FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Details/Discussion of Saver (Basic Economy) "X" Fares
Old Dec 24, 2019 | 8:42 am
  #883  
pickles1107
10 Years on Site
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 482
Originally Posted by sltlyamusd
I have an upcoming saver itinerary. In the past, I have been always able to reserve seats for Saver at the time of booking, but it looks like they have reduced the number of rows available for pre-select in the 739 compared to my last trip (I used to be able to select rows 28-34, but now it looks like they have limited it to 30-34).

So, my question is, does Alaska “punish” you the way AA and BA do, auto-assigning a middle seat during OLCI when booking Saver even when aisles or windows are still available? Or will the system still assign you to your preferred seat preference (if available)? Or can I actually choose my seat during OLCI if there are still unallocated non-premium seats?
I have booked saver a lot with parties of more than one and not selected seats at booking. Only once were we assigned seats that were not together. I have small children so I am guessing that makes a difference but even on a trip with just my wife and I we were assigned exit row seats together at the gate. I flew saver recently by myself however and was assigned a middle in row 31 even though the plane was 1/3 empty and there were plenty of open windows. Luckily there was no one in 31F so I just sat there.

I am usually booking 5 tix, so buying up to main would add up quickly.
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