Please forgive me if this has already been discussed, I didn't find anything on a search and I am an infrequent lurker who feels the need for enlightenment (and a little ranting).

Is there a ticket counter/check-in agent shortage in ANC? I have lived here for two years and it always seems that there are never enough people working during the busiest time: 12-2 am. I appreciate that AS has several redeye flights so we can get to morning connections in the Lower 48. There are lots of check-in stations but in two years I don't recall ever seeing them all staffed at once. Instead, there are always long lines to check bags during the wee hours. This tells me that AS knows how many people it needs to serve but does not schedule its staff accordingly.

Tonight, for the first time ever, I missed my flight. I accept responsibilty because I know I was cutting it close arriving in the terminal at 12 for a 12:55 departure. But then I stood in the FC/MVP line for about 30 minutes while four parties were served before me, including one family who completely cut the line (the agent helped them) and one man who took up 20 minutes. Argh! (For the record, I tried to use the check-in kiosk when I first arrived which would have checked me in on time but I was told to see a customer service agent).

Are there not enough employees in ANC to fully staff these busy hours? Or is AS not willing to pay for the extra bodies?

I have encountered similar staffing issues at other airports also--having a FC/MVP line "open" but no one working it, a location with only 1-2 AS flights per day but only one agent checking everyone in, another location with three agents working for only one half-full flight, etc.

So I guess my question is whether this is an AS issue or an industry-wide issue. This is partially academic for me now since this is my one-way relocation flight to Denver, but I do still have family and friends in SEA who I will visit a few times a year. At this point I am ready to give up AS entirely and simply fly with the best fares.

Whew, that felt good to get off my chest. Rant off, back to lurking.