Continued issues with East Coast equipment going mechanical
Jan 13, 2019, 3:47 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Between SFO and STS
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, United Serf, Delta Gold
Posts: 731
Continued issues with East Coast equipment going mechanical
Flew out of BOS yesterday. BOS-SFO equipment N843VA went MX and cancelled. Now N843VA seems stranded in BOS. Looks like it was going to be ferried to JFK, but that didn't even happen. Seems like this and the BUF incident this week might lead to some changes? Maybe?
Jan 13, 2019, 5:47 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Between SFO and STS
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, United Serf, Delta Gold
Posts: 731
Hey, that's a change! 
I was vague for a reason.
If AS is resolved to chalk it up to stats and not do anything, so be it. In less than a week they had 2 planes at BOS go MX and become unavailable for a few days (not to mention the need for IRROPs management and likely compensation of passengers). Maybe something changes, maybe not...
I was vague for a reason.If AS is resolved to chalk it up to stats and not do anything, so be it. In less than a week they had 2 planes at BOS go MX and become unavailable for a few days (not to mention the need for IRROPs management and likely compensation of passengers). Maybe something changes, maybe not...
Last edited by DrAlex; Jan 13, 2019 at 8:19 pm
Jan 13, 2019, 6:29 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,386
Jan 13, 2019, 6:55 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Between SFO and STS
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, United Serf, Delta Gold
Posts: 731
321s, 319s, and sharklet 320s have the range to avoid Billings, SLC, DEN, etc (at least as a fuel stop). Keep your fingers crossed for those.
Last edited by DrAlex; Jan 13, 2019 at 8:23 pm
Jan 13, 2019, 7:04 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Hey, that's a change! I was vague for a reason.
If AS is resolved to chalk it up to stats and not do anything, so be it. In less than a week they had 2 planes at BOS go MX and become unavailable for a few days (not to mention the need for IRROPPs management and likely compensation of passengers). Maybe something changes, maybe not...
I was vague for a reason.If AS is resolved to chalk it up to stats and not do anything, so be it. In less than a week they had 2 planes at BOS go MX and become unavailable for a few days (not to mention the need for IRROPPs management and likely compensation of passengers). Maybe something changes, maybe not...
An east coast base? Doubt it - bases are set by passenger demand and crew/frame efficiency needs.
More flights? Doubt it - capacity is set by demand at adequate prices.
Fire somebody? That won't lead to immediate improvement in outstation maintenance capabilities.
Two MX in a fleet of ~230 mainline aircraft isn't particularly meaningful. Look at DOT reports on rates of cancellation. AA cancelled 676 mainline flights in the month of October '18.
https://www.transportation.gov/sites...-2018-atcr.pdf
If you want to argue that Alaska's service recovery - apology/hotels/food vouchers/compensation - is stingy, that's a different issue.
Jan 13, 2019, 9:11 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Between SFO and STS
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, United Serf, Delta Gold
Posts: 731
I don't know either, my question was fairly rhetorical. I'm only a Tin Level Flyer Talk Operations Manager™. Hoping to achieve Stainless Steel next year. AS sure doesn't have any intentions of reducing Airbii flights to BOS soon - looking forward in the schedule a bit, the redeye from SEA turns into an Airbii in the spring and both SFO flights turn into Airbii instead of one.
I'll have to get back to you on that in a couple days after I speak with Customer Care
Jan 14, 2019, 6:31 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Jan 14, 2019, 6:43 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
When you fly transcons on an airline with no base / infrastructure east of Interstate 5, getting stuck at eastern outstations is part of the risk you accept. The mechanicals, I don't know what they can do about; they happen to every airline, and AS is not going to park a spare at Logan waiting for something to go wrong. The dismaying slow and stupid response to the BUF diversion a few days ago was something else again. Alaska doesn't seem to have go-to plans for dealing with distant service / pax care emergencies.
Jan 14, 2019, 7:27 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 947
PDX is a couple miles east of I-5.
When you fly transcons on an airline with no base / infrastructure east of Interstate 5, getting stuck at eastern outstations is part of the risk you accept. The mechanicals, I don't know what they can do about; they happen to every airline, and AS is not going to park a spare at Logan waiting for something to go wrong. The dismaying slow and stupid response to the BUF diversion a few days ago was something else again. Alaska doesn't seem to have go-to plans for dealing with distant service / pax care emergencies.