There has been no shortage of good news these past two weeks for Alaska Airline for its merger with Virgin America. First it announced that it received approval from the Department of Justice. Then there were words that Alaska settled a few lawsuits. And Finally, the merger, which was announced in April and originally planned to close in October, was closed on December 14. Two very different airlines will become one, it sure will take different work as Alaska says but it promises passengers there will be “more to love“. Alaska is also giving away free trips and you can enter to win here.
I live near San Francisco which is one of Virgin’s hub, naturally I do price their flights when I plan my trips. But I always end up going with either Alaska or Delta. Some of the routes operated by Virgin might be affected because of the merger. Travel Codex has an article written in length about what routes that might be affected. I am glad to see that only two routes out of SFO operated by Virgin overlap with American – to Chicago and JFK. If those two routes are dropped it won’t affect me much as I prefer flying Delta from SFO to JFK and I have yet to take the family to visit Chicago (I like to go someday during St. Patrick’s Day).
Like any other airline mergers, changes are coming as soon as Monday December 19, such as mile earning, elite benefits, and eventually you will be able to book Virgin flights on Alaska’s website, as well as redeeming award travel on both network.
In this photo released by Alaska Airlines, A specially painted, co-branded Alaska Airlines and Virgin America 737-900ER aircraft, painted in shimmering red, purple and blue and featuring the slogan “More to love,” lands at San Francisco International Airport on December 14, 2016 in San Francisco, CA. The newly painted aircraft is part of the merger celebration of Alaska Airlines and Virgin America. (Photo by Alaska Airlines, Bob Riha, Jr.)
As a MVP gold member with Alaska Airline, I am looking forward to the new routes that the merger will bring to the Alaska network, and the new opportunity to redeem my Virgin Elevate points that I transferred from SPG back in May. I expect that Alaska will eventually moves to Virgin’s fancy Terminal 2 at SFO . I can’t wait to see what will happen to existing Virgin routes from SFO to Hawaii (Honolulu and Maui), to Mexico (Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas), and to Newark NJ, as Alaska flies to the same destinations from the nearby San Jose airport. Secretly I am keeping my fingers crossed that the codeshare between AA and Alaska for the flight between SJC and Maui won’t be affected — AA often sells this Alaska flight substantially cheaper than Alaska itself, and it’s been my go-to cash fare option to get to Hawaii when award seats were not available.
How will the Alaska/Virgin merger affect your family’s travel? Do you live in one of the cities that Alaska and Virgin fly to? If so, it might be time to consider applying for the Alaska visa if you don’t already have one (or two), as the annual $99 companion certificate represents a great value in family travel.
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
I live in KC (MCI) which Alaska has a few flights so I’m looking forward to more chances to create good routes with the addition of Virgin but I doubt it will have much impact on me. I have 3 Alaska cards. My wife has a small stash of Virgin miles from Silvercar rentals so I’m wondering what Silvercar will do going forward on rewarding miles and also how valuable Virgin miles will be converting to Alaska
@DaninMCI — Silvercar stopping being a VX partner several months ago, after the merger was announced but LONG before it closed. VX recently added SIXT as an earning partner.
With Alaska gaining Virgin’s hub at SFO and LAX, let’s hope there will be more direct flights to the Midwest and east coast from California. I think it will happen, just a matter of time and where to!
@Sharon (and PWAC) — Presented in the FWIW mode . . . I, too, live in the SF Bay Area, and *always* prefer flying VX over AS, AA or DL. (Indeed, I’ve been an Elevate member since Aug. 2007, when they first stated flying.) Not only do I often find VX flights to be less expensive, not more — though I agree with you that often AS flights are less expensive than AA flights even though you’re on American’s own website; doesn’t anyone else think this odd? — but I find the onboard experience far superior to AS, AA, and DL. Indeed, my mantra since the merger was first announced has been “Please don’t **** it up!”
That said, I *am* looking forward to the increase flexibility in terms of being able to spend my miles on various codeshare and partner airlines — AS certainly has a more extensive “network” than VX in that regard. In terms of actual travel, this does open up the possibility of taking AS to MSY . . . but it’s by way of SEA. (I’ve long hoped for a nonstop SFO-MSY flight on Virgin, but to no avail.)
I had no luck with VX! The first flight I flew with them five years ago from LAS to SFO was delayed for four hours! I avoided it since. This September I flew to PDX on VX and didn’t even get water! Am I supposed to order it on the screen? I must be dumb.
Well, far be it from me to question your intelligence, Sharon — after all, I’ve never met you — but all food beverage ordering *is* done through the touchscreen. That said, most flights I have been, they run a cart down the aisle just like “normal” (except for FC). Indeed, I can’t think of a flight off the top of my head where they haven’t . . . perhaps you were in the lav? I dunno . . . .
As far as flight/route expansion is concerned, I’m sure that’s around the proverbial corner. The issue is simply how far away that corner is, and my personal guess is that any “serious” expansion (i.e.: new routes) is 2-5 years away. I’m sure AS is going to want to fully integrate first, before expanding to any new cities . . . unless DL or AA cancel their codeshare agreements completely.
Haha no I was in my seat and they did run a cart down the aisle but I didn’t see any beverage on it. It was a late short flight so I didn’t bother. I am not really that technologically challenged, but then again, maybe I am! LOL I never understood the fascination around VX, but I also never really had any points with VX so I didn’t bother to fly with them. Now that they are part of AS, I think I will once I can earn Alaska miles!