Or, jetblue would've bought VX. The combined airline would've had the highest quality product, a true nationwide network, a loyal (almost fanatical) customer base on both coasts, and operating costs competitive with alaska and southwest.

I'm a fan of Alaska's conservative model that tracks in parallel to growth rate of the Pacific Northwest. Alaska Airlines is a geography play and a regional play, it has more in common with The Washington State Ferry Service than Delta Airlines. However, I also believe that a VX B6 combo would've been a possible extinction event for Alaska, It would be like unleashing an invasive species in a secluded environment. Alaska can live and thrive with an international network cariier next door, a carrier that dies back every time there's a downturn, but an LCC that's appealing to the tech crowd would've rotted out Alaska similar to how an emrald ash borer beetle destroys forests.