Bye-Bye AS upgrades.
Jan 27, 2017 | 11:05 pm
#107
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: No one cares
Posts: 7,606
The woman sitting next to me SEA-DCA on Friday told me her upgrade from DCA-PDX cleared for the Monday flight (48 h) ahead of time. She was a MVP, so gosh knows.
Jan 27, 2017 | 11:06 pm
#108
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: California
Programs: American, SWA, United, IHG,Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 2,042
Jan 27, 2017 | 11:48 pm
#109
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: East Ester, Alaska
Programs: Alaska Million Miler, United Million Miler, Wyndham Rewards Diamond, Choice Hotels Diamond
Posts: 13,598
I gather this is due to the potential for a swap from a -900 to an -800 or vice versa? I know it happens sometimes but I am curious - do you or anybody else here know how common of a practice is it for Alaska to switch out these aircraft types? Especially now that they have different premium seating configurations? Has it happened to you a lot of late?
Jan 28, 2017 | 1:11 am
#111
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Programs: AA ExPlat, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 917
As Seattlenerd so aptly suggests, anecdotes one way or another aren't indicative of any trend. They're just a few stories out of thousands.
It is statistically undeniable, however, that with fewer F seats overall on AS flights, there will be fewer seats available for upgrade. It is equally undeniable that AS, like every other carrier, continues to curtail the availability of complimentary upgrades and other benefits to its elites at every level through a range of strategies, some more transparent than others. Maximizing profit and "shareholder value" through a reduction of FF program and elite benefits is the new reality at all the airlines. If AS is "better" than UA/AA/DL, it's only a matter of degree (and time).
Like others who love to travel and/or fly a lot, I try to be a steely-eyed realist, and if I really want a comfy seat in F, I pay for it. My other hedge is to own a few shares in AS, the results of which leave little doubt that AS is not exactly your struggling mom-and-pop airline next door. (For those keeping score, AS's stock price has more than quintupled over the last five years. For fiscal year 2015, ALK reported net profit of $848 million and EBITDA of $1.67 billion on revenues of $5.6 billion. 2016 results are set for release on February 8.)
In the end, I don't have a beef with AS acting like every other major corporation on the big board. Rather, my disdain is reserved for (a) AS's continued marketing of its FFP without making full and fair disclosure that the availability of the touted benefits may be illusory in many respects, and (b) the armchair airline execs and mavens on this board who feel a constant need to defend the motives of this multibillion company and belittle the legitimate gripes of those misled by AS's adroit marketeers.
It is statistically undeniable, however, that with fewer F seats overall on AS flights, there will be fewer seats available for upgrade. It is equally undeniable that AS, like every other carrier, continues to curtail the availability of complimentary upgrades and other benefits to its elites at every level through a range of strategies, some more transparent than others. Maximizing profit and "shareholder value" through a reduction of FF program and elite benefits is the new reality at all the airlines. If AS is "better" than UA/AA/DL, it's only a matter of degree (and time).
Like others who love to travel and/or fly a lot, I try to be a steely-eyed realist, and if I really want a comfy seat in F, I pay for it. My other hedge is to own a few shares in AS, the results of which leave little doubt that AS is not exactly your struggling mom-and-pop airline next door. (For those keeping score, AS's stock price has more than quintupled over the last five years. For fiscal year 2015, ALK reported net profit of $848 million and EBITDA of $1.67 billion on revenues of $5.6 billion. 2016 results are set for release on February 8.)
In the end, I don't have a beef with AS acting like every other major corporation on the big board. Rather, my disdain is reserved for (a) AS's continued marketing of its FFP without making full and fair disclosure that the availability of the touted benefits may be illusory in many respects, and (b) the armchair airline execs and mavens on this board who feel a constant need to defend the motives of this multibillion company and belittle the legitimate gripes of those misled by AS's adroit marketeers.
Jan 28, 2017 | 9:55 am
#113
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Premier Platinum, AS Atmos Platinum
Posts: 2,281
I gather this is due to the potential for a swap from a -900 to an -800 or vice versa? I know it happens sometimes but I am curious - do you or anybody else here know how common of a practice is it for Alaska to switch out these aircraft types? Especially now that they have different premium seating configurations? Has it happened to you a lot of late?
Jan 28, 2017 | 10:00 am
#114
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,332
My own experience is I have not seen a lot of swaps....but I tend to fly transcons. As far as up and down the west coast I have learned to never trust the app or "flight details" feature. You never really know what you are flying until it pulls up to the gate. I have had numerous occasions where the flight was listed as an 800 and a 400 pulled in, same with a 900 and 800.
Jan 28, 2017 | 10:02 am
#115
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ANC
Programs: AS; Hyatt; Bonvoy
Posts: 1,723
On one of my recent flights I heard the FA comment that catering loaded just 7 chocolate bars, but that there were 18 Golds seated in coach.
Jan 28, 2017 | 10:14 am
#116
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ANC
Programs: AS; Hyatt; Bonvoy
Posts: 1,723
I gather this is due to the potential for a swap from a -900 to an -800 or vice versa? I know it happens sometimes but I am curious - do you or anybody else here know how common of a practice is it for Alaska to switch out these aircraft types? Especially now that they have different premium seating configurations? Has it happened to you a lot of late?
In my recent experience, trusting the AS website or app for aircraft type is a losing game. From my post on the Premium Class thread:
The AS website, app, and emailed ticket confirmation often do not provide accurate information about aircraft-type. This is often true right up to the time of the flight, when a site like www.FlightStats.com or www.FlightAware.com typically will show on-point details.
A few data points from my first 6 flights this year (bold indicates aircraft-type did match, while red indicates a mis-match):
1) AS said -400; EF said -900; Actual aircraft -900
2) AS said -900; EF said -900; Actual aircraft -900
3) AS said -900; EF said -900; Actual aircraft -800
4) AS said -900; EF said -800; Actual aircraft -800
5) AS said -800; EF said -800; Actual aircraft -400
6) AS said -800; EF said -900; Actual aircraft -900
For those 6 flights, aircraft information provided by AS was correct only 1 time. I no longer trust the information provided by AS.
A few data points from my first 6 flights this year (bold indicates aircraft-type did match, while red indicates a mis-match):
1) AS said -400; EF said -900; Actual aircraft -900
2) AS said -900; EF said -900; Actual aircraft -900
3) AS said -900; EF said -900; Actual aircraft -800
4) AS said -900; EF said -800; Actual aircraft -800
5) AS said -800; EF said -800; Actual aircraft -400
6) AS said -800; EF said -900; Actual aircraft -900
For those 6 flights, aircraft information provided by AS was correct only 1 time. I no longer trust the information provided by AS.
Jan 28, 2017 | 5:36 pm
#117
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 2
Sorry I should have been more precise. I am 75K
Jan 28, 2017 | 6:02 pm
#118
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SFO & RNO
Posts: 595
Interesting information on premium lane security access while flying VX in your case. If I may ask, do you normally get premium access with your AS status or partner status and do you have PreCheck? If you do, did you have none of these options you could access as a result of not being recognized by VX's system?
I'm almost tempted to make a quick flight down to LAS this week to test my own theories and see where I benefit or not by flying with VX.
Jan 28, 2017 | 6:12 pm
#119
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SFO & RNO
Posts: 595
As Seattlenerd so aptly suggests, anecdotes one way or another aren't indicative of any trend. They're just a few stories out of thousands.
It is statistically undeniable, however, that with fewer F seats overall on AS flights, there will be fewer seats available for upgrade. It is equally undeniable that AS, like every other carrier, continues to curtail the availability of complimentary upgrades and other benefits to its elites at every level through a range of strategies, some more transparent than others. Maximizing profit and "shareholder value" through a reduction of FF program and elite benefits is the new reality at all the airlines. If AS is "better" than UA/AA/DL, it's only a matter of degree (and time).
Like others who love to travel and/or fly a lot, I try to be a steely-eyed realist, and if I really want a comfy seat in F, I pay for it. My other hedge is to own a few shares in AS, the results of which leave little doubt that AS is not exactly your struggling mom-and-pop airline next door. (For those keeping score, AS's stock price has more than quintupled over the last five years. For fiscal year 2015, ALK reported net profit of $848 million and EBITDA of $1.67 billion on revenues of $5.6 billion. 2016 results are set for release on February 8.)
In the end, I don't have a beef with AS acting like every other major corporation on the big board. Rather, my disdain is reserved for (a) AS's continued marketing of its FFP without making full and fair disclosure that the availability of the touted benefits may be illusory in many respects, and (b) the armchair airline execs and mavens on this board who feel a constant need to defend the motives of this multibillion company and belittle the legitimate gripes of those misled by AS's adroit marketeers.
It is statistically undeniable, however, that with fewer F seats overall on AS flights, there will be fewer seats available for upgrade. It is equally undeniable that AS, like every other carrier, continues to curtail the availability of complimentary upgrades and other benefits to its elites at every level through a range of strategies, some more transparent than others. Maximizing profit and "shareholder value" through a reduction of FF program and elite benefits is the new reality at all the airlines. If AS is "better" than UA/AA/DL, it's only a matter of degree (and time).
Like others who love to travel and/or fly a lot, I try to be a steely-eyed realist, and if I really want a comfy seat in F, I pay for it. My other hedge is to own a few shares in AS, the results of which leave little doubt that AS is not exactly your struggling mom-and-pop airline next door. (For those keeping score, AS's stock price has more than quintupled over the last five years. For fiscal year 2015, ALK reported net profit of $848 million and EBITDA of $1.67 billion on revenues of $5.6 billion. 2016 results are set for release on February 8.)
In the end, I don't have a beef with AS acting like every other major corporation on the big board. Rather, my disdain is reserved for (a) AS's continued marketing of its FFP without making full and fair disclosure that the availability of the touted benefits may be illusory in many respects, and (b) the armchair airline execs and mavens on this board who feel a constant need to defend the motives of this multibillion company and belittle the legitimate gripes of those misled by AS's adroit marketeers.
"steely-eyed realist" ^
Jan 28, 2017 | 11:37 pm
#120
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Hayden Lake, ID
Programs: AS MVPG 75K, DL Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 102
So I'm flying SEA to DFW tomorrow, Sunday. Booked the flight over a month ago and tonight I am 14 on the upgrade list. As a 75K I have NEVER been that far down the list..... I bet half of those that end up in F are VX people that have been status matched, gifted with GGUs (that we didn't get because we apparently don't matter anymore), and hey, while we're at it, lets hand them bonus miles, lounge access and anything else they would like for doing nothing to earn it like I did. I'll sit in the back of the bus tomorrow - and take my years of loyalty elsewhere. Even Delta does not defecate on their loyal customers like this.