Things AS competitors do better that AS could implement
Apr 22, 2026 | 10:39 pm
#1
Original Poster
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Things AS competitors do better that AS could implement
Full disclosure: Stole this thread idea from the AA forum but I thought it was interesting so here we go...
1. Ability to print paper boarding passes from kiosks without having to ask an agent
2. Having at least one agent in the Alaska Lounges with the ability to help with irrops
3. Sundaes and bread baskets in F on premium transcon and Hawaii routes
1. Ability to print paper boarding passes from kiosks without having to ask an agent
2. Having at least one agent in the Alaska Lounges with the ability to help with irrops
3. Sundaes and bread baskets in F on premium transcon and Hawaii routes
Apr 23, 2026 | 4:00 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: Mileage Plus, Marriott Rewards, Southwest Rapid Rewards
Posts: 937
Coming from being a UA elite when I lived in Houston and did a lot of business travel I am often baffled at Alaska's IT issues when I try to do things like change a flight, or seats, or even check in.
Apr 23, 2026 | 4:05 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LAX/SFO
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Apr 23, 2026 | 4:41 pm
#8
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Apr 23, 2026 | 7:42 pm
#10
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I’ll second restoring the ability to print a BP at a kiosk, as well as empowering Lounge staff to assist with reticketing issues
not sure whether this falls into the same “other airlines do it better” category, but AS also ought to reverse the recent “enhancement” that forces any change to an award ticket to be an entirely new booking … losing the ability to make a change to a single segment is a massive devaluation
not sure whether this falls into the same “other airlines do it better” category, but AS also ought to reverse the recent “enhancement” that forces any change to an award ticket to be an entirely new booking … losing the ability to make a change to a single segment is a massive devaluation
Apr 23, 2026 | 7:56 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: Alaska MileagePlan MVP
Posts: 216
AS absolutely has could do this with the right investments, they just have to choose to do it.
Apr 23, 2026 | 9:27 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: SAN, BOS
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Posts: 2,555
Apr 23, 2026 | 11:04 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ANC
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I have a few ideas.
AS Flight attendants are too pleasant. Id much rather interact with taciturn FAs from the competitors.
AS customer service representatives pick up the phone quickly, are happy to chat, and solve the problem. Id rather spend hours listening to hold music.
AS should stop investing so much into new flagship lounges. Why cant we be more like WN so I can spend more time rubbing shoulders at the gate?
AS should have shown less ambition. Instead of going from a small regional airline to a TATL and TPAC carrier, they should have let themselves get absorbed like Continental, US Air (Airways) / America West, NWA, Reno Air, etc. and lose all identity!
AS Flight attendants are too pleasant. Id much rather interact with taciturn FAs from the competitors.
AS customer service representatives pick up the phone quickly, are happy to chat, and solve the problem. Id rather spend hours listening to hold music.
AS should stop investing so much into new flagship lounges. Why cant we be more like WN so I can spend more time rubbing shoulders at the gate?
AS should have shown less ambition. Instead of going from a small regional airline to a TATL and TPAC carrier, they should have let themselves get absorbed like Continental, US Air (Airways) / America West, NWA, Reno Air, etc. and lose all identity!
Apr 24, 2026 | 12:45 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: An Island Paradise Near Seattle
Posts: 632
DLs in-app baggage status is so far ahead of AS. Its much more accurate, when something goes wrong theres better resolution paths and statusing, it just feels slicker.
I echo having CS agents in lounges that are empowered to help solve IROPS.
I echo having CS agents in lounges that are empowered to help solve IROPS.