Alaska Airlines Adds E175s To SkyWest Fleet

I'm wondering what other Portland (most likely) or St. Louis route will get an E175 in order to rotate the aircraft onto the PDX - STL flight. Maybe an early morning SEA - PDX flight followed by an evening PDX - SEA flight upon returning from STL?

@Kevin - I hope so, that would be preferred to the Q400s on the route.

I'm on an E175 at least a couple times a month in the form of Delta Shuttle between LAX-SFO. Granted, they're a bit on old side, but with 14 daily flights each way (I think), my upgrades clear at the 5 day mark, and I get a cozy seat in the "A" column of first class. They're small, quick to board, and relatively comfortable. The only problem with those is when the super leisure crowd try to bring their 27 inch "carryon" and get them in the overheads. They always seem so sure that it's going to fit, and the look on their faces when they see the size of the bins is HIGH-LARIOUS.

I love the Embraer E-jets because they're so spacious compared to other planes, particularly in coach. Unfortunately, being a Brazilian product they are notoriously troublesome in cold climates (just ask Air Canada), so I doubt you'll be seeing them in Alaska any time soon. Interestingly, Bombardier planes are said to be equally fussy in the tropics, so clearly there's some hometown bias on the part of the designers.

Its probably worth noting that the SEA-OKC and PDX-STL flights will be the only non-stop between those city pairs and they will only compete with Southwest on the SEA-MKE flights.

No question the E-jets are much more comfortable, both up front and in back, than a 737. Only downside is that most of them don't have ovens for the first class meal service, though it sounds like Alaska won't have that problem.

I would love to see an Alaska flight into Memphis

Fly them all the time between LGA and ORD on DL. Love them, especially compared to the CRJs. Roomy, reasonably quiet.

My mother is an Air Canada employee in Edmonton, it does not make sense that AC is the largest E90 operator. The business class product is nice as it is a 2-1 configuration and coach is comfortable as well.

Gary,

I doubt the seating configuration on Alaska's E jets has anything to do with scope because I believe Alaska is notable in that it's pilot contract lacks a scope clause. I would not be surprised to see more OO E jets come online given Alaska's current options and orders (and, unless I am mistaken, their lack of a scope clause.)

Living in Tulsa, I was hoping that they would bring a flight here, but I'd rather drive 1.5 hrs to okc to fly non stop than waiting at the airport then flying to dfw for around double the time. I hope this flight does well thought.

@Charlie - Frontier also runs a seasonal PDX - STL flight.

I'm with you on the E-170/175 being the most comfortable plane (at least in coach where I hang out). No middle seat makes it better than mainline, and the general roominess makes it better than CRJs (though I've never been on a CRJ-9). E-170/175 is the only plane type I will intentionally look for when booking flights.

Apparently Alaska is stalking me because they started service to Omaha right before I moved to Milwaukee for law school--and now they're expanding to Milwaukee! 😉

Having lived in the Pac NW for eight years, I came to love Alaska Airlines and Mileage Plan. I live in Edmonton now, and I still use Alaska/Horizon the most due to my frequent trips to the Western US. But I have to say, the Horizon flights between SEA and YEG are really horrid. I don't know much about airplanes, but this route is consistently one of the most uncomfortable flights I fly each year. The flights are almost always full or close to it, and with all the money in Alberta, I really can't believe that there isn't a market for a first class product. I'm happy to see Horizon contemplating other options with a more comfortable product. I really hope they upgrade the Alberta routes soon, too.

Whoops, not sure why I said "Gary"! LOL

Anyhow, happy Thanksgiving!

To answer Kevin from last Nov.
Pdx will also see the E 175 on
Slc-Pdx-Stl-Pdx-Slc
Sea will have arrivals from Ont & Slc also

With the Horizon planes leases coming to an end soon as well ( I'm sure they are running out of duct tape) and no apparent plans for growth And Alaska putting their money into growing their partnership with Skywest, do you see Horizon fading into the sunset? Cheaper to outsource at this time?

I think to keep Alaska in a competitive market it would make sense to have Horizon fly the new Aircraft.Aren'tyouSister Companies? I feel Horizon has a more professional staff.I would rather spend my money at Horizon and Alaska.

I am looking at DFW-PDX flights, and the early morning departure is on a E175.