Alaska recently restricted all their low fares, eliminating free changes and upgrades for elites. Elites have to pay $30 more each way for benefits they used to get on these same fares. $79 is the new $49 and $89 is the new $59 on Alaska as of mid-January travel.
FT'ers are up in arms. Unless Alaska reverses itself, I wasted my money and effort to reach MVP. See the discussion at
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...y-x-fares.html
According to my research, the difference between saver and main fares is as low as $20, I have found plenty of $69 intra-California main cabin fares out of SAN, LAX - 2 examples below. So for $20 - $30 more, I (as an MVPG) am essentially guaranteed a premium economy upgrade (36" seat pitch, free drinks), good shot at first class upgrade (meal).
Elites still receive EQM, early boarding privileges and free check bags for the new basic economy fares, so the effort is not exactly wasted. If I am not mistaken, MVPG and MVPG75k elites still enjoy fee waivers, which were never available to MVPs.
So yes - Alaska management essentially raised the price on many fares, but $69 intra-California for a reserved seat, all but guaranteed upgrades for elites is still an excellent value. I bailed on WN for AS more than 2 years ago, have never looked back.