Key Points

• Alaska Airlines will launch nonstop Seattle flights to Athens on May 12, 2027, and to Paris on May 25, 2027, both flown on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with lie-flat Business Class Suites.
• Introductory Main Cabin fares start at $999 round-trip for bookings made through August 26, and the routes open fresh Atmos Rewards redemption options since they're operated on Alaska's own metal rather than a partner airline.
• These are the first nonstop flights ever between the West Coast and Athens, and the first oneworld nonstop service between the West Coast and Paris, growing Alaska's Seattle long-haul network to seven destinations.

If you've been waiting for an easier way to reach the Mediterranean or the City of Light from the Pacific Northwest, Alaska Airlines just delivered. The airline announced two new nonstop routes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA): one to Athens (ATH) and one to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), both launching in May 2027. This is a meaningful expansion of Alaska's transatlantic ambitions since it acquired Hawaiian Airlines' long-haul fleet, and it matters for points and miles travelers because these flights will be bookable with Atmos Rewards points on Alaska's own aircraft. Here's what's confirmed, what it costs, and how to think about booking it with points instead of cash.

What's New: Seattle to Athens and Paris

Alaska says the Seattle-Athens route will be the first-ever nonstop service between the West Coast and the Greek capital, and the only nonstop option connecting the two cities. It's also set to become the longest route in Alaska's entire network. Flights begin May 12, 2027, and will operate three times weekly through October.

The Seattle-Paris route follows two weeks later, starting May 25, 2027, with five weekly flights running through October. Alaska will be the first oneworld carrier to fly nonstop between the West Coast and Paris, a notable distinction in a market currently served by Air France and Delta out of Seattle.

Both routes fly on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, featuring Alaska's lie-flat Business Class Suites and the airline's newer long-haul cabin. Atmos Rewards members will also get complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi as that rollout continues across Alaska and Hawaiian's combined fleet.

Quick specs:

• Seattle to Athens: begins May 12, 2027, three times weekly, seasonal through October
• Seattle to Paris: begins May 25, 2027, five times weekly, seasonal through October
• Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with lie-flat Business Class Suites on both routes
• Introductory fares: Main Cabin round-trip starting at $999 for tickets booked by August 26 (book directly with Alaska)

These join Alaska's existing Seattle long-haul network to London, Rome, Reykjavik, Seoul, and Tokyo, bringing the total to seven intercontinental destinations from SEA. Alaska has said it intends to operate more than a dozen long-haul international routes from Seattle in the coming years, so expect this expansion to continue.

Why Points and Miles Travelers Should Care

The bigger story for our community isn't just the new destinations. It's that these flights operate on Alaska's own metal, not a partner airline. That distinction matters more than people realize.

When you redeem Atmos Rewards points on a partner airline like American or British Airways, you're at the mercy of that partner's own award inventory and, in some cases, a booking fee. When Alaska operates the flight itself, redemptions run through Alaska's own distance-based award chart, availability tends to be more predictable, and you avoid partner routing restrictions entirely.

Based on how Alaska has priced its other recent transatlantic launches from Seattle, like London and Rome, business class awards on its own long-haul routes have generally landed in the 45,000 to 55,000 point range one-way, depending on the specific distance flown. Athens is a longer flight than London or Rome, so expect Athens business class awards to price toward the higher end of that band, or potentially above it, once Alaska publishes exact chart rates for the route. We'll update this article the moment award space opens for booking.

A few practical notes if you're planning to redeem points on either route:

• Because these are Alaska metal flights, they should earn status points at 100% of miles flown when booked as revenue tickets, one of Atmos Rewards' most underrated perks.
• Alaska's stopover policy still applies here. A one-way award booked through Seattle to Athens or Paris can include a free stopover of 24 hours or more, a smart way to layer in a second European city on the same redemption.
• If you're building an Atmos Rewards balance for this trip, the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite card remains the fastest path, since its welcome offer and companion benefit can meaningfully offset the cost of a premium cabin seat.

Should You Book Now?

If you want to fly the inaugural season and lock in the $999 introductory Main Cabin fare, book before August 26. Cash pricing this low on a new long-haul route rarely lasts once the promotional window closes, and seasonal routes like this one tend to sell down quickly once word gets out.

If you're planning to use points instead, there's no rush to book yet, since award space for flights this far out typically isn't loaded until closer to the season. What you can do now is start positioning your Atmos Rewards balance so you're ready the moment saver availability appears, whether that means putting spend on the Atmos Rewards Summit card or working toward it with a transferable points card if you'd rather keep your options open across programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the new Alaska Airlines Seattle to Athens and Paris flights start?
Seattle to Athens begins May 12, 2027, and Seattle to Paris begins May 25, 2027. Both are seasonal routes running through October.

Can I book these flights with Atmos Rewards points?
Not yet. Cash fares are on sale now, but award availability typically loads closer to the travel season. Because both routes fly on Alaska's own aircraft, they'll price under Alaska's own award chart rather than a partner chart.

What aircraft will operate these routes?
Both the Athens and Paris routes will fly the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which includes Alaska's lie-flat Business Class Suites and complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi for Atmos Rewards members.

Is this the only nonstop option between Seattle and Athens?
Yes. Alaska says it will be the first and only nonstop service connecting the West Coast to Athens.

Alaska's Seattle expansion keeps handing points travelers more ways to fly premium cabins overseas without leaving the Atmos Rewards ecosystem, and Athens and Paris are two of the strongest additions yet. Book the introductory fare if a cash ticket makes sense for your trip, or start stacking Atmos Rewards points now so you're ready when award space opens. This article contains affiliate links. If you apply through our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you, which helps us continue sharing points and miles strategies with the community.