Say Goodbye to Alaska’s Price Drop Guarantee (and a Few More Perks)
Sharon Hsu August 09, 2018
ORG XMIT: WADZ201 In this photo made Thursday, June 11, 2009, an Alaska Airlines airliner is pushed away from a gate at SeaTac Airport in SeaTac, Wash. Alaska Air Group Inc., operator of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, said Thursday. July 23, its second-quarter profit plunged 53.9 percent to $29.1 million as sales slipped 9.3 percent.(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Alaska Airlines has built a reputation on passenger-friendly policies around booking fees, no-penalty flight itinerary changes, and generous price guarantees. But the airline recently announced that it plans on discontinuing many of these policies in search of higher revenues in a competitive market.
Alaska Airlines has followed the lead of other carriers this year in dropping many of the customer-focused features that made it a favorite amongst travelers. Travelpulse reports that the airline plans on creating a tier of discounted basic economy seats called “Saver Fares,” which will include none of the perks that other ticketholders enjoy. Saver Fare fliers will not be able to change or cancel their tickets, nor will they be able to upgrade their seats (which are, of course, located in the very back of the plane). Alaska also announced in April that it will start adjusting prices for Premium Economy in real time, according to market conditions.
Passengers who might opt to buy a better seat will soon see an additional fee charged for the exit row, and Alaska has already ended its previously generous policy of allowing free ticket changes made at least 60 days before departure. Only its MVP Gold and 75k members will be exempt from the new fee.
Finally, travelers will soon need to say goodbye to Alaska’s price guarantee policy, which allowed passengers who bought their fares directly from Alaska and later found a lower price on that fare to claim a credit for the difference from the airline. This change goes into effect on September 1, leaving Southwest the only remaining U.S. carrier to offer a reduced price guarantee.
Between the Saver Fares and other changes, Alaska is expected to bring in over $150 million in additional revenue next year.
[Photo: Shutterstock]
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SHHH!! Don't tell AlaskaAir but on some Alaska short flights on equipment with rear doors, I'll gladly take that last row. You get to board at the front of the regular economy passengers and you're one of the first to deplane when they open the rear doors!
Is this one of those instances where "Premium Economy" is just regular economy and "Basics Economy" is like, steerage?
Alaska has made so many changes lately. It is not the same airline.....the botched Virgin America deal, dropping of lots of routes, and then the nickel and diming of customers...and now this.....definately the water is bad at Alaska.