Alaska Airlines Axing Frequencies on Some Transcon Routes
Alaska Airlines bought out Virgin America in 2016, and with it came lots of new aircraft and routes. On Wednesday, the airline announced that it will be cutting back service on some of those routes that it acquired from Virgin.
According to Routes Online, Alaska will be reducing frequency on its routes between Los Angeles (LAX) and New York (JFK), and San Francisco (SFO) and JFK starting July 6. It will fly between New York and Los Angeles five times a day, and New York and San Francisco four times daily — each route with one less daily flight.
Alaska still has 3-4 daily flights between Newark (EWR) and San Francisco, and another four between EWR and Los Angeles. Earlier this month, the airline announced it'd be expanding its transcontinental service with a new route from San Jose (SJC) and increased frequency to New York from Seattle (SEA).
It's likely that Alaska is shifting around its aircraft to offer more transcontinental service outside of the former Virgin hubs of LAX and SFO — the same day it's cutting the aforementioned routes, it's launching flights from San Jose. Alaska is competing with premium transcon products like JetBlue Mint and some offerings from the big three legacy carriers, all of which offer lie-flat beds in business on some aircraft on these routes.
Alaska and Virgin aircraft both feature recliner seats in the first class cabins, and Alaska plans on retrofitting old Virgin aircraft to feature a new, although less spacious, business class recliner seat.
H/T: One Mile At A Time
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.