The target is not the VX customer, the target is the WN customer. If you look at the intra-CA adds and the fact they're trying to have a reasonable map for CA residents if you compare AS vs. WN, AS can come out ahead, especially at the Gold or 75K status level - assigned seats, upgrades, free changes, free bags. It's basically an ehnanced level of service over WN. No companion pass, but other perks. The value proposition is solid. So much so that WN is afraid (look at their latest promo for 1 purchase with a CC and a companion pass for a year for CA customers).
SFO-JFK flatbed flyer, yeah, not so much. North-south flyer, absolutely can work. Mix of flights, maybe AS can work.
Originally Posted by
milypan
They're missing three of the top 15 markets from the SF Bay Area (PHX, HOU, ATL). And by "missing" I don't mean "you can't get there on a non-stop." I mean you can't get there on any reasonable itinerary at all. That's not true for UA, AA, DL, or WN. The only large carrier with a worse network here is B6 (and yes, that is exactly why AS paid $2.6b for VX despite having no real plan at all).
AS SFO-PHX service starts in March. AS also has their code on AA LAX-IAH and LAX-ATL. Come late April when VX goes away, SFO-LAX-IAH/ATL is easy enough. AS has their code on AA ORD-ATL as well. SFO-ORD-ATL is not terribly out of whack.