First Class AS or AW
 

We are flying Calgary/Puerto Vallarta on a holiday in April. AW and Alaska are about the same price in First Class. AW (a bit more money) has no meals and Alaska has some sustenance. Is there one of the airlines FClass that you prefer ? Like are there club passes, or other perks

Never flown America West (HP) but I can tell you that AS offers a solid product for an inexpensive price. The biggest drawback is poor legroom but I think that's an issue on HP as well. Buying full-fare F gets you lounge access on AS - which for you would likely be in SEA, SFO, or LAX. Be forewarned that there's no AS lounge in the international terminal so you won't get access there if your outbound is through SFO. There is one in the domestic terminal there (in case you want to return through SFO). The lounges are nice, offer free (but cheap) beer and wine as well as a few little pre-packaged snacks.

AS also provides the most consistent service, at least among the airlines I've experienced in North America. The FA's are almost always smiling and 'on'. Can't say that about any of the other North American airlines I've flown. Again, I've never flown HP so I can't make a direct comparison on the cabin service.

I fly both AS and HP on a regular basis. My thoughts:

Club Access. Both AS & HP include club access for paid F passengers. While HP's clubs in PHX were just remodeled, AS's SEA Board Room is hands-down better - nicer amenities, more spacious, less-crowded, etc.

Service. Generally speaking, I feel the AS F service is a bit nicer than HP. Seat pitch about the same; more likely to have a better meal offering on AS.

Flight Frequency from/to Origin. If one of the airlines has significantly more frequent service from/to your origin, that might impact your decision in case there's a mechanical.

Cheers,

-Steve

Well
 

I flew both HP and AS first class before, and to be honest, other than HP not serving a meal and AS slightly better ground service, both are fairly fine.

If I were you, my criteria will based on mileage program and actual flights, and will I be able to avoid those regional jets or prop planes that feature no first class?

1. AS is linked with AA, CO, DL, and NW... so if you are affiliate with these airlines mileages program, AS will be a logical chance, and then you will always get 50% bonus miles on flying first class...

2. about CRJ or Dash 8, both AS and HP operates a mix of regular two class narrowbody planes and one class CRJ (notice that HP is removing F from CRJ-700 and -900). If I am paying first, I will try to fly in F-class cabin at all times... HP operates a number of flights between YYC and PHX, and PHX-Puerto vallarta using CRJ-900s. AS also operates all of its YYC-SEA using Dash 8 Q400. So you need to aware... So when you book the flights, you should pay attention to these details. I personally am fine with Horizon or America West Express, but if I am paying first, I will be unhappy to fly an one class CRJ.

3. About meals, America West offers no meals in first class on YYC or PVR markets... but Alaska still offers a nice meal -- mostly cold though on YYC-LAX or LAX-PVR... but at least there will be a meal.

4. About legrooms, both Alaska and HP offer similar seats with limited legroom. However, I like the F seats on the Airbus operated by HP... I know the seats are possibly the same between Boeing and Airbus for HP, but Airbus has a wider aisle, so makes the cabin more roomy.

I hope it helps...

Carfield

I very much enjoy the HP Airbus service. They have audio visual onboard, which AS is lacking and I have been served food in F.

Seats matter the most.
 

I enjoy HP's Airbus F seats more tha AS's. That alone would cause me to choose HP. I can care less about a meal on such a short flight.

With HP you get lounge access on all paid F fares(discount and full). Their lounges now include free wireless internet access.

I can honestly say the same about HP's FA's.

I should add that this is true of AS as well (since there is only one "F" bucket - full fare). You do not, however, get lounge access on an upgrade.

Wow! So AS only has full fare F? What happened to simplified pricing.


HP takes a few bucks off the day-pass price for those flying on a upgrade.

Flight options ??
 

Alaska flights are 698 (747-400) to Lax and 278 (737-900) to PVR. Same planes on the return. Cost is $1714 CND. Bfst and snacks.

A West is 457 (A319) to PHX and 344 (737-300) to PVR. Cost is $1828 CND.
No meals.

It is possible to take a Horizon flight to SEA then AS to PVR. In that case the first leg is Bombardier Q400 (Have to support the Canadian air industry !!), which of course is Coach and a turbo prop. SEA to PVR is an MD-80. Snacks and dinner. Same price as first option.

Does this change anyones opinion ?? Also I have priority pass, so maybe that has a bearing.

PS. I also posted this on the America West forum. I hope this is OK. I'm getting good help on both from FFers.TIA.

It sounds like this is almost a draw. Better seats on HP but food is served on AS. I'm not sure what you'll get Clagary-LAX for breakfast - maybe a choice of two hot entrees? But the "snack" from LAX-PVR will surely be a substantial salad or sandwich.

For choice of routes and/or aircraft, I would probably go with routing through LAX rather than SEA. While the Q400 is very comfortable for a prop plane, I personally prefer to sit in F the entire way. The 739 (from LAX-PVR) also has the nicest F cabin in the fleet. The seats are a newer style with headrests. Like all of AS' aircraft, pitch is not much better than coach. I don't mind this when traveling with a friend but it's a bit annoying when going solo.

I wouldn't, however, rule out routing through SEA. The lounge there is much nicer than the LAX lounge and, although many here will personally disagree, I think the MD-80 is a nice aircraft. Sure it's old, but the F cabin is incredibly quiet compared to other planes (especially during takeoff - it's almost surreal to fly down the runway with very little engine noise).

Does the $50 companion ticket work for F? If so then the OP should get himself a Mileage Plan Visa and use the companion ticket voucher to get a substantial discount. Probably wishful thinking! Oh, and the bonus miles with the card don't hurt either.

Visa
 

Yes, he does have a MP Visa for Canada. Got the $50 off a companion ticket, 10000 pts and a couple lounge passes. The other option of course is to fly Club Class on Air Transat out of Calgary. Then I only pay $1200 CND. But we don't get to be "felt up" by security in LAX on the return flight (LOL). At our age it's a big part of our sex life.

Please, do yourself a favour and skip Air Transcrap. You are bound to be delayed for hours, have no lounges at all and receive zero miles for your trouble. Go with Alaska and and have some peace of mind.

I don't know . . . a (much) cheaper non-stop is always tempting.

I just booked this same itinerary for two friends in F with AS. The return times with HP thru PHX were a bit more attractive but the service with AS is what I managed to sway them over with. I just hope that they get a great crew on their segments!

The fare came to $1434 USD each; but with AC and Air Transat only offering non-stop service once a week in December, AS came through just fine with LAX Board Room visits thrown in as well (even though it's the shabbiest in the system).

One perk with AS was the bonus miles since one pax had never been a MP member so the sign-up bonus plus first-time online purchase bonus made it a no-brainer.