Speculation: 73G reconfiguration thread
Speculation: 73G reconfiguration thread
Jan 4, 2018, 1:09 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Anchorage, AK
Programs: Lifetime AS 1MM & MVPG, AS MVPG100K, AA, DL, HH-G
Posts: 8,259
Last time they mentioned this, AS had no plans to reconfigure the 73G's in the fleet. I fly some in state in Alaska with fairly short flights, ANC-FAI, ANC-JNU, etc. so this may not be needed. More pitch and at seat power would be a nice addition to these birds.
Jan 4, 2018, 1:39 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SFO, mostly
Posts: 2,204
Agree. While there are only 11 in the fleet and they mostly fly short flights, they also occasionally fly some longer flights like sea-msp/oma/dfw or even sea-chs. Would be nice to upgrade to have in seat power at least. I can understand not adding premium class and increasing F pitch since they would have to remove a row of seats in order to do so.
Jan 4, 2018, 7:21 pm
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
There's been discussion of AS reconfiguring the 73G's, but AFAIK the AAG has not reached a decision [aside from configuring some as cargo]
Jan 5, 2018, 10:16 am
#6
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,030
They really need the update if they are going to keep them in the fleet. Kind of hard to advertise a product and amenities then offer none of it for the flight. On top of that the few I have flown in were down right grimy inside.
Jan 5, 2018, 10:25 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Anchorage, AK
Programs: Lifetime AS 1MM & MVPG, AS MVPG100K, AA, DL, HH-G
Posts: 8,259
Jan 5, 2018, 10:42 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Economics as a small subfleet may kill them before service life limits. Delivered in 1999-2003, they probably have 7-10 years left if AAG wanted full asset life.
Jan 5, 2018, 11:09 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,639
If they're going to be around another 5-10 years, reconfiguring is somewhere between no brainer and necessity. The interiors are old and need to be replaced sooner than later. Might as well make them consistent with the rest of the fleet.
Jan 5, 2018, 11:48 am
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
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I think AS was planning on returning these to the leasor, but has kept them as they have been expanding routes.
Jan 5, 2018, 12:05 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,639
There are a lot of dots to connect and frequencies to increase. I would be surprised if they dumped these perfectly functional modern planes anytime soon. They can't be that expensive to keep flying.
Jan 5, 2018, 12:06 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 2,206
It's been said that they will be getting Premium Economy, can't find the original source now. Putzy thinks it'll start happening in September, in another thread. Thanks as always to the useful info Putzy provides!
Last edited by alphaeagle; Jan 5, 2018 at 12:48 pm
Jan 5, 2018, 12:43 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,991
Agree. While there are only 11 in the fleet and they mostly fly short flights, they also occasionally fly some longer flights like sea-msp/oma/dfw or even sea-chs. Would be nice to upgrade to have in seat power at least. I can understand not adding premium class and increasing F pitch since they would have to remove a row of seats in order to do so.
I wound up on one KTN-SEA last week; only a 90 minute flight but I definitely missed the row 1 legroom and in-seat power. Amazingly, though, I survived!
Jan 5, 2018, 12:53 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Near SEA
Programs: UA MM, AS MVPG75K, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,969
N627AS, N626AS and N625AS were all converted to cargo. Have seen no public plans to convert the others.
https://newsroom.alaskaair.com/2017-...-700-freighter
Those three are in addition to N709AS, the last 734 in the fleet (specifically a 737-490(SF)) which is still operating (though has cancelled 8 flights over the past 2 days).
Alaska's fleet page is drastically outdated... (https://newsroom.alaskaair.com/fleet)
I'd be happy if they just repainted N607AS
https://newsroom.alaskaair.com/2017-...-700-freighter
Those three are in addition to N709AS, the last 734 in the fleet (specifically a 737-490(SF)) which is still operating (though has cancelled 8 flights over the past 2 days).
Alaska's fleet page is drastically outdated... (https://newsroom.alaskaair.com/fleet)
I'd be happy if they just repainted N607AS
Jan 5, 2018, 1:40 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036