Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - More Hawaii Flying!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 7, 2008


ALASKA AIRLINES ANNOUNCES MAUI SERVICE

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines today announced new service between the Mainland and Maui, Hawaii. Year-round daily flights between Seattle and Kahului on the island of Maui are scheduled to begin July 17. Seasonal flights between Anchorage and Kahului will operate twice a week from Oct. 31 to April 25, 2009.
The flights will be available for purchase starting at 9 a.m. April 10, 2008, at alaskaair.com or by calling (800) ALASKAAIR.
“When we announced the start of our long-awaited service to Honolulu and Kauai last year, our customers were delighted, and they immediately began asking when Alaska Airlines would offer flights to Maui and other destinations in Hawaii,” said Gregg Saretsky, Alaska Airlines’ executive vice president of flight and marketing. “The time has come for us to expand the leisure travel options we can offer our customers and Mileage Plan members.”
Brad Tilden, Alaska Airlines’ executive vice president of planning and finance, noted that the sudden closures of Aloha and ATA Airlines “significantly reduced service between the Mainland and Hawaii. We are pleased to be able to offer these additional flights and we’re continuing to study other possibilities for more service.”
The new flights will provide convenient connections to travelers in other cities served by Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air throughout the Pacific Northwest and state of Alaska.
Alaska Airlines Vacations also offers a full line of vacation packages for travel to the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii. Packages include air transportation, hotel accommodations, ground transportation and tours.
To inaugurate the new service, Alaska Airlines is offering introductory one-way fares of $249 for Seattle-Maui and Anchorage-Maui flights. Customers must purchase their tickets by April 24, 2008, and travel by Dec. 17, 2008. Additional restrictions and blackout dates apply.
Flights from Seattle will depart daily at 8:20 a.m. Pacific time and arrive at 11:35 a.m. Hawaii time. Return flights—the only nonstop service from Maui to Seattle—will depart at
1:05 p.m. Hawaii time and arrive at 9:45 p.m. Pacific time.
Flights from Anchorage will depart Fridays and Saturdays at 2:20 p.m. Alaska time and arrive in Maui at 6:35 p.m. Hawaii time. Return flights will depart at 8:45 p.m. Hawaii time and arrive at 5 a.m. Alaska time.
The new flights will be operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, accommodating
16 passengers in first class and 141 in the main cabin. All flights will offer Alaska’s Northern Bites service, which allows coach passengers to purchase a meal onboard for $5. Inflight service also will include Alaska Airlines’ digEplayer, a personal entertainment system offering a variety of movies, television shows, music and other features. Complimentary in first class, digEplayers are available for $10 in coach.

Airfare prices listed do not include airport passenger facility charges of up to $9 (amount depends on itinerary), federal segment tax of $3.50 per segment (takeoff and landing) on itinerary, and a U.S. security fee of $2.50 per enplanement. All taxes and fees shown are based on one-way travel and may be doubled if traveling round-trip. Travel for introductory fares valid daily. Anchorage introductory fare only available on nonstop flights. Other airfare restrictions apply. Seats are limited and introductory fares may not be available on all flights or on all days. Tickets purchased at an Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air airport location or through a reservation call center cost $10 more per person than the advertised fare. Blackout dates apply to travel to/from Hawaii Nov. 20 through Dec. 2. Tickets are nonrefundable, but can be changed for a $50 change fee when changes are made online at alaskaair.com ($75 when changes are made through our reservation call centers or ticket counters and $100 when originally booked through a travel agent and changes are made through our reservation call centers or ticket counters) and any applicable changes in fare. All fares, taxes and fees are in U.S. dollars and are subject to change without notice. See alaskaair.com for complete fare rules.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air together serve 92 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. For reservations, visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.

Yeehaw!!!

OGG here we come....

Since seats are being released at 9 AM on Thurs... I wonder what will happen to the website~

P.S. I saw it released around the same time too... weird timing for me to be on "the newsroom" and seeing it released within 2 minutes of me looking at it!

Way to go AS!

Inaugural is on July 17... whose interested :D

Yeehaw!!!

OGG here we come....

Since seats are being released at 9 AM on Thurs... I wonder what will happen to the website~

P.S. I saw it released around the same time too... weird timing for me to be on "the newsroom" and seeing it released within 2 minutes of me looking at it!

Way to go AS!

Inaugural is on July 17... whose interested :D
I might be...I have to check, but the 8160 miles this'd give might just be what requalifies me for MVP. I've got an unused companion fare cert, too...:cool:

(I work Wed-Sat, though, so I'd need to work out a trade at work, and I can't be gone for very long--a few days at most...or--I know it's almost a waste--but a there-and-back MR...)

<going too fast... think I cross posted something... tried moving it and now gone... too exciting and now confused :D>

This is great news and I am looking forward to experencing Maui this fall. However, I was hoping for better introductory fares. Remember when AS started service to Hawaii and had introductory fares of $109 for Seattle-Honolulu flights and $149 for Seattle-Lihue flights?

can't make it on the inaugural... but i think i'll pick up a ticket to head there for halloween - lahaina is probably the best halloween in the world.

This is great news and I am looking forward to experencing Maui this fall. However, I was hoping for better introductory fares. Remember when AS started service to Hawaii and had introductory fares of $109 for Seattle-Honolulu flights and $149 for Seattle-Lihue flights?

Oil prices have increased substantially since that point.

This is great news and I am looking forward to experencing Maui this fall. However, I was hoping for better introductory fares. Remember when AS started service to Hawaii and had introductory fares of $109 for Seattle-Honolulu flights and $149 for Seattle-Lihue flights?

Oil prices have increased substantially since that point.

AS also probably realizes there is a strong demand for such service, due to their other flights, and also 2 carriers ending west coast service last week, limiting options for the flying public. Did HA cut one of their SEA flights too (I think someone mentioned this, which further opens up opportunity for AS)...

I guess this means we'll be heading to OGG in late fall. Was in the process of deciding which island to visit in Nov. and which to visist in Feb. This announcment made the decision easy! Now I just have to get the sale fare tix on Thurs. am and we'll be all set. Will have to find out more about halloween in lahaina...that sounds pretty fun.

Oil prices have increased substantially since that point.

Agreed; however I can get a cheaper fare in October 2008 (from AS.com) connecting in LAX of $237 each way. So, while I applaud the new route, it's not a spectacular introductory fare.

*starts trying to think up ways to get time off to go to Maui*

I'll have just gotten back from my east coast trip about two weeks prior to the start of this service...

They've even updated the website several places... including the .pdf routemap. (http://www.alaskaair.com/as/alaska/images/asqxroutemap.pdf)

However, one large omission is any routes flying into MEX:o

Inaugural is on July 17... whose interested :D

You know, the 17th is my birthday :p :D lol

Nice to see that we'll be seeing the smiling eskimo on more of the islands now.

As happy that AS is starting this service... I did note they issued (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080407/aqm110a.html?.v=3)a "Correction" to their original press release:


In the news release, Alaska Airlines Announces Maui Service, issued earlier today by Alaska Airlines over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that the eighth paragraph, second sentence, should read "Return flights will depart at 1:05 p.m. Hawaii time" rather than "Return flights -- the only nonstop service from Maui to Seattle -- will depart at 1:05 p.m. Hawaii time" as originally issued inadvertently.


I guess they were thinking about NW's SEA-OGG-KOA-SEA but forgot about HA's SEA-OGG-SEA service when issuing the initial statement :o

I'm glad to see ANC getting in on the new Hawaii flights, even thought it'll probably be priced through the stratosphere.

Hopefully they're also considering some PDX-Hawaii flying down the road.

As happy that AS is starting this service... I did note they issued (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080407/aqm110a.html?.v=3)a "Correction" to their original press release:



I guess they were thinking about NW's SEA-OGG-KOA-SEA but forgot about HA's SEA-OGG-SEA service when issuing the initial statement :o


B, that piece of the news release caught my eye too. Last time we were on Maui we grabbed the HA flights R/T from SEA. As I recall the inbound flight was about three hours late and we got in after midnight.

Even though we are heading to LIH on Wednesday for two weeks I think I need to join the throng on Thursday and grab a pair of these for the Fall. I'm sure the spousal unit won't be moanin' about having to go back to the islands....

I'm glad to see ANC getting in on the new Hawaii flights, even thought it'll probably be priced through the stratosphere.

Hopefully they're also considering some PDX-Hawaii flying down the road.

Seriously, I think they need to consider joining the fight in the Bay Area and moving folks west out of OAK. I posted on another thread a few days ago about this very subject...

I know that folks would be thrilled in the PDX service area but if ALK wants to be a survivor in the mergers to come I think they need to quickly show their marketing smarts by showing how much support they would have out of the Bay Area for OGG, HNL or LIH.
They could quickly preempt anyone else. They already are competing viciously in many other West Coast markets.

What could another competitor throw at them if they commence an ETOPS hub for Hawaii out of OAK?

Seriously, I think they need to consider joining the fight in the Bay Area and moving folks west out of OAK. I posted on another thread a few days ago about this very subject...

I know that folks would be thrilled in the PDX service area but if ALK wants to be a survivor in the mergers to come I think they need to quickly show their marketing smarts by showing how much support they would have out of the Bay Area for OGG, HNL or LIH.
They could quickly preempt anyone else. They already are competing viciously in many other West Coast markets.

What could another competitor throw at them if they commence an ETOPS hub for Hawaii out of OAK?

I think for one HA beat them to it (http://investor.hawaiianairlines.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=82818&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1125837&highlight=):


HONOLULU, April 3, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawaiian Airlines today announced the introduction of nonstop daily service between Honolulu and Oakland, California, starting Thursday, May 1.

Hawaiian is launching these flights in response to the sudden closure of Aloha and ATA airlines, both of which provided direct daily service between Oakland and Hawaii.


And it sounds like its a low-yield market... compared to flights to/from SEA or especially ANC... you are competing directly with flights to/from SFO when flying out of OAK...

Rats!!

OK, now I'm a tad confused after rereading the PR.

The $249 each way fare is only available on the non-stops. Does this mean that, although tickets will be bookable at 9am PST this Thursday, I can't get the introductory fare for any flights through SEA--that I'll have to wait until the ANC-OGG introductory flight Oct. 31?

If so, that's a real buzz-killer...a lot less miles and a lot later!

OK, now I'm a tad confused after rereading the PR.

The $249 each way fare is only available on the non-stops. Does this mean that, although tickets will be bookable at 9am PST this Thursday, I can't get the introductory fare for any flights through SEA

Has AS released the fares for flights not originating in SEA, for the initial SEA service? I'd be interested to see if they offer deals network wide like last year, or if its primarily limited to SEA area...

Thanks... now the waiting game until 9AM...

Can T/A's access this information now, even though its not bookable yet, so they can plan before the mad rush at 9 AM...

Maybe if AS will considering next major routes from SEA/ANC-KOA or ITO. Just keep hold your breath more specific new routes is coming in the future. I know AQ has nevered give up more expandable transpacific flight. Do you think 738 can be reached in KOA or ITO?

... Do you think 738 can be reached in KOA or ITO?

I just flew CUN-SEA on a 738 into headwinds. The flight time was 6 hours and 53 minutes. On top of that, it was 4 hours delayed. A painful return to reality.

. Do you think 738 can be reached in KOA or ITO?

Lihue is about the farthest airport in Hawaii from the mainland, so if they can make it there, they can definitely make it to the big island.

From KTUU: (http://ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=8132493)

by Channel 2 News staff
Monday, April 7, 2008

Alaska Airlines offers year-round Maui flights

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Alaska Airlines has announced a new destination in its service line-up.

The airline will soon make year-round daily flights between Seattle and Maui beginning July 17. Seasonal flights between Anchorage and Maui will also run twice a week from Oct. 31 through April 25.

The flights will be available for purchase starting Thursday.

A special fare will run about $600, according to travel agent Scott McMurren.

Alaska Airlines officials say they made the decision after the closures of Aloha and ATA airlines significantly reduced service between the mainland and Hawaii.


The $600 fare statement is interesting... is it for ANC-SEA-OGG-SEA-ANC?

that is great news! My wishlist included PHL and OGG at #1 and #2 looks like I can cross that one off the list! :cool:

I wonder if AS will step up the SEA-HNL service, too... not to mention flights to Kona... It will be really nice if PDX-Hawaii is possible in the near future.

With the demise of Aloha, AS' Boeing 737-800s can fit very well in the smaller secondary markets between Mainland USA and Hawaii that AQ and ATA used to serve.

Maybe this "Hawaii" market can turn out to be as successful as Alaska's "Mexican" network!

Carfield

No PDX options again. Perhaps the heading of this thread should read, "PDX bypassed again." What else is new? Portland is Alaska's ugly step child.

I'd agree that $249 isn't a stellar introductory special, but then again, isn't that why we have $50 companion tickets for taking the damn Visa card?

No PDX options again. Perhaps the heading of this thread should read, "PDX bypassed again." What else is new? Portland is Alaska's ugly step child.

PDX probably will see new service sooner then later, the market just presented a unique opportunity in SEA, mainly due to the shutdown of pax service by AQ and TZ...

This lead to HA to spread out its flying to fill in a gap... OAK-HNL... which replaced one of their two SEA-HNL flights, thus leaving a 767 sized hole in the SEA Hawaii market... so AS decided to fill it in with a 737 to OGG...

(That's my understanding of the situation so far...)

So when the opportunity presents itself, I'm sure AS will fly PDX-HI... but for now, you're a half hour flight away from heading to HNL, LIH and soon OGG on AS...

No PDX options again. Perhaps the heading of this thread should read, "PDX bypassed again." What else is new? Portland is Alaska's ugly step child.

PDX got BOS, MCO, SJD, and PVR on AS in the last year. Not too shabby.

PDX-Hawaii will happen eventually.

No PDX options again. Perhaps the heading of this thread should read, "PDX bypassed again." What else is new? Portland is Alaska's ugly step child.


A tad bit dramatic, no? I think it's logical that Alaska is beginning their service to Hawaii from their two most important cities. PDX will happen but, being more of a "focus city" rather than a "hub city", it's going to come after SEA/ANC flights.

No PDX options again. Perhaps the heading of this thread should read, "PDX bypassed again." What else is new? Portland is Alaska's ugly step child.

At least you have a short connecting flight to SEA and a couple of transcons. I don't see AS flying to Hawaii from PDX when SEA is so close. I also don't see AS flying to Hawaii from OAK with all the major carriers flying out of SFO and Hawaiian out of OAK. I do see AS flying to Hawaii from SNA and taking over Aloha's routes because...

1) The size of SNA's runway is better for a fully fueled 737 for the longer flights than a larger aircraft with that much weight/fuel.

2) The market of O.C ie rich people who like to fly to Hawaii

3) Establishing service before WN does..

No PDX options again. Perhaps the heading of this thread should read, "PDX bypassed again." What else is new? Portland is Alaska's ugly step child.

PDX has significantly lower O&D and feed than SEA and much, much more competition than ANC. At this point, HA and NW provide significant options to Hawaii.

I just flew CUN-SEA on a 738 into headwinds. The flight time was 6 hours and 53 minutes. On top of that, it was 4 hours delayed. A painful return to reality.

Wow! I didn't realized know about you were flown from SEA-CUN nonstop by 738. Are you absolute sure about more limited mileage to reachable in CUN?

Lihue is about the farthest airport in Hawaii from the mainland, so if they can make it there, they can definitely make it to the big island.

Yeah, I knows. I think you are correct about more furthest nonstop from SEA-LIH nonstop is doing just fine. I can see more new routes from SEA-KOA if they will eventually gets more than 3,000nm overwater restrictons.

At least you have a short connecting flight to SEA and a couple of transcons. I don't see AS flying to Hawaii from PDX when SEA is so close. I also don't see AS flying to Hawaii from OAK with all the major carriers flying out of SFO and Hawaiian out of OAK. I do see AS flying to Hawaii from SNA and taking over Aloha's routes because...

1) The size of SNA's runway is better for a fully fueled 737 for the longer flights than a larger aircraft with that much weight/fuel.

2) The market of O.C ie rich people who like to fly to Hawaii

3) Establishing service before WN does..

SNA doesn't work. Serious payload restrictions due to the airport noise ordinances.

SNA doesn't work. Serious payload restrictions due to the airport noise ordinances.


I know Aloha flew a lot out of there but maybe they didn't maximize their payload (extra fuel, cargo etc) and that's why they're out of business. Any chance SNA would bow to pressure from those in the area seeking service to Hawaii without going up to LAX? I've read some posts on the "Hawaiian forum" about people in O.C really upset about Aloha going under. BTW, those takeoffs from SNA are a blast!

I know Aloha flew a lot out of there but maybe they didn't maximize their payload (extra fuel, cargo etc) and that's why they're out of business. Any chance SNA would bow to pressure from those in the area seeking service to Hawaii without going up to LAX? I've read some posts on the "Hawaiian forum" about people in O.C really upset about Aloha going under. BTW, those takeoffs from SNA are a blast!

We know how well flying out of SNA worked for AQ...

SNA doesn't work. Serious payload restrictions due to the airport noise ordinances.

That plus the 5700' runway. We had to do a thrust "bump" on the engines flying out of there on our way to SEA few weeks ago in a 800 with a full load. It would be weight restricted to try to get out of there with 40,000 pounds of fuel.

A tad bit dramatic, no? I think it's logical that Alaska is beginning their service to Hawaii from their two most important cities. PDX will happen but, being more of a "focus city" rather than a "hub city", it's going to come after SEA/ANC flights.

Dramatic? Perhaps, but it is the truth isn't it? Portland consistently plays 2nd or 3rd fiddle. Loyalty does work both ways. I have no doubt that Seattle produces more local traffic. But to make any system work then connections need to play a role as well.....if Alaska wanted to make PDX work it could. For example, Boise, Spokane, Eugene travelers need to change somewhere....that somewhere could be PDX just as it is Seattle.

Dramatic? Perhaps, but it is the truth isn't it? Portland consistently plays 2nd or 3rd fiddle. Loyalty does work both ways. I have no doubt that Seattle produces more local traffic. But to make any system work then connections need to play a role as well.....if Alaska wanted to make PDX work it could. For example, Boise, Spokane, Eugene travelers need to change somewhere....that somewhere could be PDX just as it is Seattle.

I don't think AS thinks of PDX as the "ugly step child". It would probably give AS management no greater pleasure then to have a very profitable hub at PDX if they could sustain it. One that offers connections to most of our cities, both up and down the coast and east/west of PDX. Having said that, I think that, unless there is a significant whole that can be profitably filled, they are concentrating their resources on their strongest markets. Not a bad idea really, in this day of $100+ oil. I'd rather management direct our resources to where the will make the most money then to just have them in a market to make a statement or appease a small group of travelers.

Don't get me wrong, I love PDX, but I think they offer a good number of flights for the return they see from PDX.

Dramatic? Perhaps, but it is the truth isn't it? Portland consistently plays 2nd or 3rd fiddle.:confused: let me mention the obvious: SEA is the hub for AS. Most QF flights go through SEA and with AS onto somewhere else. Maybe ANC can complain about being treated 2nd fiddle since it IS ALASKA Airlines. 3rd fiddle seems like a pretty big honor considering all the flights in and out of LAX.

Travelocity already appears to be selling these flights!

Travelocity already appears to be selling these flights!

So does Alaskaair.com...

514.40 all in from ANC - OGG RT. The system let me put it on hold...so it seems that you could purchase. Decent price...but I think I'll hold off. Just back from LIH, and I think I'll save my fall travel for other places than HI...

Happy booking everyone!

B......s! Selling before they said they would!


...eh, but not that tempting of a fare. I'm not that anxious to go to Maui.

B......s! Selling before they said they would!

Many days may well be sold out before they actually go "on sale". I checked the inagural SEA flight and there are already MVP/G's in row 15!!

The argument for AS starting Hawaii service was not so much that the flights would be a goldmine, but rather that AS was paying its partners a lot of money for frequent flyer seats. The Hawaii service on AS metal helps reduce Alaska's Mileage Plan expenses, even if the flights themselves don't end up being terribly profitable.

The argument for AS starting Hawaii service was not so much that the flights would be a goldmine, but rather that AS was paying its partners a lot of money for frequent flyer seats. The Hawaii service on AS metal helps reduce Alaska's Mileage Plan expenses, even if the flights themselves don't end up being terribly profitable.

They sure are making some money on flights over school breaks... the nonstop ANC-OGG is pricing out over X-Mas close to 1400~! In coach!

The argument for AS starting Hawaii service was not so much that the flights would be a goldmine, but rather that AS was paying its partners a lot of money for frequent flyer seats. The Hawaii service on AS metal helps reduce Alaska's Mileage Plan expenses, even if the flights themselves don't end up being terribly profitable.

I highly doubt that's true for the ANC - HI market. Previously, most Alaskans were paying for tickets on Hawaiian Vacations (which were unavailable for earning or redeeming miles) or on Northwest (which were generally so cheap you would have been nuts to burn 40,000 miles on them).

Now that AS has come in, we're paying a fortune, just like most of their AK routes. Yes...I know...fuel prices are higher...but the cost of a flight from SEA to ORD has not doubled. The price of a flight from ANC-HNL has. I got a PFD ticket this year for my Hawaii flight and paid $514.80 - other than the intro fare, that was BY FAR as cheap as they got. Last year...similar time of year, I flew NWA non-stop for $360 (30% less, if you're counting)...and that wasn't a special, that was the going rate.

If AS was merely trying to save some MP revenue, then why did they make themselves a monopoly on the ANC-HI route, and why did they jack up the price? They're in it for the money - and who can blame them, they're a business. Still sucks for us compared with the past couple of years though.

I highly doubt that's true for the ANC - HI market. Previously, most Alaskans were paying for tickets on Hawaiian Vacations (which were unavailable for earning or redeeming miles) or on Northwest (which were generally so cheap you would have been nuts to burn 40,000 miles on them).

Now that AS has come in, we're paying a fortune, just like most of their AK routes. Yes...I know...fuel prices are higher...but the cost of a flight from SEA to ORD has not doubled. The price of a flight from ANC-HNL has. I got a PFD ticket this year for my Hawaii flight and paid $514.80 - other than the intro fare, that was BY FAR as cheap as they got. Last year...similar time of year, I flew NWA non-stop for $360 (30% less, if you're counting)...and that wasn't a special, that was the going rate.

If AS was merely trying to save some MP revenue, then why did they make themselves a monopoly on the ANC-HI route, and why did they jack up the price? They're in it for the money - and who can blame them, they're a business. Still sucks for us compared with the past couple of years though.

I should have clarified in my original post that I was talking about the Seattle to Hawaii flights. I agree that they have a monopoly on the ANC-Hawaii market and it almost surprises me that don't add more frequency between ANC and Hawaii.

If AS was merely trying to save some MP revenue, then why did they make themselves a monopoly on the ANC-HI route, and why did they jack up the price? They're in it for the money - and who can blame them, they're a business. Still sucks for us compared with the past couple of years though.

AS didn't make themselves a monopoly out of ANC to Hawaii. They saw an opportunity and are taking advantage of it. If rates turn out to be so lucrative, maybe some other airline will take a look see. It's the price one pays to live in AK.

AS servicing additional islands direct from ANC saves on interisland flights, and I'd love to see more islands serviced. But hopefully they will keep starting o/w fares at $311 like they are for ANC-HNL. Not great by any means, but not too bad either if you can do some advance planning. My only beef is that we like to take LOONG weekends so mr. can work a few days each week (Thurs - Wed is preferred) and the ANC-OGG flights are only running Fri/Sat. I understand why, but a girl can dream about perfect world, right?

Just held a couple of tix ANC-OGG-HNL-ANC for Nov. fits well in our "travel every month except for summer" plan and that's just about the time when the SAD starts creeping up on me. Leaving on Wed out of HNL was only $60 more, but now we have to book and interisland hop.

Wasn't able to shop by schedule, so not sure what the U availability looks like. Will have to call and check on that.

Deleted! Sorry it was a bad agent who gave me wrong info.

AS didn't make themselves a monopoly out of ANC to Hawaii.

Just curious what you're basing that statement on. It certainly appears that AS maneuvered for a monopoly to me. Reportedly, NWA was doing very well on the route with the 757's...even though not always packed and not expensive. Coincidence that NWA just gave up on a profitable route...or was there some negotiating going on behind the scenes? As for Hawaiin Vacations...they probably did sell out because it was better to sell their business when they were doing well and it was worth something, than waiting until AS undercut them and PUT them out of business like they seem to like to do with all of the other competition in AK.

AS servicing additional islands direct from ANC saves on interisland flights, and I'd love to see more islands serviced.

Totally agree! Looking forward to LIH service as well (well maybe I should say wishing for LIH service). Second priority would be either KOA or ITO (either is fine with me, but KOA probably makes most sense). I've gotta stop living in the past...but once again, the NWA service with periodic non-stops from ANC to HNL, OGG and KOA was ideal.

I don't know if this is the case, but maybe AS bought out Hawaiian Vacations in order to secure their landing rights/slots at HNL?

I don't know if this is the case, but maybe AS bought out Hawaiian Vacations in order to secure their landing rights/slots at HNL?

That could be possible, but slightly doubtful I think since AS had already announced HNL service and booked tickets before AS purchased Hawaiian Vacations. Also AS & HA had HNL service in tandem (ANC-HNL) for the first bit of their existence in 2007... but I really don't know :p

That could be possible, but slightly doubtful I think since AS had already announced HNL service and booked tickets before AS purchased Hawaiian Vacations. Also AS & HA had HNL service in tandem (ANC-HNL) for the first bit of their existence in 2007... but I really don't know :p

Agree...additionally, all of the reports said Hawaiian Vacations approached Alaska for the sale - again, making me think they were worried about the competition and ready to sell it while still ahead. Total speculation though.

To add to the comment above: there had been a rumor 'on the street' that Hawaiian Vacations was tottering and about to go under for months before AS actually announced service and bought them...

I don't know if this is the case, but maybe AS bought out Hawaiian Vacations in order to secure their landing rights/slots at HNL?

HNL isn't a slot controlled airport. The only slot controlled airports in the U.S. that I'm aware of are LGB/SNA/ORD/EWR/LGA/JFK/DCA - I think that airlines are free to come and go from any other airport as long as they can secure counter space or someone to handle their operation.

Just curious what you're basing that statement on. It certainly appears that AS maneuvered for a monopoly to me. Reportedly, NWA was doing very well on the route with the 757's...even though not always packed and not expensive. Coincidence that NWA just gave up on a profitable route...or was there some negotiating going on behind the scenes?

Any collusion with NW would be absolutely illegal.

Just curious what you're basing that statement on. It certainly appears that AS maneuvered for a monopoly to me. Reportedly, NWA was doing very well on the route with the 757's...even though not always packed and not expensive. Coincidence that NWA just gave up on a profitable route...or was there some negotiating going on behind the scenes? As for Hawaiin Vacations...they probably did sell out because it was better to sell their business when they were doing well and it was worth something, than waiting until AS undercut them and PUT them out of business like they seem to like to do with all of the other competition in AK.


Any collusion btwn AS and NWA is illegal and againdt FTC/FAA rules. AS probably did Hawaiin Vacations a favor by buying them. There are no restrictions that I am aware of for any airline to fly in/out of ANC to any of the HA Island airports. However, because of AS's route network, they are by far and away THE leading carrier out of ANC to any WC destination. AS certainly can't tell NWA/CO/AA/DL/B6/VX/SWA/HA et all to not fly in and out of ANC. If the rev and loads would warrant more service, I'm sure any of these airlines would start up service if it fit in with their expansion plans.

They sure are making some money on flights over school breaks... the nonstop ANC-OGG is pricing out over X-Mas close to 1400~! In coach!

That seems reasonable to me during the peak periods! Back in the 80's, we used to pay $600 roundtrip from SEA-HNL during the Christmas holidays. Based on inflation, the fare should be around $1500-$1600.

That seems reasonable to me during the peak periods! Back in the 80's, we used to pay $600 roundtrip from SEA-HNL during the Christmas holidays. Based on inflation, the fare should be around $1500-$1600.

But I didn't fly there in the 80's (well... once, as a lap child)...

However when I would take regular trips ANC-HNL I think the price was in the 300's - 400's...

But upon further reflection, that was assisted since my parents would take me out of school for several weeks and we'd have fun (Mid Jan - Feb)... escaping the cold.

However HA's charter flights typically had fares substantially lower then they are currently... I know - fuel... but still.

I'd like to have an option at least of using miles to go there... at the 35K level then the 70K... 70 is well... ouch! (This is over school breaks - mainly targeted at X-Mas)

If anything, reward the MVPG's with additional availability during this time. I just find it irritating when certain days the fare buckets are:
F7 U0 A0 Y7 S0 B0 M0 H0 Q0 L0 V0 K0 G0 T0

Its not even giving AS employees a chance to go there either for a deserved break (Assuming using "V" class ticket... I don't know everything about their travel options yet :p)

So if they offer the plane, why not sell a couple seats cheaply and fill up the rest with higher fares...

Oh well - At least this rant makes me feel a tad better :D

They don't like PDX!!