julie

We have several commitments to fly Alaska over the summer. Now, with all the trouble and publicity, we wonder if it is a wise thing. Trouble is, here in the NW we depend heavily on this carrier. Is anyone else nervous, or do you think with all the attention, they are now taking extra care with maintenance, etc.?

Thyra

My parents returned Saturday from Vancouver to Los Angeles, via Alaska Airlines (that just happens to be the route thats had most of the trouble). They were extremely pleased with the service and my father (a former Airport Electrical Engineer) was pleased with the safety precautions. However I was a nervous wreck worrying about them! <BR>They have been under a truly intense amount of scrutiny lately and that should ease you somewhat.

Thyra

"they" meaning Alaska Airlines not my parents!

betsy

Safety issues aside, we flew to Seattle in April from San Jose. Alaska cancelled our flight to Seattle and the one back to San Jose. Just be forewarned.

jamie

Hello Julie, <BR> <BR>I did a search on CNN and found that Alaska had met the deadline to file a plan with the FAA June 9 to explain how they will correct the deficiencies in their maintenance program. The FAA has a week or two to review their plan. Sorry, I was not able to post the link. <BR> <BR>My husband and I just got back in May from our third trip to Puerto Vallarta (from LAX)in about 4.5 years. Although a plane from PV to San Francisco had crashed about two months earlier with everyone lost, I was not unduly concerned about the safety record (on the lightning never striking twice theory). What concerned us, is that out of 6 segments of travel, 5 were late, and several unduly late by hours or more. Next trip, we will definitely book Mexicana or Aeromexico. <BR> <BR>Not sure what your choices are in the NW on the Alaska routes. <BR> <BR>But with this report by the FAA on their safety record, especially since the FAA is usually such a gutless wonder, it is worth looking into an alternate carrier <BR>if this is truly a concern to you. Peace of mind sounds like it is important to you. <BR> <BR>(BTW, I am a fairly recent visitor to Fodor's and usually visit USA and sometimes Latin forums, but looking into Germany next year, so sometimes visit here)

John

Hi, Julie, <BR>This will probably fare better on the US forum. (Note to anyone who cares - AS flies in summer to Russia, parts of which are in Europe. So there.) <BR> <BR>I've flown Alaska Airlines for many many years and miles, including lots of segments in Alaska when the other operators would circle, apologize, and divert, but we would get where we wanted to get. I've have never had a reason to doubt the airline's ability, the skill and dedication of their people, or the airworthiness of their planes. Obviously they have been careless on a couple of recent occasions and have paid a dear price, and one should not take fatal accidents lightly. The fact that other carriers found out that the same component in their MD80s was wearing out tells me that it was off everybody's radar, so to speak, not just Alaska's. The maintenance record issues at the Oakland base so far have been shown to be sloppy filing, not sloppy maintenance, but forewarned is forearmed, and if you're nervous there are certainly other options. I would agree with Thyra, however, that the chance of anything being missed while the feds are scrutinizing every file and rivet and the media is swarming all about, is pretty small. I would fly with confidence but only you can decide for yourself.

April

But now on the news was the leaked letter from an Alaska Airlines pilot expressing his concern about maintenance.

Tom

I flew Alaska for the first time last year. I was surprised and a little perturbed at the fact they placed a small card on your tray at each meal with a vaguely nondenominational prayer on it. Now I guees I know why they do it!