Not Happy with Alaska (But Satisfied with Resolution)
Jan 7, 2023, 12:21 am
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
Jan 7, 2023, 12:24 am
#17
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: 21,373
(Mrs767 got moved from 2D — on a Gold Guest Upgrade — to Main a year or so ago, although that was before AS was offering pre-emptive changes)
Last edited by jrl767; Jan 7, 2023 at 12:31 am
Jan 7, 2023, 1:09 am
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 77
To my knowledge AS only flies -800s to and from LIH so the number of seats in F is always 12. It could be a simple overbooking due to required crew deadheading or an air marshal or the system allowing too many booked passengers. I personally would ask for first class on the next daytime flight the next day, hotel compensation, and at least a $500 discount code. My wife and daughter were booked in F on MCI-SEA last January and got bumped off the flight because it went from a 16 seat -900 to a 12 seat -800 and there were no available seats in coach where myself and my son were. We each got $350 discount codes, reimbursed for our entire 3 day weekend rental car dropping at OMA, and booked on a flight out of OMA. I think the offer was $500 if we would have just waited until the next day to leave MCI but we all had work/school.
How, exactly are they telling you this? Did they call you? Did they send you an email?
The great thing about schedule changes is that it gives you a LOT of power. Don’t let AS tell you what flight they want you on. You tell THEM what you want. Have them put you on the nonstop out of HNL or OGG to PDX. Have them connect you to those airports at their cost. (If they don’t, it’s still less than buying a new ticket on HA.
They will work with you to keep you happy.
The great thing about schedule changes is that it gives you a LOT of power. Don’t let AS tell you what flight they want you on. You tell THEM what you want. Have them put you on the nonstop out of HNL or OGG to PDX. Have them connect you to those airports at their cost. (If they don’t, it’s still less than buying a new ticket on HA.
They will work with you to keep you happy.
I assume you have elite status since you fly AS a lot?
How many people in your party? If you're solo and in Row 2, I wouldn't worry, if it were me.
I'm not sure exactly how AS processes their involuntary F downgrades, but my guess is that fare class and elite status weigh more than purchase date if not enough volunteers. Someone else may know more.
But if there's any route with other passenger(s) happy to volunteer to extend their trip, Kauai is certainly near the top!
However, just a heads up, if everything is not sorted before the flight goes under airport control, since LIH is an outstation with contract employees at the gate/counter, I would be polite but firm to ensure you receive appropriate compensation according to AS's rules if they downgrade / reaccommodate you. Hopefully it doesn't get to that point.
Regardless, I hope you don't let it diminish your enjoyment of Kauai.
Keep us updated how it plays out.
How many people in your party? If you're solo and in Row 2, I wouldn't worry, if it were me.
I'm not sure exactly how AS processes their involuntary F downgrades, but my guess is that fare class and elite status weigh more than purchase date if not enough volunteers. Someone else may know more.
But if there's any route with other passenger(s) happy to volunteer to extend their trip, Kauai is certainly near the top!
However, just a heads up, if everything is not sorted before the flight goes under airport control, since LIH is an outstation with contract employees at the gate/counter, I would be polite but firm to ensure you receive appropriate compensation according to AS's rules if they downgrade / reaccommodate you. Hopefully it doesn't get to that point.
Regardless, I hope you don't let it diminish your enjoyment of Kauai.
Keep us updated how it plays out.
Jan 7, 2023, 1:15 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 77
The last person I spoke with at AK suggested I give it a week to see if others volunteer to move. My dilemma is if I wait, seats on HA may fill up and get even more expensive. Can I call AK back and say I need resolution now? If they can’t pay for our interisland flight and get us on their direct flight out of HNL we will have to extend our stay a day and pay ALOT more on HA flight plus hotel and car. Any advice?
Jan 7, 2023, 1:42 am
#21
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP Gold
Posts: 138
AS *does* allow you to connect inter-island on HA, it's just that it's totally non-obvious being able to see it. You won't see it if you just try booking a new flight off their website. However, if you pull up your existing LIH-PDX flight on their website and select to change the flight, you should see numerous options for flying LIH-HNL on HA and then HNL-PDX on AS (or LIH-OGG on HA and then OGG-PDX on AS) with both legs in F. So I would suggest you give that a try, and if you see an itinerary you like, call them up and ask to be switched to it (at their expense if necessary).
Jan 7, 2023, 8:12 am
#22
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 2
1. You should not be taking the burden from AS that they now has less F strata duets their own aircraft change!
2. Any schedule change from AS should allow u to change your ticket to a better option than the auto assigned route
3. Have you tried to talk to AS about this? I had good impression about this and I would be shocked if their customer service can not get this handled!
Jan 7, 2023, 8:31 am
#23
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: SoCal,
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro
Posts: 771
Update: I’m retired almost 4 years now so if as stated above, Y seating is acceptable for both Marshals, then my guess isn’t looking too good. Cheers.
Jan 7, 2023, 8:48 am
#24
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS 75k, A3 Gold, AC 25k, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,044
@Phoebe25: Would the timing of the HNL-PDX flight work for you? It only arrives in PDX after midnight. But looking at random dates in February, there appears a decent amount of available seats.
Jan 7, 2023, 9:34 am
#25
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: SAN
Programs: AS Mileage Plan 100k, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 991
FAMs these days are almost always in the back few rows of coach on the aisle so they can see the entire cabin at once without constantly looking backwards. The First Class Row 2 rule was before all the kevlar doors were installed on the flight decks.
Jan 7, 2023, 10:10 am
#26
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
They send that soliciation to everyone, and usually someone will jump to take the offer. It is still a month away. People will organically cancel, too.
If it were me I would ignore the e-mail and NOT change to a different flight, because you might get the same type of e-mail request on that one, too, and then what?
If it were me I would ignore the e-mail and NOT change to a different flight, because you might get the same type of e-mail request on that one, too, and then what?
Jan 7, 2023, 10:32 am
#28
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: 16,856
Confirmed seats in PC, $600 compensation per person and the fare difference between what I paid and what the PC seat would have cost me on the day I booked.
Jan 7, 2023, 11:36 am
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 77
Update - I called back with flight info that would work for us to take HA from LIH to HNL and then take the nonstop on AK to PDX. She put me on hold for a long time to see if she could do it and then said she could. Adds an hour to our trip but a layover in HNL instead of SEA is better anyway. Ended up getting $700 each credit for future travel.
oh and I asked again why we were being asked to move. She gave me the line about a different plane. I know when I booked it a. 737-800 and she said that’s what it will be so I’m guessing some VIP (why not just charter a plane?) or maybe employees.
oh and I asked again why we were being asked to move. She gave me the line about a different plane. I know when I booked it a. 737-800 and she said that’s what it will be so I’m guessing some VIP (why not just charter a plane?) or maybe employees.