Alaska Airlines elevates First Class menu and experience, with a West Coast twist
Mar 22, 2018, 1:04 am
#93
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: USA, JPN, GBR
Programs: A3, AA, AC, AS, DL, NH, SQ, SK, UA; BW, CP, HH, IHG, MB
Posts: 1,950
No meals from Mexico?
Don't know if this belongs in the "What will AS be Serving in F" thread or here... I'm looking at trips to Mexico in May, and PVR/SJD/ZIH/MEX/ZLO-LAX/SAN all have "S" for meal service in F on the late afternoon/evening flights after 4 returning to the US. Flights leaving earlier all have Breakfast or Lunch. Is this right? Are they really only going to serve a snack on a 3-4 hour flight during dinner hours? 
Mar 22, 2018, 1:12 am
#94
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798
Three AS flights this week and I’m cautiously optimistic about this new service. FAs seem super happy about it too. Time will tell though. I’m sure the really high up folks at Angle Lake will find out and put the kibosh on it like they did a few years back.
Edit: Forgot to mention the FA said the menus are rotating every 90 days and all flights over 650 miles have a choice.
Edit: Forgot to mention the FA said the menus are rotating every 90 days and all flights over 650 miles have a choice.
Last edited by tusphotog; Mar 22, 2018 at 1:39 am Reason: A little more info
Mar 22, 2018, 12:10 pm
#95
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Programs: AS MVP 100K, UA PremEx-MM
Posts: 3,335
I fly SEA-DEN on the late evening (7:45 or 7:55 p.m.) and it is always coded for "Snack" when in reality the meal served is more like dinner. I would count on something more substantial than a snack.
Don't know if this belongs in the "What will AS be Serving in F" thread or here... I'm looking at trips to Mexico in May, and PVR/SJD/ZIH/MEX/ZLO-LAX/SAN all have "S" for meal service in F on the late afternoon/evening flights after 4 returning to the US. Flights leaving earlier all have Breakfast or Lunch. Is this right? Are they really only going to serve a snack on a 3-4 hour flight during dinner hours?
Mar 22, 2018, 12:13 pm
#96
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Programs: AS MVP 100K, UA PremEx-MM
Posts: 3,335
This sounds like a bit of a downgrade to me as the redeye snack has been something more substantial like chicken skewers. The veggie plate looks fine for a 90-minute flight but not enough for a transcon.
Mar 22, 2018, 12:24 pm
#97
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: West Hollywood
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Alaska MVP, Delta Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 173
Mar 24, 2018, 1:46 pm
#98
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: USA, JPN, GBR
Programs: A3, AA, AC, AS, DL, NH, SQ, SK, UA; BW, CP, HH, IHG, MB
Posts: 1,950
Mar 24, 2018, 2:21 pm
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,725
Mar 25, 2018, 11:14 am
#100
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: NYC
Posts: 280
This seems to be the new catering on VX flights too.
(From JFK to SFO)
This was the mole braised beef, which was far better than any Alaska meal I’ve had prior, though a downgrade from the earlier Virgin meals I had on this route. While the flavor was really good, the quality of meat was a noticeable step down (like really gristly and fatty.) Hopefully it was just a one-off because if done right I’d really enjoy the dish.
A bit frustratingly, service was clearly bumped down to Alaska’s lower standards and the FA was friendly but seemed really confused by the new process. No dessert or snacks were offered for the 6 hour transcon flight (The menu said gelato but none ever made it) , the hot towels (you know, the things JetBlue gives you in economy) are gone, and of course no PDB whatsoever which COME ON, as long as these are paid upgrades you’d think they’d throw in.
(From JFK to SFO)
This was the mole braised beef, which was far better than any Alaska meal I’ve had prior, though a downgrade from the earlier Virgin meals I had on this route. While the flavor was really good, the quality of meat was a noticeable step down (like really gristly and fatty.) Hopefully it was just a one-off because if done right I’d really enjoy the dish.
A bit frustratingly, service was clearly bumped down to Alaska’s lower standards and the FA was friendly but seemed really confused by the new process. No dessert or snacks were offered for the 6 hour transcon flight (The menu said gelato but none ever made it) , the hot towels (you know, the things JetBlue gives you in economy) are gone, and of course no PDB whatsoever which COME ON, as long as these are paid upgrades you’d think they’d throw in.
Mar 25, 2018, 1:05 pm
#101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: East Ester, Alaska
Programs: Alaska Million Miler, United Million Miler, Wyndham Rewards Diamond, Choice Hotels Diamond
Posts: 12,148
A bit frustratingly, service was clearly bumped down to Alaska’s lower standards and the FA was friendly but seemed really confused by the new process. No dessert or snacks were offered for the 6 hour transcon flight (The menu said gelato but none ever made it) , the hot towels (you know, the things JetBlue gives you in economy) are gone, and of course no PDB whatsoever which COME ON, as long as these are paid upgrades you’d think they’d throw in.
I am curious though... what's to be confused about by the FA with the new stripped down service? You serve drinks, you serve the meal, badda boom, bada bing ... Also, it looks as if six hour flight notwithstanding, this meal was served all at once rather than course by course. All told, it sounds like I would do well to continue my practice of self-catering.
Mar 25, 2018, 1:29 pm
#102
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,955
I don't think I "got it" before, but now that I live in SFO, it's hard to choose Alaska over the other transcon products. Even beyond the meals, you often have to pay more on AS for a worse premium cabin than DL or B6. Not to mention Alaska's frequencies and timings aren't particularly good on the transcon routes. I know it's often said that AS wants to be a west coast airline, but if they're going to continue flying BOS, JFK, etc, either cut the product back and win on price, or compete on the product. AS was more than happy to match me to MVPG when I got here, but they're like the 4th best option out of SFO even when factoring in the VX route network.
Mar 26, 2018, 8:34 am
#103
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SFO, mostly
Posts: 2,204
This seems to be the new catering on VX flights too.
(From JFK to SFO)
This was the mole braised beef, which was far better than any Alaska meal I’ve had prior, though a downgrade from the earlier Virgin meals I had on this route. While the flavor was really good, the quality of meat was a noticeable step down (like really gristly and fatty.) Hopefully it was just a one-off because if done right I’d really enjoy the d
A bit frustratingly, service was clearly bumped down to Alaska’s lower standards and the FA was friendly but seemed really confused by the new process. No dessert or snacks were offered for the 6 hour transcon flight (The menu said gelato but none ever made it) , the hot towels (you know, the things JetBlue gives you in economy) are gone, and of course no PDB whatsoever which COME ON, as long as these are paid upgrades you’d think they’d throw in.
(From JFK to SFO)
This was the mole braised beef, which was far better than any Alaska meal I’ve had prior, though a downgrade from the earlier Virgin meals I had on this route. While the flavor was really good, the quality of meat was a noticeable step down (like really gristly and fatty.) Hopefully it was just a one-off because if done right I’d really enjoy the d
A bit frustratingly, service was clearly bumped down to Alaska’s lower standards and the FA was friendly but seemed really confused by the new process. No dessert or snacks were offered for the 6 hour transcon flight (The menu said gelato but none ever made it) , the hot towels (you know, the things JetBlue gives you in economy) are gone, and of course no PDB whatsoever which COME ON, as long as these are paid upgrades you’d think they’d throw in.
Mar 26, 2018, 5:31 pm
#104
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Programs: AA ExPlat, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 909
AS could not in good conscience call the meal served in F yesterday from IAH-SEA "elevated." It was, in fact, dismal. Bone dry chicken breast that involved "lemongrass" in name only. They managed to include a pat of butter on the tray, though nothing to spread it on ever was offered or appeared. Beyond that, it took two FA's to dispense the meal with inexplicable 10+ minute lapses between each two meal trays going out. Meanwhile those seated in row 1 sat with finished (by all appearances, barely nibbled on) trays for 20-30 minutes. Again, this is with two FAs doing the service.. Add in an inop F lav and the whole experience was almost comedic. Thankfully, winds were fair, so the flight was well under four hours.
Mar 26, 2018, 7:12 pm
#105
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: NYC
Posts: 280
I haven’t had hot towels in F on Alaska since this year on any of my transcon flights with them.
Dessert and the lack of snacks were definitely an FA error, though he seemed perplexed when I asked. All in all it seems like either the flight was mis-catered or he was not informed. The lack of PDB’s is such a frustratingly cheap gesture on a seat that everyone paid a minimum of an additional $250 for.