ALASKA AIRLINES SUCKS! A long, long rant.

[ohiosmith]

Yesterday when my wife and I arrived at the Anchorage airport at 11:00 am we learned that our 12:30 pm one stop (Seattle) direct flight from Anchorage to Las Vegas is delayed two hours due to mechanical problems.

My wife and I go to the Board Room (Alaska's lounge) to wait out the delay. Due to the delay the hostess kindly charged us for only one admission rather than two.

At 1:30 pm we go to the assigned gate for our 2:30 pm flight. Upon arrival at the gate a general announcement is made that our flight will terminate in Seattle and not proceed to Las Vegas, and we will have to change planes in Seattle. We are further advised that the fight we will take out of Seattle will be held for the 80% of the passengers on the flight to Seattle that will be continuing on to Las Vegas.

Several times prior to landing in Seattle the Las Vegas passengers are told that they must , without delay, go directly to the gate where the flight to Las Vegas is waiting for us. As luck would have it that gate is in another section of the airport. My wife and I along with 50 or 60 other passengers ran to the gate as directed as soon as we were permitted to deplane.

Upon arrival at the assigned gate I asked the attendant if the plane was boarding yet. His response "boarding, it left 30 minute ago". I told him that the plane was to be held for us. This smug little prick then says "Well someone should have told us".

The passengers that could be accommodated were booked on the 10:40 pm flight to Las Vegas. Several were unable to get on a flight out last night.

My wife and I went Alaska's Board Room to wait out this delay. Upon entering we explained our situation to the hostess who ,smirking, said "I don't know what to say". I told her what she should say is that she is sorry that we have been inconvenienced and we are welcome to wait in the lounge. To this she says "We have rules in the Board Room. If you want to wait here you will have pay an additional $25.00 fee. I threw the money on her desk. At this point my wife said we should just get out of there. As we walked out the hostess said "Yes, you should just leave". We spent the following four hours in a cocktail lounge.

At 10:10 pm we boarded the Vegas flight. Ten minutes before our departure time, an announcement was made from the flight deck that two tires had to be replaced delaying us 40-45 minutes. We arrived in Vegas at 1:50 am. More than six hours after our original arrival time.

Your kind attention is sincerely appreciated.


ps Loved Anchorage.

[underpants]

1. Those big furry coats they wear get in the way

and typing with those big mittens on... forget about it.

[miss_kitty]

2. The suckage of Alaska has increased greatly

They just fell dead last in some customer satisfaction survey-I don't know if it on time records or stale snacks. but I don't tink I'll be flying anywhere on any plane in the near future.

[philosophie_en_rose]

3. Wow. That's never happened to me.

I fly all of the time... Granted on Horizon, but Horizon airlines is part of Alaska.

I'm sorry this happened. I hope you complain loudly, especially as you weren't the only one. I suggest flying Horizon next time. It's smaller and the workers take care of you.

:hug:

[fudge stripe cookays]

4. WOW.

Had never flown with them (I think they just recently started a non-stop route from DFW to Calgary, which we fly at least every other year or so). I was considering them for our flight up next year.

Between this and the whole vertical stabilizer wreck 4 years ago (I don't think I could imagine a more horrifying plane wreck death than diving vertically and spinning into the ocean), I think I'll be avoiding them like the plague.

Thanks for the info.
FSC

[Zomby Woof]

6. Due to the g-force

Everyone blacked out well before it hit the ocean - although that doesn't detract from the horrific aspect of the crash by any degree.

It was their callous behavior AFTER that accident which was I should have sworn off of them, instead of giving them one more chance. They were the epitome of cheap, tightass, corporate arrogance. I worked with the sister of a flight attendant from that crash, and the shit they did to her family... :nuke:

[petronius]

18. I'm not so sure about the blacking out

I read the cockpit transcript years ago and it sounded like the pilots at least were still alert well into the final dive. What bothered me most about that crash was that they flew past a possible detour while discussing the problem - deciding that it wasn't serious enough to land and check it out...

[Zomby Woof]

5. I have always hated that airline

Always had the bumpiest flights, the rudest attendants, and after 9-11 when they gypped me out of my 9-16 return ticket, despite being told on BOTH the website AND with a customer service rep that I would be refunded - I was met with the SAME SMIRK at their office in downtown Seattle. No refund. Even though ALL tickets within 30 days of 9-11 were supposed to be refundable.

Plus, they have those stupid bible verses with the meals.

Worked with a woman whose sister was a flight attendant who died on that trip back from Mexico 5 years ago. Should have taken that as a warning. But the time I flew them just before 9-11 was THE LAST.

[Arugula Latte]

10. I try to avoid them because of the God stuff literature.

Keep your religious crap to yourself, that's what I say, Alaska Airlines.

I choose Southwest over you eeeeevery time.

[fudge stripe cookays]

12. Oh YUCK!

Well then I'm definitely not flying them.

I heard Alaska was blue, but that doesn't sound very blue. Southwest is as red as they come. I absolutely don't fly them unless it's last minute, and I have to get to Austin cheap and in a hurry.

FSC

[Arugula Latte]

16. SW is red? Dangit!

They seemed like a progressive company, so I'm surprised. Oh geez. I'll have to re-evaluate now ... Hmmm ...

[Blue_In_AK]

7. So sad...

Alaska Airlines USED to be a really good airline, with great food, etc. etc. etc. We fly them frequently (obviously, since they're the main airline out of here), and haven't had any problems, but I have read recently that they are having more than their share of troubles, especially with delayed flights. I'm sorry this happened to you, but glad you enjoyed your stay in our lovely city of Anchorage. Did you do any of the things we in the Alaska forum suggested?

P.S. Sorry it rained the whole time you were here -- wouldn't you know, the sun is finally shining today. Yesterday was a record rainfall day for 9/6.

[ohiosmith]

23. We did do some of the stuff recommended by you guys. Check your

in box. The rain wasn't that bad. A nice break from the 100 degree plus temps here in Vegas.

Thanks again.

[WilliamPitt]

8. Alaska Airlines = American Airlines = crapgasm

Terrible company.

[fudge stripe cookays]

14. I fly American just about everywhere....

(Dallas = hub city)...

and I've always been REALLY lucky.

The one crappy flight I had was my own fault, since it was the only time in my life I was late and almost missed a flight, so I got the shittiest seat on the plane.

FSC

[flamingyouth]

9. I haven't flown with them for a couple of years

but I've always had good service. My friend had a horror story similar to yours, though, and won't fly them again. I like Continental. They've always treated me right and were very helpful when I had to make special arrangements coming home from Texas last month after I'd been in a car accident.

[fudge stripe cookays]

13. I flew Continental...

when I went up to visit reprehensor in Calgary the first time. They were AWESOME!

I bought a couple of double Bailey's to relax, since I was so excited to see him again. We were going camping in the Kananaskis the first thing next day, and I knew we'd be up all night catching up (and other things), so I knew I NEEDED to get some sleep.

I mentioned to the stewardess how hard it was for me to sleep on planes, and pretty much cleaned her out of Bailey's.

An hour or so later, I went back to the bathroom, and she was back in the galley. She smiled, handed me the last 3 from her skirt pocket, and said, "Here I saved these for you." Wouldn't take any money or anything.

:D
FSC

[sakabatou]

11. I also hate Southwest...

But for a different reason.

[Initech]

21. Southwest BLOWS.

I've been trying to avoid them as much as possible lately since I had a rather unpleasant flight to Detroit last year. :puke:

[ProfessorGAC]

15. You Just Described EVERY Airline, EVER

What you describe has happened to me on about 7 occasion on at least 5 different airlines.

It's just not that efficiently run an industry.
The Professor

[sbj405]

17. Did you get the prayer card in your meal? nt

[ohiosmith]

24. Didn't see one. The meal was inedible. A processed chicken

parts sandwich with barbecue sauce on a stale bun.

[BikeWriter]

19. Bitch to the management!

[Initech]

20. Similiar thing happened to me on American Airlines. It SUCKS!

Except what happened was, my flight left Ontario, California with a stop in Dallas before heading to my scheduled destination, Nashville. I wound up staying in Dallas the night before and it SUCKED major,

[RummyTheDummy]

22. People can piss and moan about Southwest all they want

The bottom line is they make money, unlike every other airline in the country. That means they can afford parts for their planes i.e. no cutting of corners. I get nervous every time I get on an airline that is hemoraging red ink -- Delta, American, Continental, United. You just have to wonder where they're cutting corners. I'd rather them spend money on that type of stuff than doling out huge contracts to Skychef for crappy airline food and TVs in the back of the seats.

Never flown Alaska Airlines though. Their safety record is the shits.

[ChoralScholar]

26. I'm not so sure the others are bleeding red ink like they say they are.

They might not meet projections, but I find it hard to believe they're operating at a net loss.

[Initech]

27. Southwest is GREAT for short flights. (IE - LA to Sacramento)

Long flights I prefer to take America West, Frontier, or Jet Blue.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

25. Alaska Airlines used to be my airline of choice for flying up and down

the West Coast.

They had comfortable seats, good leg room, and until about ten years ago, you got a hot meal with wine, even on such relatively short flights as Portland-San Francisco.

How the mighty have fallen!

[Taverner]

28. Guys guys guys...none of you know how to do air travel!

First thing you should have done is ate marijuana brownies on the ride to the airport. That way, by the time you get to the gate, you're already smiling wide.

I did this recently in Houston, and the plane was seriously delayed, but I didn't mind at all. Gave me a chance to watch the carpet.

The brownie should last at least 6 hours, so even if your flight is longer - - you still feel good and relaxed on touchdown.

[tonekat]

29. Flew AK AIR in July, got the stupid bible quote with breakfast

Sent them a letter in early August, telling them we didn't care for scripture with our bagel, just yesterday got the same form letter back I've seen on the 'net that they always send. Screw 'em.
Waited forever to get off the ground, then they come on and say, "the mechanical problems are fixed and we'll be departing shortly" What mechanical problems? They never said anything about 'em in the first place!
Oh, and that bathroom stunk up the plane for the last half of the trip from Seattle to DC!