I am one of Alaska's rare "outside of Alaska & Pac NW" Gold 75Ks that actually flies Alaska. Living in Florida with clients/work in Seattle, LA, and Hawai'i - I've been able to retain my Gold 75K status. I also flew a lot of MCO/LAX on American as an Alaska codeshare to take full benefit of our change fee waivers.

With the merger approved, Alaska had to cease putting their code on the American nonstops (which also appears we can no longer redeem AS miles on those flights as well; a search of SFO/LAX also presents only VX flights for redemption, no more AA flights).

So after getting out of my work week early and noticing some higher airfares, a quick search of mileage tickets revealed a First Class ticket on Virgin America for 25k miles.

LAXMCO EXPERIENCE

Booking
Was done thru Alaskaair.com and for only 25k miles. I was able to select a choice of seats on the Virgin A320. I received my Virgin PNR and was able to view it on Virginamerica.com. I researched access to The Loft to see if my F cabin ticket granted access - and what's interesting is what it says:

https://www.virginamerica.com/cms/fl...x-lounges.html

Access

All guests traveling on Virgin America or Virgin America partner airlines and passengers departing from LAX Terminal 3 are eligible to purchase Loft day passes. Complimentary Loft access is available to Virgin America guests who've purchased First Class long-haul tickets on Virgin America, as well as to Elevate Gold members.

Priority Pass or Lounge Club cardholders may access the Loft by presenting their valid membership card. Cardholders may be accompanied by immediate family members or up to two business associates.

So, I was thinking that since LAX - MCO is "transcontinental" it would be covered. I was wrong. More on that later.

Check-in

Check-in process on virginamerica.com and the app was pretty easy. I was a bit surprised it tried to sell me access to the Loft for $30 since I assumed it was included in the F ticket. I liked the "fun" appeal of the seatmap.

Winner: Alaska. Only because Alaska recognizes my status & doesn't try to sell me stuff.



I arrived at LAX a bit early due to traffic, I was driving up from Orange County. Made it to the TSA PreCheck line at about 8:10ish for my 9:20AM flight and didn't have much of a wait. The security area at Terminal 3 LAX is something that could use a bit of work, but I guess we only have to tolerate this for a few more months. There isn't much room to move and the lines could get very long, very quickly.

the FIDS screens of Virgin America were super cool, and included the weather, however, my friend flew in on Virgin America a few days earlier and the arrivals FIDS at LAX was never updated. It showed his flight from San Francisco as still in the air, even though it had been on the ground for 20 minutes according to Flightaware and Flight Radar.

Lounge - The Loft

I went down to the area I *thought* the Loft was located and didn't see any signs. Nothing pointing to an elevator, and a walk around the rotunda I could see a stand-alone sign for the Loft next to some stairs. Classy.



The Loft is located on the 2nd floor of Terminal 3 in what I guess is the former Alaska Boardroom. The outside looks very clean & smart.

Upon entry, I found out from the agent that mileage tickets are exempt. This needs to be made more clearly on the website. I then showed my Alaska MVP Gold 75K card and Board Room card, and she said "oh, you are with Alaska?" and made some notes and let me in. I am not sure if Board room/lounge reciprocation is official or not, but it was nice of her to grant me entry.



Travelers are greeted with a glass muriel of an A320 with accent paint/lights. Bathrooms are located behind it, with seating to the far left and some barstools in front.




Food is located just to the side of it, and the food offerings were acceptable for the morning, but it made me appreciate Alaska's muffins/toast and pancake press. Food was a mix of fresh fruit, snack mix, and a variety of cereal bowls. There was milk and orange juice in the fridge.




There was a bar and a lot of seats facing the tarmac, which had probably the BEST view of LAX from anywhere.

Seats were hard to come by, but they were very comfortable. I didn't see a lot of powerports around, so you might want to be cognizant of it.

The bar appeared to be a cash bar, with an espresso machine and self-serve soda fountain next to the bar.

No announcements were made in the lounge.

Winner: Alaska Lounge. Much more offerings, better access definitions on the website, free liquor, childrens area, powerports at each seat, and access to desktop computers if you need. Props to Virgin for the view and the large assortment of items to purchase at the bar, though.

I left the lounge with 20 minutes to go for my flight - yet I heard something we Alaska flyers should be used to - final boarding.

Upon getting to gate 35, there were only a few people ahead of me and the gate agent was playing music while boarding. They were also asking people to gate check their bags.

No mention of status, no thanks for flying first, no welcome aboard. No separate line for First Class and elites.

Winner: Alaska.

Upon boarding, the First class bins were closed and was assisted by the cabin crew leader. She said both bins over my row should be open, and sure enough, plenty of room for my bags. The bins also had a sticker stating "For First class passengers only".

I then noticed the cabin. LOTS and LOTS of room between rows. To the point that my seatmate didn't have to get up for me to get in. And I am not a small person. The seat was white with a lot of seatback pockets, noticed there was no inflight magazine, but had a safety card, "Different works" card talking about the Virgin-Alaska merger, and a sickness bag. No instruction card on your seat. I had to figure out on my own that the private tv was in the arm rest, and there were multiple controls for the seat also on the side of the arm rest. there was no underseat storage in front of you. A very nice pillow & blanket were in bags on my seat





Winner: Virgin. By far.

The cabin was separated by a clear plexiglass from the Main Cabin. the plexiglass also wrapped around to the two aisle seats.



Predeparture drink was offered of almost anything - water and ice was good enough for me.

winner: Virgin. Why oh why can't AS offer something more than water.. even sodas/juice?

Prior to pushback, the FA came around with small water bottles and collected everything else.

The safety video was then played, except in First you can't watch it since your video is in your armrest, which must be stowed. But you could hear it. It was by Todrick Hall, who is a Youtube star and has an amazing voice.

Cabin ambiance with the lights were ok. Pink, purple. wasn't pale white.

After takeoff, it was about 30 minutes before the flight attendant came around with the menus and asked what we wanted to drink



wow, no polenta!



yummy

FA came and asked for our meal choices. they looked very interesting. I guess this is the crap all the VX folks are crying about, as the menu looked to be more substantial than what we have on Alaska.

then came warm towels. For once they weren't scorching hot.

After the menus, the FA passed around the Dean & Deluca snack basket. Much much more substantial than we get on Alaska, American, and Delta. I believe it had fresh fruit, gummy bears, trail mix, nuts, a large plate of chocolates, chips, popcorn, and bottled water. Was odd seeing this before the meal.



Winner: Virgin

Meal service was presented as a single tray.



ok.

food was VERY yummy, and the poached egg was cooked perfectly. the brisket was interesting, and the potatoes were well seasoned. Croissant was warm, and the fruit plate was a nice variety.

BUT - as someone who flies Alaska from Orlando to San Diego, the portions were quite smaller than Alaska. Alaska serves a 3 course meal on that route. Food quality on Virgin was TOP notch. But I was still hungry after.

Winner: toss up.

Inflight entertainment was in the arm rest and was easy to navigate with a nice selection of features, live tv, and games. including an onboard chat. You could also buy your way into First or Main Cabin Select





Very nice. Would be nice to see if Alaska does this.

Winner: Virgin

Wifi was the same as on America, Delta, and Alaska on this route.

Winner: GoGo for somehow manipulating me into keeping my subscription despite super slow speeds.

So - about 2 hours into the flight, I noticed something.

NOT A SOUL FROM STEERAGE CAME FORWARD TO USE OUR LAV.

At first, I thought it was an anomaly. Nope. Look at this:



Alaska, please please keep this. No, wait, install this on the Boeings. PPPLLLEEEEAAAASSSSEEEE. You have no idea what its like to be at the aisle in First, and have all these folks from Main Cabin coming forward to use your lav, who then use your seat to keep balance, which shakes your seat and disrupts your sleep. I hate windows, but if I want to sleep on Alaska, i have to book one otherwise someone, somewhere, will grab my seat and shake it like its a 5.5 earthquake.

Winner: really, you have to ask? Virgin!

No other snack basket offered. FA was visible during a huge chunk of the flight offering refills. Very friendly. And very little traffic between cabins. I think a 2nd pass of the snack basket on this 5 hour flight would have been nice.

overall, I liked it. I appreciate some things on Alaska more, but it also makes me want to see some improvements in the VX product. Definitely worth the miles, but I'm not sure I'd spend $399 to upgrade to this from Main Cabin.

MCOLAX Experience - Main Cabin

I flew Main Cabin back a few days later on a regular ticket, booked thru Alaskaair.com as a codeshare so I can change the flight if needed (since we get change fee waivers). I really struggled on getting a decent seat, as Alaskaair.com showed almost all the seats taken, and when I logged into virginamerica.com - it wanted me to pay $40 for a seat. A call to Virgin was no help, she said she can't tell my status and can't assist, but Alaska could.

After 25 minutes on hold with Alaska, I was able to get a seat in the forward cabin. No Main Cabin Select.

Upon check-in, I was not offered to upgrade, despite there being 8 seats open in Main Cabin Select and 1 in First Class. I wonder if Alaska codeshare tickets were exempt. It tried to charge me for bags (which I didn't have any), and sell me access to the LAX lounge.

I was able to switch to the exit row, aisle at no charge.

My boarding pass reflected Group B to board. Not sure if this is where I should be. No status outlined on the boarding pass, just my Alaska number. My KTN transferred over.

Boarding was efficient and finding overhead space wasn't a problem, being the 2nd to last to board since I tend to arrive at the airport 40 minutes before departure.

Thankfully our middle seat was open

Seats are thicker than Alaska with a taller headrest.

Power is located beneath the seats, but it was a hair finicky to get it to work and charge.

Seatback TV was nice, you could start watching the moment you sat down. However, all the movies have a charge except for live tv. Starting to miss my 75K benefit. Controls are in your arm rest.

Rest of trip was pleasant. But had to pay for food and beverage. Again, missing my 75K benefit. I liked how you can keep a "tab", and also buy a food item for someone on the plane. Anything you wanted, you had to order on the seatback tv. No warm food selections, just sandwiches and typical BoB. Nice selection of snacks - I got the brownies and sausage sticks. Alcohol was $7.50 - $15 depending on what you ordered.

This week's commute to LA has me missing Alaska and American. At least on American, when I fly this route, I get Main Cabin Extra at time of booking, 2 free bags, priority access, and I know I can access the Admirals Club. You'd think that Alaska would have some more benefits for us elites since this merger just didn't happen overnight, so I'm actually booked on American to fly home. I'm already at close to $30 spent when I'd be at maybe $7 on Alaska. Had I paid for a seat, that's an extra $40 out of pocket. And bags, which I do sometimes check, would have set me back $25. At this point, Virgin America is pricing above American Airlines.

so, while I really enjoyed my Virgin experience, I'm probably not going to be back on board until we get better or equal benefits to flying on American on this route. Plus, American has an extra flight.