brownnet

Maybe I've been on too many Q400's over the years but I was really surprised by some things on my first E175 flight SEA-BZN over the weekend.

First off, no Ala Cart. Small thing, but when you board a flight at the C2, C10, C16 gates at SEA, it's kind of standard to get to put your bag on a cart. Overhee ad space in the 175 is better, but still not enough.

I received a late upgrade to F, which I really enjoyed. Comfortable seats! But we got no meal service which left me confused. F pax got a Biscoff cookie, yet PC pax still got a snack box. Some colleagues who traveled the day before said they did get a meal on their flight in F, so maybe we were a one-off? Or I missed an announcement of some kind? Still seemed odd.

Finally, near the end of the flight, a FA got on the intercom to announce that they had heard lots of complaints from coach passengers about not getting complimentary beer or wine. "Complimentary beer and wine is only available on planes with propellers" was the quote from the FA. Really? I'm pretty sure I've gotten beer on CRJ-700's right? Or was that a long time ago and not current?

Anyway, it was a pleasant, fast flight, but I think Alaska/Horizon has some educating to do if they aren't going to continue their legendary great service.

Orwaid

Hi -

Yes. Perhaps better for the FA to say "Complimentary beer and wine only is available in Premium Class on flight so configured".

ashill

Well, Horizon doesn't operate any CRJ-700s anymore (and hasn't for years), so as far as Horizon flight attendants are concerned, what the FA said is true. Of course, the vast majority of customers don't know the difference between Alaska operated by Horizon and Alaska operated by Skywest and wouldn't care if they did know. But Horizon flight attendants do very much care about the difference between Horizon and Skywest.

Or "Complimentary beer and wine is only available in coach on flights without First Class; otherwise, Alaska would find it difficult to entice you to pay more for better seats." Perhaps a bit too honest?

PDXPremier

Kinda sad sad that premium class passengers get more snacks thank those in F....lol.

metaldirtnskin

It's not whether the statement about propeller planes is correct; it's whether it makes any sense at all (it doesn't... unless the beer and wine are meant to be an apology of sorts for the otherwise abysmal hard product on the Q400).

I was upgraded to F on a Skywest-operated E175 a while back, on SEA-SMF (only a tiny bit longer than SEA-BZN) and they managed a free drink before departure and a full meal service inflight.

Maybe they should start printing a flow chart on the seat back cards so you can figure out who gets a meal, who gets cookies, who gets a snack box, who gets free booze, and who gets to sit down and shut up.

rowsign

Personally I am going to miss the Q400’s. It’s really the only plane that I will take if I have to fly economy, especially non-exit row economy. I like the cart and I like that the seats don’t recline.

I am a tall guy and PDX - Billings is a regular trip for me. The Q400 suits me fine.

bofc

Really? Do you miss butter churning too? Louder, slower, winter outside waits for the a la carte, no WiFi, no running water. Perhaps you can arrange for some PDX - OAK travel. You can still enjoy the Q400 on that route despite E175s being assigned to such booming metropolises as San Luis Obispo and Fresno. The PDX - OAK flight will be two full hours of Q400 joy.

Mehdron

Alaska webpage says that "On Horizon Air, we offer you a free drink, either a beer or wine; complimentary beer and wine service is not available on Skywest E-175 aircraft."
So Horizon E-175 should have the free drinks.

https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...food-and-drink

rowsign

In good weather I fly my own twin over but it’s even lower,slower and actually more expensive. On Horizon I can relax and have a beer on the Q400. I find staying on the plane for awhile solves the “waiting” issue on a la carte. I like that the small bins limit the carry on madness and, as previously noted, I really appreciate that the seat don’t recline.

Dont get me wrong - The E-175’s are fine. I buy a seat up front on the one seat side and I am a happy camper. I just don’t mind the Q400’s as much as some do, and can even tolerate coach for the reasons noted above.

notquiteaff

And what is the reason for distinguishing between an E-175 operated by Horizon for Alaska and one operated by a different subcontractor, Skywest?

Seems bizarre to me. It is Alaska that decides what the service standard is, right?

ashill

I would bet they just forgot to update the website when Horizon started operating E175s. But still, good catch; that wording is quite clear that Horizon E175s should have the free drinks.

brownnet

This is a great catch!!

bkojote

Skywest CRJ's do have free wine/beer- can confirm on my PDX to SEA flight.

UAPremierExec

the one NOT staffed by Horizon has a crew :P

rustykettel

SEA GA tonight was offering preboarding as an incentive for gate checking bags on a BOI E175 flight.