Alaska Airlines Places Huge Boeing 737 MAX Order

Alaska is a well-managed airline. Operationally, they are very reliable and have proven to be the most profitable airline since the covid pandemic recovery.

Their management knows what they are doing and it looks like they are on a tactile plan for growth, doubling down on their core competencies.

It is refreshing to see an airline execute well with a clear vision

The 10 A321neos are the best aircraft in their fleet, and primarily staff the "Prestige Routes" to JFK from SEA, PDX and SFO. They'll definitely be missed by me

(If only they could put flat beds on their 737 MAX aircraft...)

For most of their route network, flat beds would be a bad joke in terms of the revenue premium they would earn vs. the costs they would incur (weight penalty, repairs). Who on earth needs a flat bed for SEA-LAX or PDX-PHX?

Alaska's small footprint on California-NYC transcons (which are basically the only places where you can get revenue premiums, even Jet Blue doesn't run Mint on routes like SEA-FLL) means even a dedicated subfleet just doesn't work out financially, let alone across their entire network.

Agree. AS certainly lacks premium hard product, but they compensate it with complimentary lounge access to First Class passengers and with great service. The lounges are also better than most Admirals Club or United Club.
They save the opertaing cost by simplifying their fleet, and invest more on ground service.

B6 flys mint from SEA to BOS & JFK once per day red eye west to east. Anecdotally, they are full or near full every time I look or fly the routes. I'm not suggesting (nor will) AS install 1x1 lie flats but there certainly is a market, even without MS, Amazon, SBux, Boeing, ext. at full biz travel.

I love AS but their 1st Class does feel a bit less than truly First Class. The service provided by the flight attendants is the best in the business, but those seats should all have retractable footrests and a wee bit more "oomph" to them considering the price we pay for relatively short hops.

I don't know why they don't upgrade to AB A200-300. Seems like they'd get more bang for the buck

Yuck. Hate the 737-MAX.

this decision is probably wise for them as i would imagine if they keep to just one brand of airplane and even just one model and its variants, then it would seem all their pilots would be able to fly any airplane in their fleet. since that 737 will be available with different variants, it seems they are making a good choice with that 737 max. from a customers point of view, and from a person who hates to fly, i prefer that 737 as boarding and deplaning is faster than on one of the more huge planes. ditto for waiting for baggage. If the plane is a huge plane, it normally takes a lot longer to get all those bags off the larger plane. seems like Alaska is following what Southwest is doing by only using 737 planes. And for the most part, Southwest in another carrier that appears to be well run and not universally hated by the traveling public. Alaska also has live people answer the phone if you need to call them!! Incredible. If all else is the same, i chose Alaska airline if have to travel.

Their "first class" is premium economy on any other international airline (or AC for that matter).

Made a mistake one time by upgrading a flight from PVR-YVR using Avios. Quoted initially as a one class upgrade (appropriate for Y-J) but was then switched to two class (Y-C) as the front of the airplane was actually called "Real First Class" by BA. Screwed when we actually flew the flight!

AS needs planes that can fly nonstop from IAH to Alaska so oil and gas company employees don't have to connect through SEA or PHX.

I rotate among AA, AS, and UA from IAH to ANC and FAI. The AA A321neo is better than any 737.

Agreed, that AS F is really premium economy on most other airlines.

Until the 737 "Max" is deemed safe, by time, I will fly another airline.

Even 737NGs can fly IAH-ANC. It's not that they can't make the route, it's that whatever demand there is for a nonstop is cornered by UA, so AS retains higher yield by using a 1stop in its SEA hub.

Just flew AS 1st class to/from Portland/JFK and it was very disappointing. The JFK lounge is a beaten up old thing and the food choices were horrible. Ditto on the Portland end--the lounge has not been refurbished in years and years, and the staff had zero interest in cleaning anything. The flight was good, but again the food and service were not 1st class quality.

Put the TV screens back on the seats! Much appreciated.

A little "short sighted" given the commitment to have only single aisle fleet for the next 10 years. Given that Hawaii is a very big destination and also the desire of Alaska to focus more on flights more than 3 hours including transcontinental, it would make more sense for them to bring in 2-aisle plane and provide a first class service to match the ridiculous fares they charge for standard recliner seats. What a waste that they squandered everything they could have learned from Virgin America on service and execution.

I won't be flying Alaska with 737 MAXs