Suggestions for AS to Regain Its Mojo
Dec 20, 2018, 8:44 am
#46
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 674
Agreed, theyre doing the opposite. Virgin wasnt a LCC, they differentiated themselves by offering extras.
Dec 20, 2018, 8:56 am
#47
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Dec 20, 2018, 11:40 am
#49
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: 16,809
- Make Guest Upgrades meaningful. These things should be a “I really don’t want to sit in coach” token you can spend 1-2 times in the program year, like a Delta Regional Upgrade is. My AS certs will expire mostly unused for the second year in a row, because the combination of an affordable buy up to an eligible fare and U inventory is basically nonexistent on many routes. I wish you could waitlist them and go to a priority gate queue; I’m fine with not confirming everything at booking all the time, but some sort of jump the line certificate is a valuable bonus.
...
- Baggage allowance. AS gets none of my work travel because of the Max 2 bags, Max 50 lbs rule. I could work with 3x50 or 2x70, but it’s ridiculous that even top tier elites don’t get a waiver here. Delta offers 3x70 to Diamond, and I pay them a nice fat premium for the dubious privilege of connecting in SLC when traveling with my tools as a result. I really would have liked to take the SEA-OKC direct this year, but the baggage allowance issue lost AS that business.
...
- Baggage allowance. AS gets none of my work travel because of the Max 2 bags, Max 50 lbs rule. I could work with 3x50 or 2x70, but it’s ridiculous that even top tier elites don’t get a waiver here. Delta offers 3x70 to Diamond, and I pay them a nice fat premium for the dubious privilege of connecting in SLC when traveling with my tools as a result. I really would have liked to take the SEA-OKC direct this year, but the baggage allowance issue lost AS that business.
I don’t really know how widespread the desire for 70 lbs steamer trunk is. I usuallly travel just with carry on bags, but on a couple of recent trips we decided to simplify our airport experience and check one large suitcase with stuff for both of us. It was 43 - 48 lbs. Seemed plenty for us, especially since we could have each had two of those if needed.
Maybe they could offer a choice of one 70 lbs bag or two 50 lbs bags for elites?
Dec 20, 2018, 11:46 am
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I don’t really know how widespread the desire for 70 lbs steamer trunk is. I usuallly travel just with carry on bags, but on a couple of recent trips we decided to simplify our airport experience and check one large suitcase with stuff for both of us. It was 43 - 48 lbs. Seemed plenty for us, especially since we could have each had two of those if needed.
I literally don't own 100lb of clothes.
Dec 20, 2018, 12:29 pm
#51
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska Airlines
Posts: 658
With Alaska's current release of U space, GGUs are worth less than the paper they're printed on... and they don't even print them.
I don't see the problem going away until they standardize FC across the airbus & Boeing fleet - as other's have speculated it seems like they are barely releasing any space due to fear of equipment swaps to an airbus.
I don't see the problem going away until they standardize FC across the airbus & Boeing fleet - as other's have speculated it seems like they are barely releasing any space due to fear of equipment swaps to an airbus.
Dec 20, 2018, 1:51 pm
#53
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
With Alaska's current release of U space, GGUs are worth less than the paper they're printed on... and they don't even print them.
I don't see the problem going away until they standardize FC across the airbus & Boeing fleet - as other's have speculated it seems like they are barely releasing any space due to fear of equipment swaps to an airbus.
I don't see the problem going away until they standardize FC across the airbus & Boeing fleet - as other's have speculated it seems like they are barely releasing any space due to fear of equipment swaps to an airbus.
I am seeing more U space in the new year.
James
Dec 20, 2018, 2:08 pm
#54
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,944
Even on a 3-week trip where I did no laundry, all my stuff fit easily in a single bag that was well under 50lb. I guess I understand if people are traveling with tools or equipment or something, but I don't see how the "average" traveler going on a vacation or work trip can make use of that much weight allowance.
I literally don't own 100lb of clothes.
I literally don't own 100lb of clothes.
Alaska probably thinks they will just collect bag fees in this case, because people will just expense it. But competing airlines are more generous, and I am required to book the lowest logical fare factoring in all costs. If I occasionally book my preferred carrier at a higher price because of bag fee waivers, I’m obligated to also consider things in the other direction...
Dec 20, 2018, 2:12 pm
#55
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
- Baggage allowance. AS gets none of my work travel because of the Max 2 bags, Max 50 lbs rule. I could work with 3x50 or 2x70, but it’s ridiculous that even top tier elites don’t get a waiver here. Delta offers 3x70 to Diamond, and I pay them a nice fat premium for the dubious privilege of connecting in SLC when traveling with my tools as a result. I really would have liked to take the SEA-OKC direct this year, but the baggage allowance issue lost AS that business.
James
Dec 20, 2018, 2:16 pm
#56
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: 16,809
And of course there are people who want to use the airline as their U-Haul replacement when relocating across the country. Also not a case I (if I was AS) would necessarily consider for my loyalty program features.
So... not a "get your mojo back" item IMO.
Dec 20, 2018, 9:44 pm
#57
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,989
On paper or virtual we have successfully used all 26 of our GGUs this year. We are just back from KOA booked in October using 4 GGUs for immediate upgrades with U availability. Our last two GGUs were used on our connecting flight SAN-SEA with a quick call to AS when U opened up a month before departure.
I am seeing more U space in the new year.
James
I am seeing more U space in the new year.
James
Dec 21, 2018, 1:27 pm
#58
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska Airlines
Posts: 658
Hey... that little food box in the commercial looks familiar! Pay toilets next?
Maybe AS needs to go back and watch their "Sky High" commercials from the 80's to remind themselves of what they didn't want to be?
Also, they were just awesome commercials
Maybe AS needs to go back and watch their "Sky High" commercials from the 80's to remind themselves of what they didn't want to be?
Also, they were just awesome commercials
Dec 21, 2018, 1:54 pm
#59
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,952
I dunno, the actual experience is still better than AA and UA when you take into account the staff (phone, airport, in-flight) are still mostly pleasant, and reasonably empowered to help when needed. That said, this is my first and now only year as MVPG - I've made no effort to requalify, as ex-SFO I haven't been able to use a single GGU this year flying to PHL, EWR, MCO, WAS. This doesn't mean I won't fly Alaska, or even prefer them all things similar, but I also don't feel an incentive to be especially loyal.
My negatives for 2018 -
* GGUs difficult to use on longer flights
* Paid first class fares out of line with competitors
* Partner earnings have gotten weak (I fly EI SFO-DUB somewhat regularly, and am earning 50% EQM max)
My positives:
* Staff are top tier (other domestic airlines in that category IME are DL, B6)
* Wait times for elites of any kind at the airport or on the phone are very reasonable
* Those chocolate bars they keep giving me are delicious
At this point I just shop AS, B6 and DL, and pick on schedule, price (in that order). FWIW, I'm AS MVPG, DL Silver, B6 Nothing. I just don't really have an incentive to be loyal, maybe I just don't fly enough.
My negatives for 2018 -
* GGUs difficult to use on longer flights
* Paid first class fares out of line with competitors
* Partner earnings have gotten weak (I fly EI SFO-DUB somewhat regularly, and am earning 50% EQM max)
My positives:
* Staff are top tier (other domestic airlines in that category IME are DL, B6)
* Wait times for elites of any kind at the airport or on the phone are very reasonable
* Those chocolate bars they keep giving me are delicious
At this point I just shop AS, B6 and DL, and pick on schedule, price (in that order). FWIW, I'm AS MVPG, DL Silver, B6 Nothing. I just don't really have an incentive to be loyal, maybe I just don't fly enough.
Dec 21, 2018, 5:29 pm
#60
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Between SFO and STS
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, United Serf, Delta Gold
Posts: 731
Even on a 3-week trip where I did no laundry, all my stuff fit easily in a single bag that was well under 50lb. I guess I understand if people are traveling with tools or equipment or something, but I don't see how the "average" traveler going on a vacation or work trip can make use of that much weight allowance.
I literally don't own 100lb of clothes.
I literally don't own 100lb of clothes.
Lots of stuff gets transported that isn't clothes. I usually come back with fish in the summer from AK and MN. I can easily get over two 50 pound coolers. If I fly UA ANC direct in F, I can have 2x 70 pounders included (and that's without a bit of status). I think elites and F should have higher weight allowance s just like the airlines. But maybe that means our bags don't show up in 20 just like the other airlines...
