Originally Posted by formerstarQB16

Yeah... considering the AUS-SEA flight I was on a week ago had 57 elites, I think you're underestimating the percentage of revenue elites possess. Elites average spend per ticket is also substantially more.

I also think you underestimate how easy it is to make a dumb decision in a large organization. It happens all the time. Likely, someone decided Alaska was wasting money by providing benefits Delta, American, and United do not. Whoever pitched/decided this obviously misunderstands why frequent flyers choose to fly what is really a glorified regional airline. Outside of West Coast routes, it is FARRR easier to fly Delta and by watering down their frequent flyer program, they are conceding really the only advantage they've got over Delta.

Delta has been whooping American and United for years. Now they're whooping Alaska, primarily because Alaska decided to get drunk on Keystone Ice before the fight.