Good post Alpha.

Maybe what some pilots see is that Alaska and Delta have chosen to optimize where they fly and what they fly. We have larger airplanes with better seat mile costs and cargo capability over longer routes. We use that strength. Alaska has an operation well suited to do our Portland, Seattle and LAX flying.

Along with your S curve, there's also the fact that we are removing a competitor from the market and making a partner. Both partners have the common interest of maximizing revenue.

What we wish to avoid is what MidWest airlines did. It decided to outsource it's entire airline.

We would hope Delta would chose to be a successful competitor. We are putting up a fight in the New York market and Africa's been a winner from what I hear.

Wish we could "win" someplace a little nicer, like the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii and civilized Europe instead of places where a skeeter can kill a guy.