Alaska Airlines is celebrating World Pilots’ Day with a new collection of commemorative trading cards. It is the first update to the airline’s trading cards in a decade. It is also the first time in two years they will be available from the flight deck.
The eight-card set was created with the airline’s pilots and features the airline’s most iconic liveries.
Made on a holographic film, the images on the cards are multi-dimensional.
Designed By Pilots For Future Pilots
“It’s nice for someone — especially a kid — to leave the flight with something meaningful, whether it’s a memory, a set of wings, or, in this case, a one-of-a-kind card. These cards are not just cool keepsakes, but also educational tools, with each one featuring details about the aircraft and its unique story.” — Scott Day, system chief pilot for Hawaiian Airlines who previously flew for Alaska Airlines.
Day believes that interactions between crew members and young passengers can foster a love for aviation. These interactions can also spark their interest in a future career as a pilot.
“When recruiting and interviewing pilots, one of the fun questions we like to ask is, ‘How did you first become interested in flying? What was the first spark for you?’ A common response we hear is that they were invited to sit in the pilot’s seat as a kid. That small spark meant everything to them and was what set them on their journey,” he explained.
A Special Memento Of Flight
Alaska first introduced trading cards in the 1990s and redesigned them several times to match the changing fleet. They have grown in popularity over the decades as coveted collectibles.
“These cards are cherished tokens for anyone who has flown with Alaska,” Day said. “They were very popular back in the day, and they’re even more popular now thanks to social media.”
How To Get Your Hands On Alaska Airlines’ New Trading Cards
If you are interested in getting some trading cards, just ask the crew. However, the airline warns that cards are produced in limited quantities. They are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. But maybe you’ll be lucky.
