United’s flight schedule from San Francisco to Los Angeles remains limited, so I took a late-evening flight on Alaska Airlines last week from SFO-LAX. There was much I appreciated about the flight, but perhaps nothing more so than the chocolate and gratitude I received onboard from a flight attendant.
Alaska Airlines Chocolate Treat For Oneworld Emeralds
The flight was operated by Skywest and utilized a E-175 aircraft. I booked the ticket at the absolute last-minute and used 10K miles instead of paying $200. As an American Airlines Executive Platinum member, I scored an upgrade to first class.
The E-175 first class seats, in a 1-2 configuration are very comfortable and I certainly appreciated the upgrade. After takeoff, a choice of beverage and snack was offered.
Rather than passing around a snack basket, the flight attendant held it in front of you, you chose what you wanted, then she handed it to you. I enjoyed some sparkling water and a Kind bar.
Later in the flight, though, the FA stopped by seat, addressed me by name, thanked me for being a oneworld emerald member, and handed me a piece of Jcoco chocolate with dark chocolate and Alaskan smoked sea salt.
Although a small touch, I found it to be such a kind gesture. I love dark chocolate with sea salt so this was not just a nice touch, but a delicious treat.
Yet this token makes me love Alaska…and makes me more likely to be loyal. A little “thank you” goes a long way and on this flight a small square of chocolate raised my respect level for Alaska Airlines even higher.
CONCLUSION
There’s an important customer service lesson in this…perhaps an even broader one. Often, it is no so much what you get, but how you get it. A small piece of chocolate and “thank you” were worth so much more to me than a full meal slammed down on my tray. Saying “thank you” is an easy way to build loyalty.
Yes, that has been an Alaska Airlines treat for awhile. They pass out little squares of chocolates for the (?) gold members. One year, I was silver and didn’t get it but the man next to me did. He stuck it in the seat pocket then prior to landing asked if I wanted it. I took it and, unlike JetBlue, the FA did not run down the aisle screaming “YOU CAN”T HAVE THAT, SPIT IT OUT OR WE’LL DIVERT AND HAVE YOU ARRESTED. YOU DIDN’T PAY FOR IT!”
Alaska Airlines is not Singapore Airlines but their service is a tad better. The soft product, attitude, is a bit better. The FA’s are not spectacular beauties showing that good service doesn’t have to be a sex show.
meant that their service is a tad better than the big US 3, UA, AA, and DL, not that its a tad better than SQ.
Alaska is a great airline and I appreciate the service and crews. Though if they ever gave me something covered with “seat” salt I’d question their cleanliness 😉
Chocolate – yes!
Chocolate with sea salt – no!
“Seat” salt with anything – hell, no!
I got one of these as an Alaska Gold twice: Once in coach on Oakland => Seattle and in First Class on Austin => San Jose yesterday. A nice touch for sure
Always see them hand it out consistently – I struggle to remember a time I wasn’t offered it in coach as a gold or 75K. It is a small but substantial perk to being Gold+ on AS.
I do believe that other airlines can learn a lot about going the extra mile from Alaska Airlines.The one thing that is not so good is bringing in their ideological ideas spawned in government think tanks and woke blindness which alienates society and encourages racism.
Chocolates are what Swiss hands out to every passenger, economy included. This shows how far inflight experience has fell stateside that we have to appreciate being handed out chocolates for elites.
That said, Alaska still has a better soft product than AA UA and DL, though the recliners in first needs more imagination
I love Alaska. But I agree with Robert, the way the company is jumping on the “social justice topic of the moment” is discouraging.
I get this usually after asking for my MVP Gold free drink when stuck in coach. Haven’t had it offered outside of essentially having just reminded them but at least it’s consistent when I do.
Unfortunately the number of American EXP elites that have now “stolen” my upgrades during this busy travel season is irritating me. Used to get summer upgrades a lot!
Not sure that OW emerald is the issue here, but more of AA EXP.
I don’t think as a BA Gold I would have been able to have the same experience.
People who use woke and social justice as insults are really trying to say “actually, racism, sexism, xenophobia, and homophobia are quite good, actually”.
When will the other airlines realize it’s the little things that truly mean the most, and are remembered the longest.
As a lifelong resident of Alaska (Ketchikan in SE Alaska), I have to say that the airlines gouges those of us in this part of the State (with the exception of Juneau). Flying from Anchorage to Hawaii is often cheaper than flying from Ketchikan to Seattle.
As BA elites, we have received these chocolates occasionally. It is definitely a special touch to the AS service, and the chocolates are extremely tasty. My kids even enjoyed them.