BajaNomad

Alaska airlines rumor

Alan - 10-31-2012 at 09:04 AM

The latest rumor circulating here in La Paz is that Alaska will be suspending their direct flights into LAP on April 6. Can anybody verify? I find it hard to believe because since they changed to a puddle-jumper and reduced to only 3 flights a week, every flight has been filled to near capacity but I guess one never really knows.

RnR - 10-31-2012 at 09:27 AM

Just see if the reservation page will accept a mock reservation on some date after April 6th. Then exit the screen.

latina - 10-31-2012 at 09:51 AM

I have a paid reservation for June 3rd, and haven't received any emails from Alaska regarding my reservation, so I'm thinking it's an unfounded rumour....

Marinero - 10-31-2012 at 09:54 AM

Uh, why not call Alaska and ask them?

backninedan - 10-31-2012 at 09:58 AM

I tried to book a flight for next April (just to see), it was rejected. The reason given was "no flights available". No further details were listed.

elskel - 10-31-2012 at 01:57 PM

Called Alaska and was told they are pulling out of La Paz in April.

latina - 10-31-2012 at 04:55 PM

Too strange elskel, because I called Alaska and spoke to an agent to check my confirmed reservation, and she said there has only been a minor scheduling change, time-wise, and that my reservation is unaffected...hmmmmm

EnsenadaDr - 10-31-2012 at 05:00 PM

Well maybe the Hawaii market has something to do with it. The best website I know of is fly.com, to get the cheapest flights. Alaska has been consistently substantially cheaper than Hawaiian airlines flying to Honolulu from San Diego, and they are expanding their flight service to Maui. I have been flying Alaska Airlines the last few months to Hawaii, and they have a killer deal about upgrading to first class the last minute if all the seats aren't taken for $150 American. To upgrade on Hawaiian, the cost is over $1000. Alaska has great service with very nice flight attendants.

RnR - 10-31-2012 at 06:44 PM

Well Latina ....

From what I tried, it's not looking good for your flight on June 3, 2012.

First I tried to make a reservation for June 3rd from LAX to La Paz. No flights available!

Then I tried their low fare system which shows the cost for flights on different days for about a week around the day you select. ( June 3rd) No flights available!

Then I tried the same thing for the week around April 6th. There are flights before April 6th but there are NO flights shown after April 6th.

This post WAS talking about flights to La Paz and not to Cabo. Cabo is still available. If you truly have a reservation to fly into La Paz on June 3rd, I think that I'd be looking into some alternate arrangements.

Just saying ......

latina - 11-1-2012 at 07:13 AM

Very strange...My confirmed and paid-for flight is from La Paz to LAX and when I called with my confirmation code yesterday to check if the flight has been cancelled I was told by the agent that there was only a slight time change...at least there are alternatives and June is a long way off...

Hook - 11-1-2012 at 08:25 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by latina
Very strange...My confirmed and paid-for flight is from La Paz to LAX and when I called with my confirmation code yesterday to check if the flight has been cancelled I was told by the agent that there was only a slight time change...at least there are alternatives and June is a long way off...


Maybe they've decided to bus you to Cabo and they arent telling you............yet.

We've had our only flight into Guaymas cancelled. Those who had booked after the termination date were bussed to Hermosillo.

[Edited on 11-1-2012 by Hook]

Alaska schedule

bajabeachbabe - 11-1-2012 at 02:49 PM

I checked the Alaska schedule for La Paz through June and starting in January they reduce their flights out of LAX to one day a week - Saturday. Then after Sat. April 6 there are no flights. Doesn't look good.

DaliDali - 11-1-2012 at 03:00 PM

Another nail in the coffen for Baja tourist dependant businesses.

Not room for many more nails!!

Many folks won't do that drive for a variety of reasons and with fewer and fewer flights to international airports in BCS....it's not looking good folks.

chippy - 11-1-2012 at 04:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by EnsenadaDr

[Edited on 11-1-2012 by chippy]

Alan - 11-2-2012 at 07:52 AM

I am curious about what is behind this decision. I take this flight relatively frequent and every flight is filled to near capacity. How can it NOT be profitable?

Alaska schedule

bajaguy - 11-2-2012 at 08:12 AM

Just typed in dates, showing through April 11

https://www.alaskaair.com/Shopping/Flights/ScheduleShoulder/...

SAN SJD 2h 4m | Details
Details for Flights Alaska Airlines 238 Depart San Diego (SAN) 12:25 pm, Mon, Apr 8
Arrive Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos (SJD) 3:29 pm, Mon, Apr 8
Duration: 2h 4m | Distance: 802 miles | % on-time: n/a | % late 30+ min: n/a | % cancelled: n/a Aircraft: Boeing 737-400 | First Class Meal: Lunch | Coach Meal: Available For Purchase
Total Duration: 2h 4m

Performance data is based on previous month.Times in red indicate dates different than your original date selection.

| Seats
Flight 1: 238SAN12:25 pmSJD3:29 pm
$135.70
$151.70
$297.70
$377.70

$457.70
$527.70


SAN SJD 2h 4m | Details
Details for Flights Alaska Airlines 234 Depart San Diego (SAN) 11:15 am, Mon, Apr 8
Arrive Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos (SJD) 2:19 pm, Mon, Apr 8
Duration: 2h 4m | Distance: 802 miles | % on-time: n/a | % late 30+ min: n/a | % cancelled: n/a Aircraft: Boeing 737-400 | First Class Meal: Lunch | Coach Meal: Available For Purchase
Total Duration: 2h 4m

Performance data is based on previous month.Times in red indicate dates different than your original date selection.

| Seats
Flight 1: 234SAN11:15 amSJD2:19 pm
$257.70
$257.70
$297.70
$377.70

$457.70
$527.70


SAN SJD 4h 40m | Details
Details for Flights Delta 4501 Depart San Diego (SAN) 8:15 am, Mon, Apr 8
Operated by SkyWest as Delta Connection Arrive Los Angeles, CA (LAX) 9:10 am, Mon, Apr 8
Duration: 0h 55m | Distance: 109 miles | % on-time: n/a | % late 30+ min: n/a | % cancelled: n/a Aircraft: Bombardier CRJ-700 | First Class Meal: None | Coach Meal: None

Change planes in Los Angeles, CA (LAX) with a 1h 20m layover

Alaska Airlines 236 Depart Los Angeles, CA (LAX) 10:30 am, Mon, Apr 8
Arrive Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos (SJD) 1:55 pm, Mon, Apr 8
Duration: 2h 25m | Distance: 911 miles | % on-time: n/a | % late 30+ min: n/a | % cancelled: n/a Aircraft: Boeing 737-400 | First Class Meal: Lunch | Coach Meal: Available For Purchase
Total Duration: 4h 40m

Performance data is based on previous month.Times in red indicate dates different than your original date selection.

| Seats
Flight 1: 45011SAN8:15 amLAX9:10 am
Connection: 236LAX10:30 amSJD1:55 pm
$142.70
$158.70
$304.70
$384.70

$464.70
$534.70

3 left at this price
SAN SJD 6h 5


[Edited on 11-2-2012 by bajaguy]

latina - 11-2-2012 at 08:34 AM

I guess I'll be cancelling my flight and booking to San Jose with another carrier...I think it is odd that I haven't received any email regarding my reservation and the agent reassured me that my flight was a go...obviously not the case if it is impossible to book a flight for my dates on their website!

For me, this will be an inconvenience, but what effect will it have on the local economy? Unless another airline steps in to service La Paz, there will be no international flights to the city...

vandenberg - 11-2-2012 at 09:42 AM

Let's hope that Carlos Slim gets to arrange for landing rights in some southern US cities, so Volaris could start some much needed routes to Baja destinations.

capt. mike - 11-2-2012 at 10:43 AM

my phx A&P AI is a sr. maintenance liason officer for FAA for them, i.e. he works for AK Air.

maybe he knows, i'll ask him.

EnsenadaDr - 11-22-2012 at 07:36 PM

Just met a stewardess that works for Alaska Airlines, and its official, they will be scaling way down in Mexico...except for Puerto Vallarta, mainly because of the "dangers" according to her, don't shoot the messenger, folks.

[Edited on 11-23-2012 by EnsenadaDr]

gnukid - 11-22-2012 at 08:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
Just met a stewardess that works for Alaska Airlines, and its official, they will be scaling way down in Mexico...except for Puerto Vallarta, mainly because of the "dangers" according to her, don't shoot the messenger, folks.

[Edited on 11-23-2012 by EnsenadaDr]


So not true...

latina - 11-22-2012 at 09:22 PM

The earlier posters were right...even though I checked my paid and confirmed reservation leaving La Paz on June 3rd and was assured that everything was as I had reserved, low and behold, 2 weeks ago I checked my reservation and it was exactly the same, EXCEPT that my flight is leaving from San Jose del Cabo!!!! I still haven't been sent an email advising me of my travel change....how many people who are off the grid will show up to their flight in LAP only to find out they were meant to be in San Jose.....I have choices when I fly from San Jose del Cabo to Vancouver.....I won't be choosing Alaska, that's for sure...

gnukid - 11-23-2012 at 03:48 AM

I flew Alaska to SJD and found they chaarged my card for drinks and food I didn't eat and the charges continued after I landed as well, so I contacted both Alaska and my bank who proceeded to put a hold on my card to stop Alaska from continuing to charge me random $6 charges, while on my trip around baja the card was shut down and I was screwed with no way to pay bills and no way to contact either the bank or alaska. Quite a fiasco that eventually was resolved. Alaska took about 10 letters 1-2 month to credit back the amount. I vowed to never fly alaska again.

bajadave1 - 11-23-2012 at 06:52 AM

:lol:
usual procedure to make a reservation is for a future flight, Not a flight from the past.
:light::light:
:P:P:P

Udo - 11-23-2012 at 08:08 AM

Wait 'til Southwest starts flying to Hawaii next year!
Quote:
Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
Well maybe the Hawaii market has something to do with it. The best website I know of is fly.com, to get the cheapest flights. Alaska has been consistently substantially cheaper than Hawaiian airlines flying to Honolulu from San Diego, and they are expanding their flight service to Maui. I have been flying Alaska Airlines the last few months to Hawaii, and they have a killer deal about upgrading to first class the last minute if all the seats aren't taken for $150 American. To upgrade on Hawaiian, the cost is over $1000. Alaska has great service with very nice flight attendants.

bajaguy - 11-23-2012 at 08:24 AM

Not to hijack a thread :lol:

You can get cheaper flights on almost any airline.........however I look at other things.......baggage fees and safety records to name a couple.

Southwest does not charge for the first two bags and they have not had a fatal passenger incident since the airline was founded in June of 1971 ..........

vandenberg - 11-23-2012 at 09:20 AM

A new airline started service from San Diego to Cabo.
Spirit Air. They also fly Portland-San Diego. Rates posted are more than fair. FI. roundtrip Jan 10 returning Jan 24 is $168.00
Could be a deal for Pacenos??

[Edited on 11-23-2012 by vandenberg]

comitan - 11-26-2012 at 07:41 AM

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Ben Munson" <ben.munson@alaskaair.com>
Date: November 25, 2012, 1:09:18 PM AKST
To: james@adialaska.com
Subject: Re: Fwd: La Paz

Mr. Stegall,

Thank you very much for writing to share your disappointment with our exit of
La Paz next year. I was forwarded your email given my team is responsible for
all route and frequency decisions for Alaska Air Group.

Exiting a market is never a decision we take lightly and is only something that
we pursue when we feel we have exhausted all other options. La Paz has always
been a difficult market for Alaska Air Group since we entered in 2006 and has
never been consistently profitable. Over the last several years, we have
experimented with various schedules, aircraft types, and frequencies to try and
improve our performance with only limited success.

The challenges we have seen over the last several years were exacerbated
considerably this year as we have seen a major downturn in our La Paz bookings.
We attribute much of this decline to the new highway that opened in March
connecting La Paz to Cabo San Lucas. As you may already be aware, the new
highway has materially reduced the time it takes to travel the 75 miles from La
Paz to Cabo. This, coupled with additional flights from both Alaska and some
of our competitors seems to be driving more passengers to fly into Cabo as
opposed to La Paz. Consequently, La Paz has become a very unprofitable market
for Alaska Air Group. Given we see no material change to these results going
forward; we believe our only fiscally responsible course of action was to exit
the market.

Thank you again for sharing your concerns and I apologize for the inconvenience
that this decision has caused you. On behalf of Alaska Airlines thank you for
the business that you have provided to us and I do hope that we can continue to
be a part of your travel plans in the future.

Best Regards,

Ben Munson, Director of Network Planning

[Edited on 11-26-2012 by comitan]

wilderone - 11-26-2012 at 09:36 AM

"How can it NOT be profitable?"

I watchng Nightly Business Report last week, and a spokesman said that airlines only proft about 50 CENTS per passenger. Maybe Mexico taxes deplete the profit margin further. Maybe Mexico puts a squeeze on them with an aim to favor Mexican airlines.