How much does VX's upgrade cost? I'd happily pay $50-100 each way for that on a transcon.
$100 for transcon, $50 for medium-length flights, $25 for short haul as a day-of-flight upgrade (
F is $250/100/50 as a similar upgrade).
As a data point... there's usually no problem grabbing day-of-flight VX Main Cabin Select and First going SEA-SFO/LAX (I've done it as a lark, though to be honest, VX Main Cabin/Y is fine for me- 32" pitch is fine in a slimline Recaro like VX's, and the seat
width is considerably more comfortable than a 737- my big problem in Y is rubbing shoulders, and even half an inch is a life-saver there). So I sort of wonder if this is the revenue maker you think it will be. (Generally,
transcon F and MCS is harder to come by on VX, often selling out before the 24 hour upgrade period. F SEA-LAX is something like $200-250 one way as a purchase... F SFO-JFK pushes
$1000 one way.)
Keep in mind, also, that AS doesn't pass out digEplayers on the shorthaul flights, or serve anywhere NEAR the food options that VX has, so you'd have some costs involved with that.... and for much of AS's route network, they are up against the king of low CASM 737s, WN.
Oh, while I'm at it: F as a day-of-flight upgrade on an AS transcon today is $150. Having a "North of Coach" option is going to cut into F sales at the gate AND for advance sales.
IMO, this sort of speculation is why we (coming at this from the point of view of passengers) wouldn't be helpful running AS's revenue management department...
Again, though, the only way to be sure is to test the concept.
Well, you might note that AS DID test some concepts, as was mentioned earlier in the thread, and didn't get much positive feedback.