AS Mileage Plan and VX Elevate Speculation Thread [Consolidated]
#18
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Northwest, United
Posts: 3,256
Indeed. I fly AS regularly for business (going tomorrow, in fact - 4 flights in the next 2 weeks).
The day that the AS program morphs into anything resembling a "revenue based" program would be the last day I ever fly AS. If I wanted that, I'd be flying Delta instead.
The day that the AS program morphs into anything resembling a "revenue based" program would be the last day I ever fly AS. If I wanted that, I'd be flying Delta instead.
#19
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 20
I agree. AS is good because of miles, not points and because of partners Icelandair, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, which are all subject to change, like the way Emirates awards suddenly changed. I don't plan to redeem Emirates awards but the sudden change is unsettling. Change the miles to points and the advantages of AS shrink quite a bit. Delta's no expiration miles would then be worth more to me.
#20
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: (PHL) Cape May, NJ
Programs: MVP Gold 75K, Board Room, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 2,439
Given how empty their first class was when I flew them a couple times, I can't say they have as strong of an elite customer base as a company such as Alaska.
There are more people who do accumulate miles either by flying or credit card. Well, i met one person with a Virgin America credit card the other day. Weird.
Alaska miles do have a "cost", so you could easily translate the points to miles.
They might be able to give their 4 1/2 elites silver or gold status as a good gesture.
There are more people who do accumulate miles either by flying or credit card. Well, i met one person with a Virgin America credit card the other day. Weird.
Alaska miles do have a "cost", so you could easily translate the points to miles.
They might be able to give their 4 1/2 elites silver or gold status as a good gesture.
#21
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: An Island Paradise Near Seattle
Posts: 599
Their F cabins leave with empty seats because short of some massive operational screwup, there is no non-pay/non-redemptive way into F.
I buy VX F over AS F on SEA-LAX because it's better hard product and at least parity soft product.
I buy VX F over AS F on SEA-LAX because it's better hard product and at least parity soft product.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,714
I think few would argue that the VX inflight experience in both cabins is head and shoulders above AS. I think most would observe that the "VX experience" was unsustainable, too, given price sensitivity and lack of transcon lie-flats. VX F still kicks AS F down Main Street though.
#24
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,727
While I have no special insights, that would be an awfully generous conversion ratio. I see no compelling reason why AS as the purchaser would want to offer anything above a 1:1 conversion.
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,502
I can envision a 1:1 based conversion and then some sort of flight-based incentive program to get the 2:1 conversion within six months.
#27
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
I disagree. AS was really explicit about this in their post recent call and clearly this merger was in the works. I think the re-vamp of FC along with the rejection of a spend based FFP are glimpses into a ASVX future.
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,820
Yes, but VX has small F cabins of just 8 seats and in my experience, mostly FLL-LAX/SFO and JFK/SFO, these flights have been entirely full up front.
#29
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: An Island Paradise Near Seattle
Posts: 599
VX extracts incremental revenue or a corresponding reduction in FF liabilities from virtually every butt in that cabin on every flight every day. AS cannot say the thing about their F, largely because their hard product is a screw at list price - I believe a majority of the seats are sold at a reduction from even Y fares. People are willing to do it on VX because the seat is better, the catering is better, the IFE is better and the price premium/what you get ratio is better.
Eastern Airlines would have been the most profitable airline in the world at the time of their demise had they had two more full-Y pax on every flight. VX similarly saw the bottom-line value of attracting a few pax who willingly pay for premium cabin service rather than demand comps as a condition of their fealty.
#30
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,727
VX extracts incremental revenue or a corresponding reduction in FF liabilities from virtually every butt in that cabin on every flight every day. AS cannot say the thing about their F, largely because their hard product is a screw at list price - I believe a majority of the seats are sold at a reduction from even Y fares. People are willing to do it on VX because the seat is better, the catering is better, the IFE is better and the price premium/what you get ratio is better.
Non transcon domestic F fares are a waste of money on any carrier other than VX. At least on VX, the F class experience isn't watered down by all the free upgrades.
Currently, makes no sense to pay for any non-trascon Domestic F, since all the carriers will give them all away. I'd rather fly just fly coach than be the only idiot in F who actually paid for his seat.