I'm not a defensive Alaska employee. Not at all - I'm just more of a realist. And it's getting tired to hear westcoastman argue that Alaska's fares are so much higher than the competition. If you can find proof of this than please show me. And if you can find proof that fares are higher now then they were this time last year then please show me. The facts are that Alaska's pricing is nearly always in line with other major competitors, if not priced lower. Ticket prices are lower now then they have been in a long, long time. While Alaska may be raising their fares, they are still not at levels they were this time last year. You can find fares from Seattle to Los Angeles for 200.50 round trip. Please tell me how that is unreasonable. And tell me how that is higher at all then it was this time last year.

I'm a sensible person and I know that Alaska isn't perfect. I wouldn't waste time defending them if I really didn't believe in what I was saying, and I certainly wouldn't work for them if I didn't believe in them. I've been in this industry for a long time, in several different areas and I have seen it from all sides. I really believe that Alaska offers a competitive, if not superior product in most markets and their prices are almost always in line with those of their competitors. Your profile says that you are and Alaska MVP Gold customer so you must believe in them as well. You certainly have choices on the west coast to any place that you could fly Alaska to, from los Angeles, yet you choose to fly Alaska. I know that Alaska isn't perfect but we do a pretty good job most of the time.

[This message has been edited by AS Flyer (edited 05-14-2002).]