Flying/Upgrades on Legacy VX Aircraft After 4/25 Cutover
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SEA
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You are right. They blamed EasyBiz. First time I called the agent blamed EasyBiz too. I was not on the list but this time the agent got a specialist to help him solve the problem and add me to the list. Of course I may have missed out since I was not on it at 120 hours out. Oh well. The seating chart looks promising as of today.
#32
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#33
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SFO, mostly
Posts: 2,203
https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/...n-america.html
"Alaska Airlines integration of Virgin America passenger service systems proceeds without glitches." Article from Puget Sound Business Journal (subscription required).
"Alaska Airlines integration of Virgin America passenger service systems proceeds without glitches." Article from Puget Sound Business Journal (subscription required).
#34
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 2
On my flight today SFO-SEA:
Website definitely funky on showing upgrades. 1 person did get cleared to F complimentary within about 2 hours of flight
Safety video was the VX safety video with Virgin branding. As soon as it was over, they turned the volume way down for the AS bit about messaging and then the Twitter ad.
FA's were dressed in AS navy blue but it seemed more hip styling. Pilots wore the same Virgin grey short sleeved shirts
Plane livery was standard Virgin
IFE was active with Virgin Red
I was in an MCS row - we could order complimentary food and drinks, same as before. Crew served exactly the same way Virgin did, and expected use of IFE.
The on board experience did not feel any different from the pre 4/25
Gate agents were dressed in AS blue. They told me, they are using matched pairs, one legacy VX one AS.
So... not much has changed onboard. Not clear where it MCS fits with Premium Class. For now it remains better.
Website definitely funky on showing upgrades. 1 person did get cleared to F complimentary within about 2 hours of flight
Safety video was the VX safety video with Virgin branding. As soon as it was over, they turned the volume way down for the AS bit about messaging and then the Twitter ad.
FA's were dressed in AS navy blue but it seemed more hip styling. Pilots wore the same Virgin grey short sleeved shirts
Plane livery was standard Virgin
IFE was active with Virgin Red
I was in an MCS row - we could order complimentary food and drinks, same as before. Crew served exactly the same way Virgin did, and expected use of IFE.
The on board experience did not feel any different from the pre 4/25
Gate agents were dressed in AS blue. They told me, they are using matched pairs, one legacy VX one AS.
So... not much has changed onboard. Not clear where it MCS fits with Premium Class. For now it remains better.
#36
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: SNA/LAX, PHL
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Upgrade cleared just under 2 hours.
Also so I gave up my preferred seat in row 2 so an old couple flying in F for the first time can seat together. How many brownie points do I get
Also so I gave up my preferred seat in row 2 so an old couple flying in F for the first time can seat together. How many brownie points do I get
#37
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#40
Join Date: Jan 2012
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I cleared 3 days out for SFO-SEA onto ex-VX metal and I think 5 days out on the return for SEA-SFO on Boeing. Currently sitting in 1A on airbus awaiting finishing boarding.
#41
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: AS MVPG, WN A-List
Posts: 99
The broader context is that SAN is moving all international arrivals from Terminal 2 East to Terminal 2 West, with a new, larger customs area in that location. This will vacate several gates in T2E. Relocating former VX flights would only further throw things off balance (and the situation is T1 is already frustrated by recent growth of both Alaska and Southwest). T1 is slatted for eventual demo/reconstruction, but that project is crawling through early planning stages, with funding issues presenting a problem. This gate relocation project seems to be a stopgap solution to alleviate growing pains. If you google for recent bids solicited by SAN, information comes up for a multi-million-dollar project "to enable relocation of seven airlines," among other goals. It doesn't say which airlines will move where, but it does list the Alaska gate area as one of the targets.
#43
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: UA AS DL Hyatt SPG/Bonvoy HHonors
Posts: 2,008
Got my first upgrade on an Airbus flight. Happened at T-2, so that seems to be standard. Seems like it is programmed to no more than 2 U seats until T-2. Not like AS where at T-24 a bunch of upgrades clear.
This was a midcon flight and the Airbus experience, food, and service is substantially superior. Choice of PDB and better food.
Ive flown both AS and legacy VX this weekend, and it was pretty clear that a whole lot of catering and benefits remain different. Among the big differences - if you are in MCS service on Airbus - unlimited drinks and free snacks/food. Bottles of water. On AS - same as it has been. And weirdly if you are 75K or MVPG and entitled to Premium class but seated in the exit row, only first drink is on us.
This was a midcon flight and the Airbus experience, food, and service is substantially superior. Choice of PDB and better food.
Ive flown both AS and legacy VX this weekend, and it was pretty clear that a whole lot of catering and benefits remain different. Among the big differences - if you are in MCS service on Airbus - unlimited drinks and free snacks/food. Bottles of water. On AS - same as it has been. And weirdly if you are 75K or MVPG and entitled to Premium class but seated in the exit row, only first drink is on us.
#44
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My most recent experience was an upgrade clearing at T-2. Was F5U0 until then, and it went to F0U0. Got an email from AS a few minutes later ^. This was on AS mainline. Perhaps something has changed?
#45
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,307
I've also seen as high as F5U0 on Airbus flights and upgrades didn't clear until T-2.