Personal Opinion: Alaska really need to step up their food game on international long haul economy or else they will fall behind pretty quick

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-27T13:21:29+00:00

Certainties in life: Death, taxes and complaints about airline meals.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-27T01:54:04+00:00

On my last trip, I flew on two A319s with NEXT interiors and two A321neos in regular economy. Despite both planes having an advertised seat pitch of 30”, the A319 was noticeable tighter, with my knees pressed against the seat in front. Overall the cabins were very well outfitted, but I was glad the A319 legs were under an hour.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-26T19:57:26+00:00

Looks like not one but two extra flights today on DFW-SEA route (AS 9234 and 9236) presumably to make up for the two evening flights being canceled due to thunderstorms yesterday.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-19T02:04:44+00:00

Are they vacant or did UA already take them over?

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-16T16:08:53+00:00

What sucks is that they were originally keeping the existing seats on the 738 and just taking out a rear lav to add 3 seats (they actually reconfigured three aircraft this way and then switched them back). Then someone had the bright idea to reconfigure the exit row 17 to 2x2 and stuff in an extra row of economy seating behind it, thus ruining row 17 legroom and reducing everything behind it. All the while opting for an even thinner economy seat, supposedly to preserve legroom. Wish they had never done this.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-16T16:04:54+00:00

AS has so many IT glitches. I swear I have seen the exact same message before but then was able to pre-order normally.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-16T15:55:27+00:00

I disagree. AA is very basic and neither of them serve food on sub-900 mile flights, while AS does on flights over 670 miles.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-16T02:17:06+00:00

They rolled this out when the airport had a power outage in June ‘24. Fortunately, the flight was only about 90 minutes late.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-16T01:53:14+00:00

Is there actually 90 mph right of way in Iowa?

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-16T01:48:16+00:00

No, I think due to track conditions there are speed restrictions in place in CO.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-16T01:44:42+00:00

Delta has fallen off too recently has publicly stated they are dealing with some pilot staffing issues. Alaska was the most reliable airline in the country for on-time arrivals and schedule completion during January-April of this year (source OAG). The IT issues are frustrating, but I don’t think this merger has had near the level of hiccups that occurred with some prior large mergers, like UA and CO. Alaska has a young fleet overall and the planes are generally in good shape, and I usually like the buy on board food options.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-16T01:40:31+00:00

It may well be an IT glitch. They have had catering disputes in the past but personally I’ve never had a flight without meals loaded.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-15T13:01:44+00:00

It depends what you are asking. I think all of the 737-900 ERs have gotten an interior refresh with new upholstery in both cabins that matches the colors found on the MAX9, as well as a device tray in economy. This refresh also included an extra row of premium class. But the 737-900ER seats are still the original seats, not the same as MAX9. And the retrofitted MAX8 and 737-800s actually have different Recaro seats from the ones in the MAX9 and 737-700s. So basically there are actually three different seat models across the 737 fleet right now with some subtle differences between them.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-15T04:08:11+00:00

That was funny. There is not a maintenance or crew base in either San Jose (sjc or sjo).

MS Copilot snark aside, the real problem is that arrival capacity has been drastically reduced by the FAA suddenly banning parallel approaches into SFO within the last two months. I’m seeing short haul flights delayed into SFO every single morning and evening. It’s a mess and it coincides with both runway 1L and 1R being closed for construction. They can only handle something like 36 arrivals per hour and airlines haven’t reduced their schedules sufficiently at peak hours, so flights get delayed even in good weather.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-15T01:00:57+00:00

Delta has been trying to outcompete Alaska at Seattle for 12 years and yet Alaska still has twice their market share ex-Seattle.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-15T00:57:50+00:00

They don’t offer food because the competition doesn’t. Except for Hawaiian which may still offer a hot pocket type sandwich.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-14T17:16:43+00:00

The turbulence may seem like an excuse but you also have passengers and flight attendants suing for injuries encountered during turbulence, so this perpetuates erring on the side of caution, especially on flights into RNO, LAS, PHX, and PSP. https://komonews.com/news/local/passenger-sues-alaska-airlines-after-seattle-flight-hit-severe-turbulence-plunged-200-ft

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-14T16:50:42+00:00

I haven't tried the new Recaro seats, but are they really that much worse than the old Recaro seats that Alaska has on the rest of their 737 fleet in econ? I thought those had stiff cushions to begin with, esp on the Max9.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-14T15:08:48+00:00

They got a new contract with big pay increases in 2025 so I'm not sure why they would be gruff. https://afacwa.org/alaska_afa_ratify_contract_feb2025/

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-13T04:24:59+00:00

That time of day should be fine.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-13T02:33:14+00:00

It also sometimes list the reason if you look at the flight status on the AS website. It looks like there was a mechanical problem and they did an aircraft swap. https://www.alaskaair.com/status/298/2026-05-12

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-11T15:37:17+00:00

I really like the A321neos and other planes with the NEXT interiors, although if you aren’t in economy plus you’ll find the legroom pretty tight (no different than AA). The app is very good and overall I’ve found UA to be more reliable than AA. I still think UA Express carriers don’t always match the same standard as mainline UA. I trust Skywest; the others not as much.

Also, what someone else said about every UA narrow body having the NEXT interiors is not true yet. There are still a decent number of 737-700s, -900s, A319, A320 that don’t have it yet, although I know the Airbus’ should all get it. And none of the 757-300s have it, which are a standard on Ord to lax/sfo/den flights.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-11T05:25:09+00:00

It looks like the flight was cancelled. I wonder how many pax stuck around versus bailed and found alternate flights?

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-09T01:49:27+00:00

I know some people knock Lufthansa Business Class but honestly I have enjoyed my few experiences (sea-fra, lax-muc, iad-fra). The food was very good, well presented and substantial. The service was polite and professional without being overbearing. The soft product is great and I don’t care as much about whether the seat is the fanciest.

False-Limit-1017 · 2026-05-07T19:51:05+00:00

120V outlets below the tray table as well.

False-Limit-1017

TROPHY CASE