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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ksh7UGPPlT3MwGoyP/XaVHalxI9vUmfu/zI0T9fsyTxyyVb7yU+rgWiVOYG53fHd
 3iDUyNPN0A0Av/A50NJhaQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001188787-03-000001.txt : 20030522
<SEC-HEADER>0001188787-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030522
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030522144310
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001188787-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030521
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030522

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THOMPSON J KENNETH
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188787

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08957
		FILM NUMBER:		03716116

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ALASKA AIR GROUP
		STREET 2:		19300 PACIFIC HIGHWAY SOUTH
		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:		2064333200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 68947
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98168-0947
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-21</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000766421</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALASKA AIR GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALK</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188787</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THOMPSON J KENNETH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1126</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>17.76</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3761</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDeriv
ativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Grant of shares in payment of director annual retainer under a plan exempt under 16b-3(d).  The acquisition is the average closing price on the NYSE for the 30 trading days immediately prior to the annual election of directors.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Shannon Alberts for J. Kenneth Thompson, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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