Probably not a surprise to anyone here, but DL/AS will end their codeshare this coming May. DL presser here: http://seekingalpha.com/pr/16696881-delta-alaska-airlines-will-end-partnership-may-2017
No surprise, but it does help explain why there was no mention of DL in the AS/VX merger approval, which pulled back somewhat on what AA & AS could do with regard to codesharing. It was long overdue, and finally being free of this agreement will probably unleash a honey badger in AS...
Lol. You're probably right. I will say (again) that I think our good friends on Virginia Avenue have underestimated the brand affinity people in the Pac NW have for the Eskimo... I hope this isn't another case of Icarus flying too close to the sun.