Alaska ditching Virgin's great first class
Mar 28, 2017, 6:58 pm
#61
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,848
As a Mosaic you can use points to upgrade to EMS seats. It ends up being between $1.50 and $12 worth of points depending on length of flight. You can also get 10% of the points rebated with the JetBlue plus Mastercard. Mosaic members get free adult beverages. Anybody with the B6 Mastercard can also get 50% off BOB food and every passenger gets the usual free TV, WIFI, drinks, and snacks. On Mint planes there is a Marketplace set up in front of row 6 where you can help yourself to drinks and snacks at anytime during the flight.
Last edited by sfozrhfco; Mar 29, 2017 at 9:05 am
Mar 29, 2017, 11:44 am
#62
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AS MVP, Bonvoy Plat, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Disc
Posts: 217
In my one experience in B6 EMS, I found the actual seats (which are the same in EMS as in regular coach) to be extremely uncomfortable over the course of a transcon flight. (I flew the return in Mint, which was great, as expected.) They are slimline and start to feel pretty hard at around hour 3.
That said, I am flying it again, SFO-JFK, in a couple weeks with Ms. Shza and kids since it was like $200RT and just 1k mosaic points each to upgrade -- from the slew of points I got last year when they matched VX balances up to 75k.
That said, I am flying it again, SFO-JFK, in a couple weeks with Ms. Shza and kids since it was like $200RT and just 1k mosaic points each to upgrade -- from the slew of points I got last year when they matched VX balances up to 75k.
Jun 4, 2017, 1:41 pm
#64
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Dallas
Programs: AA PLT/5MM; AS MVP GLD 75K; DL DM; EK SLV; HHonors DIAM; Marriott GLD
Posts: 4,092
Sitting around Love Field early morning Monday waiting for my regular VX first class flight to LGA, got into a conversation with some other weekly Dallas-NY or DC commuters who were all mourning VX' departure from these routes as of the end of August.
3 of the 4 indicated they would be switching to AA out of DFW (offering frequent mainline first class service) whereas the 4th said he would try sticking with the Alaska Airlines Embraer (intrigued with the idea of trying to snag the single "A" seats).
Sigh... the end of an era.
3 of the 4 indicated they would be switching to AA out of DFW (offering frequent mainline first class service) whereas the 4th said he would try sticking with the Alaska Airlines Embraer (intrigued with the idea of trying to snag the single "A" seats).
Sigh... the end of an era.
Last edited by HKG_Flyer1; Jun 4, 2017 at 6:25 pm
Jun 5, 2017, 8:34 am
#66
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,848
Sitting around Love Field early morning Monday waiting for my regular VX first class flight to LGA, got into a conversation with some other weekly Dallas-NY or DC commuters who were all mourning VX' departure from these routes as of the end of August.
3 of the 4 indicated they would be switching to AA out of DFW (offering frequent mainline first class service) whereas the 4th said he would try sticking with the Alaska Airlines Embraer (intrigued with the idea of trying to snag the single "A" seats).
Sigh... the end of an era.
3 of the 4 indicated they would be switching to AA out of DFW (offering frequent mainline first class service) whereas the 4th said he would try sticking with the Alaska Airlines Embraer (intrigued with the idea of trying to snag the single "A" seats).
Sigh... the end of an era.
Jun 5, 2017, 10:43 am
#67
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Dallas
Programs: AA PLT/5MM; AS MVP GLD 75K; DL DM; EK SLV; HHonors DIAM; Marriott GLD
Posts: 4,092
Given all the (negative) changes coming to DAL-LGA & LGA-DCA routes, it seems weird that AS management isn't making any effort at all to reach out to premium tier VX frequent fliers between Dallas and the East Coast in an attempt to retain their (our) loyalty.
Jun 5, 2017, 11:54 am
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
AS has no plans to be a premium carrier or have premium routes. The F cabin is more to reward frequent flyers than to actually be sold.
Jun 5, 2017, 12:42 pm
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix....ventId=5251562
Jun 5, 2017, 3:45 pm
#70
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,318
On average, AS sells a bit more than a third of its F seats, and that is before GGU and other U buy-ups. The percentage is higher on longer routes.
Jun 6, 2017, 3:51 am
#71
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 366
It might hold on to the LGA slots while still using them for DAL. I wouldn't be surprised if DAL-DCA is much weaker.
In the end, I don't know how AS fits in, especially without a hub and very large FF bases on either side on very competitive routes.
While DAL is closer than DFW for some, with uber/lyft being more prevalent making crossing town and making rides to airports cheaper across the Metroplex, is it that big of a deal to still insist to use DAL, and necessary for a long distance flight, when AA has higher frequency service to LGA as well, but just out of DFW?
I live now in Flower Mound as a new resident, which is closer to DFW. Taking uber to DFW is $17 and to DAL is about $35. For me, DFW is closer. But my point is uber and lyft have made it still inexpensive to reach DAL and like those who are closer to DAL might still find DFW not all that big of a deal in extra expense.
Last edited by beyondhere; Jun 6, 2017 at 4:05 am
Jun 6, 2017, 5:35 am
#72
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 597
Aren't those DCA perimeter slots restricted by destination? IOW, if AS sells those DCA-DAL slots to another carrier, isn't the purchaser required to also fly DCA-DAL or lose the slots?
Jun 6, 2017, 7:43 am
#73
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,318
The DCA and LGA slots (and DAL gates) are restricted as a condition of the merger. They cannot be sold, leased or traded without federal approval.
Jun 6, 2017, 10:41 am
#74
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,485
Maybe it'd sell the DCA in perimeter slots, as JetBlue or other carriers would probably pay top dollar for them. It could then switch DAL-DCA to DAL-ORD which is shorter, while still being a big market for the DAL focus city.
It might hold on to the LGA slots while still using them for DAL. I wouldn't be surprised if DAL-DCA is much weaker.
In the end, I don't know how AS fits in, especially without a hub and very large FF bases on either side on very competitive routes.
While DAL is closer than DFW for some, with uber/lyft being more prevalent making crossing town and making rides to airports cheaper across the Metroplex, is it that big of a deal to still insist to use DAL, and necessary for a long distance flight, when AA has higher frequency service to LGA as well, but just out of DFW?
I live now in Flower Mound as a new resident, which is closer to DFW. Taking uber to DFW is $17 and to DAL is about $35. For me, DFW is closer. But my point is uber and lyft have made it still inexpensive to reach DAL and like those who are closer to DAL might still find DFW not all that big of a deal in extra expense.
It might hold on to the LGA slots while still using them for DAL. I wouldn't be surprised if DAL-DCA is much weaker.
In the end, I don't know how AS fits in, especially without a hub and very large FF bases on either side on very competitive routes.
While DAL is closer than DFW for some, with uber/lyft being more prevalent making crossing town and making rides to airports cheaper across the Metroplex, is it that big of a deal to still insist to use DAL, and necessary for a long distance flight, when AA has higher frequency service to LGA as well, but just out of DFW?
I live now in Flower Mound as a new resident, which is closer to DFW. Taking uber to DFW is $17 and to DAL is about $35. For me, DFW is closer. But my point is uber and lyft have made it still inexpensive to reach DAL and like those who are closer to DAL might still find DFW not all that big of a deal in extra expense.
I'm sure DOT will approve a sale after a while if AS/VX continue to take massive losses here as long as the buyer isn't DL or AA. I would imagine B6 and WN would be extremely interested in those slots.
Jun 6, 2017, 6:54 pm
#75
Join Date: Sep 2001
Programs: Alaska Tanzanite 100K
Posts: 3,858
I've done a lot of F flying on AS, AA, DL, UA, VX, EK, NZ, HA, etc.
Alaska doesn't win much for its hard product. In fact, many of us stopped buying F when the solid bulkheads went away + the "new" seats, which SFOZRHFCO experienced. They're just flat out AWEFUL for anything over 3 hours.
but Alaska's soft product is very very good. I've had some of the best F FAs on AS, some of these guys put my handful of VX crews to shame; even on comparable routes.
AS is trying to find a happy medium - and unless they turn into Copa with their awesome near-lie-flats, I think the "new" seat unveiled after the VX merger is about as good as we're gonna get - which will be a step above both DL and AA F in a 737 (just no tv).
AS has been selling more and more F at a discount compared to others and I believe they are using it as best as they can.
VX never had the major corporate contracts out of LA, so its done what it could to have a competitive product, but with no major updates since it came out, the product has now been leapfrogged by everyone.
Only time will tell if it was the best decision.
Alaska doesn't win much for its hard product. In fact, many of us stopped buying F when the solid bulkheads went away + the "new" seats, which SFOZRHFCO experienced. They're just flat out AWEFUL for anything over 3 hours.
but Alaska's soft product is very very good. I've had some of the best F FAs on AS, some of these guys put my handful of VX crews to shame; even on comparable routes.
AS is trying to find a happy medium - and unless they turn into Copa with their awesome near-lie-flats, I think the "new" seat unveiled after the VX merger is about as good as we're gonna get - which will be a step above both DL and AA F in a 737 (just no tv).
AS has been selling more and more F at a discount compared to others and I believe they are using it as best as they can.
VX never had the major corporate contracts out of LA, so its done what it could to have a competitive product, but with no major updates since it came out, the product has now been leapfrogged by everyone.
Only time will tell if it was the best decision.