AS has "responsibility to talk to others" if AS-DL relationship sours
Feb 7, 2014, 9:34 am
#1
Formerly known as stellertony
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: MEX
Programs: UA Gold, DL Gold, NEXUS, APEC
Posts: 1,146
AS has "responsibility to talk to others" if AS-DL relationship sours
From Reuters:
Who do you think he has in mind?
The Seattle-based airline has come under increasing competition from codeshare partner Delta Airlines, which is expanding flights in Alaska's home turf of Seattle. That is driving Alaska to consider partnerships with other airlines, Tilden said. He declined to elaborate.
He said Alaska had strategies to allow it to succeed as an independent airline and that it intends to keep working with Delta. But if that doesn't work, he added "we have a responsibility to talk to others."
He said Alaska had strategies to allow it to succeed as an independent airline and that it intends to keep working with Delta. But if that doesn't work, he added "we have a responsibility to talk to others."
Feb 7, 2014, 9:54 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
They seem to have an awful lot invested with Delta in terms of DL personnel performing GA duties from DL (sub-leased) gates at many airports. Is changing that around so easy?
Feb 7, 2014, 10:02 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVPG, Alaska Lounge, HHonors Silver, Bonvoy Gold, National Executive
Posts: 455
http://wap.airliners.net/aviation-fo...d.main/5888985
Feb 7, 2014, 10:08 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: AS, QF, SK
Posts: 127
Options are pretty limited there. Domestic airlines have been consolidated to the point that your choices are (to steal a South Park reference) the proverbial "Giant Douche" vs. the "Turd Sandwich".
They're already partnered with AA in some capacity - and given how stingy AA is, that's probably as good as that partnership will ever get. Southwest does its own thing. JetBlue seems like a natural fit given JB's strong East coast presence and AS's strong West coast, but how much does that really provide? Domestically, that leaves UA. As a former UA prisoner of hubdom, I can honestly say that provides absolutely zero value for me, as I find myself willing to pay up to double just so I don't have to ride UA metal anymore. Beyond that, UA doesn't really have a need for AS, unless they're willing to acknowledge they're being squeezed out of Seattle.
Joining the Star Alliance would be kind of cool, though. I'd love to have AS's partnerships extend to airlines like SAS, ANA, Lufthansa, and Singapore.
They're already partnered with AA in some capacity - and given how stingy AA is, that's probably as good as that partnership will ever get. Southwest does its own thing. JetBlue seems like a natural fit given JB's strong East coast presence and AS's strong West coast, but how much does that really provide? Domestically, that leaves UA. As a former UA prisoner of hubdom, I can honestly say that provides absolutely zero value for me, as I find myself willing to pay up to double just so I don't have to ride UA metal anymore. Beyond that, UA doesn't really have a need for AS, unless they're willing to acknowledge they're being squeezed out of Seattle.
Joining the Star Alliance would be kind of cool, though. I'd love to have AS's partnerships extend to airlines like SAS, ANA, Lufthansa, and Singapore.
Feb 7, 2014, 10:13 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: AS MVPG, CO, NW(now DL), Flying Blue
Posts: 6,554
well DL would still have to honor any ground contracts and AS could probably pull out of the contract if DL fails to provide a certain level of service. Airlines dont have to be partners for ground services. AFAIK its still done by UA in OGG
Feb 7, 2014, 10:23 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: AS MVPG, CO, NW(now DL), Flying Blue
Posts: 6,554
Thats what I said not to long ago we had 4 domestic partners. Through acquisitions we now have 2. AS may have to approach some of these other independants, not WN but perhaps an F9 in which there isnt a lot of overlap. Jetbule wouldnt be half bad either and they are starting to order a/c with F seats. Would UA even be in question?
Feb 7, 2014, 10:56 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Thats what I said not to long ago we had 4 domestic partners. Through acquisitions we now have 2. AS may have to approach some of these other independants, not WN but perhaps an F9 in which there isnt a lot of overlap. Jetbule wouldnt be half bad either and they are starting to order a/c with F seats. Would UA even be in question?
Feb 7, 2014, 10:59 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: AS MVPG, CO, NW(now DL), Flying Blue
Posts: 6,554
Feb 7, 2014, 11:13 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: BOS
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 300
Perhaps start a partnership with SY?
Also, DL will stop providing ground services for AS by March:
http://airchive.com/blog/2013/10/10/...aska-airlines/
From the article:
Also, DL will stop providing ground services for AS by March:
http://airchive.com/blog/2013/10/10/...aska-airlines/
From the article:
Alaska Airlines had been planning on transitioning out of these contracts to help lower costs, but it appears Delta Ground Services sped up the timeframe under which the shift to other providers will happen. Alaska Airlines will backfill these services with a mix of new ground handling vendors, plus in-sourcing with Alaska’s own employees.
Last edited by yaychemistry; Feb 7, 2014 at 11:19 am
Feb 7, 2014, 11:16 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: AS MVPG, CO, NW(now DL), Flying Blue
Posts: 6,554
I think thats a great idea....er just buy them 
Id just like some AS metal to Central America and Carribean and a ANC/MSP non stop even if just seasonal
Anyhow I think a partnership could work and would help retain some connection routes in MSP if DL partnership ceased otherwise AS SEA-MSP routes could possibly have a decrease in loads without much in the way of connections there since most of the traffic AS has to MSP or ORD seems to be feeder for DL and AA respectively
AS could probably feed SY a fair amount of traffic into MSP and SY obviously needs some feed. Im waiting for the next step of the turf war...PDX-MSP?
Id just like some AS metal to Central America and Carribean and a ANC/MSP non stop even if just seasonalAnyhow I think a partnership could work and would help retain some connection routes in MSP if DL partnership ceased otherwise AS SEA-MSP routes could possibly have a decrease in loads without much in the way of connections there since most of the traffic AS has to MSP or ORD seems to be feeder for DL and AA respectively
AS could probably feed SY a fair amount of traffic into MSP and SY obviously needs some feed. Im waiting for the next step of the turf war...PDX-MSP?
Last edited by ANC; Feb 7, 2014 at 11:21 am
Feb 7, 2014, 11:44 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS 75k, SPG Plat, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 394
Get closer to AA, make friends with Jet Blue. What else can Alaska do? UA already has a west coast presence, and they do plenty of business with Alaska without codeshare and FF agreements. I just hope AS keeps some of its partnerships with SkyTeam airlines if DL decides to cut the cord.