flytoeat

If I'm the DL SEA station manager, I'm coaching my team to take advantage of the Horizon fiasco in any and every way possible - the "Battle for Seattle" is being waged against a very wounded AAG. If mainline can't get reliable feed for their flights, it's a great opportunity for DL.

beckoa

Reminds me of a SFO-PDX in F on AS where we ran out of a certain beverage... sadly this is no longer carried on AS.

bofc

Maybe the catering people were so shocked to see a scheduled Horizon flight actually operating that they forgot to stock the plane.

kevincrumbs

This annoys me too and seems to happen on all my PDX-SEA flights but to be fair to QX, I think part of the issue is that they need the gate in PDX too. If the empty plane sits and the outbound passengers hang out in the terminal, then the inbound flight that needs the gate will have a plane load of passengers waiting onboard a flight that just landed.

Either way, a plane load of passengers will be stuck waiting on a plane, which sucks.

jsguyrus

I will say I flew SEA-SFO on a QX E175 a few months ago in F and it was great, the food and beverage service was every bit as good as AS.

tusphotog

Agreed. The worst is when the ramp crew is twiddling their thumbs and causes you to miss your W/U time.

Though in QX’s defense, the flow times into SEA have been going on for years (long before the DL/AS buildup), and they frequently moved forward. It wasn’t uncommon to hear a “we’ll have a W/U time of 8:05a” and then be released at 7:50a.

The lack of drink service has been going on ever since the Q200s left the fleet. If you’re flying a shuttle flight (or even the BOI flights) on a Q400 between the months of October and July, the crew sits more than they serve.

formerstarQB16

I think my frustration, and apparently that of others, goes above typical customer complaints. For years Alaska and Horizon's advantage over other carriers was their service and frequencies. Obviously the perception on both has taken a significant hit.

I think Alaska's in real trouble here. I don't think they can compete without a feeder service. I've heard complaints from frequent flyers and non, so if people start bailing on Horizon I can see the fall of a lot of dominoes to follow.

I know my opinion has changed substantially over the past few months. Outside of frequencies for my particular destinations, I really have no reason to stay with Alaska. Delta might be Delta, but they are an international carrier with significant frequencies throughout the US. If Horizon has to start cutting back flights because of loss of market share, I'm out.

When traveling outside of the West Coast, I find myself purchasing Delta F fares rather than sit in premium economy (for not that much less than F on Delta) as an Elite on AS. I've really begun asking myself what benefit am I getting by sticking with Alaska?

makfan

SEA-YVR used to offer glasses of water but now has absolutely nothing. This wouldn't be a big deal except when I wanted to take medication and had no liquid with me. It happened last week when we were delayed 50 minutes but were constantly told not to leave the gate because we would be boarding "any minute" so I didn't go buy a bottle of water.

makfan

I haven't flown a QX E175 but have taken two round trips SFO-SNA on the OO E175. Very nice option to avoid LAX and fine service. Upgraded 4/4 including one last minute change on a Friday!

makfan

It is worse. On some flights I have taken, the crew has stated no drink service is scheduled where there had been limited service in the past. I finally got a full drink service on MFR-SEA last week.

Edgerfly

I cannot comment on the longer flights as I’ve only taken SEA-PDX and SEA-YVR, but I’ve always had the pre-poured drinks that the FA’s announce over the PA and for every passenger to have their choice ready. Usually it’s coffee, orange juice, or water.

JacksonFlyer

I share the OP's observation but I do not think it is the FA "lying" but instead it is usually the Captain that comes over the PA and says "Folks, we are expecting some bumps so we asked the flight crew to remain seated for this VERY short flight" then of course, it is smooth as can be. Usually this occurs on SEA/PDX more than any other flight, but outside of SBA I do not fly Horizon as much as others here. Although I enjoy a cup of coffee or even just water I would just accept that they do not serve anything on that flight, therefore no expectation. However, many times I have been on an ATC hold and from boarding to deplaning (including the trip to the airport) I wonder if it would have been faster just to drive. At those times, it would be nice to have some service but again, once in the air, it is the same thing. I also agree E-175 service is great and I always get the upgrade, but there was one time SEA-SBA I received my meal 35 minutes prior to landing. A very nice, but very inexperienced SkyWest FA in first; I just had to settle for my one drink and gave back the meal. Glad AS is on that route now.

Edgerfly

Are people pissed that the choices are only OJ, water, or coffee? Or are they pissed they don’t do a full drink service?

I mean, what do people expect on 40-50 minute flights where you’re really only in the air 20 minutes anyway?

beckoa

Chateaubriand cut in the aisle and mixed drinks served at the bar.

formerstarQB16

Pissed is a bit strong. I don’t care whether they offer or not. Just don’t lie to me as to the reasons why.

As to the other poster saying it’s the pilot not the FA. That certainly occurs when there is legitimate risk of turbulence, but it’s apparent that the FA’s have now hijacked it as an excuse. I fly enough to know the difference, they are absolutely lying.