It was a pleasant experience. Considering we paid over $3000 for first class there really wasn’t anything special about first class. All the seats looked the same and everyone got the same great customer service. The only thing that was different between first class and couch was the drinks and the meal. We wouldn’t waste that much $ on first class on that plane again.
This was more with the third party booking through Kayak but my KTN for Pre-TSA, even though I entered it, wasn't assigned to my ticket when I got to the airport. I had to go through regular security. Also the Alaska app had trouble loading my ticket in the first place and I had to ask for it to be printed. Alaska Airlines was great but wanted you to know about this hiccup in the ticketing interface.
Process of checking bag, boarding, etc. was all very quick, easy, and streamlined. Only problem I had was the seating: very cramped and uncomfortable, but I suppose that’s the perils of coach. Thankfully it wasn’t a super long flight so it didn’t ruin the experience overall.
The boarding was confusing because the PA system at PDX was so quiet you couldn’t hear anything being said . The seats were uncomfortable. The food was pretty bad and I normally don’t mind airplane food. The flight attendants were not friendly. I learned upon check in that Hawaiian airlines had reassigned our seats of the second leg of the trip. I had confirmed and paid for special seats but they put me and my companion on standard seats in different rows. Hawaiian also did the same on my return flight after the flight times had changed. I happened to go online to check my reservation and saw the flight had changed. I gad received no notice. I saw that my confirmed seats that I had paid extra were gone. After much back and forth with the airlines they refused to correct their error. I showed them confirmation documents of my seat reservation and receipt of payment but they refused to correct the seat change or reimburse me. I had to pay $200 again to reserve the original seats. Shameful and manipulative. They basically held me hostage. If I wanted to be in that flight I had to pay up.
When I bought my tickets I up great my seats for extra $104 each seats 8A and 8B in the way back from Portland to Palm Springs they gave me the seats 15. I thought it was for round trip same seats . So I was very disappointed ☹️
One disappointment. There was a gate change from B8 to B10, they had announced it maybe 20 minutes before the boarding time, possibly less. I didn’t hear the announcement as I was listening to music on my head phones at B8. At the boarding time, I got up and asked the gal at the B8 boarding desk, why the destination sign had not changed and if the flight was delayed as there was no plane behind her through the window, she said that perhaps the flight was delayed and the screen will probably update in -5 minutes ( she apparently didn’t know the boarding gate was changed ( 2 down from our location) I put my headphones on and went back to sit down . Just before the B10 door closed, I got a phone call asking me if I was still taking the flight, I said. “Yes” but I was at the gate stated on my ticket B8, then I was informed of the gate change, I got up and ran to the gate, and down the hallway to the jet ramp. I was the last to board!! Very frustrating . I was shocked that I got no emails or text messages from Alaska informing me of a last minute change!!
The crew was the best I’ve ever had HOWEVER when we arrived in Salt Lake City there were no Alaskan Airline employees to be found so we weren’t able to leave the plane until ANOTHER airline took pity on us. How could that possible happen?
The pilot performed the smoothest landing I’ve ever experienced. What a light touch. And I’m an avid traveler!
Didn't buy food and did not use entertainment as these were not the purpose of my flight.
Website could be better with faster access to specific flight information and boarding pass once reservation is made. Not a fan of no seat selection on line. I had to consult gate agent each time to change seats on flights with lots of open seats. This cannot possibly be cost effective for airline. On plus side, Alaska seat legroom seemed larger than American. ns
Like: Aircraft was better than others I've flown in. Crew was great, food was very good. Air New Zealand is now my favorite airline. On our long flight from AKL to YVR there was enough room for those of us in Economy to stretch a bit. My sister is disabled and they took very good care of her and me. Best entertainment offering of all the other airlines. Not so much; Flight from AKL to YRV was delayed BUT they recovered really well so no complaints here. Pretty petty point to complain about. Only negative I have. I will recommend to friends.
Nice friendly staff and crew. Love the 787 flight. Get meals and lots of drinks!
Great entertainment options on the screen. uSB A and C chargers. Free WiFi! Crew were excellent.
Service was excellent and they’re very helpful and nice
Check in crew member was very helpful, nice and excellent service👍
Overall the plane was good and the crew great. The big disappointment was the skycouch. Maybe it would be good if you were a parent with 2 small kids travelling but as a couple it's hopeless. It's impossible for 2 adults to lie down so one ends up sitting. We split our time with one lying and the other sitting. We both got more sleep sitting upright. We will never book one again and don't recommend it to anyone.
Aircon set too high so VERY warm and VERY uncomfortable.
Not a comfortable trip, the seats are not good, and they look old.
Not entirely positive. It’s frustrating that everything is done through the united app. One of our flight attendants on our trip from San Francisco to MSP continually had trouble hearing people so she flipped her hair into people’s faces
Our original flight was cancelled from SFO to AKL on 6/16/25. So we had to stay overnight at a hotel after a 12-hour layover plus 3-hour delay before the cancellation. Then had to fly to LA and then to AKL the following day losing an entire day of our vacation in NZ, that we can never get back.
