QFF pricing Alaska Airlines Business flights as First Class

[Danger]

Alaska awards aren't showing correctly on the QF site. In the many searches I've undertaken in the past few days, when AS availability in a premium cabin does show, it comes with "!". For example, this flight from PDX to DAL, a direct flight on AS at 1616 miles shows availability in F but 'Your flight from PDX to DAL will be in business'. It's a single flight. Why is it showing availability in the F column if there's only availability in J? What's worse, it's charging 64.5K - the F price, despite being a J seat.

Two other points. First, shouldn't the AS logo now be next to AS flights, rather than the non-partner green square? Second, aren't DFW and DAL two entirely different airports? How is it possible to fly from PDX to both DFW and DAL?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Alaska awards aren't showing correctly on the QF site. In the many searches I've undertaken in the past few days, when AS availability in a premium cabin does show, it comes with "!". For example, this flight from PDX to DAL, a direct flight on AS at 1616 miles shows availability in F but 'Your flight from PDX to DAL will be in business'. It's a single flight. Why is it showing availability in the F column if there's only availability in J? What's worse, it's charging 64.5K - the F price, despite being a J seat.

Two other points. First, shouldn't the AS logo now be next to AS flights, rather than the non-partner green square? Second, aren't DFW and DAL two entirely different airports? How is it possible to fly from PDX to both DFW and DAL?

Looks like some sort of coding error mapping across US domestic First class as 'true' first rather than the (now standard) business class on two-cabin flights.

The green square may not necessarily be a non-partner airline - it could be just to indicate a partner airline in general. Looking at similar flights connecting elsewhere in the USA all AA's regional partners (Republic, Skywest, Envoy, etc) all have the green square rather than the AA logo.

AS (partners) do indeed fly from PDX to both DFW and DAL. In fact on a random date in March 2022 their flights from PDX to DAL and DFW both leave at 7am! (bet you there's a bit of confusion there sometimes!)

Again, in line with other flights showing on Qantas, the name of the city comes first and any specific airport comes next. So flights to New York show as New York (La Guardia), New York (Newark), or NEW York (JFK). Same here where Dallas Fort Worth is actually the city, not the airport, followed by the specific airport (Love Field).

 

[farstar]

I assume you earn SC with Alaska as the page on the QANTAS website for Alaska says you do but the QANTAS Partner Earn catagory page says
"Qantas Points are earned on all eligible booking classes, except Alaska Airlines codeshare flights operated by an airline other than Qantas or a oneworld member airline."

And all other Oneworld airlines say points and SC.

 

[justinbrett]

@Admin Now that AS is oneworld - any chance of giving them a dedicated forum?

I was going to ask - has anyone flown AS domestic first? Wondering how they compare with AA (ie 737 product - not talking about actual first class).

I've flown them in Y on an AA codeshare and thought they were fine - noticed their F product is sometimes cheaper than AA on some routes.

 

[drron]

AS F is very similiar to AA at least pre covid.We have done a few trips in their F but all AA codeshares.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

@Admin Now that AS is oneworld - any chance of giving them a dedicated forum?

I was going to ask - has anyone flown AS domestic first? Wondering how they compare with AA (ie 737 product - not talking about actual first class).

I've flown them in Y on an AA codeshare and thought they were fine - noticed their F product is sometimes cheaper than AA on some routes.

The 737 is the 737 - but in terms of first class AS has the biggest seat pitch of any of the US majors at 41 inches standard (about 4 inches more than AA)*. For those without status, AS F comes with lounge access

*ie for narrow body, non-premium aircraft (excludes AA's flagship 3-class narrow bodies, or narrow bodies fitted with international product)

 

[justinbrett]

The 737 is the 737 - but in terms of first class AS has the biggest seat pitch of any of the US majors at 41 inches standard (about 4 inches more than AA)*. For those without status, AS F comes with lounge access

*ie for narrow body, non-premium aircraft (excludes AA's flagship 3-class narrow bodies, or narrow bodies fitted with international product)

I was thinking more about their soft product. I assumed the hard product would be much the same overall - noting the AA 737 product is not as good as the AA A321 product - so assume it's more to do with aircraft type rather than airline.

I actually quite like the domestic AA F service. As long as you preorder your meal it's pretty good, especially considering how reasonably priced it is.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I was thinking more about their soft product. I assumed the hard product would be much the same overall - noting the AA 737 product is not as good as the AA A321 product - so assume it's more to do with aircraft type rather than airline.

I actually quite like the domestic AA F service. As long as you preorder your meal it's pretty good, especially considering how reasonably priced it is.

Same same pre-order on Alaska. Hard product is the relatively the same in terms of the physical seat, but the pitch is the noticeable (positive) difference.

 

[justinbrett]

Same same pre-order on Alaska. Hard product is the relatively the same in terms of the physical seat, but the pitch is the noticeable (positive) difference.

Thanks for the tip - I was also concerned that the SC earn rate might be lower for AS since they are not in the JV, but seems there is no difference. So really no impediment to flying AS over AA.

 

[Revenge]

I know that for a while there the AS hard product depended whether you were on a legacy AS plane or if you were on a Virgin America plane that had become part of AS with the AS purchase of Virgin America. I am not sure if they've now standardised the fleet.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I know that for a while there the AS hard product depended whether you were on a legacy AS plane or if you were on a Virgin America plane that had become part of AS with the AS purchase of Virgin America. I am not sure if they've now standardised the fleet.

I think I'd read they'd all gone. That product was even better!

 

[Danger]

Hell of a way to piss 215K miles up against a brick wall.

 

[Scr77]

Hell of a way to piss 215K miles up against a brick wall.

That can’t be right! Off to the IT thread….

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I’m wondering if QF charging F rates for business class redemptions on AS is a way of penalising AS for selling ‘cheap’ QF awards TPAC? AS charges 55k for the one way… far below QF’s pricing.

 

[aus_flyer]

I’m wondering if QF charging F rates for business class redemptions on AS is a way of penalising AS for selling ‘cheap’ QF awards TPAC? AS charges 55k for the one way… far below QF’s pricing.

This used to be the case for AA domestic "F" also... but now it's treated as Business.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This used to be the case for AA domestic "F" also... but now it's treated as Business.

It’s been a long time since that! More reason why AS F could have gone straight into QF inventory at business class levels. There must be some reason QF wants traffic away from AS. Just dunno why.

 

[Scarlett]

If it’s on Horizon Air does that mean it’s a Dash8 and so all those points don’t even buy you an actual business class seat?


Edit: Horizon regional supporting AS also flies E175s. They have a small F cabin (US domestic F…) and some ‘premium’ seats at the front of Y.

Embraer 175 aircraft information | Alaska Airlines

Learn all about the Embraer 175 aircraft operated by Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. See seat maps, aircraft specifications, fleet counts, available inflight services, and more.

www.alaskaair.com

Just think how many toasters 215K miles would buy you.

 

[AFF Editor]

Sadly, it seems like fixing this issue is not a priority for Qantas and it may not be resolved any time soon.

We contacted Qantas about this issue as far back as October 2021 but still haven't received an official response.

Qantas Overcharging for Alaska Airlines Rewards

Qantas Frequent Flyer members are paying too much when redeeming points for Alaska Airlines Classic Reward seats in a premium cabin.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[kangarooflyer88]

As someone who has flown AS F once domestically in the US, I can assure everyone that it is indeed an F product and worth every point!

-RooFlyer88

 

[PERLHR]

Another example then of how QF care little about FF and frankly this behaviour by them is all rather poor. It would.be easy to fix but oh no QF will be away telling everyone through their ridiculous marketing that they are wonderful. Awful carrier and I have ditched them. Others should as wel.