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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OgmRAZ5+WHrhR6fsdzPktIMQfJlk2bQ8nZuRikAJKFaPGspNXBOcsWplj4j+PPAB
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-06-053314.txt : 20060915
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-06-053314.hdr.sgml : 20060915
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060915183512
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-06-053314
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060913
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060915
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060915

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALASKA AIR GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000766421
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AIR TRANSPORTATION, SCHEDULED [4512]
		IRS NUMBER:				911292054
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		19300 PACIFIC HWY SOUTH
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98188
		BUSINESS PHONE:		206.392.5040

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 68947
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98168-0947

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHAEFER JOHN F JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001355774

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08957
		FILM NUMBER:		061094299

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		206-392-5719

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ALASKA AIR GROUP, INC.
		STREET 2:		19300 INTERNATIONAL BLVD SO
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98188
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd130597.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 - SCHAEFER
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-09-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000766421</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALASKA AIR GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001355774</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHAEFER JOHN F JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ALASKA AIR GROUP INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>19300 INTERNATIONAL BLVD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98188</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>STAFF VP/FINANCE AND TREASURER</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-09-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>960</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2430</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION (RIGHT TO BUY)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>37.96</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-09-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-09-13</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-09-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2100</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2100</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS GRANTED UNDER 2004 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE EQUITY PLAN ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2006.  UNITS WILL &quot;CLIFF&quot; VEST ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2009, SUBJECT TO FORFEITURE.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">GRANT OF STOCK OPTIONS UNDER THE ALASKA AIR GROUP 2004 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE EQUITY PLAN.  THIS GRANT WILL VEST 25% EACH YEAR FOR FOUR YEARS BEGINNING ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2006.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>SHANNON K. ALBERTS FOR JOHN F. SCHAEFER, JR., ATTORNEY-IN-FACT</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-09-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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