Alaska Airlines CEO's message

[easyrider]

This showed up in my email today. The last few years Alaska Air has really been a bummer. Ben didn't mention their employees are about to strike.

Bill

 

[DaveNV]

Business as usual. I found it a straightforward non-apology. His lack of sincerity comes right through the lens. Company rhetoric, and customers are left holding the bag.

My disappointment with Alaska as a carrier is only slightly less than my disappointment with just about every other airline. What's the point of making a reservation ahead of time, if they're going to reschedule it (usually without any notice they've done so), cancel it, re-route things, and generally cause customers grief? Customer service doesn't really exist with these people. And I don't think they much care about it, despite what this guy is claiming. He's getting his fat paycheck, no matter what.

Dave

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Alaska keeps saying the chaos isn't related to organized pilot activities linked to contract negotiations, but I am highly skeptical.

This is now the second wave of cancellations and schedule disruption. The first wave started on the same day that off-duty pilots were holding a demonstration outside Alaska HQ. Now this second starts on the same day that the pilots union is holding a strike authorization vote.

What I think is going on is that Alaska has been relying on pilots to accept added overtime assignments. Their operating margin with pilots is currently so thin, that is easy for the pilots to throw the schedule out of whack if a relatively small number simply cut back on (or entirely stop) accepting these overtime assignments.

Publicly, Alaska won't attribute it to pilot action, because the pilots are entirely within rights to turn down those requests, and if Alaska were to try to blame it on pilot action it would poison the continuing contract negotiations.

IMHO, the pilots know they can inflict pain whenever they want to, and are being very effective in applying pressure to Alaska to come to an agreement. They are making the point to Alaska that their cooperation in accepting additional work assignments is vital for Alaska to maintain keel. And the way to enure that cooperation is to make some concessions in the labor contract.

Don't be surprised if relatively soon Alaska and the pilots union announce agreement on a new contract.

 

[buzglyd]

My April flight from HNL to SAN was cancelled. They rebooked us on United. As an MVP Gold I was given 4000 EQM and 5000 RDM for my trouble. MVP wife got half of that. Also earned United miles so double dip. Later, AS emailed me and gave each of us $150 codes for a future flight.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Great. We are flying to Kauai next Sunday from SJC on Alaska. A new concern.

 

[10spro]

Great. We are flying to Kauai next Sunday from SJC on Alaska. A new concern.

And we’re flying out of SJC next Saturday. I really hate it when they RE-route my direct flight through SEA or LAX.

 

[TravelTime]

I am glad we just canceled our Alaska credit card. No airline is great but we will stick to major carriers when possible. I usually fly United or American unless someone else has a non stop flight.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I am glad we just canceled our Alaska credit card. No airline is great but we will stick to major carriers when possible. I usually fly United or American unless someone else has a non stop flight.

Big carriers have the same issues. United had some major issues with pilots.

Thinking of booking our flight with Hawaiian instead. But that seems a bit premature.

 

[TravelTime]

Big carriers have the same issues. United had some major issues with pilots.

Thinking of booking our flight with Hawaiian instead. But that seems a bit premature.

Yes I know but they have better routes for us than Alaska. I have been paying for the Alaska card for years and nit getting any benefit.

We just flew round trip non stop on Hawaiian. It left 2 hours late but returned on time. However, on the return, it took them an hour to get our luggage out.

 

[davidvel]

Alaska keeps saying the chaos isn't related to organized pilot activities linked to contract negotiations, but I am highly skeptical.

This is now the second wave of cancellations and schedule disruption. The first wave started on the same day that off-duty pilots were holding a demonstration outside Alaska HQ. Now this second starts on the same day that the pilots union is holding a strike authorization vote.

What I think is going on is that Alaska has been relying on pilots to accept added overtime assignments. Their operating margin with pilots is currently so thin, that is easy for the pilots to throw the schedule out of whack if a relatively small number simply cut back on (or entirely stop) accepting these overtime assignments.

Publicly, Alaska won't attribute it to pilot action, because the pilots are entirely within rights to turn down those requests, and if Alaska were to try to blame it on pilot action it would poison the continuing contract negotiations.

IMHO, the pilots know they can inflict pain whenever they want to, and are being very effective in applying pressure to Alaska to come to an agreement. They are making the point to Alaska that their cooperation in accepting additional work assignments is vital for Alaska to maintain keel. And the way to enure that cooperation is to make some concessions in the labor contract.

Don't be surprised if relatively soon Alaska and the pilots union announce agreement on a new contract.

I'm not sure about that. It doesn't matter what they agree to pay pilots if there are not enough pilots to fly the planes. Like all industries, huge employee shortages. Alaska hoping for new pilot crop ready in the next month or so. We shall see.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I'm not sure about that. It doesn't matter what they agree to pay pilots if there are not enough pilots to fly the planes. Like all industries, huge employee shortages. Alaska hoping for new pilot crop ready in the next month or so. We shall see.

As I mentioned, Alaska has been dealing with pilot shortages by asking existing pilots to fly extra flights. Pilots accepting those flights is optional, which they have been doing. And for months, if not years, Alaska has been meeting schedules with pilots flying extra flights.

Then suddenly, on one particular day, scheduling falls apart and Alaska cancel hundreds of flights, when the previous day they filled the entire schedule. And that day happens to be the day when off-duty pilots are picketing outside Alaska headquarters. Not too much of a stretch to think that some of those pilots are picketing instead of accepting extra flight assignments.

Then, after several days everything returns to normal, and Alaska actually trims their flight schedules to better balance pilot availability with flight schedule. And everything is providing fine until last Monday, when another wave of cancellations suddenly starts up. Sunday, the day before, no problems. Monday, cancellation hell. And, surprise of surprises, that Monday also happens to be the day the pilots union is taking a strike authorization vote.

If you believe it's mere coincidence that cancellation hell suddenly and spontaneously erupts on days when the pilots union just happens to have major actions occurring, please give me your contact info. Because I can think of quite a few timeshare sales people who would love to schedule a 90-minute meeting with you.

 

[easyrider]

I am glad we just canceled our Alaska credit card. No airline is great but we will stick to major carriers when possible. I usually fly United or American unless someone else has a non stop flight.

We use two Alaska Airline BOA cards for air miles. We do use the companion tickets every year and the free checked bags are a nice feature too. What I noticed this week is that the miles it takes per trip has increased which isn't a deal breaker for us. Our problem with Alaska Airlines has more to do with service which has been lacking for some time.

Bill

 

[jackio]

We flew Alaska from JFK to Fairbanks on 5/9 and everything went very well.

 

[magmue]

We too have two BOA Alaska card between DH and me, and have used both Companion fares every year - usually for Hawaii, and sometimes to cover young adult children flying home for a visit. Over the last year, in addition to the flight disruptions, their ticket prices have increased relative to other airlines, especially for Hawaii. We're at the point where I have to do some math to see if one full-fare Alaska itinerary plus companion saves enough to make up for less-than-ideal flight times as compared to two full-fare tickets on United or Delta. It's getting to be a smaller and smaller margin. I think we'll be going down to one Alaska card before too long.

 

[rickandcindy23]

If Wallet Funds expire on 12/31 does that mean I cannot book anything for March of 2023?

 

[easyrider]

If Wallet Funds expire on 12/31 does that mean I cannot book anything for March of 2023?

It means your travel must be completed by 12/31 to use that wallet . This has been a real problem for us because of how many times Alaska Airlines has screwed up and gave us wallet funds that can only be used for airfare.

Bill