I see you do alot of flying on CO so perhaps your expectations are based upon your experiences with them. And indeed, CO would offer you a much nicer First Class service on a six hour flight. Though once among the industry's best on short to medium haul routes, Alaska's First Class service now seems to be predicated upon the reality that most First Class passengers are traveling on free upgrades.

So - you essentially get what most people pay for. That is to say, not much.

The best way to take alot of the sting out of Alaska's "First Class Lite" service is to do like most people do and don't pay full fare for it.