AS to Introduce "Saver Fares" (Basic Economy), End Fee Waivers and Add Fees
Apr 29, 2018, 1:04 pm
#136
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,395
If you fly a lot of G/T/R fares then AS isn't going to mind losing you to "free agency"
AA, DL and UA have shown that enough people are willing to pay the extra $~20 for a seat assignment, elite perks and flexibility
And there will be more open seats at the front of the plane for those who do pay when the ultra-price sensitive aren't competing for those seats.
ETA: If you currently fly on middle or high fares, this will not affect you one bit. For those flying on low end fares, this essentially becomes a new tax added to the cost of every ticket for seat assignment, entry into the upgrade lottery and flexibility. is that great? No. But it's even worse on AA, DL and UA (no carry on bag, etc.)
AA, DL and UA have shown that enough people are willing to pay the extra $~20 for a seat assignment, elite perks and flexibility
And there will be more open seats at the front of the plane for those who do pay when the ultra-price sensitive aren't competing for those seats.
ETA: If you currently fly on middle or high fares, this will not affect you one bit. For those flying on low end fares, this essentially becomes a new tax added to the cost of every ticket for seat assignment, entry into the upgrade lottery and flexibility. is that great? No. But it's even worse on AA, DL and UA (no carry on bag, etc.)
Apr 29, 2018, 1:39 pm
#137
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: AS 100K, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 1,828
Oh, mine took a hit too... I'm a big exit row guy, so when they start selling exit rows to the masses, that will definitely affect my ability to reliably snag my preferred Y seats
Apr 29, 2018, 1:43 pm
#138
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,066
ETA: If you currently fly on middle or high fares, this will not affect you one bit. For those flying on low end fares, this essentially becomes a new tax added to the cost of every ticket for seat assignment, entry into the upgrade lottery and flexibility. is that great? No. But it's even worse on AA, DL and UA (no carry on bag, etc.)
Apr 29, 2018, 1:46 pm
#139
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,830
I really wish Alaska would stop the "race to the bottom".
I'm of the opinion that they should put up giant signs that say "We're more expensive - but you're worth it", and just charge $30 more per flight.
Include one bag, include changes to 60 days, include seat selection.
I'm of the opinion that they should put up giant signs that say "We're more expensive - but you're worth it", and just charge $30 more per flight.
Include one bag, include changes to 60 days, include seat selection.
Apr 29, 2018, 2:28 pm
#141
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: AS 100K, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 1,828
You realize that AS will not force you to buy a Basic Economy fare, right? You WILL have the option to pay more and get more.
Apr 29, 2018, 6:04 pm
#142
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Internet
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan
Posts: 714
Basic Economy would evaporate overnight if the DOT mandated fare quotes to include a minimum luggage limit that matched TSA maximum per-person limits. E.g. a normal sized (not a cabin bag shrink ray sized) cabin bag and a personal item. Additionally, mandated seat selection--because it shouldn't be legal to force parents to pay extra to sit next to their kids.
There'd be no incentive in the marketplace to play these kinds of fare games if the product was standardized. The government does this in other markets, but for some reason, airlines are allowed to run a completely broken, totally bonkers market where there isn't any consistency in products and it's impossible to comparison shop.
Another option would be for a major GDS player--say, Expedia--to price all fares displayed with these items included, so the full package is what airlines were competing on. That way, airlines could play all the games they want, but if they're actually more expensive "all in" they won't falsely appear as the lowest fare anymore.
There'd be no incentive in the marketplace to play these kinds of fare games if the product was standardized. The government does this in other markets, but for some reason, airlines are allowed to run a completely broken, totally bonkers market where there isn't any consistency in products and it's impossible to comparison shop.
Another option would be for a major GDS player--say, Expedia--to price all fares displayed with these items included, so the full package is what airlines were competing on. That way, airlines could play all the games they want, but if they're actually more expensive "all in" they won't falsely appear as the lowest fare anymore.
Apr 29, 2018, 6:58 pm
#143
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Portland, Oregon
Programs: Hilton Platinum, Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 2,363
Well it would and so would the entire business model of Spirit, Allegiant, and Frontier. Not gonna happen.
The problem is that these airlines are pulling enough passengers that Alaska is feeling it.
The problem is that these airlines are pulling enough passengers that Alaska is feeling it.
Basic Economy would evaporate overnight if the DOT mandated fare quotes to include a minimum luggage limit that matched TSA maximum per-person limits. E.g. a normal sized (not a cabin bag shrink ray sized) cabin bag and a personal item. Additionally, mandated seat selection--because it shouldn't be legal to force parents to pay extra to sit next to their kids.
There'd be no incentive in the marketplace to play these kinds of fare games if the product was standardized. The government does this in other markets, but for some reason, airlines are allowed to run a completely broken, totally bonkers market where there isn't any consistency in products and it's impossible to comparison shop.
Another option would be for a major GDS player--say, Expedia--to price all fares displayed with these items included, so the full package is what airlines were competing on. That way, airlines could play all the games they want, but if they're actually more expensive "all in" they won't falsely appear as the lowest fare anymore.
There'd be no incentive in the marketplace to play these kinds of fare games if the product was standardized. The government does this in other markets, but for some reason, airlines are allowed to run a completely broken, totally bonkers market where there isn't any consistency in products and it's impossible to comparison shop.
Another option would be for a major GDS player--say, Expedia--to price all fares displayed with these items included, so the full package is what airlines were competing on. That way, airlines could play all the games they want, but if they're actually more expensive "all in" they won't falsely appear as the lowest fare anymore.
Apr 29, 2018, 8:03 pm
#144
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Between BLI & PAE.
Programs: Nada of note these days….
Posts: 1,287
we’re doomed!
Apr 29, 2018, 9:21 pm
#145
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 205
Any booking done by me under my profile has *never* encountered a change fee or cancellation fee. so not sure if that's a glitch, or by design. (MVP Gold right now, was 75K for years though, and had the same effect).
I even cancelled a mileage booking made for a friend on the #VXFarewell and got a full refund. This was done the day OF the flight.
I even cancelled a mileage booking made for a friend on the #VXFarewell and got a full refund. This was done the day OF the flight.
Apr 29, 2018, 9:39 pm
#146
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 205
I fly a wide range of fares because I can book in advance but I am not flexible on the days. Sometimes I get R and sometimes I pay M. It is supply and demand but planes have the same number of seats no matter the demand so it's the fare that needs to change with the demand. Airlines can't really afford to lose the fare sensitive. That's what Basic Economy is about competing for those people.
Apr 29, 2018, 11:26 pm
#147
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
Are you the one who scared Tim away?!?! I went to grab 3 of the Facebook 75K Group members and came back, he was gone. Not that KW wasn't a good source, but they wanted to talk to him about the same issues.
On a side note - I'm not sure anyone, except a few of us, knew that we had Alaska brass present on the flight and at the event!
On a side note - I'm not sure anyone, except a few of us, knew that we had Alaska brass present on the flight and at the event!
Was fun to meet him. ^
Apr 29, 2018, 11:58 pm
#148
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 67
That's really interesting. I've been charged the change fee twice for my daughter(MVP) on the same reservation with me(75K). In both cases I made the change online and was charged $125 for her and nothing for me. Recently I had to change a reservation with a companion pass and I couldn't do it online, so I called and I was not charged a change fee. The first two times were not with a companion pass.
Apr 30, 2018, 12:17 am
#149
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
If it’s purchased with miles, it’s not s companion ticket. (Pretty sure the reference was to the credit card companion certificate discount, which only applies to cash fares.)
It is true that by the rules, the MVPG change fee waiver applies only to the MVPG them self (no matter how the ticket was paid for) and tickets purchased with the MVPG’s miles (no matter who is traveling, I believe).
Apr 30, 2018, 8:06 am
#150
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Basic Economy would evaporate overnight if the DOT mandated fare quotes to include a minimum luggage limit that matched TSA maximum per-person limits. E.g. a normal sized (not a cabin bag shrink ray sized) cabin bag and a personal item. Additionally, mandated seat selection--because it shouldn't be legal to force parents to pay extra to sit next to their kids.
While you're at it, why not demand the minimum product be G500s for everyone, with bath tubs full of Champagne?