Emceeing the Freddie Awards last month I welcomed the crowd and shared a story of my travels to Seattle.

Everyone in the audience was going to have to accept a downgrade — I was up on stage instead of Randy Petersen who has presented the awards in years past.

But of course this crowd is used to cutbacks! I mean, for my flight to Seattle I was actually charged for my emotional baggage! ::rimshot::

Alaska’s running double elite qualifying miles to Delta’s Salt Lake and Detroit hubs reminds me of something else that I told the audience.

We were in Seattle for the ceremony. Delta was in the room, including Skymiles head Jeff Robertson. And as everyone there knows, Delta has been growing like crazy. They’ve even opened a hub in Seattle.

The awards ceremony had been preceded by two days of an industry conference. And talk of the conference naturally was Alaska’s competitive response. Recognizing the big group from Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan in the audience, I noted the rumor that they would be building a hub on Mars.

Personally I’m skeptical of the idea, it rather just strikes me as a case of Venus envy.

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