Alaska returns to Bellingham

[crxpilot]

Uh, What? How is that so?
You obviously do not understand ALK's fuel situation.

"Alaska Air Group bought “call options” giving it the opportunity to buy fuel at a set price. While these require higher upfront payments, they didn’t obligate the airline to buy the fuel at the hedged prices.
Other airlines, including United and Southwest, have used another form of hedging called “swaps” or “collars,” that commits them to buy fuel at certain rates. "

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/01/26/story10.html

According to Forbes Alaska is paying for higher fuel prices:
"
Alaska and Horizon combined have agreements in place to buy half of their fuel supply this year at an average price equal to $76 per gallon of crude oil. The benchmark price for crude was around $51 Wednesday.
Alaska locked in the prices when oil was much more costly"
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/04/08/ap6271015.html

 

[Fubijaakr]

there's a lot of great guys at AAY that are ex TWA/AA/USAir.

No there aren't. Any former Union pilot who would take a job at a non-Union carrier that undercuts Union contracts by $50 an hour is a pilot who would cross a picket line because, "I had to feed my family."

And as far as those of you "preaching" that people won't pay more to fly Alaska, check the loads in markets like GEG-SEA, PDX-SEA, BOI-SEA vs the "people's choice" SWA.

Our flights are full and they're running half empty. Why? The mileage plan. People in the Pacific NW are heavily invested in the ALK mileage plan.

AGT will be out of BLI in six months.

 

[chperplt]

Sorry guys. But ALK still has huge support from people of the PNW. Allegiant can kiss that route goodbye. Nobody in the NW has ever heard of Allegiant, but they have heard of a little company called Alaska. Allegiatnt cant compete with ALK. Heck, SWA has had a hell of a time competing with Alaska...... And trust me, Allegiant would get KILLED if they tried to go to ANC. Just like everyone else thats tried to compete up there. Just ask Herb.

BTW... chp.. When your company doesn't make profit off pilot wages then feel free to talk smak. Unitl that time. Just keep quiet. ALK will kill you in Bellingham and you guys aren't going to fight that fight. No more layovers at the Holliday Inn Express...

I think you've been flying your MS Flight Sim SR71 without oxygen for too long...

 

[chperplt]

No there aren't. Any former Union pilot who would take a job at a non-Union carrier that undercuts Union contracts by $50 an hour is a pilot who would cross a picket line because, "I had to feed my family."

And as far as those of you "preaching" that people won't pay more to fly Alaska, check the loads in markets like GEG-SEA, PDX-SEA, BOI-SEA vs the "people's choice" SWA.

Our flights are full and they're running half empty. Why? The mileage plan. People in the Pacific NW are heavily invested in the ALK mileage plan.

AGT will be out of BLI in six months.

You're an angry little man...

As I said before, I wish you guys plenty of luck in BLI and throughout your entire system. I don't think you'll make any noticable impact in our BLI operations. NWA tried to get us to run away, and their loyal customers continued to fly on us.

Time will tell... Keep slinging the non union garbage and I'll coninue to enjoy my life of day trips, time with family, and going through life with a smile on my face.

 

[BEECH-SLAPPED]

No there aren't. Any former Union pilot who would take a job at a non-Union carrier that undercuts Union contracts by $50 an hour is a pilot who would cross a picket line because, "I had to feed my family."

And as far as those of you "preaching" that people won't pay more to fly Alaska, check the loads in markets like GEG-SEA, PDX-SEA, BOI-SEA vs the "people's choice" SWA.

Our flights are full and they're running half empty. Why? The mileage plan. People in the Pacific NW are heavily invested in the ALK mileage plan.

AGT will be out of BLI in six months.

You still haven't addressed by original question. If everyone in the NW loves your "milage plan", why do we have any passengers at all out of BLI,PSC,MFR,EUG,IDA and RDM? You would think that all of those people would relish the thought of flying 200 miles in the wrong direction on a turboprop so they could gain more "miles".

I'm sure that your 60 furloughed pilots love the idea of the company purposely losing money (and delaying their recall) just to try to drive out a little competition. Very Mesa-esque! And guess what? Even if we do cut and run (which I highly doubt), we'll just deploy the aircraft to another one of the hundred cities that lobby for our service. See, when you have management that is actually interested in turning a profit, you focus on increasing YOUR revenue, not wasting capacity trying to stop OTHERS from making money. But go ahead, give it a shot.

 

[av8instyle]

My dad beat up your dad.

 

[gt1900]

Say whatever you want beech. You guys don't have the money or the will to fight ALK in Bellingham. Argue all you want. But they will match your fare's, and kill you in that market. Allegiant has proven they won't stay around to fight. He11. Alaska has gone head to head with SWA on the west coast and they are doing just fine. People in the PNW WILL pay a reasonable amount more to ride on alaska then other airlines. Simply because they most likely have family, friends, neighbors etc who work for them. I see it all the time. And yes, if they have the choice to get miles on Alaska out of BMI or ride on Allegiant, they are gonna take the miles. Allegiant will be out of BMI with 6-12 months.

 

[chperplt]

And yes, if they have the choice to get miles on Alaska out of BMI or ride on Allegiant, they are gonna take the miles. Allegiant will be out of BMI with 6-12 months.

Reading comprehension isn't your strong suite, is it?


Let's go over this one last time.... and we'll do it realllllly slowly this time.

Alaska, through Horizon, has been flying out of BLI this entire time... and we're still running full flights each and every day. All those loyal to Alaska Airlines passengers you speak of could have bypassed Allegiant for those miles, but did not.

So... to recap in case you're confused.

1) Alaska Air has been flying out of BLI this entire time using Horizon Air.
2) PNW customers have been getting miles flying out of BLI this entire time
3) Allegiant has had full flights this entire time
4) This loyalty you speak of seems to be loyalty to Allegiant and not Alaska.

In all seriousness, I think Allegiant has quite a bit of staying power in BLI. Our current market cap is 990+ million compared to Alaska's 795+ million. We have plenty of money and very little debt... I think Alaska is going to be the one whimpering away from this deal...

 

[Singlecoil]

Reading comprehension isn't your strong suite, is it?

Now that made me laugh.

 

[gt1900]

CHP. Alaska hasn't had a non-stop out of BLI. The only thing you guys have is a non stop flight. That is where Alaska is going to kill you now. Alaska has the best balance sheet of any major airline, except maybe SWA. They have lots of cash, and a very loyal following... Say what you want, but Allegiant has never stayed and fought for a route when competition comes in. They won't stay on this one either. Allegiant has made money flying routes that nobody else flys, thats their nitch. Now there will be competition flying direct non-stop to Vegas. Watch what happens to your loads. Especially with Alaskas $59 one way and double milage. You guys are now offering $28 dollar tickets to match them. WTF.. You aren't gonna make money with those. Looks like the Allegiant is already a little worried, otherwise, why would they be droping ticket prices? 12 months max. BTW. I don't give a rats #$% about grammer on a forum. But you obviously do. Good for you.

 

[av8instyle]

Seriously, who cares? Both airlines have one thing in common...they are airlines and they both suck a$$.

 

[BEECH-SLAPPED]

Alaska has the best balance sheet of any major airline, except maybe SWA. They have lots of cash...

Tell that to the 60 pilots who were kicked to the curb.

Say what you want, but Allegiant has never stayed and fought for a route when competition comes in.

Until now. By the way, it's only happened once, in SWF. One of the two carriers that came in withdrew shortly afterwards.

I don't give a rats #$% about grammer on a forum. But you obviously do. Good for you.

It's not just about the grammar. When someone doesn't take a few seconds to proofread their posts, it doesn't instill much confidence that the CONTENT of the posts will be anything but worthless. In this instance, this is indeed the case.

 

[Chief Pilot]

Tell that to the 60 pilots who were kicked to the curb.

Can you say HOSTAGES during contract negotiations? (Something you wouldn't know much about)

Until now. By the way, it's only happened once, in SWF. One of the two carriers that came in withdrew shortly afterwards.[/qoute]

So, admittedly, ALG doesn't stick around for a fight.

It's not just about the grammar. When someone doesn't take a few seconds to proofread their posts, it doesn't instill much confidence that the CONTENT of the posts will be anything but worthless. In this instance, this is indeed the case.

Seriously? Some of the most intelligent people I know have the worst handwriting and terrible grammar. Maybe because they are more concerned with facts than minutia.

Quite frankly I don't care whether or not Allegiant stays in BLI. But trying to argue that Allegiant is something of a powerhouse in the airline industry is rather humorous. Good luck guys.

 

[QCappy]

According to Forbes Alaska is paying for higher fuel prices:
"
Alaska and Horizon combined have agreements in place to buy half of their fuel supply this year at an average price equal to $76 per gallon of crude oil. The benchmark price for crude was around $51 Wednesday.
Alaska locked in the prices when oil was much more costly"
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/04/08/ap6271015.html

Correction: Alaska Airlines story

Friday April 10, 2009, 12:41 pm EDT

SEATTLE (AP) -- In an April 8 story about Alaska Airlines, The Associated Press erroneously described the carrier's fuel-hedging agreements. The price was set at $76 per barrel of crude, not $76 per gallon.

The story should have explained that the hedging agreements cap the price Alaska will pay for about half its expected 2009 supply at $76 per barrel. The airline did not lock in fuel prices at that level.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Correction-Alaska-Airlines-apf-14901183.html

 

[BEECH-SLAPPED]

Can you say HOSTAGES during contract negotiations? (Something you wouldn't know much about)

Thankfully.

Seriously? Some of the most intelligent people I know have the worst handwriting and terrible grammar. Maybe because they are more concerned with facts than minutia.

I'm sure that you are a great pilot. So would you feel comfortable having misspellings on your resume and then showing up to the interview without having shaven or with your shirt untucked? You may know that you can do the job, but your interviewer only goes by his/her perception of you.

Quite frankly I don't care whether or not Allegiant stays in BLI. But trying to argue that Allegiant is something of a powerhouse in the airline industry is rather humorous. Good luck guys.

Nobody's saying that. But remember, we didn't go into SEA. YOU'RE coming to BLI. To expect us to pack up our books and go home because the almighty Alaska comes to town is equally humerous.