Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - A crouton of hope! First One's on Us extended to QX/OO operated flights

As per my mileage plan statement this morning, MVPG/75k are comped their first premium beverage on Horizon flights. Credit where it's due, this is a welcome nod towards "valued" fliers.

Now there's no excuse for arriving sober to that meeting or family vacation!

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Is this a backwards way of saying that free beer and wine are going away?

As per my mileage plan statement this morning, MVPG/75k are comped their first premium beverage on Horizon flights. Credit where it's due, this is a welcome nod towards "valued" fliers.

Now there's no excuse for arriving sober to that meeting or family vacation!

Not sure if you are being sarcastic, but every flyer has gotten a premium beverage on every QX flight...

Everyone still gets beer and wine, but on longer flights that include "premium" (spirits), Gold/75k's will have the option to get a free one of those too.

This was a much-requested change both on FT and at the MVPG lunches, and I'm glad to see AS expanding the First One's On Us program to QX (and presumably OO).

This was a much-requested change both on FT and at the MVPG lunches, and I'm glad to see AS expanding the First One's On Us program to QX (and presumably OO).

It makes perfect sense, as all flights are marketed and branded Alaska.

It would be nice if they would also include free food (i.e. the $6 snack packs) for Golds and 75K's also, since these flights have no first class. Not everyone can drink alcohol, so if you can't drink alcohol, you still don't get any freebies on Horizon/Skywest any different from the once a year (or less) flier. American Eagle provides both free food and alcohol for their Exec Plat customers on their flights. Just a suggestion.

It would be nice if they would also include free food (i.e. the $6 snack packs) for Golds and 75K's also, since these flights have no first class. Not everyone can drink alcohol, so if you can't drink alcohol, you still don't get any freebies on Horizon/Skywest any different from the once a year (or less) flier. American Eagle provides both free food and alcohol for their Exec Plat customers on their flights. Just a suggestion.

Nice suggestion, not gonna happen. A free "adult beverage" is a nearly no cost item for an airline (50¢ or less). A free snackbox isn't, despite their similar "retail value."

So would a SJC-LAX flight be long enough for them to offer 'hard' liquor service?

So would a SJC-LAX flight be long enough for them to offer 'hard' liquor service?

It should be. Mainline carriers (remember those?) will sell you a drink on the route.

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So would a SJC-LAX flight be long enough for them to offer 'hard' liquor service?

It should be. Mainline carriers (remember those?) will sell you a drink on the route.

Alright ;)

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Alright ;)

And mainline carriers, in the F cabin (oh, right, none left on this route) would end up being a "three drink flight" (during the right day/time) - one PDB, and then 2 or 3 inflight. A great way to start a trip to visit family!

I got this as snail mail a few days ago and blew it off as pretty useless for most Horizon flight.

So, what % of Horizon/Skywest flights qualify? I would guess well less than half.

What minimum travel time is the cut off to receive "One On Us"?

I got this as snail mail a few days ago and vlew it off as pretty useless for most Horizon flight.

So, what % of Horizon/Skywest flights qualify? I would guess well less than half.

What minimum travel time is the cut off to receive "One On Us"?

Hard to say, as so many of these flights have "no service" when the gods barely sneeze and the plane barely goes through some occasional light chop.

Sounds good to me.

And mainline carriers, in the F cabin (oh, right, none left on this route) would end up being a "three drink flight" (during the right day/time) - one PDB, and then 2 or 3 inflight. A great way to start a trip to visit family!

On my last OO flight (PDX-BUR), I was offered about four refills on my beer. ^ Sometimes on mainline flights in F I have to flag the down the FA or push the call button if I want more than one.

On my last OO flight (PDX-BUR), I was offered about four refills on my beer. ^ Sometimes on mainline flights in F I have to flag the down the FA or push the call button if I want more than one.

My last 2 QX flights (with about two hours block time), the first one was 'too turbulent' for any service at all - occasional light chop most of the way, and the second was 'we hope we can provide an abbreviated service if the turbulence subsides' - some predicted chop after takeoff, then smooth sailing most of the way - an eventual quick rushed service.

On mainline AS when I'm in coach, the FA almost always asks if I'd like to have my free premium beverage (nice way to offer it after seeing Golds on the manifest, I think). I was on QX from SEA-BIL on Thursday night and asked for a vodka tonic. The FA brought the drink, and said, "That will be $6." I said, "I'm Gold" thinking maybe she just hadn't looked at her manifest.

She looked at me like I had two heads and said, "And.....?"

I explained that Golds get one premium beverage, and that it's been in place for a month or so now. She said she'd never heard of such a thing.

Maybe a little training or communication is in order.

She said she'd never heard of such a thing.

And the follow up data-point question: Did she say the AS credit card companion fare could be used for FC travel??

On mainline AS when I'm in coach, the FA almost always asks if I'd like to have my free premium beverage (nice way to offer it after seeing Golds on the manifest, I think). I was on QX from SEA-BIL on Thursday night and asked for a vodka tonic. The FA brought the drink, and said, "That will be $6." I said, "I'm Gold" thinking maybe she just hadn't looked at her manifest.

She looked at me like I had two heads and said, "And.....?"

I explained that Golds get one premium beverage, and that it's been in place for a month or so now. She said she'd never heard of such a thing.

Maybe a little training or communication is in order.

I flew BIL-SEA on Jul 27, evening flight seated in row 1. The FA asked what I would like to drink and I asked for a Vodka & Sprite. He asked if I was Gold and I told him I am 75K. He said I was the first person he got to give the free drink to. He seemed genuinely pleased.^^

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On mainline AS when I'm in coach, the FA almost always asks if I'd like to have my free premium beverage (nice way to offer it after seeing Golds on the manifest, I think). I was on QX from SEA-BIL on Thursday night and asked for a vodka tonic. The FA brought the drink, and said, "That will be $6." I said, "I'm Gold" thinking maybe she just hadn't looked at her manifest.

She looked at me like I had two heads and said, "And.....?"

I explained that Golds get one premium beverage, and that it's been in place for a month or so now. She said she'd never heard of such a thing.

Maybe a little training or communication is in order.

I flew BIL-SEA on Jul 27, evening flight seated in row 1. The FA asked what I would like to drink and I asked for a Vodka & Sprite. He asked if I was Gold and I told him I am 75K. He said I was the first person he got to give the free drink to. He seemed genuinely pleased.^^

Glad they got the memo ;)

Here it comes! Add it to chip, chip, chip!

Free beer and wine is going away! They just haven't told us yet!

Here it comes! Add it to chip, chip, chip!

Free beer and wine is going away! They just haven't told us yet!

and what is your source:confused:

and what is your source:confused:

Just a prediction. Free Beer and Wine to all GONE by December 31, 2012.

Hawaiian will be the only airline left giving free (a glass) of wine domestically to all.

Everyone still gets beer and wine, but on longer flights that include "premium" (spirits), Gold/75k's will have the option to get a free one of those too.

So now I'll have to ask for all three drinks at once!

Now have the habit of asking for a beer and a wine.
Sitting up front, one might only get one chance to
ask for libation on some of those short flights.

.

Just a prediction. Free Beer and Wine to all GONE by December 31, 2012.

Hawaiian will be the only airline left giving free (a glass) of wine domestically to all.

I don't believe the airline is paying for the beer and wine.

The wineries and breweries in the NW are glad to showcase
their product to those living or visiting the NW, and provide
the product for free as a promotion.


But if the airline changed its policy, would they expect more
profit if they now PAID for some inferior, generic, non-micro-
brewery slop, AND expected the customers to suddenly PAY
for the inferior product? Maybe some MBA would think so...

.

I don't believe the airline is paying for the beer and wine.

The wineries and breweries in the NW are glad to showcase
their product to those living or visiting the NW, and provide
the product for free as a promotion.


But if the airline changed its policy, would they expect more
profit if they now PAID for some inferior, generic, non-micro-
brewery slop, AND expected the customers to suddenly PAY
for the inferior product? Maybe some MBA would think so...

.

Even if they are paying, it is a greatly reduced wholesale rate. Also:

1. If the FA's had to stop to charge for every drink they pour, the flight would be over before they were half way through the cabin.

2. If they charged, they would need to leave the whole can/bottle, with a lot more time required to clean up on these (mostly) short flights.

A 1/3 can beer or 1/8 bottle of wine is basically all they are offering now anyway.

I hope (and don't think) the free drinks will go away any time soon.

Even if they are paying, it is a greatly reduced wholesale rate. Also:

1. If the FA's had to stop to charge for every drink they pour, the flight would be over before they were half way through the cabin.

2. If they charged, they would need to leave the whole can/bottle, with a lot more time required to clean up on these (mostly) short flights.

A 1/3 can beer or 1/8 bottle of wine is basically all they are offering now anyway.

I hope (and don't think) the free drinks will go away any time soon.

All good points.

Hope sanity prevails in the meeting rooms at AS/QX.

.

Even if they are paying, it is a greatly reduced wholesale rate. Also:

1. If the FA's had to stop to charge for every drink they pour, the flight would be over before they were half way through the cabin.

2. If they charged, they would need to leave the whole can/bottle, with a lot more time required to clean up on these (mostly) short flights.

A 1/3 can beer or 1/8 bottle of wine is basically all they are offering now anyway.

I hope (and don't think) the free drinks will go away any time soon.

All good reasons to consider expanding the free beer and wine to AS mainline!

I don't believe the airline is paying for the beer and wine...

Is this why they will offer me beer or wine on some flights but won't let me have a soda?

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I don't believe the airline is paying for the beer and wine...

Is this why they will offer me beer or wine on some flights but won't let me have a soda?

Its limiting the offerings to speed the service on a shorter flight. I think they do offer water for those on biz ;)

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Its limiting the offerings to speed the service on a shorter flight. I think they do offer water for those on biz ;)

Actually this has happened to me on mid-length flights too. And I now remember that we've gone 'round this topic here before. No one supported my suggestion that instead of offering both beer and wine when time was short that they offer one or the other (it all tastes the same to me as a non-drinker -- yuck) and have the time/space to offer more non-alcoholic options. People here made it clear that they wanted their booze. :D

I used to order cranberry juice on QX until two flights in a row I got some that had gone horribly bad. Really awful. Now I have surrendered and don't usually order anything if my preferred caffeine fix is not available.

Back on topic: If I find myself on a QX flight where they want to offer a Free One on Us to me as an MVPG I'll see if I can get the FA to sneak me a can of Diet Coke. Real nice and quiet like.

... I'll see if I can get the FA to sneak me a can of Diet Coke. Real nice and quiet like.

I've asked nicely on a non-full flight and received my diet cola.

All good points.

Hope sanity prevails in the meeting rooms at AS/QX.

.

My thinking is that the free beer and wine is used to compensate for the other ways in which QX flights compare badly to mainline AS. Namely, the incredibly tiny single lav lacking a wash basin, noise if seated near the engine, the 100% non-reclining seats and lack of window shades (on most aircraft at least), and of course, no F cabin.

I've asked nicely on a non-full flight and received my diet cola.

That's good to hear. I've asked a couple of times when soda wasn't on the official menu and been turned down. Once I got the distinct impression that they were annoyed that I asked -- even though time didn't seem to be an issue. So I don't ask anymore. But, as I said, if in the future they offer me a free premium beverage as an MVPG I'll take a chance and ask for soda.

So would a SJC-LAX flight be long enough for them to offer 'hard' liquor service?

It should be. Mainline carriers (remember those?) will sell you a drink on the route.

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Alright ;)

Wow this flight was nearly two months ago- wanted to say yes I was successful in getting my Bloody Mary on the morning flight (which was delayed due to MX and an aircraft swap in BOI on the inbound A/C) :cool: