Tue Nov 21, 2017 9:15 am
tphuang, I actually beg to differ. The cost to upgrade on VX is quite pricy, and a 2 step process. One has to upgrade to MCS, which is $179 on the MCO & FLL/LAX-SFO legs, then another $399 to upgrade to F. They are NOT getting that frequently. Elevate Golds & Silvers, however, do at the discount rates.
Alaska does some decent buy-ups into First with their MVP Gold 75K / Golds. Sometimes the cost for me to upgrade into F from Y at time of purchase is a $100-add on, and lots of us do it (select MVP Gold 75K upgrade at alaskaair.com), along with the plethora of Gold Guest Upgrades floating around.
With Alaska putting in a new seat, more legroom than DL/AA in F, and watering down the F service a bit, I think you'll have a good "economical" mixed product that will fare better against some of the other products out there.
*puts my Alaska koolaid down*