DCP2016

I don't need PTV's, I don't need mood lighting, I don't need dance videos. What I do need however is a decent route network on the East Coast. AS can't provide that so they aren't an option. For those of you who say "Alaska isn't required to serve the entire US", they are at a HUGE competitive disadvantage and are not poised for long term success ignoring half the country.

bkojote

If you think any facet of T7 is acceptable I'd encourage you to visit neighboring T5.


​​​​​​This is a huge problem as an east coast flier. The loss of AA benefits and earning is a huge, whopping blow as an MVP Gold elite.

gobeavs8

They have grown for years in the Pacific Northwest and are now trying to create the "Premier West Coast Airline". They might get a more national presence in time, but they cant just unleash service for the whole country at once. There has been a lot of people complaining about AS lately and their network esp from people on the east coast with the loss of DL and AA. I feel like a lot of this complaining is because Mileage Plan is so great and people dont like that the program is no longer viable for them. But AS is not going to bend over backwards to accommodate people who just use MP to bank miles, and maybe fly on AS metal a couple times a year. All of the complaining to me shows how much of an Asset their Loyalty Program is. Just my opinion and AS is far from perfect right now, but AS has some major things for it.

jinglish

I guess LH is at a huge competitive disadvantage because they're only hubbed at FRA and MUC. They'll be nobodies until they offer SIN-MEL and MAD-EZE.

tphuang

exactly, it doesn't make sense for AS to give attention on East Coast fliers who did most of their miles accumulation on AA/DL. Their attention should be on their own metal on west coast. The East coast MVPs would be much better off finding new airline.

And there really isn't anywhere in East Coast (outside of maybe IAD) that AS could reasonable set up a base.

DCP2016

Not the same thing.

jinglish

How is it not? You claimed that AS's major flaw is that they don't have the route network to be viable in the entire US. I don't see any logical reason why you couldn't say the same about LH or BA or or AY--that they'll never be real players unless they hub beyond their home countries and bases throughout the EU--so, please do explain.

flytoeat

They can't be everything to everyone, nor should they. They are the dominant carrier in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. They've got their hands full with the California expansion/acquisition. Expand elsewhere? Ridiculous.

eponymous_coward

Southwest obviously wasn't poised for long term success in the 1970's, what with being an airline that only served Texas...

owflyer

I concur, mind you anything over 1,000 NM and I would prefer any IFE, but the TV feed is much less reliable and has way less availability than B6; lack of LNBs I assume.

The armrest does not work for me at all and the safety video is very annoying.

I would much rather have a premium seat on AS with a basic snack and free drinks vs.any plus VX could offer for my travel.

dayone

PIT? Especially if chosen to be HQ2.

tphuang

Just not large enough market, HQ2 stuff gets a little overrated in my opinion. Very few flights to west coast to kick start an initial build up.

IAD, you could make a reasonable case that AS can strengthen the transcon network to there and then maybe expand from there. But pretty much anywhere in North East will be a struggle.

I guess if you were to include PIT in the discussions, there are other secondary airports like MEM that have space too, but just not enough demand to west coast or wealth.

The best place for AS to build up a mini-hub would obviously be JFK or EWR, but there is just no space.