FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * SPRAGUE JOSEPH A   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ALASKA AIR GROUP, INC. [ALK] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) VP/MARKETING (Last) (First) (Middle) 19300 INTERNATIONAL BLVD 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 12/31/2012 (Street) SEATTLE, WA 98188 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price COMMON STOCK 401(K) (1)               3,363 (2) I ESOP TRUST RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT (3)               14,920 D   COMMON STOCK 12/31/2012   A(4)   5,280 A $ 0 16,918 D   COMMON STOCK 12/31/2012   F(5)   1,742 D $ 42.73 15,176 D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
SPRAGUE JOSEPH A 19300 INTERNATIONAL BLVD SEATTLE, WA 98188			VP/MARKETING

Signatures

JEANNE E GAMMON, ATTORNEY-IN-FACT FOR JOSEPH A. SPRAGUE		01/03/2013
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	COMMON SHARES HELD IN THE ALASKA AIR GROUP INC. EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP 401(K) PLAN TRUST AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2012.
(2)	DURING 2012, MR. SPRAGUE ACQUIRED 121 ALK SHARES AS A PARTICIPANT IN THE ALASKA AIR GROUP EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP 401(k) PLAN TRUST. THE INFORMATION IS BASED ON A REPORT OF OWNERSHIP AS OF 12/31/12.
(3)	STOCK UNITS AWARDED UNDER ALASKA AIR GROUP'S 2008 PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN; SUBJECT TO FORFEITURE.
(4)	COMMON SHARES ISSUED UPON ATTAINING PERFORMANCE GOALS SET FOR A THREE-YEAR PERIOD ENDING 12/31/12 WITHIN THE TERMS OF A PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT AWARD GRANTED ON 2/3/10 UNDER THE ISSUER'S 2008 PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN.
(5)	COMMON SHARES FORFEITED TO COVER PAYROLL TAXES UPON VESTING OF PERFORMANCE STOCK UNITS ON 12/31/12.

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