting us on other planes or airline. We lost a day of vacation, had to pay for a night of a condo we didnt get to use and a rental car too. It was a 24 hour delay to reach our condo. Good luck Seahawks, I hope you dont have delays!

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#48517

Posted by unregistered user at 8/26/07 9:27 p.m.

Alaska Airlines is proudly a ALL BOEING Fleet.

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#48526

Posted by unregistered user at 8/27/07 1:39 a.m.

He's adorably eccentric. I love him.

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#48658

Posted by unregistered user at 8/27/07 7:27 p.m.

Hawaiian Airlines is the number one on-time carrier in the U.S. for all but one month for the past THREE years. Hawaiian Airlines has had the highest passenger load of any U.S. airline for over a year (meaning the least amount of empty seats per flight). Hawaiian Airlines has conistently ranked in the top 5 of every customer service airline ranking survey of several travel magazines, including Travel & Leisure and Conde Nast, for the past 5 years. Hawaiian Airlines has never, I repeat, NEVER has a single fatality in their 77 years (yes, they are the oldest airline in the U.S.A.)of operation. That is why the Raiders and now the Seahawks choose to fly on Hawaiian. Alaska is a fine airline, but they do not fly large enough airplanes to accomodate a modern NFL team.

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#90536

Posted by unregistered user at 1/25/08 2:42 p.m.

Hawaiian airlines has recently relocated their call center to the Philippines. I have never received such
untrained, unprofessional, and rude service in my 35
years of patronizing Hawaiian Airlines. I fly inter island at least 2 times a month for business, so trust me on this. I would rather swim inter island than to deal with their call center in the philippines. If the corporate office thinks by moving their call center to a third world country will save them a few dollars they are sadly mistaken!!!! Save yourself the time and frustration of dealing with these idiots in the Philippines, fly Aloha or GO Airlines. Sad to say there
is no aloha spirit in the Philippines!

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