Alaska Airlines Transcon First Class Flight Review

I have the opportunity to fly back to DC from home in Southern California a few times a year.  It always provides a nice boost to my mileage accrual for the year with my preferred airline, Alaska Airlines.  Why Alaska?  Well, there are several reasons.  In my experience they have high levels of customer service on the planes and over the phone during IRROPS.  Most importantly though, they are one of the few airlines that still awards miles to your account for the distance flown rather than the price of the ticket.  They also have a network that aligns with many of my clients up and down the west coast in addition to servicing Washington National as one of the exemptions to their perimeter rule.  The direct flight from LAX to DCA is a great time saver and great convenience on the DC end of the trip.  I greatly appreciate being able to take the metro right into downtown.

The flip-side to that convenience is the drive to LAX from my home in Orange County, or rather the actual time it takes from exiting the freeway to get to a parking space by the terminal.  I can spend 45 minutes driving to LAX freeway off-ramp (without traffic) and spend as much time or more getting from the off-ramp into the airport and then parked.  I’ve even missed a flight by 10 minutes because the traffic inside the airport was so bad.  This time the trip to the airport parking structure wasn’t bad and I was able to get through security about 50 minutes before departure.  

Alaska is based in Terminal 6 at LAX which has two Priority Pass options for card holders, the Alaska Lounge and the Point the Way Café.  I have my Priority Pass membership thanks to the Chase Sapphire Reserve.  My preference for using PP is to go to the Alaska lounge; however, I’m my experience it is only available 20% of the time as it fills up quickly with Alaska Lounge members thereby preventing PP members from entering.  I walked across the way to the Café but the wait for sit down service was long so I opted for their grab-and-go point of sale for snack and a bottle of water, well under the $28 visit cap for the PP card.  

For the days leading up to the flight I was checking the loads in the cabin to see how much of a chance I would have for an upgrade.  As an Alaska MVP Gold I was already able to secure their premium economy seating, but despite my 70% success of upgrades, it wasn’t looking good as only one seat was showing as unsold and I was third on the upgrade list.  

Boarding began and the plane was loaded fairly efficiently.  I took my seat in 7C noting that the one available seat in first class was still untaken.  About 10 minutes before our departure time, the gate agent came onto the plane to upgrade that person from economy.  Thankfully for me, the first two people on the list were traveling with companions that wouldn’t be upgraded as well and they elected to stay in their current seats.  That meant that I was moving up to first class.  

Outbound

Alaska #6:  Los Angeles (LAX) to Washington, DC (DCA)

Airbus 321 (former Virgin American equipment with retrofitted AS cabin interiors)

Seat:  4D

Cabin:  First

Date:  12/05/19

Departure:  12:55pm

Arrival:  8:49pm

The old configurations of Virgin America aircraft had only 8 seats in first class but relatively good pitch between seats and recline.  With the reconfiguration of this equipment to the new Alaska standard, there are now four rows of 2-2.  The seat pitch has been reduced (still comfortable for my 6’2” frame) but I enjoy the greater chances of securing an upgrade with the extra seats.  Seat width is 21” compared to the 18” in coach.  

 

I have found that Alaska’s on board offerings are very good when compared to the other major domestic carriers, even in economy.  A broad selection of beverages are available as listed in the seat pocket leaflet.  Mini water bottles were provided at each seat as is standard.  Old Alaska aircraft as well as all of the new cabin configurations do not have seat back entertainment, but streaming service is offered with over 210 movies plus assorted television shows.  Buy on board options in economy have been tasty and worth the price.  

 

Our flight attendant, Wendy, introduced herself and provided menus to the cabin.  For most flights, if you are already booked or upgraded into first class 24 hours before your flight, you are able to reserve your meal via their app.  You area also able to reserve the buy on-board options in economy through the app.  The options are available with descriptions of the food as well as nutritional information.  I’ve learned that sometimes the healthier sounding meals are ones that have the most fat.  Since I was upgraded day-of, the first time I saw the options was when it was placed in my hand.  

 

As we were taxiing for takeoff, Wendy took our meal and drink orders.  I opted for the chicken and a Crown and ginger-ale.  It took a little time to get into position for take off at LAX but soon we were in the air with a lovely view along the Pacific coast towards Malibu.  

Alaska offers a number of connection options in the air through GoGo.  If I need to access the internet I will usually pre-purchase a day pass given that it saves a considerable amount of money when compared to buying while on the plane.  Most times I am content with the free messaging option for iMessage, Facebook Messenger, etc. 

 

My drink arrived not too long after take-off along with a ramekin of warm nuts.  I bought an iPad cover that can be folded over and hang off the seat pocket so I can still watch programs while maintaining my tray table space for eating or working.  Great for maximizing space.

 

Meal service took a while to get to us.  The first course didn’t arrive until almost 90 minutes after take-off.  Soup, salad, and bread were all served on one tray.  I have found that Alaska’s soups are consistently good and this tomato garlic soup was no exception.  

 

The main course followed soon after and was placed on our trays after the soup and salad dishes were cleared.  The chicken was moist and the polenta cake was delicious.  The Brussel sprouts didn’t add much.  

 

Alaska serves Salt & Straw ice cream for dessert which is a craft ice cream maker in the Pacific Northwest.  It is always a highlight of meal service even if you have to wait for the rock hard ice cream to thaw a bit.  The sea salt with caramel ribbons was delicious.

 

The remainder of the flight was uneventful.  Drinks were promptly refilled and about 90 minutes prior to landing a snack basket was offered.  It included the typical offerings of popcorn chips, chocolates, cheese crackers, bananas, and granola bars.  I was also given a thank you chocolate for a local Seattle chocolatier which I highly recommend trying.  

 

We landed at DCA on time and were quickly at a gate and disembarking.  My return flight was on the reversed route as the outbound with the same equipment type.  I was again not expecting an upgrade given the load of the flight but was surprised to be called to gate agent prior to boarding to receive my upgrade to first class.  

Return

Alaska #5:  Washington, DC (DCA) to Los Angeles (LAX)

Airbus 321 (former Virgin American equipment with retrofitted AS cabin interiors)

Seat:  2A

Cabin:  First

Date:  12/09/19

Departure:  9:10am

Arrival:  12:11pm

Unlike the outbound flight, the flight attendant didn’t introduce himself or score any points for customer service.  His attitude was very bland and unlike what I have come to expect from Alaska service.  Menu cards were again passed out prior to departure although drink and orders were not taken until we were in the air.

 

I opted for the omelet for breakfast.  For me, Alaska’s breakfast catering is probable its weakest.  The omelet was ok, but the yogurt and granola was the best part of the meal.  All parts of the meal were served at the same time rather than in courses.  The pumpkin apple cider smoothie was never offered.

 

About 90 minutes before landing the snack basket was offered like the outbound flight with the same options.  With a couple snacks holding me down, we landed a little after noon at LAX.  Thankfully we landed on the southern runway closest to Terminal 6 so it was a quick disembarkation and off to the car to drive home.