Delta buying Alaska Airlines?
Jan 31, 2010, 3:09 pm
#31
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SEA, SoCal
Programs: AS 75K, DL Plat, AA, WN, Hertz, HHonors, Marriott
Posts: 1,306
I agree that we have heard of merger rumors with Alaska and some other carrier for decades. I definitely recall the AA rumors, as they had some sort of interchange in the early 1990's where AS crews flew AA metal from SEA north, and AA crews flew AS metal south from SEA.
Jan 31, 2010, 5:27 pm
#32
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: AS MVPG, CO, NW(now DL), Flying Blue
Posts: 6,554
interior
Jan 31, 2010, 6:15 pm
#33
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It could be a DL jet or it could be a POS NW jet repainted on the exterior with the same interior
The A320s aren't much, but I've been in DL 738s with no IFE, either.
Jan 31, 2010, 6:24 pm
#35
Formerly known as I_Hate_US_Airways
Join Date: Oct 2008
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Check Out The New Flight Schedule...
From the West Coast CO uses 900ERs with Dom. F cabins and regular Dom. F service. "BusinessFirst" is only available on the non-stops from IAH and EWR and even then the in-flight service isn't quite on the same level, as BF on TATL and TPAC flights. AS doesn't need to compete with CO's BF product since it isn't offered from any of the markets AS serves to HI.
Jan 31, 2010, 6:27 pm
#36
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Orlando
Programs: DL DM 2MM (NW+DL) FI Gold
Posts: 787
I have flown 7 trips out of SEA in Jan, all begining with DL 757s to ATL. There has never been a downgrade in equipment on any flight; everything SEA-ATL is 757 with the nice IFE system and onboard wifi.
As I knew I had a number of trips booked on DL, I bought a 30 day gogo (their wifi system) pass for $30. This has worked out extremely well. Perhaps I'm a wifi addict, but I have to say that I can get so much more done in-flight, that I now find this a booking priority.
On my last trip outbound, it was a DL flight with the full IFE package. As I was not upgraded as I had been on all prior trips (still, an aisle in an exit row) the avaiability of these services was nice.
This is something I did not miss until the return home trip, which was on NW from MSP. Upgraded, but no IFE, no wifi...just not the same.
Perhaps you just can't go back. I remember a few years ago, flying NW, thinking I don't need/want IFE; I'd rather read my book. Somehow, after multiple flights with in-flight wifi and/or IFE, it is just not the same.
I'm a Plat with NW for years, and I went into this merger with a great deal of trepidation. There is good and bad. The in-flight service with the IFE (incl TV and wifi) is great...having to deal with connecting thru ATL leaves a lot, a lot of lot, to be desired.
As others have said, DL needs to take care of this merger before moving on, and even thinking of AS.
AS has always retained independence from other carriers, and continued to survive. Above all, they have very strong flyer loyality, as this forum can attest to.
Whether DL and AS move closer remains to be seen. Still, interesting to talk about. I'd love to see the reciprocal upgrade agreement return. AS is a fantastic airline. and I'd hate to see that change with a merger.
My feeling is keep AS independent, but make it as seamlees as possible between AS an DL.
Just a final note. nwa.com ended today, and many of us NW FF's miss it. Compared to delta.com, nwa.com was fantastic.
As with all changes in life, there are the desirable and the less than desireable. I just take what comes along with my preferred carrier (NW...now DL); if really bad, I'll find a better airline, but for now I can live with the changes.
Last edited by Donna49; Jan 31, 2010 at 6:52 pm Reason: spelling
Jan 31, 2010, 6:35 pm
#37
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 5,953
You're kidding, right? What a bunch of hooey. The Pilots are no more clued in then the Flight Attendants are, despite your experiences. The Chief Pilot is management, despite being a Pilot. It's not likely, nor is it my experience, that the Chief Pilot is out leaking any confidential information to the union folks, at risk of losing his job.
Jan 31, 2010, 6:45 pm
#38
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BLI
Programs: Alaska Million Mile Flyer, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,193
I agree. I was NW Platinum for several years (simultaneous with AS MVP Gold) and actually had little to complain about Northwest compared to some other legacy carriers I had to fly. I especially liked the Web site compared to Delta as a Plat looking for awards or creating routings. RIP, nwa.com.
However, it was always interesting when I flew NW and mentioned I was an AS MVPG. Inevitably, an FA or other crew member would say, "Aren't we buying you?"
Apparently not.
Jan 31, 2010, 6:57 pm
#39
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: AS MVPG, HHonors Gold VIP, Marriott Rewards Gold
Posts: 245
CO is adding 767 BF metal out of LAX this month. And I do see what your saying about AS not completing on many of AS West coast markets. Now that CO is part of the *A, (& being based in PHX/FLG) I'll opt to fly CO out of LAX in order to take advantage of the BF flights. I'm not trying to trash AS at all here. I'd rather have a better in flight experiance if at all possible. Same rational as taking UA p.s. flights transcon vs AS...
Where and when?
Jan 31, 2010, 7:54 pm
#40
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CO is adding 767 BF metal out of LAX this month.
I cannot find B767 on CO out of LAX to Hawaii; only B737-800 & 900's going forward on LAX-HNL & OGG.
Same here; dummy booking on CO, got 738.
I guess CO doesn't have anything better to do with a bird capable of going intercontinental (and drawing some business fares) than flying it to a well-served leisure market (HI) out of a UA focus city (LAX). Also funny that they'd undercut their BF product to HI out of their hubs: the rules say BF is not a free upgrade to HI out of EWR, CLE or IAH... but I guess it will be out of LAX? So you could go IAH/CLE/EWR-LAX and THEN get the free upgrade to BF? Isn't that kind of cutting your own throat?
Kinda
to me, but, hey, enjoy BF. We'll settle for 738 F on AS.[/tangent]
Jan 31, 2010, 8:25 pm
#41
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Upper Left Corner of the Map
Programs: AS MVPG & Board Room, Marriott Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 2,203
Y'all have got it all wrong. 
My prediction: AS needs to spend some of that $1+ billion cash hoard and is buying HA in order to quickly obtain their longer-range 767/A330 fleet. Single aircraft type was a great idea at the time but is now out the door for operational reasons. Voila, no more headwind issues in the winter with the PNW-Hawaii flights.
With the new a/c, service is started between ANC-LHR, ANC-FRA, ANC-NRT and ANC-PVG. Maybe three-four times weekly each in summer, once or twice in winter. The longer-range a/c are moved south to Hawaii market in winter, still using the -800's in the summer when winds aren't an issue.
My prediction: AS needs to spend some of that $1+ billion cash hoard and is buying HA in order to quickly obtain their longer-range 767/A330 fleet. Single aircraft type was a great idea at the time but is now out the door for operational reasons. Voila, no more headwind issues in the winter with the PNW-Hawaii flights.
With the new a/c, service is started between ANC-LHR, ANC-FRA, ANC-NRT and ANC-PVG. Maybe three-four times weekly each in summer, once or twice in winter. The longer-range a/c are moved south to Hawaii market in winter, still using the -800's in the summer when winds aren't an issue.
Feb 1, 2010, 1:45 am
#42
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
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^
I agree. I was NW Platinum for several years (simultaneous with AS MVP Gold) and actually had little to complain about Northwest compared to some other legacy carriers I had to fly. I especially liked the Web site compared to Delta as a Plat looking for awards or creating routings. RIP, nwa.com.
However, it was always interesting when I flew NW and mentioned I was an AS MVPG. Inevitably, an FA or other crew member would say, "Aren't we buying you?"
Apparently not.
I agree. I was NW Platinum for several years (simultaneous with AS MVP Gold) and actually had little to complain about Northwest compared to some other legacy carriers I had to fly. I especially liked the Web site compared to Delta as a Plat looking for awards or creating routings. RIP, nwa.com.
However, it was always interesting when I flew NW and mentioned I was an AS MVPG. Inevitably, an FA or other crew member would say, "Aren't we buying you?"
Apparently not.
Feb 1, 2010, 1:17 pm
#43
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798
Perhaps the 762 on CO is a maintenance rotation to get it to Hong Kong? I think I've seen them do this on occasion.
I heard a rumor from a friend of a friend who has a neighbor that is an AS pilot. Apparently AS is going to buy 25 787s and open up SEA-PPT, SEA-MAD and SEA-SYD. The 787s will also be used on high density routes like SEA-LAX.
I heard a rumor from a friend of a friend who has a neighbor that is an AS pilot. Apparently AS is going to buy 25 787s and open up SEA-PPT, SEA-MAD and SEA-SYD. The 787s will also be used on high density routes like SEA-LAX.
Feb 1, 2010, 1:49 pm
#44
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: ANC
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 148
Y'all have got it all wrong.
My prediction: AS needs to spend some of that $1+ billion cash hoard and is buying HA in order to quickly obtain their longer-range 767/A330 fleet. Single aircraft type was a great idea at the time but is now out the door for operational reasons. Voila, no more headwind issues in the winter with the PNW-Hawaii flights.
With the new a/c, service is started between ANC-LHR, ANC-FRA, ANC-NRT and ANC-PVG. Maybe three-four times weekly each in summer, once or twice in winter. The longer-range a/c are moved south to Hawaii market in winter, still using the -800's in the summer when winds aren't an issue.
My prediction: AS needs to spend some of that $1+ billion cash hoard and is buying HA in order to quickly obtain their longer-range 767/A330 fleet. Single aircraft type was a great idea at the time but is now out the door for operational reasons. Voila, no more headwind issues in the winter with the PNW-Hawaii flights.
With the new a/c, service is started between ANC-LHR, ANC-FRA, ANC-NRT and ANC-PVG. Maybe three-four times weekly each in summer, once or twice in winter. The longer-range a/c are moved south to Hawaii market in winter, still using the -800's in the summer when winds aren't an issue.
Feb 1, 2010, 2:09 pm
#45
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 332
DL is buying AS again? 
If we all had a dollar for every time __________ (insert random airline here) was going to buy AS...we'd all be millionaires and then wouldn't have to speculate any longer about who will actually buy AS because we'd all have spent all that money to buy our own private FlyerTalk island where we would lie on the beach all day drinking beer and speculating instead about who is going to get the darkest tan.
If we all had a dollar for every time __________ (insert random airline here) was going to buy AS...we'd all be millionaires and then wouldn't have to speculate any longer about who will actually buy AS because we'd all have spent all that money to buy our own private FlyerTalk island where we would lie on the beach all day drinking beer and speculating instead about who is going to get the darkest tan.