Alaska Airlines First Class - From First to Worst. Please Share Your Thoughts
Dec 21, 2010, 6:20 pm
#166
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 731
I know UA and CO are "merged" but until they become one next year CO has a great IFE system with it's Directv and their food is better than DL and depending on the flight (transcon) better than AS. I flew mainly for business and didn't have to worry about upgrades so can't comment but their fleet is newer and the seats for the most part are good too (those 757 transcon's are their oldest and worst)
Dec 21, 2010, 6:24 pm
#167
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Dec 21, 2010, 10:45 pm
#168
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Honestly, aside from VX, they're all pretty similar.
But unless you're able to pick and choose planes accordingly to stay off of single-aisle planes, or flying a lot to and from JFK, the F you get on the majors is pretty comparable to the F you get on AS.
Dec 22, 2010, 3:14 am
#169
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*At least that is my understanding
Last edited by golfingboy; Dec 22, 2010 at 7:51 am Reason: spelling
Dec 23, 2010, 11:05 am
#170
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Plat, Hyatt Glob, AA 1MM. Former UA 1K, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 311
This seems like a pretty good summary of it all to me.
Every carrier has their strong points and their weak points.
I generally see it like this:
AA- Not a very friendly upgrade system for an elite on a "budget", but arguably the best though for feeding you well on short and medium length flights.
UA- Relatively friendly upgrade system, although that can reduce your shot of an upgrade at times. Food is a bit lacking on short routes, and United Express routes are a joke. Power ports, Channel 9, and decent pitch are all a plus.
DL- Very easy domestic upgrades, but at the expense of basically nonexistent international upgrades. Food is okay, though forget about a hot breakfast under 1500 miles. Wifi has good coverage throughout the fleet.
AS- Easiest upgrades of any US airline, hands down. When I was an MVP I made 100% of my short haul and midcon upgrades, and even managed to snag a transcon, all at t-48. Seats and pitch are nothing special, and food is pretty sub-par on non-transcon routes. Transcon meals are some of the best around. 99% of FAs are awesome, service is almost always great.
VX- Without a doubt the best domestic F product around. Full meal service on short West Coast flights last time I flew it, very attentive FAs, wifi, fantastic inflight entertainment system, massaging chairs, you name it. VXs domestic F can easily compete with and even beat some international carriers. Of course, this all comes at a price. Upgrades are pricy and must be purchased. Frequent flyer program is a joke.
Honestly, aside from VX, they're all pretty similar. It really just comes down to what your personal preferences are and what airlines scheduling and routes work for you. There isn't one major airline that I would easily pick out as "worst".
Every carrier has their strong points and their weak points.
I generally see it like this:
AA- Not a very friendly upgrade system for an elite on a "budget", but arguably the best though for feeding you well on short and medium length flights.
UA- Relatively friendly upgrade system, although that can reduce your shot of an upgrade at times. Food is a bit lacking on short routes, and United Express routes are a joke. Power ports, Channel 9, and decent pitch are all a plus.
DL- Very easy domestic upgrades, but at the expense of basically nonexistent international upgrades. Food is okay, though forget about a hot breakfast under 1500 miles. Wifi has good coverage throughout the fleet.
AS- Easiest upgrades of any US airline, hands down. When I was an MVP I made 100% of my short haul and midcon upgrades, and even managed to snag a transcon, all at t-48. Seats and pitch are nothing special, and food is pretty sub-par on non-transcon routes. Transcon meals are some of the best around. 99% of FAs are awesome, service is almost always great.
VX- Without a doubt the best domestic F product around. Full meal service on short West Coast flights last time I flew it, very attentive FAs, wifi, fantastic inflight entertainment system, massaging chairs, you name it. VXs domestic F can easily compete with and even beat some international carriers. Of course, this all comes at a price. Upgrades are pricy and must be purchased. Frequent flyer program is a joke.
Honestly, aside from VX, they're all pretty similar. It really just comes down to what your personal preferences are and what airlines scheduling and routes work for you. There isn't one major airline that I would easily pick out as "worst".
AS: Easiest upgrades? Really? Yes, I'm regularly upgraded on AS short-haul flights, and it's nice and easy. But UA short-haul upgrades are similarly plentiful and easy, at least where I fly. As for midcons and transcons, it's much easier for me to upgrade as a UA 1K than as an AS MVPG. I'd say my success rate on UA transcons is 80-90 percent. With AS it's more like 40-50 percent, maybe less.
Dec 23, 2010, 1:47 pm
#171
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 731
AS: Easiest upgrades? Really? Yes, I'm regularly upgraded on AS short-haul flights, and it's nice and easy. But UA short-haul upgrades are similarly plentiful and easy, at least where I fly. As for midcons and transcons, it's much easier for me to upgrade as a UA 1K than as an AS MVPG. I'd say my success rate on UA transcons is 80-90 percent. With AS it's more like 40-50 percent, maybe less.
Dec 23, 2010, 2:06 pm
#172
Join Date: Mar 2008
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Dec 23, 2010, 4:38 pm
#174
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Dec 23, 2010, 4:56 pm
#175
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Dec 23, 2010, 5:15 pm
#177
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Dec 23, 2010, 6:09 pm
#180
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CONUS
Posts: 474
The seats with the TV's in the seat backs are completely different seats than Alaska's.
The Continental 737-800's with temporary seating are the same as Alaska's. In fact Alaska and Boeing were involved in making the seats available to Continental so it could finally take delivery of delayed 737-800's. I'm not sure if the seats were already ordered by Alaska and were on-site in Renton but were not needed because of delivery date changes - or something else. But I was told by someone in the know at Continental that Alaska was providing the seats temporarily.
I was recently on a Continental 737-800 with the Alaska seats. Indeed they are the same and equally as uncomfortable.
The Continental 737-800's with temporary seating are the same as Alaska's. In fact Alaska and Boeing were involved in making the seats available to Continental so it could finally take delivery of delayed 737-800's. I'm not sure if the seats were already ordered by Alaska and were on-site in Renton but were not needed because of delivery date changes - or something else. But I was told by someone in the know at Continental that Alaska was providing the seats temporarily.
I was recently on a Continental 737-800 with the Alaska seats. Indeed they are the same and equally as uncomfortable.