Alaska Airlines

To make a long story short a lot of the bad stuff that happened to me was not all Alaska’s fault and their customer relations department did reach out to me and try to make things better. There are things that Alaska could have done better and I intend to correspond back with suggestions and will modify this review further based upon their response.

I love the way Alaska’s policy to take an earlier flight is free when it assists them in carting more people around, however, if you as a «valued customer» would like to fly earlier and there are plenty of seats available they would like you to pay a $ 25.00-$ 50.00. Since, being a so called valued customer of Alaska for so long, I recently had the opportunity to experience the great customer service (no kidding, absolutely no eye rolling if you get my drift) that is offered on Southwest, consequently, I choose them first, hands down but continue to use Alaska because my balance of miles. Sad face.

I wish I could give Alaska a ZERO star rating but I can’t. I have two complaints. First, last Spring I booked my son on a flight from Spokane and he arrived by car from Pullman, WA 45 min before his flight, that is to say he «checked in» 45 min before his flight. He was told at check in that he could not get on his flight. Spokane is a small airport and to get to the gates takes a few minutes literally. What? Due to ALASKA AIRLINES TRYING TO KEEP THEIR UNTARNISHED RECORD OF ON TIME ARRIVALS they will refuse boarding to customers if you do not check in1– 2 hours prior to your flight. Absolutely refuse. I never in my 50 years of flying monthly ever heard of this esp on short 1 hr flights. My college age son was put on the next flight at the same Spokane gate where they had just started boarding his original flight Being a frequent flyer himself since the age of 2, he immediately approached the Alaska gate/​customer service agent to ask if he still could get on his original flight. She said they just started boarding and that he could not. When I heard this I was so outraged, more so than my patient son. I am a frequent miles member and club sky member on Delta, Virgin and in the past AA and United. I know the exact time of my son’s check in and boarding because I was on the phone w/​my son when this happened. No one in my entire flying family has ever been refused boarding on a flight for any reason whatsoever.
Secondly, and this has nothing to do with Alaska’s rules and regulations, this past summer (Aug 2015) I got on the second leg of traveling from Ontario CA to Honolulu HI. I booked my flight through Delta; of which I am a medallion member. My first leg went smoothly on Delta. My second leg of the trip on Alaska was terrible. A five hour flight to Honolulu in a tiny plane that I would expect was really for short commuter flights. The seats were incredibly uncomfortable, tiny, and worn bare. It was the most horrible flight I had ever taken in my life! My body was sore after sitting in such a position for that long a period. So tiny was the plane that there was hardly storage over head… on a 5 hour flight! You could not stand in the aisle either it was way too cramp for anyone. I’m in good shape, 5“10, and hardly ever have physical pains, can you imagine if I were older, taller, out of shape or on medication?
So three weeks later when I was returning to CA I checked into Delta at the Honolulu airport and I told them about my experience. There is a God. The dear, dear Delta agent made sure I was on a Delta plane that was larger and sturdier. That’s what most travelers should have. Traveling is bad enough, but horrible service and worn, outdated planes should never be tolerated. Refusal of flight entrance during normal boarding is insulting. Since I make all travel arrangements for my family and my business I will never use Alaska Airlines again. That’s tens of thousands of dollars per year lost to them just from one person.

After logging close to 50K miles in the air this year, across multiple national and international carriers, I have to say that I keep coming back to Alaska and I’m glad #iflyalaska. I was a hardcore United Airlines devotee, even after the merger with Continental. While their service is abysmal and their fee structure (and mileage program) continued to devolve, I figured that their network of flights made the most sense for me to save up miles and get good business class tickets on international routes. I’m over it. I’m sticking with Alaska for good for 2016.
First off, service on Alaska, while tinged a bit by the general malaise that affects most large airline staff, is still on the whole much better and friendlier than United. Delta has good service too, but their new fee structures are draconian. Second, Alaska consistently has solid fares and great routes for my travel, and their partnership with American makes for a very wide net when it comes to destinations that Alaska doesn’t serve directly. Third, their mileage requirements for ticket purchases are fair.
I do agree with some who mention that the fleet, especially the regional one serving airports such as GEG, is aging. Alaska could use to perform some facelifts on their Horizon commuter planes. No question. I have noted some nice, new interiors on some of the 737 flights to SFO and other, hotter routes. In-​seat power, etc. Good stuff.
Alaska consistently has lower fees, friendlier staff, better fares and better routes. That, in my book, is enough to show some loyalty.

Alaska Airlines has been great over the years. I have never had a problem with their service. You can’t beat the complimentary beer or wine you often receive on the short Horizon flights to Seattle or Portland.
Recently, I had to fly to Los Angeles and had a layover in Portland on the way there, and Seattle on the way back. In four different airports, in three states, I found Alaska Airlines to be friendly, easy to use, and extremely efficient. They will be my go to airline for my many upcoming flights over the next year. I will be happy to rack up that mileage.
Keep doing what you do, Alaska! And I will continue to fly right along with you.

Now officially in the toilet of airlines. They can’t keep these aging junk heaps in the air and the Spokane Seattle flight is delayed every time I’m unlucky enough to miss the jet at 2:15.
LOUST non professional response is always delivered by the staff here.
This is getting old. Especially when you can see SW flights coming and going no problem.

My son and I used Expedia for the first time and chose Alaska for our flight. Not happy with Expedia for a couple of reasons, but Alaska Airlines was wonderful. All the ladies were very friendly and helpful… I only came across 2 gentlemen attendants and compared to the ladies they came across as irritated. They are the type of personalities I see regularly in businesses (so no big deal), so it really was nice to see the cheerful happy kind ladies on the flight from San to Seattle and Seattle to GEG.

Alaska is my number one choice, always great service!

I use to be able to fly to Seattle for $ 87.00 round trip. then Alaska made a deal with Southwest (Major bummer)…now its $ 232.00…Bought my daughter a ticket so her and my Granddaughter could come home for Christmas. She decided to drive over so we had to cancel the fight… Alaska charged me a $ 125.00 cancellation fee… so here is how it works, I get a $ 232.00 credit, but in order to use that credit it costs me $ 125.00…So if I use that credit to fly to Seattle it will have cost me $ 357.00 for a round trip ticket… Thats the last time I’ll fly with them… after I use my credit of course.

I have had quite a bit of trouble with Alaska Airlines. Service is not their strong suit, though I do appreciate their policy on late luggage (which is a promise of luggage delivery within 20 minutes, I think, or they will give you extra miles for you Frequent Flier account).
One of my problems was a cancelled flight from Spokane to Portland, where they claimed it was a mechanical problem, but I am pretty sure it was not. They cancelled it about 3 hours before the flight and could immediately rebook me on a flight that was only about ¾ full when it left. I understand that when they have half-​empty planes, they routinely cancel flights and cry ‘mechanical trouble’. Given that there is no way to verify claims of one or the other, my doubt can’t be proven. But I heard this from a flight attendant and also one of their very frequent business flyers.
Also, they are extremely unhelpful when there is a change when a passenger wants one. I fly Alaska when I have to, but they are definitely my first choice.

This is our Second time taking Alaska Airlines and by far one of our most favorite airlines to travel on. On April 19^th we made our travel home to Spokane for a family emergency departing here from Honolulu to Portland we knew Alaska Airlines had us covered with entertainment for our son with the hand held TV’s for $ 10.00 each our 11 year old and us were entertained for hours. We also got the hand held TV’s on the way home as well from Seattle to Honolulu — One of the best things the airlines have come up with. We have taken another airline when we moved to Honolulu a year ago and yes, the TV was free on the flight, but it would play for 2.5 hrs then nothing for 2.5 hrs and go again. Oh and they didn’t have Wifi you could buy or use for FREE like Alaska Airlines does (we were on a 10.5 hr flight on the other airline). Thank you, Alaska Airlines for making our flight as comfortable as possible.