-----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,
 DHgk6Xl5YIb8rUz2yzyZMRNnUPcU5YY+TzC1Cn8qMEsPu0uK8Hzui+Sx5dbGR3gM
 CIx2Fkllu28gtjart3abuA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-08-009035.txt : 20080211
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-08-009035.hdr.sgml : 20080211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080211131857
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-08-009035
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080208
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080211
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080211

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:			AYER WILLIAM S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188789

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08957
		FILM NUMBER:		08592270

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ALASKA AIR GROUP
		STREET 2:		19300 PACIFIC HIGHWAY SOUTH
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98188
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd194479.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 - AYER
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-02-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188789</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AYER WILLIAM S</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11625</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30825</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9786</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3616</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>ESOP TRUST</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>35975</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION (RIGHT TO BUY)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.49</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>52800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-02-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-02-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>52800</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>52800</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 FEBRUARY 8, 2008.  UNITS WILL &quot;CLIFF&quot; VEST ON FEBRUARY 8, 2010, SUBJECT TO FORFEITURE.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS FULLY VESTED AND ISSUED; NO LONGER SUBJECT TO FORFEITURE.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">SHARES HELD IN EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">THIS NUMBER REFLECTS A CORRECTION TO THE AMOUNT OF SECURITIES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY THE REPORTING PERSON STATED ON THE FORM 4 FILED NOVEMBER 13, 2007 WHICH HAD BEEN REPORTED PREVIOUSLY.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">GRANT OF NONQUALIFIED 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 FEBRUARY 8, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>KAREN A. GRUEN FOR WILLIAM S. AYER, ATTORNEY-IN-FACT</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----