thanks everyone. So a ballpark figure is about $1000 on tix paid for by whomever. For that thousand dollars, you get travel usually somehwhat on time, the special lines, maybe an upgrade on nw, the bonus miles, maybe a First upgrade on AS. some saved time, some more room, more credits for tax-only travel.

I would guesstimate that those same flights on discount lines would be around 900. Alaska's revenue premium on transcons and specialty routes (alaska) is about 10 percent. Sometimes its worth it, sometimes its not.

thanks again, alexis