AS to Introduce "Saver Fares" (Basic Economy), End Fee Waivers and Add Fees
Jul 19, 2018, 5:35 pm
#166
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SFO/SEA
Programs: Gold 75K
Posts: 218
As MVPG I fly about 3 round trips per month up and down the west coast. I don't even consider other carriers because I place a very high value on the change fee waiver. If the premium above BE is small, I'll stay with AS. But, if I have to pay a large premium to ensure the change fee waiver I'll likely shop around and end up on WN most of the time.
Jul 20, 2018, 11:40 am
#167
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: AS 100K, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 1,828
I think a lot of people are going to feel the same way. I honestly haven't flown a lot of Delta recently (and have never been a DL elite) so I don't know -- is this par for the course on them now? As in, do even top tier elites have to buy up out of basic in order to:
a) have the privilege of changing your ticket
b) be eligible for an upgrade
and c) be able to assign a halfway decent seat?
a) have the privilege of changing your ticket
b) be eligible for an upgrade
and c) be able to assign a halfway decent seat?
Jul 20, 2018, 1:22 pm
#168
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
I honestly haven't flown a lot of Delta recently (and have never been a DL elite) so I don't know -- is this par for the course on them now? As in, do even top tier elites have to buy up out of basic in order to:
a) have the privilege of changing your ticket
b) be eligible for an upgrade
and c) be able to assign a halfway decent seat?
a) have the privilege of changing your ticket
b) be eligible for an upgrade
and c) be able to assign a halfway decent seat?
Jul 20, 2018, 1:34 pm
#169
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
I think a lot of people are going to feel the same way. I honestly haven't flown a lot of Delta recently (and have never been a DL elite) so I don't know -- is this par for the course on them now? As in, do even top tier elites have to buy up out of basic in order to:
a) have the privilege of changing your ticket
b) be eligible for an upgrade
and c) be able to assign a halfway decent seat?
a) have the privilege of changing your ticket
b) be eligible for an upgrade
and c) be able to assign a halfway decent seat?
Jul 20, 2018, 5:18 pm
#170
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: AS 100K, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 1,828
Jul 20, 2018, 6:35 pm
#171
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
I can't speak much from experience--I only just status matched, and I don't have an E booking coming up until October. But you can't assign any seat at booking, and I've heard the way to get C+ is by checking in relatively late, not right at T-24--i.e., you're not officially being upgraded to C+, just placed there once all regular economy seats have been allocated.
Jul 26, 2018, 8:55 pm
#173
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Saver fares to be introduced in December, "We expect this to be in market by Christmas of this year if not sooner" per the latest earnings call.
http://investor.alaskaair.com/static...a-01b99ec7d2e7
http://investor.alaskaair.com/static...a-01b99ec7d2e7
Jul 26, 2018, 10:42 pm
#174
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
Concerning is the statement that they will start charging for exit rows , looks like beginning in December. Will they include MVP's? Probably, they keep kicking us in the teeth and wait to see if we are willing to come back for more.
Jul 26, 2018, 11:09 pm
#175
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 103
I think the Dynamic Pricing coming to Premium Class may be what stops me flying AS. Since I no longer have status I always pay for it for the extra few inches. I’m already questioning the cost that has been increasing lately, the thought of paying even more makes the fare out of whack with other carriers. The write up in the Seattle Times makes it sound like lower pricing will be to get new users and someone like me who always buys it will end up paying more. Add this to the price increase from the upsell to get out of the Saver Fare and I’ll probably start price shopping other carriers rather than just automatically booking on AS.
Jul 27, 2018, 11:18 am
#176
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: AS 100K, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 1,828
The bigger issue is that once they are for sale to everyone, they won't be available for AS' best customers who book closer in...
Jul 27, 2018, 11:43 am
#177
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,848
AS's best customers according to management are people willing to part with the most cash on any single booking. The more nickels and dimes collected the better.