Alaska Airlines Ski Free Resorts For 2025 2026

Most flyers have learned to expect fewer freebies when they book a ticket, but for the 2025 2026 ski season Alaska Airlines ski free resorts are an exception that can materially cut the cost of a winter trip to Idaho and Colorado. At a small set of partner mountains, travelers who arrive on Alaska Airlines and present a same day boarding pass can trade that document for a complimentary lift ticket or night skiing session. The savings are meaningful when single day window rates at marquee destinations can now reach or exceed $300.00 (USD) during peak periods.

In practical terms, the Alaska Airlines ski free resorts program gives arriving passengers at Schweitzer, Bogus Basin, and Steamboat a way to turn their inbound boarding pass into a free day on snow, which can help offset rising ticket prices and free up budget for lodging, lessons, or rentals.

How The Alaska Boarding Pass Ski Free Deals Work

Alaska Airlines has been partnering with ski resorts in the western United States and Canada for several years, marketing the offers as part of its winter promotions and broader Atmos Rewards program. The basic pattern is simple. Travelers fly into a designated gateway airport on Alaska Airlines, keep their same day inbound boarding pass, then present that pass and identification at a participating resort ticket window for a complimentary lift ticket or night skiing product.

The fine print matters. At most resorts the perk applies only on the calendar day of arrival, cannot be combined with other discounts, and is limited to one free ticket per boarding pass. Several destinations also restrict the offer to Alaska Mileage Plan or Atmos Rewards members, a detail that many travelers will satisfy automatically if they already credit flights to the airline's loyalty program. Because resort participation and blackout dates can change year to year, travelers should treat current lists as guidance, not a guarantee, and confirm details with both Alaska Airlines and the resort before they book flights.

Schweitzer, Idaho, Via Spokane

For the 2025 2026 winter season, Schweitzer, the largest ski area in Idaho, has confirmed that guests arriving on Alaska Airlines into Spokane International Airport (GEG) can ski free on their arrival day by showing a same day Alaska boarding pass. Schweitzer sits above Sandpoint, Idaho, roughly a 90 minute drive north of Spokane, so the offer effectively ties an inland Pacific Northwest flight to big mountain terrain with views over Lake Pend Oreille.

Schweitzer's pre season materials make clear that the complimentary ticket is valid only on the day of arrival and only for travelers flying in on Alaska. Mileage Plan members need to hold onto their inbound boarding pass, drive or shuttle up from Spokane, then redeem the offer at the resort ticket office. Because winter storms and traffic along U S 95 and local access roads can slow the last leg, travelers aiming to maximize their free day should favor morning or early afternoon arrivals into Spokane instead of tight evening landings.

On the air side, Spokane International sees Alaska Airlines service from hubs such as Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, along with seasonal and regional routes that make two segment itineraries from many U S cities feasible with a single connection. Building in at least a few hours between scheduled arrival and Schweitzer's final chair time will keep the free day realistic even if baggage or deicing delays occur.

Bogus Basin, Idaho, Via Boise

Bogus Basin, the non profit mountain recreation area 16 miles north of downtown Boise, has renewed its Fly Alaska X Bogus Basin promotion for the 2025 2026 season and is explicit that the offer will expire at the end of that winter. Travelers who fly Alaska Airlines into Boise Airport (BOI) and present their boarding pass at the Bogus Creek Lodge ticket window receive one free lift ticket on the day they arrive, subject to standard weather operations and capacity.

Bogus Basin positions the deal as part of a broader affordability mission, and the resort pairs the complimentary ticket with a discounted performance rental package for travelers who redeem through the promotion. That combination can be especially helpful for visitors on long weekends who prefer to leave their skis at home and rely on local rentals instead of paying airline checked bag fees for oversize gear. Alaska already allows ski and snowboard equipment to exceed standard linear dimensions without oversize surcharges as long as the bag stays under 50 pounds, so travelers can choose the more economical option based on trip length and whether they already own equipment.

The road from Boise to Bogus Basin climbs quickly and can be icy on storm days, so flyers should build a realistic buffer between their scheduled arrival at Boise Airport, vehicle pickup or shuttle departure, and the resort's last chair. Midday arrivals that put travelers on the mountain by early afternoon will usually yield better use of the free day than tight late afternoon landings that risk losing daylight to traffic or chain controls.

Steamboat, Colorado, Via Yampa Valley Regional

In Colorado, Steamboat Springs promotes a slightly different version of the Alaska partnership that centers on night skiing instead of a full day pass. Travelers who fly Alaska Airlines into Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN), which serves Steamboat Springs and Hayden, can show their same day arrival boarding pass at the ticket office to receive a complimentary night skiing ticket for that evening.

Resort language adds one important nuance. Guests who arrive on Mondays or Wednesdays may use their free night skiing ticket on Thursday, which offers more flexibility for travelers whose flights land after night operations have already started or who prefer to settle into lodging before hitting the slopes. Alaska Airlines plans to operate seasonal nonstop services to Yampa Valley Regional from Seattle and San Diego beginning December 20, 2025, with flights three times per week through late March 2026, giving West Coast travelers a straightforward path into the program.

Because Steamboat's regular lift ticket prices are among the higher in Colorado, at close to $300.00 (USD) on some peak days, the ability to ski for free on arrival night and then use pre purchased tickets or passes for subsequent days can shave a significant amount off a long weekend. Night skiing also spreads crowds out beyond the traditional daytime window, which can make a first evening on snow a good time to test conditions and gear before busier daytime laps.

Why These Free Days Matter As Ticket Prices Rise

The Alaska Airlines ski free resorts program sits against a backdrop of rapidly rising lift ticket prices across the United States. Recent industry analyses have documented single day window rates climbing past $300.00 (USD) at major destination resorts, with even midrange mountains commonly charging more than $100.00 (USD) for day tickets during busy periods. For families or groups who only ski a few days per year, these costs can be a barrier, especially once lodging, rental equipment, and food are factored in.

By effectively rebating one day of lift access in exchange for an inbound Alaska Airlines ticket, Schweitzer, Bogus Basin, and Steamboat give travelers a way to stretch trip budgets further, particularly on short itineraries where one free day might represent a third or half of the total time on snow. For travelers who already prefer or need to route through Alaska's West Coast hubs, the deals may tip the balance when choosing between competing airlines or ski markets.

Planning Tips To Make The Most Of The Perks

To use these offers effectively, travelers should plan itineraries backward from lift operating hours instead of treating the free ticket as an afterthought. That means choosing morning or early afternoon arrivals into Spokane, Boise, or Yampa Valley Regional, allowing a buffer for winter weather and traffic on mountain access roads, and confirming last chair times for the target date.

Because resort lists can grow or change during the season, with additional mountains sometimes joining in January, it also makes sense to monitor Alaska Airlines and resort deal pages for fresh announcements, especially if a traveler is flexible on destination. Offers like Alyeska Resort's weekday Fly Alaska Ski Free promotion in Alaska, which has used similar boarding pass redemption rules in past seasons, show that the airline and its partners are willing to tweak the mix of mountains and blackout dates from year to year.

Finally, flyers should keep normal winter travel resilience in mind. That includes buying travel insurance that covers delays and missed connections, watching weather forecasts along both flight paths and mountain roads, and using flexible change policies if inbound storms threaten to cut too deeply into the free day to make the effort worthwhile. For skiers and riders willing to do that work, Alaska's ski free partnerships can still be an unusually generous perk in an era when very little about flying or skiing feels free.

Sources

• This Airline's Boarding Pass Doubles as a Free Ski Lift Ticket
• What Is New At Schweitzer For Winter 2025 26
• Schweitzer Directions And Alaska Airlines Offer
• Bogus Basin Deals And Discounts, Fly Alaska X Bogus Basin
• Bogus Basin, Alaska Airlines Ski Free Offer
• Steamboat, Alaska Airlines Flight Specials And Night Skiing Offer
• Steamboat Ski Resort, Alaska Airlines Partner Page
• Fly Alaska, Ski Free Program Overview
• Alyeska Resort Fly Alaska Ski Free Details
• Lift Ticket Price Trends At Major U S Resorts
• Why The Cost Of Skiing In The U S Is Soaring
• 2025 26 Lift Ticket Price Analysis