Alaska and Virgin America: Creating an airline people love

Comments

1. 

   Alaska should keep Virgin America brand. It is much stronger and more favorable than Alaska’s. Hopefully Alaska can meet Virgin America’s higher standards(including maintenance). Might have to go back to United. ????

2. 

   I am a loyal Alaska flyer, but last year I took one Virgin flight and LOVED it. The on-demand ordering from your seat is a MUST. It made the experience feel much more first-class in coach. I am sad to not see this listed in the post above. PLEASE?!?!

3. 

   Question: As some of us travel with corporate laptops or devices (with standard profiles which do now allow for most installs), is there a way for our IT department to review the program required to install before we get on a flight?
   I would like to take advantage of your entertainment offers, but policies being what they are, I could see a conflict between this vision and what my tech department will allow for before they let a new program run on our systems.

   1. 

      +1

4. 

   Sounds like Alaska Airlines is on the right track! Looking forward to the new changes.

5. 

   Wow ! I agree with Lee 3/22/17 Alaska Air is the best. We recently took a trip and used another airline and we found out right away the BIG DIFFERENCE in service and comfort. Thank you Alaska.

6. 

   We need Sjc to Pvr!!!!

7. 

   So maybe now you can start flying from Medford to SFO so us long suffering (under the lack of competition to the Bay Area) southern Oregonians can connect to all the Virgin flights out of SFO.

   1. 

      Would love to see that too! Also Medford to Orange County SNA airport would be great!

8. 

   When it’s new, shiny and bright everyone is excited. How long before we, the customer, will “pay” one way or another for all this “new”? Alaska is a GREAT airline and I don’t use that term lightly. I don’t expect to be entertained when I fly. I expect professionalism, courtesy and reliability. Alaska delivers that and with an esprit de ccorp that feels both, no joke, traditional and contemporary. Times certainly change but not always for the better. How long before the “new” Alaska Airlines will no longer be shiny but just be one of the other tacky airlines putting image before grace?

9. 

   LIE-FLAt SEATS in first class on flights to/from East Coast over 5 hours.
   No one is offering that service out of Portland or Seattle yet, how about being the first and surpassing the competition rather than just catching up?

10. 

    The pockets in the seat back in front of the passenger is far too small to accommodate anything larger than a iPad or magazine. Water bottles, headphones or other items that are not a flat profile just do not fit. As a result there are odd items that have to be put in the seat with the passenger or held at the feet. Not sure of the thinking on this change in the last iteration of the interior change, but more space here would improve passenger convenience and possibly safety since articles that currently will not fit would be secured.

11. 

    That first class looks like a big let down from Virgin. I can get it on any other airline. It says ‘footrests’ but they’re not the full legrests Virgin had. At least JetBlue has a proper first class that’s different from the boring old airlines and is being launched on more and more routes.

    I suppose Alaska fliers will be happy though.

12. 

    Bring back the early morning flight from Vancouver to LAX so that flying to Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo can happen without an overnight stopover.

13. 

    I’ve been flying Alaska for nearly 30 years now, there has rarely been another choice in airlines in my life but I can say when I have chosen others I miss Alaska. Watching Alaska evolve has been like seeing a neighborhood friend grow up and become well known for their trade (I would say famous but Alaska has more substance than “famous” implies). Please maintain the friendly, down-to-earth service of all crew. I’ve always appreciated the pilots and flight attendants’ humor, information, and warmth – not something I’ve seen as consistently when I’ve flown with American and Delta. Those qualities have always made traveling with Alaska reliably a better experience than flying with other airlines. Love the new blue lighting and plug-ins at every seat on the 800’s and 900’s. Bring back some of the little food packs that there used to be – the biscotti things are nice but seem like desserts. Small thing, I know, though that change would be nice.
    An area of the manage flight’s website where you could quickly and easily notify an agent if your arriving flight is late and cutting it close to your connecting flight would be nice – not something I’ve needed a lot, though when I have been in those situations it would make a huge difference in service and peace of mind while traveling.
    I’ve never flown Virgin, so as I’ve read other comments here I am imagining things that sound like positive changes that could be integrated from Virgin (some people mentioned leg room in specific cabin areas, for instance). However, I see one person calls Virgin’s cabins reminiscent of a nightclub – I am not looking for (and would be uncomfortable with) a cabin that brings to mind a nightclub when I board a metal object flying 400 mph in at 30,000 plus feet. For whatever reason in the past few years I’ve become scared of flying and am just getting over that now. A cabin atmosphere that would be flashy or hip (by that I mean bright flashy color decor like bright white and pink/red, pre-post flight music with pounding bass or rap/hip-hop) on a jet sounds conducive to anxiety rather than comfort for me.

14. 

    A step forward for AS but I still would like to see:

    * In-seat IFE for transcon flights (esp SFO/LAX-NYC).
    * Better F seats (personal light? better amenities like pillows/blankets, etc).
    * Red entertainment kept and expanded onto Boeing planes.

    I will always be a VX flyer at heart and hopefully the improvements will be drastic enough to stick with AS. Otherwise i’ll just fly UA/B6.

15. 

    Nice interior, but I would make sure that all the blue LED lighting was turned off after 9pm of the destination time zone, and replaced with low, warm lighting, This would greatly mitigate jet lag by allowing the passengers to release melatonin.

16. 

    It would be awesome if Alaska made significant improvements in the ability to redeem miles for premium cabin flights on partner airlines. It’s very frustrating to search and search, only to find that first or business is almost never available. Raise the redemption amounts if you need to, but today it’s virtually impossible to find premium cabin seats.

17. 

    I hope you eventually return to a all Boeing fleet.

18. 

    One of the things that has frustrated my family for years is the lack of Vegan Meal choices on board the Alaska fights. When we fly first class, the flight attendants will offer to pull the animal flesh off of the salad portion of the first class meal for us, or they would bring one of the limited Mediterranean Tapas boxes to us from the coach section. Which, as a first class passenger, makes me feel like a second class citizen. We’d love it if Alaska would begin supplying fresh vegan meals for passengers. Everyone I’ve met (both vegan and non-vegan) are not opposed to eating a vegan meal, but no vegans want to eat a non-vegan meal. As long term Alaska Airline customers, we’d appreciate any changes you could make to increase the comfort of our trips!

    1. 

       100% agree on vegan meals… would be awesome to have the option either ahead of time or one board.

19. 

    Congrats on the new vision. Sure wish you would add a daily PDX-Cancun route, one stop via OAK, SFO, or LAX, that gets into CUN early afternoon (not overnight). The times for your current Alaska connections through SEA are not at all competitive. Tourism from the U.S. to the Yucatan has been growing double digits every year, and the flights I take with your competitors are always totally filled.

20. 

    I’m a long time Alaska fan. The surcharge for checked luggage is just wrong, it has caused a never ending carry on luggage hassle. Don’t let Alaska turn into white trash airlines.

21. 

    The safety videos…I hope you continue something as fresh and innovative as Virgin has been and done! Truly a pioneer in the air industry. I fly Alaska all of the time, but that ambiance that Virgin has created…the best of both. If you, Alaska can grasp that also, then…bam, a stand out from all others.

22. 

    I sure hope the sea-tax to Tampa flight time gets changes back to 9:10 am with the new changes! What a huge disappointment to realize this flight has been pushed ahead coming this fall. I love flying Alaska but with this change I am no longer a fan:(. Sorry guys. What a bad decision that was!

23. 

    Wish you had a direct flight out of Palm Springs to San Jose as we are now living in Rancho Miragecsix months a year and plan to fly up north every month to see our grandkids.

24. 

    Drop down foot rests would be great for those of us that are leg length challenged. They have them on Air India, made my flight to New Delhi soooo much more comfortable. If I’m traveling for pleasure, I only have my purse for under the seat, and it’s not large enough to rest my feet on.

25. 

    Oh no, more premium seating means LESS affordable seats- and now that my beloved Virgin is bought out- less affordable flights. All the above mentioned mood lighting, contact on ground, pre ordering food etc- $$$- who cares? Nothing beats a direct, leg room comfortable, affordable flight coast to coast. Oh well.

26. 

    REAL cabin dividers please!

    The floating, visual cabin dividers look cheap, are cheap and promote brand cheapness.

    I realize the bean counters love the more efficient use of cabin real estate and the first row Y flyers like the underseat storage. However, not having a physical cabin divider lessens the privacy, calmness and premium feel of First Class.

    I fly paid First Class. I stopped flying DL when they introduced their new First Class product that includes these visual markers. I’ve encountered Y Class flyers in the first row of Y using the center console of the F seat pair in front of them as a foot rest; little kids in Y peering between the last row of F seats; and roaming Y Class flyers who think the whole aircraft is just like a WN plane!

    PLEASE use the VX-style cabin dividers in a color associated with the AS brand.

    The rest of the changes coming to AS flyers’ experience look good.

27. 

    Long time MVP looking forward to the updated lounges, food choices in first class and more flights added. Alaska has always been my first choice for flying, only complaint was the lack of imagination/choice in first class meals and offerings in the lounges. Sounds like Alaska listened and change is coming. ????????

28. 

    Great improvements, however very disappointed with earlier departure of morning flight from San Jose to Kona that prevents connecting from Reno. Please return to 7:30 am departure from San Jose.

29. 

    A little, but much liked perk with VA: those with VA credit cards can preboard. Now I have an Alaska card. How about it?

30. 

    The new changes look great and its another reason why I’ve been a committed Alaska customer for years. I am however, saddened by the end of the relationship with Delta airlines. Delta has what I consider the best flights to the airports that I fly to in Europe. Plus their relationship and Alaska’s relationship with KLM made this seamless.

31. 

    Sounds great. Hopefully the waiting area in Portland gets a makeover. Needs it badly. Also hopefully this new security policy for certain international flights regarding laptops and tablets doesn’t become implemented for domestics. Would mess up all the WiFi applications that are really appreciated. Thanks.

32. 

    With some creativity you could keep both brands. I’ve flown Alaska many times; I’ve never flown Virgin America. But I like their name and their logo, especially the colors – their pink could not be more different than Alaska’s blue. Do yourself a favor and find a way to keep both brands; let them complement each other. You will reap benefits in terms of increased loyalty from VA customers.

33. 

    Ditto on airport lounge in San Diego

34. 

    This is the only airline I fly and they keep getting better!

35. 

    The positive changes you are making is the reason I have used Alaska Airlines nearly exclusively over the last several years. My only gripe is the dissolving of the relationship with Delta airlines. I use Delta for all my Europe flights and sometimes Asia because they fly directly to those areas from Seattle and Portland. I know there are other choices but Delta had the best options especially for Europe.

36. 

    Please, please – start flying more often and to more places from Atlanta. Currently you only fly Portland & Seattle – how about adding SFO and LAX?…. I know the “main” airline here in ATL does not want the good competition moving in, but fair is fair and the have a monopoly on flights in and out of ATL.

37. 

    More flights out of Oakland would be good. An early morning flight from Oakland to JFK would be great.

38. 

    Would be great if you could fine a way to keep on-demand food and beverage ordering that Virgin America currently offers. It’s a great feature. Since you are losing the setback screens, perhaps this is something that can be accomplished with an in-flight app?

39. 

    Is there a lounge at SNA and can first class passengers allowed to use the lounge?

40. 

    All the plans look positive. But just yesterday I was in first class from SRA to LAX and was notified that Cognac was no longer available. That was one of the little things that set Alaska above competitors like United. Please consider adding that choice back to the drink selection. It still shows as a choice in the Alaska magazine.

41. 

    Whatever. I want free food and CHEAP beer. Who the heck cares about craft beer? The badge “craft” is just another excuse to charge way to much. I’ll drink Oly, Hamms , and Coors if it’s cheap enough. I won’t pay 8 bucks to drink anything.

    1. 

       Hi Raymond – we also offer Budweiser and Miller Lite. https://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/flight-experience/main-cabin/food-and-drink.aspx

42. 

    MVP Gold’s got hosed out of full miles from codeshares last year, with Delta, American and others reducing to 50% and 25% the miles given. For business travelers who go outside the Alaskan footprint, this is a big deal. I am probably going to lose my status as MVP Gold this year, because I can’t get on Alaska metal enough on partner flights. Please consider awarding full miles from partners.

    Alaska needs a lounge option in Dulles, San Diego, Detroit, Houston George W Bush (I think they are building an American lounge there, so maybe..) .. In general for frequent Business travel, Alaskan is a poor substitute to American or Delta, unfortunately. It looks like from this marketing mail sent today that they will be further embracing the vacation / specialty flying space that Virgin made their own. That’s wonderful, but between the reduction in partner miles and the fact I cannot get on Alaska metal for 2/3 of my business travel worldwide, I probably will have to make the call to jump to the dark Delta side sometime soon. Unfortunate.

43. 

    Would love comfy seats and a oull down foot rest! What a diff. That would make. So glad to hear ablut cup holders too…thank you. Cant wait to fly to Maui next Jan.- we always take Alaskan.

44. 

    Sad to hear you are getting rid of the personal screens/tvs. Not everyone has personal devices they travel with, or wishes to use them if they do. (And given recent news about device restrictions on some international flights, there could come a time when we’re prohibited from using them anyway.) As a loyal Virgin member, I love their stellar customer service and the fact that I can order food/drink and watch tv with a click of a button–all without having to bring devices and chargers with me. As a lesser, but important side bar: I really love the Virgin safety video (which I know every word to and annoy friends by singing it when they mention they are flying Virgin); it’s a reflection of the airline’s fun and relaxed spirit and I hope this merger maintains that character.

    1. 

       Hi Rebecca – we haven’t made a final decision on the future of seatback screens on Airbus flights.

45. 

    All great news. I’ve flown Alaska since 1980, only complaint is small lavatories and less than optimal bathroom maintenance. Could this be addressed also?

46. 

    Applauding Alaska’s efforts to re-establish the service level of years ago. Though even with all that, entering LA through hectic LAX is a deal-breaker; bring back non-stop flights to Long Beach (LGB). Until then, JetBlue is taking pretty good care of me.

47. 

    Any chance we’ll get wide-body jets for flights to Hawaii?

48. 

    I couldn’t tell by the article, but please keep the movie/tv devices for customers who don’t have the ability to download streaming onto their own devices. I hate flying on on other airlines where that is the only option, and therefore I can’t watch anything.

49. 

    My only wish is that if I buy airfare for another traveler that I get the miles on my rewards program.

50. 

    Now , if you were to include Canadian ,Alaska Airlines Credit card holders in your
    FREE CHECKED BAG benefit .
    It is long overdue !

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