SDC-PAE vs. SEA
May 15, 2019, 6:34 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SFO/SEA
Programs: Gold 75K
Posts: 218
SDC-PAE vs. SEA
I'm booked PAE to SFO this Sunday 5/19. I'd love to SDC and take a later flight, but there aren't any later flights from PAE. What are the odds that they'll let me change to a later flight from SEA? I'm assuming that's against the rules, but is it worth calling in and asking as a Gold?
May 15, 2019, 7:03 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,371
literal answer: 50-50
pragmatic answer: the flight is midafternoon ... imo, if you call ~noon and say you won't be able to make it to PAE in time, your chances are far better that they will offer you a reasonable option -- one of the five evening flights from SEA, or an early evening connection out of PAE (~530 over LAS, ~600 over PDX) -- than if you call at T-24 hours
pragmatic answer: the flight is midafternoon ... imo, if you call ~noon and say you won't be able to make it to PAE in time, your chances are far better that they will offer you a reasonable option -- one of the five evening flights from SEA, or an early evening connection out of PAE (~530 over LAS, ~600 over PDX) -- than if you call at T-24 hours
May 15, 2019, 7:50 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: ANC
Programs: Alaska 100k
Posts: 1,012
I tried to SDC at the gate from PHX-SEA to PHX-PAE on the inaugural day. They typed for while on their computer and tried a few things but it didn't work. I ended up buying a cash walk-up fare which ended up being cheaper than my original flight anyway.
May 15, 2019, 9:43 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: Alaska Gold 100k
Posts: 959
I don’t know about your comment above regarding connections, I do this almost weekly, book a connection (usually through SFO or SEA) for a much cheaper price than a nonstop and change to a nonstop T-24, in fact I did it this week. Even for a non elite it often makes sense with a $50 fee, I saved over $550 recently on an east coast one way flight
May 15, 2019, 9:47 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: SEA
Programs: AS 100k, DL PM, UA PM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 27
When I called to request a SDC from SEA-OAK to SEA-SFO two weeks ago, I asked about the possibility of doing a SDC between SEA/PAE. I was told it was not currently possible, but that Alaska was considering adding the two airports to the co-terminal exception list.
May 15, 2019, 9:48 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AS 100k, DL PM, New Sagaya
Posts: 1,291
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I don’t know about your comment above regarding connections, I do this almost weekly, book a connection (usually through SFO or SEA) for a much cheaper price than a nonstop and change to a nonstop T-24, in fact I did it this week. Even for a non elite it often makes sense with a $50 fee, I saved over $550 recently on an east coast one way flight
I don’t know about your comment above regarding connections, I do this almost weekly, book a connection (usually through SFO or SEA) for a much cheaper price than a nonstop and change to a nonstop T-24, in fact I did it this week. Even for a non elite it often makes sense with a $50 fee, I saved over $550 recently on an east coast one way flight
May 16, 2019, 1:17 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: US West Coast
Programs: Alaska 100K, Hyatt Gl, Marriott Ti/LTP
Posts: 353
D. SAME DAY CONFIRMED FLIGHT CHANGE AVAILABLE ONLY FOR IDENTICAL ROUTINGS-SAME ORIGIN / DESTINATION / CONNECTION / THRU CITY IF APPLICABLE. CHANGES BETWEEN CO-TERMINALS ARE ALLOWED FOR SFO/OAK/SJC AND LAX/SNA/BUR/ONT.
May 16, 2019, 10:03 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SFO/SEA
Programs: Gold 75K
Posts: 218
Thanks all. The specific language regarding SFO/OAK is especially helpful. I've been nervous about the possibility of SDC between OAK and SEA because there are so few flights. Knowing that SFO/OAK is specifically identified as allowable under the rules is great.
May 16, 2019, 10:57 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,639
I wish I had known this in the past. I've only asked for co-terminal changes when SFO flights get re-routed to SJC.
May 16, 2019, 1:13 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
There are a couple of places where the fare rules don't match the website. No-show policy for fully refundable tickets is another (though in that case the fare rules are more restrictive than the web page)
It's good to keep track of these differences -- maybe in a wiki?
It's good to keep track of these differences -- maybe in a wiki?
May 16, 2019, 3:49 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
I doubt that AS will actually make PAE and SEA co-terminals. I'm guessing that eventually -- when PAE catches on -- PAE tickets will be priced at a slight premium to SEA (since flights are very limited at PAE). So, there's no real incentive for AS to want SEA and PAE to be officially co-terminals. If, in the future, PAE is opened up to, say, 4 or 5X as many flights and a lot of competition, then all bets are off.
May 16, 2019, 4:39 pm
#13
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Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
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I doubt that AS will actually make PAE and SEA co-terminals. I'm guessing that eventually -- when PAE catches on -- PAE tickets will be priced at a slight premium to SEA (since flights are very limited at PAE). So, there's no real incentive for AS to want SEA and PAE to be officially co-terminals. If, in the future, PAE is opened up to, say, 4 or 5X as many flights and a lot of competition, then all bets are off.
May 16, 2019, 10:17 pm
#14
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
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Which is to be expected right now. It's a new/developing market. As it matures, the question is whether it will be comparable to SEA, command a premium, or take a hit.
May 17, 2019, 8:33 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MM, MVPGold100k, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,475
Last month I had a PDX SEA flight that was delayed 1.5hrs due to ATC at SEA, after a while they started asking anyone in the gate area that was on one of the three delayed flights to SEA if they wanted to go to PAE on a flight that would leave in 20 mins. They even got those with checked bags moved over. he GA said it was a co-terminal and that is why they could offer the chance to change our flights.