First Class Competitive
#17
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
When we book on AS in F cabin , we pay a premium for a certain level of comfort and service.
We have paid a premium to book Airbus metal in F. .
still try to make sure our flights are on Airbus metal when flying AS. Non functional seats, tray tables etc should be compensated. Saying it is not available after door closure does not make it right.
We have paid a premium to book Airbus metal in F. .
still try to make sure our flights are on Airbus metal when flying AS. Non functional seats, tray tables etc should be compensated. Saying it is not available after door closure does not make it right.
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,389
This is not to excuse maintenance issues or say there should be no compensation for poor maintenance, but “Hey I expect Airbus on this route” isn’t going to wash forever.
#19
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: Alaska MVPG, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Gold, Emerald Club Excutive
Posts: 83
I did a cost analysis for my upcoming trip leaving 6/28 returning 7/3 to LAX and I had a Alaska Discount Code. My flight in economy would be $170-S179 . Delta Comfort Plus would be $218 so I booked Alaska ffirst class for $218 and paid the $28 in taxes.
I feel thst if I had to purchase Delta Comfort Plus I woul look at the cost of AS first class with included bag,lounge access etc. Priority pass holders seem to be denied entry at AS lounges.
Cost for First is roughly $37 more so you save on the$50 bag and airline club access plus the drinks and snacks in the lounge and in the sky. Not to mention 175 percent bonus miles
In the future I would gladly pay a bit more to fly in FC consisering it covers two checked bags plus lounge access drinks and more. I addef it up and if I took the Y flight even in thecPreferred cabin it would still cost me to check my bag as I like to bring liquids wiyu me llke shampoo.
Thoughts?
I feel thst if I had to purchase Delta Comfort Plus I woul look at the cost of AS first class with included bag,lounge access etc. Priority pass holders seem to be denied entry at AS lounges.
Cost for First is roughly $37 more so you save on the$50 bag and airline club access plus the drinks and snacks in the lounge and in the sky. Not to mention 175 percent bonus miles
In the future I would gladly pay a bit more to fly in FC consisering it covers two checked bags plus lounge access drinks and more. I addef it up and if I took the Y flight even in thecPreferred cabin it would still cost me to check my bag as I like to bring liquids wiyu me llke shampoo.
Thoughts?
#20
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
You realize that at some point in the future, AS is going to do aircraft swaps between Boeing and Airbus, right?
This is not to excuse maintenance issues or say there should be no compensation for poor maintenance, but “Hey I expect Airbus on this route” isn’t going to wash forever.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,631
Thanks to all for helping me understand the competitiveness of AS F in my home market and airport (IAD). It seems as though AS F is not competitive in F and will be less so as it eliminates the VX F seats in the near future. For my travel it appears UA transcon in F on carefully selected widebody/intl aircraft with *A gold access to the IAD lounges will provides a better product than AS in this case.
V/r,
-Cyborg
V/r,
-Cyborg
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,389
The bottom line is VX wasn't drawing enough customers like you with the high bar they set.
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,389
Also, it's perfectly possible for AA to fly IAD-LAX with their A321 or B757 fleet, equipped with lie-flats. They do not do so. This also is data that suggests that pricing premiums for enhanced F services don't exist on all transcon routes.
This is an argument that's been hashed over about 537743857452 times in this forum. Yes, it sucks that not enough people want to buy enough white recliner seats with oodles of pitch to make it work economically. VX offered a great F product. But a lot of routes simply won't support it. Even B6's Mint product needs an A321 (with lots of coach seats in the back) to make it work, they aren't offering it across 100% of the network like VX did, and as far as I know, they do not intend to.
Last edited by eponymous_coward; May 31, 2018 at 4:31 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Anchorage, AK
Programs: CO - Onepass Gold Elite--> UA - MileagePlus Gold Premier--> Silver --> AS - MileagePlan MVPGOLD!
Posts: 735
Tomorrow, June 1, United is flying SEVEN 737-800/900s on the route, with a virtually identical onboard F seat to AS.
They're also offering ONE 757 flight, with lie-flats.
I don't give two spits which airline you fly; but to cast AS as being wholly dissimilar to United is, frankly, completely false.