Seattle is up in the top-left corner of the U.S. Albuquerque is more… middle-bottom-left-ish. The flight path doesn’t go straight down. It curves like a lazy river. It dips over Oregon, then Idaho, then Utah, then Arizona, then New Mexico.
Why? Because the Earth is round, duh. Great circles and jet streams make it faster to bend. You’re not flying a straight line—you’re surfing the planet’s curve. That’s just wild.
And here’s a funny detail: you’ll fly right over the Four Corners. That’s the spot where Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico meet. Look down! You can wave at four states at once. It’s the only place in America you can do a quad-state high-five.
What You’ll See Out the Window (If You’re Not Sleeping)
First, the Cascades. Big snowy mountains. Then the Basin and Range—brown, wrinkled desert that looks like an elephant’s skin. After that, the Colorado Plateau. Red rocks, canyons, and mesas that look like a God-level Minecraft build.
Keep your eyes peeled for the Rio Grande river. It’s this skinny, green ribbon cutting through the brown. That’s your landing guide. Albuquerque sits right next to it.
Fun fact: the airport in Albuquerque is named after Senator Pete Domenici. But locals call it ABQ. That’s its three-letter code. Sounds like a toy block brand, right? ABQ. Say it out loud. It’s fun.
AS780 Flight Status Alaska Airlines: Seattle to Albuquerque (ASA780)
