Because, why fly to FLL then drive 1hrs or so during rush hour to get to Miami when, for half the price and about the same time you can just fly SEA-DFW-MIA on AA or SEA-ATL-MIA on DL or SEA-CLT-MIA on USAir or SEA-IAH-MIA on Continental or SEA-ORD-MIA on United all which provide tons of flight options (redeyes, day flights, etc) all landing in MIA, a 10min cab ride to miami beach and/or cruise ports.. it just makes more sense I think.. unless you really must have AS miles.

So, if they honestly believe people who want to go to MIA will just drive down, I think they are wrong.. just like I don't believe *most* people who actually want to go to FLL today take the SEA-MIA flight (unless they must have AS miles).

Here is the analogy, if you lived in Miami, and you were visiting Seattle, would you rather fly nonstop into Olympia then rent a car and drive up to Seattle or just fly into Seattle with a layover somewhere in the middle for about half the cost? Personally, I think I much rather have a layover than a drive over, and money in my pocket (ps- I know the distances arent the same, but I'm talking drive time here, not distance).

Bottom line is I must speculate the change is simply Alaska saving money by flying to a cheaper airport and making a bet that their customers won't mind.. but I think they will.. but by then it'll likely be too late or too much of a burden to bring back MIA which is a shame.. but who knows, maybe I'm wrong and they'll sell out F's and Y's like they do in MIA today.. I guess we'll know the answer to that come November