FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - MVP status and exit row seats with Saver fares
Old Jul 12, 2021 | 10:33 pm
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Cowtikk
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Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: California
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MVP status and exit row seats with Saver fares

According to the Alaska Airlines website:
Emergency exit row seating may be reserved in advance, based on availability, by the following passengers, provided they meet FAA qualifications:
  • Elite Level Mileage Plan™ members
I'm an MVP member. A couple of months ago, I booked a flight with Alaska, and I was able to choose exit row seats (row 17 on an A320) for free on a Saver (X) fare. However, when checking in, I noticed that my seats had been reassigned to the back of the plane.
When I contacted AS, they said that "your status doesn't count as you waive it when you voluntarily purchase a Saver fare" and "You are not eligible to hold exit row on a Saver fare purchase."

Just wondering:
  • Is this true? Why did the system allow me to book these seats if I'm not supposed to be able to?
  • Will AS always boot non-eligible passengers out of exit row seats in these situations? Or is this a case-by-case basis and sometimes they'll let you keep these seats?
TIA for any insight!
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