Alaska Airlines has launched 20 new routes in the last 9 months, and says 15 are already profitable. Via Sean O’Neill at Skift they’re planning 30 new routes in the next 6 months.
Alaska will not Virgin America tickets past June of next year, and expects to transition to a unified passenger service system in the spring. They claim to have learned from American’s successful integration with US Airways to avoid a United-Continental cutover debacle.
They plan to increase Virgin America checked bag fees to Alaska’s levels. Virgin America waives first checked bag fees for refundable coach and main cabin select passengers, and charges just $25 for third checked bag and beyond (versus $75 at Alaska). On the other hand Alaska offers a 20 minute guarantee on checked bag delivery to the carousel.
Alaska executives declined to gloat over the introduction of basic economy fares at major airline competitors, making travel on Alaska (and Virgin America) a better deal at the same price point. United admits to losing business because of Basic Economy.
The last great hope of customer service in the American, airline industry.
The text in what you wrote in no way supports or discusses the hypothesis you put forward in the title.
What are the prospects for Virgin America’s clever Plans Change Pass and Power Trip Package? Those are big differentiators in the US market.
Yeah but I just booked my first flights and there are baggage charges. Guess I have to get status …
The other thing I noticed, just checking a couple of routes, is that they’re much cheaper than Southwest on the same routes, same days. Actually one example was like $220 vs. $320 on a 2-hour flight, for the round trip.
But Southwest doesn’t charge for baggage I think? However I hate the way they seat you.
Here’s the issue these days, Horizon is coming off it’s tracks. Pilot shortage abounds and reschedules are the norm these days I have had 8 re-schedules in the past three weeks one painful that I had to rebook my flight to SFO to catch an international flight to UA to make it with time to spare. Horizon is losing pilots period. I know for a fact many are going to UPS. They are now thinking about sending pilots to third world carriers to get their log book filled.
I just wonder if they have the “bench” a DL has to sustain their growth. We AS FF are seeing this more and more.
For the record AS is my main squeeze and has been for the last 14 years
I’m really enjoying the full mileage on all of my transcon, Hawaii and W Coast routes exclusively on the chill Virgin Alaska. Only alternative I need is Jet Blue for a few better transcon schedules but also enjoy their extra legroom and similar relaxed culture.
I trace the split in cultures becoming most pronounced after 9/11 when the Big3 started barking orders and daring customers to talk back, no matter how polite you were. They simply won’t behave that way at Virgin, Alaska, or Jetblue because they don’t have it in them. The worst I’ve ever gotten was ignored as I asked an earnest question. When I complained about it I got a $100 voucher and promise they’d do attitude adjustment. They’re not as generous as Virgin Customer Service shoveling voucher money at you the nicer you are, but then no one is. I will miss their agents who I know by name (Luc, Laura, Lauren) and sometimes call me to check on an issue. They kept flying fun and rewarding, which for now is also Alaska’s goal – as they face down the Big 3 who think their authoritarian power can shrink the distance of a mile by 2/3. I think we’re seeing another case there of Trumping yourself.
Wish they would start service to Toronto!
How is anything you wrote relevant to the title of the post?
“Alaska will not Virgin America tickets”
TIL VX is a verb
Agreed. What does your article say about poor value offered by competitors? Nothing. So why the title?
@jason
@bob
@james
you might try reading the article instead of complaining. if you don’t like VFTW don’t read it and don’t waste our time with your useless comments.
“Alaska Airlines has launched 20 new routes in the last 9 months, and says 15 are already profitable. They’re planning 30 new routes in the next 6 months.”
SOUNDS LIKE EXPANDING TO ME
making travel on Alaska (and Virgin America) a better deal at the same price point”
SOUNDS LIKE BETTER VALUE
“Horizon is losing pilots period. I know for a fact many are going to UPS. They are now thinking about sending pilots to third world carriers to get their log book filled.”
I read that news also, which specifically said they were going to send pilots to a Q300 operator. I looked up who operates the Q300, and the largest Q300 operators are Qantas’s and Air NZ’s regional affiliates. Since QX and QF are partners, my guess is that the QX trainees may be throwing shrimp on barbies, hardly in the developing world. But we will see.
@David: really! I like reading insightful comments but seems to be more and more complainers to wade through. What, so they hang out at VFTW just waiting to be first in the complaint list? Add something constructive if you disagree with Gary, or shut up. Didn’t your mamas teach you that?
I wonder if there’s any chance AS will come to smaller airports. For me it’s just the big three or Southwest. Would be awesome to be able to switch to Alaska. I’m AA plat, soon to be Pro, and it works out best for me to fly AA for now. But I don’t especially care for them. They don’t give me much reason to.
Gary do you think they will have more routes to/from Texas?