Originally Posted by
Seat 7D
Must be new. Everytime I check on SJC-SEA, Alaska is the cheapest and I fly that route quite a bit. In fact, I always wonder how Southwest keeps business on last minute travel... why would I give up a cheaper fare and an almost guaranteed upgrade to fly on Southwest? Perhaps there isn't that much crossover between the two airlines frequent flyers.
I wonder what happens when you get into the details on the fare. It seems vey hard to compare apples to apples today with fuel surcharges and other fees (which fees are included in the fare and which aren't seem to vary from airline to airline). Of course, according to Southwest, they have no fees of any kind.
I'm a "crossover," I guess.
So far this year, I've done roughly 40 segments with WN this year and 20 with AS/QX/NW. Living in TUS, WN is really the only option we have here for nonstop flights. I go off schedule for my business travel--what airline gives me the best opportunity to get as much work done as possible when I land. I actually don't mind WN. I never have to check in online anymore, which is a huge plus. Don't get me wrong, I love AS too. The FA who regularly works F on the SEA-TUS flight is a real gem. She is a fantastic FA and AS should be thrilled to have her working for them.
As for walkup fares on SJC-SEA, WN wins this one. $196.50 on WN, $215.50 on AS. Of course, depending on which AS flight you book and if you have status, the $215 gets you an auto-upgrade to F. WN is cheaper on the SJC/OAK-PDX route as well.
That being said: I would gladly pay more on the OAK-PDX route on WN to avoid the QX CRJ and Q400. Why would I (or anyone else?) take a Q400 when there's a 737?