AS Ends SFO-SAN
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K, Starwood Plat
Posts: 412
AS Ends SFO-SAN
The route is not bookable on www.alaskaair.com from the fall.
This decision is probably preemptive, reacting to the probable entry of WN and Virgin America on the route.
This decision is probably preemptive, reacting to the probable entry of WN and Virgin America on the route.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2000
Programs: I am an AS employee, but my comments do not represent the company in any official capacity.
Posts: 4,343
I don't know if WN or Virgin factor into it (they might...I just don't know) but I do know that our summer schedule includes 20 nonstop r/t's between ANC and SEA daily. I guess those aircraft have to come from somewhere!
#8
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Programs: AS MVP, Elevate, AAdvantage, Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,992
I was talking to some employees sitting in F on a recent SFO-SAN trip (that tells you how empty F was), and the consensus was that AS had not done enough to promote the new SFO-SAN service. Many regular AS passengers they talked to did not even know AS flew this route. I personally can't remember seeing one advertisement, billboard, or even much mention of it on the AS website except right at the very beginning.
Of the SFO-SAN flights I've taken, several have been pretty much full, including last Fri eve. Certain others were quite empty, but empirically, it would appear loads have been improving this spring. 100% upgrade success of course. I'm kind of surprised AS isn't downgrading this route to Horizon CRJs.
Other question is, will AS bring back the SAN-YVR flight non-stop? SAN-YVR has been running as a one-stop through SFO since the new service began end of October. So, basically an 11 month run, since it is not bookable after Sept 30.
Of the SFO-SAN flights I've taken, several have been pretty much full, including last Fri eve. Certain others were quite empty, but empirically, it would appear loads have been improving this spring. 100% upgrade success of course. I'm kind of surprised AS isn't downgrading this route to Horizon CRJs.
Other question is, will AS bring back the SAN-YVR flight non-stop? SAN-YVR has been running as a one-stop through SFO since the new service began end of October. So, basically an 11 month run, since it is not bookable after Sept 30.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Programs: AS MVP, Elevate, AAdvantage, Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,992
20 non-stops/day for ANC-SEA is standard for summer. Last year they had 19 according to the BTS database. Also, SFO-SAN is bookable through Sept 30. That said, I really hope AS has created a workable summer schedule. AS has been scheduling longer turn times over the past 9 months or so, and I hope this continues into the summer, because AS has a history of operational troubles during the summer months, and things could get messy depending on how the pilot negotiations go...
#10
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 66
I think its was more of preemptive move to START the market before WN and Virgin America are up and running. But I think the traffic never materialized -- there were constant $34 ow available. Plus I never saw any promotion of it in the Bay Area.
I am sad to see this Alaska option go away -- but SFO flyers have been addicted to SFOSAN on United since WN left SFO in 2001.
I am sad to see this Alaska option go away -- but SFO flyers have been addicted to SFOSAN on United since WN left SFO in 2001.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,572
I think its was more of preemptive move to START the market before WN and Virgin America are up and running. But I think the traffic never materialized -- there were constant $34 ow available. Plus I never saw any promotion of it in the Bay Area.
I am sad to see this Alaska option go away -- but SFO flyers have been addicted to SFOSAN on United since WN left SFO in 2001.
I am sad to see this Alaska option go away -- but SFO flyers have been addicted to SFOSAN on United since WN left SFO in 2001.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: AA Gold AAdvantage Elite, Rapids Reward
Posts: 38,342
#13
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Sea-Tac, WA
Posts: 854
It can be argued that more promotion and advertising could have been done, but a lot was, radio and newspaper. We got the leisure, but the business stayed on OA. Not a good sign. Given AS limited pressence in the Bay Area, the cost of doing more advertising would have been enormous. Its a very expensive ad market with a lot of noise from VA....people are distracted.
A return to SAN-YVR is highly unlikely. Focus is on defending and building the core franchise, that being the PNW markets. I wouldn't rule out QX doing more California in the future....stay tuned.
A return to SAN-YVR is highly unlikely. Focus is on defending and building the core franchise, that being the PNW markets. I wouldn't rule out QX doing more California in the future....stay tuned.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
Wonder what they're gonna do with us. We're booked in Nov. on a SFO-SAN RT on a cheap revenue ticket.
Will they route us thru PDX/SEA or put us on UA.
Right now the flights are still loaded, but zeroed out, so their intention is pretty clear.
Will they route us thru PDX/SEA or put us on UA.
Right now the flights are still loaded, but zeroed out, so their intention is pretty clear.
#15
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: OAK
Programs: AS MVPG 100k
Posts: 3,756
I think its was more of preemptive move to START the market before WN and Virgin America are up and running. But I think the traffic never materialized -- there were constant $34 ow available. Plus I never saw any promotion of it in the Bay Area.
I am sad to see this Alaska option go away -- but SFO flyers have been addicted to SFOSAN on United since WN left SFO in 2001.
I am sad to see this Alaska option go away -- but SFO flyers have been addicted to SFOSAN on United since WN left SFO in 2001.
*A flyers will take UA SFO-SAN; OW will probably take AA SJC-SAN. And a bizarre number of people I know favor southwest. AS doesn't have enough of a core customer base at either end to make it work; but it was a nice change from the CRJ while it lasted....