This was absolutely not my experience a few months ago departing SEA. I had two separate Alaska-ticketed itineraries: SEA-LAX on AS and LAX-SIN on SQ. They were ticketed separately, by Alaska, because only Main Cabin was available out of SEA....and it wasn't combinable with the SQ segment in Business.

I am Gold 100K and no matter how much I tried, or mentioned my elite status, or informed the agent that the policy had changed since the time of booking, or pointed-out that we had a tight connection in LAX, or even the emphasizing the fact that Alaska had created the two seperate itineraries, the agent would not budge. Not one inch. Which - as Alaska is usually very customer-focused and good to their elites - kinda shocked me.

So we landed at LAX T6, collected our bags, and schlepped (aka. 'sprinted') them over to TBIT. We arrived at SQ check-in sweaty and angry about this completely unnecessary Alaska-inflicted drama at the start of the trip.

Definitely made me question what has, until now, been a relatively unquestioned allegiance to Alaska.

Between this and the decreasing availability of upgrades into First due to their new in-app coaxing of Main Cabin passengers to spend a few more bucks and snap up any available seats, I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that I may have to reevaluate my loyalty to Alaska, as it is no longer as vaulable to them as it once was.