Originally Posted by
sullim4
I just noticed something interesting... if I look at the seat selection for a flight I've booked for November (AS 680), rows 11, 12, 13, and 14 are gone from the map. Looking at that investor report, it would seem like they might be trying to shift everyone back by a few rows by removing the first set of rows directly behind premium economy. The flight back on the 900 has rows 13 and 14 missing.
Alaska wants to have consistent exit row numbers no matter which type of 737 plane it is and no matter which configuration in front of the exit rows. So as they space rows up front wider apart (whether in F and/or PE) , they have to get rid of some row numbers right behind PE but before the exit rows so that it all ends up at the desired row numbers when they get to the exit rows.
That way they can consistently announce that those in the exit rows can board early, by naming the exit row numbers. (Of course, that boarding order may change a bit once PE is in place.)