Tag Archives for Alaska Airlines.
A deal should be possible, notwithstanding that the Biden administration has opposed most forms of consolidation and cooperation (successfully in the airline industry, less so outside of it).
They need a little more time to get something done – and the parties still seem to think it’s possible – as suggested by another extension this time through the end of Monday.
Alaska Airlines flight attendants have just voted down the contract their union negotiated. It would have given them an immediate 18% raise and then 3% raises in subsequent years. They’d receive boarding pass and retro pay back to 2022. The vote wasn’t close – 68 to 32 against.
Qatar Airways has had great award pricing for short-distance travel on American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. What’s more, their points are easy to come by. Unfortunately, Qatar has devalued these redemptions without notice.
The government now has until August 16th to conclude its review. An additional day means those involved in the negotiations think they’re close – close enough that a deal is possible, and without much more time.
Alaska just raised the cost of basic lounge access by $50, and inclusive of partner lounge access by $100, on February 1. It’s interesting to see them consider another price increase so soon, though presumably they’ll promote it in conjunction with a plan for more lounges, amenities, and food and beverage offerings – though many things they’d add will take time to roll out or won’t be available in all locations.
Twenty years ago Alaska Airlines seriously considered eliminating first class altogether, but determined that they could better monetize the product instead. Now they’re betting more heavily on premium.
They don’t have lie flat seats even for cross country flights, and they eliminated Virgin America’s superior first class product after the merger, but they’re planning to add a row of first class to Boeing 737-800s and add a row of extra legroom coach (“premium class”) to their 737-900ER and 737 MAX 9s.
An Alaska Airlines baggage agent at Newark air[port faced off with a customer over delayed luggage, losing it not just on the customer but with another passenger who tried to help de-escalate things.
An evangelical pastor attacked his wife on Alaska Airlines because she was upgraded, and he wasn’t.
The pair were traveling on Alaska flight 275 from Seattle to Anchorage on Tuesday of last week. Seventy five year old Roger Allan Holmberg Sr. “flipped [his wife] the bird” on board the aircraft and assaulted her upon discovering that she has Mileage Plan elite status.
Bilt is back! The last few Rent Day deals have been great for some members, but not up the alley of the miles, points, and status crowd. For July Rent Day, it’s one for us, plus the start of a new monthly aspirational deal for foodies too (and yes, the usual offers like points trivia, free rent giveaways, and double points for spending on the Bilt Mastercard are back too).
The Alaska Airlines flight attendants union, whose members have already overwhelmingly authorized a strike, says that they’re giving negotiations “the next two weeks” and that they “won’t wait” to take the next steps towards a strike after that.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
