Originally Posted by channa
Not really. Most of the U.S. does not live in the PNW, and CO has a much larger customer base than does AS. AS is tapping into that.
I really think the mileage redemption issue is small compared to the revenue one. I would think AS gets more business from CO members than CO gets business from AS members. Mainly because there are far more CO members out there.
Now if you're suggesting they could be mileage earning partners, though not mileage redeeming partners, that'd be an interesting twist.
Now I disagree. Yes there are more CO members. But if you want to get to any city in the PNW aside from PDX or SEA, CO needs Horizon to connect them to PDX or SEA so they can connect to CO. Additionally, mileage plan members may choose to fly CO because of the Alaska miles. If CO wasn't a partner, then they wouldn't consider it and take NWA or AA - unless you want EWR or Houston and would take a non-stop period.
Finally, CO is weak out west, period. Thats another beef with their members. CO cancelled their codeshare with America West many years ago and that really irked the membership. Cut Alaska and CO has zippo out west.
Alaska should play its cards and terminate CO unless CO starts acting better towards AS members, period.