3Cforme

Maybe, although it's not clear that is a profit-maximizing strategy.

The point of the observation is that AS has the freedom to set both price (availability of cheapest dicounted fare classes to DL) and its capacity into feeder markets. AS is not limited in the codeshare contract such that a reduction in service would demand codeshare contract termination (and the more precipitous loss of passenger volume and/or termination penalties that could be involved).

dave1013

Well, it took a full month but as of yesterday, the jetbridge is now operational. Apparently someone at the factory applied AC to it when they should have used DC. It fried everything and inexplicably, this was not discovered until it installation here in JNU. The vendor certainly didn't make any money on this deal (understatement of the decade). They had several people up here for a month, troubleshooting and attempting repairs (which included custom manufacture of a replacement joystick). Electrically, we have a complete new facility.

But the days of air stairs are purportedly over.

edgewood49

I have to say this, whatever is going on I am beginning to see signs of AS being stretched out. I had one of the worst flights ever HNL-PDX the other day. The FC food service was horrible, bland rice with "Mongolian beef" ? desert was the same rice, cold with canned fruit. Really AS ! The cabin crew basically went through the motions. Very disappointing to say the least. To the point that my wife suggested another airline the next time.

Their service is getting less and less consistent. Example some long hauls you get a warm towel before and after, others your lucky to get one. And many times the towels are barely warm. My tip on this flight was there was a main cabin food for sale selection in the seat back!!!! And yes we bought which frankly I don't mind five hours is a long time.

My point is if your going to play in the sand box then get in with both feet or just say we're low cost airline and leave it at that. I have gotten this answer over the years when talking to AS personnel as they say we have the newest planes and lowest price point for fares. Hmm

This is reminding me of the period AS went through with maintenance years ago.

If anything were to drive me away service will be it.

dgreen12

Perhaps you should have chosen the Pork Tenderloin instead of the beef. My husband and I found the Mongolian Beef to be quite good on our OGG-SEA flight on Thursday (pics are in the food reports thread). The salad wasn't that good and the rice pudding (different type of rice from the entree) was okay (we had freshly cut up fruit, not canned).

I will agree that F service on the return was lackluster compared to the outbound. Perhaps a day or two in the islands and the FAs forget how to work?

edgewood49

Had that before which is why I tried the other dish! I would suppose at 78K so far this year I have seen most food offerings, and comment was to the ( my opinion only) increasing lack of consistency in service and I feel it's in some ways a direct result of the DL/AS fight going on. Again i also understand one does not fly AS for the culinary experience nor is everyone's taste similar.

Just saying

Eastbay1K

Other than an intangible "you can't quite put your finger on it," I can't think of any causes that a DL/AS "fight" would cause issues with inflight service and things being "stretched out."

I would think the only passengers that are affected are the ones that are on thinning and/or eliminated routes. Otherwise, work rules for the FAs haven't changed (that I know of), the airline is in no danger of going under, there are no hostilities between two work groups because of an unhappy merger, on time performance remains high, and catering has arguably been improved a little bit on certain flights.

edgewood49

As I have said it is my opinion one that is based on a lot of "butt time". I am just seeing in my eyes more inconsistencies in flight service. The last trip to the islands really brought that out and even my wife who only does about 30K a year mentioned it as well.

If one looks back a bit AS suffered this in the maintenance area with a rash of cancellations, that was when it embarked on the Hawaiian and east expansion turning away from Mexico. Did not last long but never the less it reminds me of that.

AS is still a good carrier, if your going to charge for a certain level of service and the customer pays for that premium then one would expect more than "Chinese carryout" Again my opinion only. And yes I paid for my seat. And YES I am now that my 75 qual is over for next year going "shopping"

So I would like to drop this thread.

Eastbay1K

- HA! Easier said than done in these parts. Continuing with the main theme of the thread, I don't disagree that what you are experiencing is real, but I don't think it is related to DL encroaching further on AS' turf.

Ok, now it can be dropped.

amunter

http://www.npr.org/2014/06/30/326892...are-in-seattle

PWMTrav

I'm just saying, but if an airline served me Chinese takeout, I'd be pretty happy about that. Chinese takeout, even in Maine, tends to be better than most domestic airline catering. AS, if you want to drop me a pint of Americanized Kung Pao chicken on my next flight, I am absolutely down.

dieselbear

I suspect the NPR piece above may have drawn from this WSJ article, published yesterday.
Delta, Alaska Airlines Go to War Over Seattle

The interesting bit for me in the article is the following:

edgewood49

so it will be interesting to see what the downward amount will be this year from DL passengers on AS. It appears that DL has decided that SEA is their spot which makes sense when you look at SFO/LAX little talked about is AS increasing position in SAN, a lot of flights and passengers. They seem to have a wide variety of flight options to the east .

Now that I have decided to relocate to SEA within the next six months or so it will be interesting to see what makes the most sense as well.

sltlyamusd

Regarding F catering, I think the issue is that AS tries too hard to be creative, instead of just serving simple stuff that is easier to execute. When it comes to airline catering, I'm more a fan of the "K.I.S.S." approach. I generally find the F service satisfactory, but I do feel that AS flight attendants are a bit more "laid back" (Lei'd back?) compared to the bigger legacy carriers, which sometimes might result in less consistency in service.

You would think AS would want to step up its game in response to DL.

edgewood49

you have a point. KISS is I think most of us would like to see. Consistent service, food offering as well. Now that I have made a decision to move to Seattle from PDX it now becomes more of an issue as to whom I go forward with. SEATAC offers a lot more than PDX does and since we go to Europe at least once a year that is of most importance.

So will see how it shakes out. Since i am qualified for 75K next I have time

flyupfrnt

Question to those of you who are more in tune with the scenario - Does anyone see any Risk in booking a ticket on Delta for Oct / 14 with the intention of crediting ( and needing the EQM's) in Mileage plan?

I know that foretelling the future is risky at best but would you book AA or chance it on DL ?

I prefer DL hands down and the schedule suits me better.

If the relationship continues to dwindle is it possible that tickets purchased before such and such a date will still earn EQM's etc.

Am I making much more than I should of this because its a non factor?

Looking for honest feedback from you "experts" as I am not in the game as much as I used to be.

Mod's - Feel free to move this if another thread pertaining to the topic exists and accept my humblest apologies.

Thanks,

Junkie