-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Jat3ya1+f1ZfuaIZEC/pFzjCbxVAf7UuA3HpeLJjxUoaeCn9OFkxwoDfGzpmGw9V
 UmNj6AB6QP1o4JicVqnhRg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-11-008361.txt : 20110208
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-11-008361.hdr.sgml : 20110208
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110208202407
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-11-008361
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110207
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110208
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110208

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:		11584184

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ALASKA AIR GROUP, INC.
		STREET 2:		19300 INTERNATIONAL BLVD SO
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98188

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd300116.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 - SCHAEFER
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-02-07</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>VP/FINANCE AND TREASURER</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>584</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3377</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1080</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10913</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>413</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>61.94</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION (RT TO BUY)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>61.3</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2050</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-02-07</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-02-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2050</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2050</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">SHARES ISSUED UPON VESTING OF PERFORMANCE STOCK UNITS GRANTED FEBRUARY 8, 2008 UNDER THE ISSUER'S 2004 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE EQUITY PLAN.  VESTING OF THE UNITS WAS DETERMINED BASED ON THE ISSUER'S AVERAGE ADJUSTED PRE-TAX PROFIT MARGIN OVER A THREE-YEAR PERFORMANCE PERIOD.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">STOCK UNITS AWARDED UNDER THE 2004 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE EQUITY AND 2008 PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLANS; SUBJECT TO FORFEITURE.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">STOCK UNITS GRANTED UNDER THE ALASKA AIR GROUP, INC. 2008 PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2011.  UNITS WILL CLIFF VEST ON FEBRUARY 7, 2014;  SUBJECT TO FORFEITURE.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">SHARES WITHHELD BY THE ISSUER TO COVER PAYROLL TAXES DUE UPON VESTING OF UNITS AND AND ISSUANCE OF NET SHARES.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>JEANNE E. GAMMON, ATTORNEY IN FACT FOR JOHN F. SCHAEFER, JR.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----