How will Alaska and American's new partnership affect Delta?
Feb 22, 2020, 5:14 am
#106
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: Delta Diamond , Marriott Ambassador, Alaska MVP Gold, American Airlines Gold
Posts: 77
One more thought regarding SEA/PNW loyalty to AS:
Although I do think this is true for longtime residents — most of the truly loyal AS fans I know have grown up in SEA or PDX or lived here for 20+ years — the problem AS faces with that is that increasingly, Seattle is becoming full of transplants from NYC (like me) or SF or LA. I’ve been here less than three years, but a stunning number of people I meet and work with are also transplants, most within the last 6 years or newer.
So sure, you have loyalty with the natives, but the city itself is no longer full of natives. I actually think that has been a large part of Delta’s success here because outsiders like me who already had Delta loyalty (and hey, this could extend to AA loyalty too for the 5 people that have a good experience flying them) and didn’t ever really understand the hype/fanaticism over AS. (I must admit to some negative bias as an NYC VX fan who was gutted by what AS did to VX.)
Delta certainly can’t rest on its laurels and AS is still the dominant airline here — but it’s surprising to me how many AS flyers I’ve seen become DL people because of the domestic options (and because AS flyers knew that flying an AA-operated codeshare was still flying AA). Alaska has tons of goodwill. American Airlines does not.
Although I do think this is true for longtime residents — most of the truly loyal AS fans I know have grown up in SEA or PDX or lived here for 20+ years — the problem AS faces with that is that increasingly, Seattle is becoming full of transplants from NYC (like me) or SF or LA. I’ve been here less than three years, but a stunning number of people I meet and work with are also transplants, most within the last 6 years or newer.
So sure, you have loyalty with the natives, but the city itself is no longer full of natives. I actually think that has been a large part of Delta’s success here because outsiders like me who already had Delta loyalty (and hey, this could extend to AA loyalty too for the 5 people that have a good experience flying them) and didn’t ever really understand the hype/fanaticism over AS. (I must admit to some negative bias as an NYC VX fan who was gutted by what AS did to VX.)
Delta certainly can’t rest on its laurels and AS is still the dominant airline here — but it’s surprising to me how many AS flyers I’ve seen become DL people because of the domestic options (and because AS flyers knew that flying an AA-operated codeshare was still flying AA). Alaska has tons of goodwill. American Airlines does not.
Feb 22, 2020, 11:56 am
#107
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVPG, DL FO, Marriott Gold, Hertz 5 Whatevers
Posts: 1,099
One more thought regarding SEA/PNW loyalty to AS:
Although I do think this is true for longtime residents — most of the truly loyal AS fans I know have grown up in SEA or PDX or lived here for 20+ years — the problem AS faces with that is that increasingly, Seattle is becoming full of transplants from NYC (like me) or SF or LA. I’ve been here less than three years, but a stunning number of people I meet and work with are also transplants, most within the last 6 years or newer.
So sure, you have loyalty with the natives, but the city itself is no longer full of natives. I actually think that has been a large part of Delta’s success here because outsiders like me who already had Delta loyalty (and hey, this could extend to AA loyalty too for the 5 people that have a good experience flying them) and didn’t ever really understand the hype/fanaticism over AS. (I must admit to some negative bias as an NYC VX fan who was gutted by what AS did to VX.)
Delta certainly can’t rest on its laurels and AS is still the dominant airline here — but it’s surprising to me how many AS flyers I’ve seen become DL people because of the domestic options (and because AS flyers knew that flying an AA-operated codeshare was still flying AA). Alaska has tons of goodwill. American Airlines does not.
Although I do think this is true for longtime residents — most of the truly loyal AS fans I know have grown up in SEA or PDX or lived here for 20+ years — the problem AS faces with that is that increasingly, Seattle is becoming full of transplants from NYC (like me) or SF or LA. I’ve been here less than three years, but a stunning number of people I meet and work with are also transplants, most within the last 6 years or newer.
So sure, you have loyalty with the natives, but the city itself is no longer full of natives. I actually think that has been a large part of Delta’s success here because outsiders like me who already had Delta loyalty (and hey, this could extend to AA loyalty too for the 5 people that have a good experience flying them) and didn’t ever really understand the hype/fanaticism over AS. (I must admit to some negative bias as an NYC VX fan who was gutted by what AS did to VX.)
Delta certainly can’t rest on its laurels and AS is still the dominant airline here — but it’s surprising to me how many AS flyers I’ve seen become DL people because of the domestic options (and because AS flyers knew that flying an AA-operated codeshare was still flying AA). Alaska has tons of goodwill. American Airlines does not.
Feb 22, 2020, 10:26 pm
#108
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: Delta Diamond, Delta 1MM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 166
If Delta were to react, it does make sense to do so in SJC vs. AS instead of doing anything reactionary vs. AA. While Delta isn’t just going to shrink away in SEA, SJC offers an interesting opportunity- bigger population than SEA, growing traffic through SJC, and I would think much easier going up against AS in an announced focus city than doing something flimsy in DFW.
Feb 29, 2020, 11:12 am
#109
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Programs: Delta DM, United Silver, Marriott LT Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 852
Looks like 2 new routes are coming from SEA. SEA-CMH and SEA-DFW, 3x daily on A221s.
https://community.infiniteflight.com...h-route/405439
https://community.infiniteflight.com...h-route/405439
Feb 29, 2020, 11:20 am
#110
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
In classic Dougie fashion, AA picked the absolute worst time to try and go to war in Seattle.
Their stock got absolutely slammed this week (as did DAL but not to the extent of AA). Their market cap is now a distant 4th behind DL, WN, and UA in that order and only slightly above AS after this week’s blood bath.
I can’t imagine they are in a position to maintain heavy cash losses at SEA right now which makes the prospect of SEA - BLR launching anytime soon a fantasy IMO.
Their stock got absolutely slammed this week (as did DAL but not to the extent of AA). Their market cap is now a distant 4th behind DL, WN, and UA in that order and only slightly above AS after this week’s blood bath.
I can’t imagine they are in a position to maintain heavy cash losses at SEA right now which makes the prospect of SEA - BLR launching anytime soon a fantasy IMO.
Feb 29, 2020, 12:14 pm
#111
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVPG, DL FO, Marriott Gold, Hertz 5 Whatevers
Posts: 1,099
Looks like 2 new routes are coming from SEA. SEA-CMH and SEA-DFW, 3x daily on A221s.
https://community.infiniteflight.com...h-route/405439
https://community.infiniteflight.com...h-route/405439
Side note: I'm surprised DL hasn't doubled down on SEA-RDU yet.
Last edited by ab2013; Feb 29, 2020 at 12:22 pm
Feb 29, 2020, 1:17 pm
#112
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, DL PM, Marriott Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,305
Also seeing increased frequency on SEA-AUS (1x A320 -> 2x 221), SEA-MCO (1x -> 2x), and SEA-ANC (7x) - IAD is also getting a 739 - this is all coming on top of the other growth this year (BZN 2x daily, IAD 2x daily, TPA 1x, GEG 9x). Did DL get more gates?
Side note: I'm surprised DL hasn't doubled down on SEA-RDU yet.
Side note: I'm surprised DL hasn't doubled down on SEA-RDU yet.