AC

There aren't many airlines nobody has flown — those don't last very long. But quite a few aren't well-known stateside, and others are known only in a small market. Here are our picks. Alaska Airlines Home base and hubs: Primary hub Seattle-Tacoma Airport, Seattle; secondary hubs at Portland (Oregon), Los Angeles, and San Jose. Market area: Blankets the West Coast, Alaska to Mexico, plus Hawaii and 16 important destinations in the Midwest and on the East Coast. Alliances and partners: No alliances, but has partnerships with 15 lines, including Air France/KLM, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Korean Air, LAN Airlines, Qantas, and several smaller lines. What's special: Bigger than you think: Alaska has outgrown its regional name and now resembles the late, lamented Western Airlines. It is the "smallest big line," operating hub-and-spoke schedules, two classes, and a full-featured frequent-flyer program. It generally earns good...