The New, Slightly-Different Basic Economy Coming in January 2019

Just a few weeks after their announcement that their carry-on size would be shrinking, Alaska Airlines has announced that they too will be joining the Basic Economy bandwagon later this year. But, executives announced in a first-quarter earnings call on Monday, it’s not all bad news.

Alaska Airlines is calling their version of basic economy “Saver Fares,” and while they are essentially a basic economy product, Andrew Harrison, Alaska Air Group’s COO says that this seating class will have one significant difference:

“when you book on Alaska Airlines, you get a seat assignment… if you look across the structure of [basic economy overall], our structure is one that meets the middle ground.”

Saver Fares will also come with the following restrictions:

• Seats in rear of aircraft
• Guests board last
• Upgrades for elites not permitted
• Tickets not changeable/cancelable.

Alaska Airlines also announced that several of their fees will be increasing. It will begin charging passengers more to sit in exit row seats, and end their generous change fee waiver. Previously, Alaska Airlines passengers were allowed to change their tickets more than 60 days prior to departure without incurring any additional fees.

Moving forward, passengers will not only have to pay the fare difference but also a change/cancellation fee of $125 for both paid and award tickets.

To read more on this story, go to Single Flyer, listen to the earnings call here or join the discussion in this forum thread.