Alaska Airlines

Had a trip from hell on Alaska. I am a senior and my connection in Seattle should have given me 3 hours to connect. As it turned out we were 1 ½ hours late leaving Canada… then sat on the ground 20 mins. I had 25 minutes to get through customs and to connecting flight. When I did get to the connecting gate, they had changed the gate! Very very stressful for an 80 year old with 2 hip replacements.

Calling the 800 number needing to make a last minute, very costly change to our reservation. We were connected with David in Phoenix… I think that was his name… has a slight Canadian accent. In any event he was so understanding of the dilemma we faced. Really wanting to see my 90 year old mother for a family reunion and work intervened. Awful situation requiring a last minute change. The help David offer was truly remarkable in an industry that can be «rule oriented» at times. It was still costly but his attitude and vigilance to get us on the most timely connections and created a price change we could swallow. Incredibly rare experience with David. Thank you!

we love alaska airlines, and had to move our reservation for a family emergency from july to memorial day weekend… misty, the agent, was very friendly and accommodating… she went above and beyond… the airplane and flight attendants are friendly and efficient… kudos: the self-​serve kiosks are not located near the desk, where it’s congested with people… thx for a great flight…

Two stars only to save the one star rating for UA. Given a choice, why would anyone select Alaska over Virgin from SFO-​PSP? They only announce delays an hour before departure when you have already arrived at the airport. Virgin dents texts HOURS before so you can relax at home! And both Virgin and UA always manage to do full beverage service but EVERY Alaska SFO-​PSP Flight they announce high winds and turbulence limits service to water. Safety or lazy flight attendants? Hard to say it is safety when it appears to be every flight.

Why would any passenger want to board the plane in 110 degrees? ?
Why can’t this airline get it right board the back first and so on. The plane is way early on top of it. Flight attendant very rude.
Crazy and terrible. Sick of paying for crap service.

Flight AS317
Palm Springs to San Francisco
Aircraft: B737−400
March 29, 2014
Flight was scheduled for 5:10PM but due to weather in Seattle and San Francisco, the incoming aircraft was delayed. Both airport monitor and Alaska Airlines website showed a modified 5:48PM departure. We arrived at gate 10 and settled down. The flight looked full consider pretty much all the seats at the gate were taken.
The inbound aircraft finally arrived at 5:35PM so there was no way they can board everyone and be on the way at 5:48PM. Departure was now at 6:10PM. I will never give an airline a poor rating if a flight is delayed due to weather. So no grudge.
But the way Alaska Airlines handles this flight, AS317 on March 29, left a lot to be desired. Before the inbound passengers disembarked, the ground agent started making announcement to «encourage» us to gate-​check our hand-​carry items because the flight is full and overhead space would be tight. That’s somewhat true. But they really wanted to turn around the aircraft.
Boarding was chaotic. After the first class people and all the elite gold silver blue green and yada yada boarded, they welcomed «those who would not need overhead space» to board. Like half the plane herded up to the boarding line.
By the time we boarded, much of the overhead space was of course taken. So whatever happened to people who didn’t need the overhead space? It’s utterly ridiculous and stupid.
Beverage service also left a lot to be desired. because of the short duration of the flight, I’m quoting their words, they could only serve complimentary water and orange juice. No sodas. No tea or coffee. WTF? The orange juice was a pre-​packed affair called «SUNCUP.» It was half thawed with ice sludge. Gross and disgusting.
One hour and twenty minutes and they cannot run a regular beverage service. Are they not aware that in Asia they serve a full meal on a flight with the same duration? How does US carrier get this low in service? No wonder foreign carriers have gamed up on and get the better of them. US carriers like Alaska is a low-​cost carrier at best.
Plane is an antiquated 737 – 400 with good upkeep. Seats are comfy with regular pitch of about 32″. Flight attendants are very friendly and that enlivens the flight experience.
The only reason I’m still flying AS is that it’s the only carrier that flies to Palm Springs year-​round with a jetliner and that I earn Asia Mile with Cathay Pacific.

Clean, On Time, Nice, Air Cooled Planes as they should in the Hot Summer. Unlike United who doesn’t.
The best service.

Clean planes. Very punctual. Starbucks on a morning flight.

Guess what. It was my favorite airlines in 2009. I flew exclusively on it… about 20 round-​trips on the west coast in 2009. But the jet fuel stopped burning in Alaska for me in 2010…
My first Alaska flight in 2010 was a big bust… a turning point. a wake up call…
It took at least 10 screws at US Worst before I jumped off the worst planes so to speak. It took one incidence at Alaska Air to wipe clean all the good deeds in 2009. Hey… it’s all business. We are just suckers.
All airlines have their cut back on maintenance and services. So the flight from PSP to SMF was canceled due to door jammed. There were screaming and argument at the check-​in counter to handle the screwed customers.
I was handled by a supervisor. After some insistence, he finally arranged me to fly Southwest Worst departing in Ontario, an hour and a half away. They provided a big bus to herd at least 20 passengers there. And I was 8 hours late when I got to Sacramento.
I strongly pissed off starting when I inquired very politely what I was entitled to due to canceled flight. I didn’t have time to look up online at the time (there’s no compensation for canceled flight by the way for whatever reasons… that’s why it’s so easy for the airlines to cancel flight… to save money. Just business I guess).
The supervisor was asking what I want. No explanation provided. I wanted $ 200 flight voucher. NO. I wanted a refund. NO. I wanted compensation. NO. By the way, I had already got a meal voucher of $ 8 by then. As he got louder and louder so the rest of the passengers could hear him clearly, I automatically responded with more requests. I won’t get bullied this way… when I was the victim.
As it turned out, the supervisor satisfied my inquiry finally when I asked what I was entitled to again. He finally disclosed that all I got was the meal voucher.
After the yelling match, clearly I was pissed. I don’t play CAT AND MOUSE game. Thought I got double-​screwed only… not counting missing apology from any agents… but wait…
I almost missed the big bus (and it’s not yellow by the way)… I was lucky to spot the screwed passengers hopping on… there was no announcement overhead as the agent had promised. We might have left some unfortunate souls behind because there’s no head count or agent to assist the driver… blessed the poor soul of the triple screw.
Many months later, I had a flight delay and missed connection with United. I’ve got $ 15 meal voucher simply by asking… no hassles. I’ve got good service and apology.
So travelers, watched out which business you’d like to support… especially the histrionic and condescending ones. Have a good flight. You deserve the good, the bad and the ugly ultimately. We all deserve it when we succumb to them.