May 10, 2018, 11:53 pm
Last edit by: Tokyoite
from the first post.
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...es/fee-changes
Same day confirmed changes will be effective for travel that takes place on or after June 5, 2018, not ticketed by June 5.
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...charts/changes
Edit: There're changes with AS award chart too.
Effective for bookings on or after June 25, 2018, you’ll see some changes to award pricing on Alaska Airlines flights, including:
Same day confirmed changes will be effective for travel that takes place on or after June 5, 2018, not ticketed by June 5.
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...charts/changes
Edit: There're changes with AS award chart too.
Effective for bookings on or after June 25, 2018, you’ll see some changes to award pricing on Alaska Airlines flights, including:
- Reduced lowest award level on short-distance First Class flights
- Reduced refundable award level pricing on First Class flights shorter than 1,400 miles within the contiguous US and Alaska, and on First Class flights shorter than 2,100 miles from the US to Mexico
- A new lowest award level of just 10,000 miles on Main Cabin flights from California to select destinations in Mexico (flights shorter than 1,400 miles)
- Hawaii awards starting as low as 15,000 miles one-way
SDC Fees Increase to $50, Free 60-Day Change Eliminated, and Award Changes (6/5/2018)
Jun 10, 2018, 3:26 pm
#136
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: NH, JL, SQ
Posts: 164
sigh i thought this page was still correct https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi.../faq-redeeming
Jun 11, 2018, 10:00 am
#137
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: AS 100K, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 1,828
Honestly, this is worthy of a DOT complaint. There will be thousands of folks who don't know their rights and don't know to call who will be charged unnecessarily unless AS is forced to fix this bug.
Last edited by Tracer_SEA; Jun 12, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Jun 12, 2018, 12:20 pm
#138
Moderator Communications Coordinator, Signatures
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: deep within the Eskimo lair
Programs: TubWorld, Bar Alliance, Borratxo Legendarium
Posts: 16,968
The system is able to distinguish when a ticket was booked/last reissued. What it cannot do is distinguish between a ticket that may have been reissued due to schedule change vs a voluntary itinerary change. And it may be having issues with distinguishing the date on tickets that have had multiple changes. The issue is being investigated now.
Jun 12, 2018, 2:10 pm
#139
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,546
would be smart to apply the 60 day change fee waiver broadly based upon original ticketing date, which is logically pretty fair as the passenger gave his money to AS under the terms that the funds would never be subject to change fees as long as the change was made 60 days prior to travel
only new money should be subject to new terms
only new money should be subject to new terms
Jun 14, 2018, 2:16 pm
#141
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Between SFO and STS
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, United Serf, Delta Gold
Posts: 731
I almost pulled the trigger on a $5 fare difference - I took it all the way to the final page before submit/execute. There did not appear to be any $125 fee listed anywhere. I did not submit/execute because that should/would have gotten rid of my 60 day+ cancel ability (not worth $5). SO, maybe there was something after that page, but upon first examination there is no $125 change fee associated with the price guarantee.
Jun 14, 2018, 2:23 pm
#142
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
I almost pulled the trigger on a $5 fare difference - I took it all the way to the final page before submit/execute. There did not appear to be any $125 fee listed anywhere. I did not submit/execute because that should/would have gotten rid of my 60 day+ cancel ability (not worth $5). SO, maybe there was something after that page, but upon first examination there is no $125 change fee associated with the price guarantee.
Jul 16, 2018, 9:09 pm
#143
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 39
A few months ago, long before the policy change, I redeemed points for a CX flight in January of 2019. I made a change last week to upgrade from premium economy to business class (as there were no business class tickets available when I made my original booking), and called today to change my departure date by a day. I was shocked to find out I'd have to pay a $125 change fee.
If the policy at the time of booking was free and unlimited changes until 60 days prior to departure, shouldn't that still apply, since that was the policy under which I booked my flight? Does the US DoT regulate this sort of thing? Who can I complain to?
Can a Canadian citizen/resident file a complaint with the US DoT?
If the policy at the time of booking was free and unlimited changes until 60 days prior to departure, shouldn't that still apply, since that was the policy under which I booked my flight? Does the US DoT regulate this sort of thing? Who can I complain to?
Can a Canadian citizen/resident file a complaint with the US DoT?
Jul 16, 2018, 9:57 pm
#144
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,389
You did not “upgrade” the ticket. If you redeemed an award for a PE ticket and then changed to J, that is a new award and new ticket issue under the new rules. Feel free to crusade however you would like, but there was no “upgrade” involved in what you did. Ticket reissues when you change date, time or class of service mean you have a new ticket that was issued after 6/5 under Alaska’s current rules. If you wanted to preserve your free change you needed to keep your original ticket.
Jul 16, 2018, 10:42 pm
#145
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 39
Applying the new rules to a ticket originally issued under the old rules is just ......... Anyone who was originally ticketed before June 5 should be able to make unlimited changes, as those were the terms at the time. Making a change after June 5 shouldn't change the terms of the contract. It's sketchy, and should be illegal. I expect better from Alaska, but they're turning into your typical American airline.
Jul 16, 2018, 11:00 pm
#146
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,389
Applying the new rules to a ticket originally issued under the old rules is just ......... Anyone who was originally ticketed before June 5 should be able to make unlimited changes, as those were the terms at the time. Making a change after June 5 shouldn't change the terms of the contract. It's sketchy, and should be illegal. I expect better from Alaska, but they're turning into your typical American airline.
Changes to the Mileage Plan and member accounts
Alaska Airlines may terminate the Mileage Plan program 180 days after publishing notice of program termination on www.alaskaair.com.Alaska Airlines may, in its sole discretion, amend the Mileage Plan conditions of membership, including terminating any member's ability to redeem miles already accrued, at any time.
Any and all changes in the conditions of membership, including rules regarding the number of miles needed for a Mileage Plan award, are retroactive and apply to all previously accumulated mileage.
The accumulation of mileage in a member's account does not entitle the member to any vested rights with respect to any specific awards or specific Mileage Plan benefits. In accumulating mileage, members may not rely upon the continued availability of any award or award level, and members may not be able to obtain awards for all destinations or flights. Alaska Airlines may, among other things:
- Change Mileage Plan benefits, participant affiliations, or cities served
- Limit the number of seats available for award travel or otherwise restrict the continued availability of travel awards or special offers
- Increase or decrease the mileage required for an award
- Modify transferability of miles and awards
Jul 16, 2018, 11:02 pm
#147
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Applying the new rules to a ticket originally issued under the old rules is just ......... Anyone who was originally ticketed before June 5 should be able to make unlimited changes, as those were the terms at the time. Making a change after June 5 shouldn't change the terms of the contract. Sounds sketchy to me, and should be illegal.
James
Jul 16, 2018, 11:27 pm
#148
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,546
because you gave your money to Alaska under the terms that all changes made at least 60 days out are free.
when Alaska changed its policy, what is the recourse if the customer does not consent?
is Alaska offering a refund on nonrefundable fares?
the answer is no. Alaska is keeping your money forever and changing the terms of the services it will provide for that money.
my prediction here is that Alaska will refund all $125 change fees in this scenario upon request.
when Alaska changed its policy, what is the recourse if the customer does not consent?
is Alaska offering a refund on nonrefundable fares?
the answer is no. Alaska is keeping your money forever and changing the terms of the services it will provide for that money.
my prediction here is that Alaska will refund all $125 change fees in this scenario upon request.
Jul 16, 2018, 11:37 pm
#149
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 39
How could it not be illegal? I redeemed my miles under certain conditions, and they say - oh - sorry - we decided to change those conditions now. Too bad. That's not acceptable.
Why would any consumer just accept this?
I wasn't notified that I was entitled to only one change. How would I know this, when it clearly says on https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...es/fee-changes that there's no fee for changes/cancellations for tickets issued prior to June 5?
At the bottom of the page, it has a link to their current change and cancellation fees for tickets purchased on or after June 5. My ticket wasn't purchased on or after June 5. It was changed, so that shouldn't apply to me. However, when you click on that, there's a link to view change and cancellation fees for tickets purchased or last exchanged prior to June 5. There's a lack of clarity on the website, and the agents don't tell you what you need to know. I don't look at the terms and conditions on the website for fun. Who has time for that?
When I was ticketed, there was an understanding that I would be able to make changes with no fees until 60 days before travel. I don't read the terms and conditions on their website for fun. There was no notification by email or from the agent when I made the first change. This is not right.
Why would any consumer just accept this?
I wasn't notified that I was entitled to only one change. How would I know this, when it clearly says on https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...es/fee-changes that there's no fee for changes/cancellations for tickets issued prior to June 5?
At the bottom of the page, it has a link to their current change and cancellation fees for tickets purchased on or after June 5. My ticket wasn't purchased on or after June 5. It was changed, so that shouldn't apply to me. However, when you click on that, there's a link to view change and cancellation fees for tickets purchased or last exchanged prior to June 5. There's a lack of clarity on the website, and the agents don't tell you what you need to know. I don't look at the terms and conditions on the website for fun. Who has time for that?
When I was ticketed, there was an understanding that I would be able to make changes with no fees until 60 days before travel. I don't read the terms and conditions on their website for fun. There was no notification by email or from the agent when I made the first change. This is not right.
Jul 17, 2018, 1:36 am
#150
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
I wasn't notified that I was entitled to only one change. How would I know this, when it clearly says on https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...es/fee-changes that there's no fee for changes/cancellations for tickets issued prior to June 5?
At the bottom of the page, it has a link to their current change and cancellation fees for tickets purchased on or after June 5. My ticket wasn't purchased on or after June 5. It was changed, so that shouldn't apply to me.
James