Don't want to join this fight!

However, Alaska has a smaller cabin of first class in general -- 12 seats on most aircraft, except on 739s which have a 16 seats cabin.

I think Continental is perhaps the most stingent when it comes to clear folks buying cheap fares, But AA and Northwest are pretty good to their top elite flyers.

Also, Alaska's first class is not as good as other major airlines' first class.

Nevertheless, I really don't know if Alaska is accomplishing what it intends to. I have stopped booking tickets on AS since the upgrade program formally changes... for next year, I will be MVP Gold, but may not even bother for years after 2005... MVP is okay, since I will have to use my own miles to upgrade to F in advance.

Anyway, only times can tell...

Carfield