Alaska Airlines flight attendant's emotional return to hometown in Guatemala

Alaska

Alaska Airlines flight attendant’s emotional return to hometown in Guatemala

Mar 7, 2024

Video by Karina Matias | Photos by Ingrid Barrentine

Orly buttoned up his vest, slid on his glasses and took one last look at himself in the mirror. He had done this thousands of times before, but today, putting on his Alaska Airlines uniform felt much different.

For the first time since becoming a flight attendant 12 years ago, Orly was working a flight to Guatemala – his home country.

Alaska added daily, year-round service to Guatemala from Los Angeles in December last year, which allowed Orly to spend Christmas with his family for the first time since 1985.

Before then, the price of flying home was always out of reach. When he became a flight attendant at Alaska, he was able to list as a stand-by passenger on other airlines to visit Guatemala. However, flights were always full during the holidays as travelers flocked to return home to their family and friends.

The challenge of not being able to easily snag a seat on another airline to Guatemala took a painful emotional turn in 2022 when his family called to tell him his mother was in the hospital. Doctors couldn’t reassure them she was going to make it.

“I tried a couple different airlines, but flights were sold out, so I purchased a last-minute $1,500 ticket on an airline,” he said. “I didn’t care about the price, I had to go see my mom. Soon after I arrived, my mom had a stroke. I was distraught. I almost hadn’t made it.”

Orly’s mother celebrated her 88th birthday in January of this year. Thanks to Alaska’s latest destination, he was able to fly back home to join in the celebration with her.

“When we looked at the map of places we wanted to fly last year, Guatemala stood out for us because it’s full of outdoor adventures, history and natural beauty,” said Kirsten Amrine, vice president of revenue management and network planning for Alaska Airlines. “But what struck me the most was the deep, meaningful connection our guests and employees, like Orly, have with this beautiful country. It’s exciting to offer West Coast travelers the convenience of returning to their home country or discovering Guatemala for the first time with a daily, nonstop flight.”

In January, during his first assigned flight to Guatemala, Orly paused to look around at the guests. He said there were many grandparents going back home to visit their families and tourists looking forward to experiencing the generosity that Guatemalans are known for.

That kindness is felt until the very end of their trips when they fly Alaska.

Our customer service agents based in Guatemala write personal ‘thank you’ notes and postcards to our passengers and place them on their seats before they board,” Orly said. “It’s our way of showing our gratitude for visiting our country and letting them know we are always ready to welcome you back with open arms.”

Discover Guatemala with Orly’s Expert Travel Guide!

Must-see spots:

Tikal in the city of Peten: these magnificent pyramids were built by our ancestors, the Mayans. In Peten, we discover some of our beginnings, our roots and rich history, including Prince Tecun Uman – a true warrior and hero to Guatemala.
Antigua Guatemala: this breathtaking place is loved by many people from all over the world. Built in a beautiful Baroque style in July 25th 1524, the city was named “la ciudad De Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala” (the city of Saint James of the knights of Guatemala). It is guarded by this grand Volcano that you can spot from almost every corner of the streets – our “Water Volcano” as we call it.
“Panajachel” with the famous Lake Atitlan: this amazing body of water is surrounded by three beautiful volcanos on the southern part of the lake. The basin of the lake is of volcanic origin; it is basically a massive crater from around 84000 years ago. The legends about the lake are intriguing and mystic. Make sure when you leave the lake to stop at Chichicastenango, a beautiful town full of amazing colorful textiles and traditions.

Lesser-known gems:

Guatemala has vast locations for hiking, especially on our volcanos. I hiked our Water Volcano in Antigua when I was 12 years old and spent the night inside the crater with my best friend and Godfather – a memory I will treasure forever and will never forget. The view of the new Guatemala was amazing.
Hike El biotopo de Guatemala, located in the town of Purulha to see a vast diversity in birds, including our national bird El Quetzal; this has to be one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever seen. Pro tip: be very quiet and peaceful and you may have the blessing to see our national bird flying free, a total serene experience to embrace nature at its best.
El Castillo de San Felipe (San Felipe’s Castle) is a Spanish colonial fort located on lake Izabal that is connected with the Caribbean Sea via Dulce River.

Action-packed activities:

Las Cuevas de Larkin in Champey (the Caves of Larkin) is a wonderful adventure where you can take a dip in the clearest of waters on a beautiful hot summer day – for sure worth exploring.
Tikal and those fascinating pyramids. You will take a hike through the jungles of Peten, Guatemala, you will be able to see wildlife. As I was listening to our tour guide telling wonderful stories I encountered our first temple. The magnificent structure left me speechless as I just stood there quietly wondering how this was built.

Places for foodies:

In Guatemala — El Adobe, if you want to experience pure traditional Guatemalan food to delight your gastronomic palate and enjoy traditional music with the sound of our instrument called “Marimba.”
For refined dining for a special night, visit Flor de Lis, where you can taste modern cooking using ancestral process inspired by The Popol Vuh.
Try our fried chicken, Pollo Campero. During lunchtime there is a long wait to get a table. As far as I know the recipe is top secret.