Why I love Alaska in 2018
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,551
That's been the biggest advantage to me over UA - even if I'm not assured of getting an upgrade, I've been virtually guaranteed an exit row on every mainline flight as my fallback.
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
What's it worth with the introduction of saver fares, though? Will you pay the extra $20 for a slim chance at an upgrade, along with the ability to select that premium seat? I probably will -- the premium seat is worth more than $20 to me. If you're not willing to, though, MVP is basically worthless now -- you can just pay $75/year for the CC, get your checked bag, and you are in the same boat whether you have MVP or not.
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,690
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,625
Is $20 the difference between a Saver fare and a fare that guarantees an MVP or MVPG selection of a PC seat at booking? Not everyone here is 75K, and the lowest regular (non-Saver) fares have more often than not resulted in no upgrade for me this year (fortunately row 17 was often available, though not always).
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Is $20 the difference between a Saver fare and a fare that guarantees an MVP or MVPG selection of a PC seat at booking? Not everyone here is 75K, and the lowest regular (non-Saver) fares have more often than not resulted in no upgrade for me this year (fortunately row 17 was often available, though not always).
Note that you don't need to wait for the "you've been upgraded to premium" email; I haven't seen one of those in 6 months. Just go select the seat when your upgrade window opens. It will be free. Even if the app shows a charge, it will skip the payment step and assign the seat so long as your upgrade window is open. I'm pretty sure that the PC upgrade processor is broken and I'm jumping the queue... I've certainly been in flights where I snagged a premium seat and 10 people ahead of me on the upgrade list didn't get F or PC.
#21
Formerly known as I_Hate_US_Airways
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Just South Of North
Programs: My Loyalty Programs? I now VOTE with my wallet!!!
Posts: 2,568
Interesting Thread...
I am looking at taking on a consulting project next year for a Burbank based company. I will be flying out of Dallas. My first thought was to fly AA DFW>BUR, but the ticket cots seems to be around $800* PLUS a connection in PHX (I HATE connections BTW). Then I remembered that AS took over VA flights out of Love Field (and I will take DAL over DFW ANY day). Yes, no lounge access at DAL, but the trade off is still worth it to me. I was surprised that AS prices their F cabin (P fare) at $600.00 RT. Having been MVP back in 2004 & then MVPG in 2012 when AS flew out of Prescott, I always thought AS was a great little airline. Would very much look forward to flying them once again (-:
*I have negotiated first class travel as part of the engagement.
*I have negotiated first class travel as part of the engagement.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,551
BUR is a great airport to fly in/out of. Minor annoyance flying AS out of BUR is that there isn't a real precheck lane in terminal B, so you get precheck-lite, but I've never had more than about 2 people in front of me in line there. There are also very limited services airside in B, so you're limited to an expensive sandwich if you're flying after work and want to get dinner at the airport, though that may matter less if you're always in F. On the upside, the little strip mall just outside the airport is a very short walk away and has some ok options - I tend to do pickup/dropoff there, rather than in the airport loop.
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Traveling the World
Posts: 6,067
BUR is a great airport to fly in/out of. Minor annoyance flying AS out of BUR is that there isn't a real precheck lane in terminal B, so you get precheck-lite, but I've never had more than about 2 people in front of me in line there. There are also very limited services airside in B, so you're limited to an expensive sandwich if you're flying after work and want to get dinner at the airport, though that may matter less if you're always in F. On the upside, the little strip mall just outside the airport is a very short walk away and has some ok options - I tend to do pickup/dropoff there, rather than in the airport loop.
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,551
Also LAX has the Alaska Lounge. For me I really love LAX over BUR as I can walk between Terminals TBIT-Terminal 8 all airside so when time permits I can grab a bite to eat or use the lounge and watch the planes. BUR is small but by the time I fly into LAX I Can get to West LA in no time at all.
#25
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP Gold / Marriott Bonvoy(age) Titanium Elite, IHG Platinum, WN A+/CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 337
The original OP sounds like a total paid social media influencer.....it is totally written by a PR firm....."Alaska listens is a great resource"...said no regular AS flyer...ever!
#26
Formerly known as I_Hate_US_Airways
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Just South Of North
Programs: My Loyalty Programs? I now VOTE with my wallet!!!
Posts: 2,568
Yes...
It's the getting into/out of LAX that's a big negative - for someone going to work in Burbank, BUR is going to save more than an hour both arriving and departing on every trip. Getting to and from BUR is much more predictable time and traffic-wise. At peak commute times I can get from Pasadena to Sunnyvale via BUR in less time than it takes to get to LAX.
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,551
It's a close call, but I also tend to go for non-stops from LAX over connections from BUR, though that's partly driven by SFO being unreliable for regional flights and SEA adding a bunch of extra time flying past PDX and then back.