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)
May 9, 2018, 6:01 pm
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,386
are you forced -- by either policy or psychology -- to always buy the lowest fare? if not, is "$15 or $25 more for AS is ok" a reasonable value proposition?
May 9, 2018, 6:02 pm
#47
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS - MVPG; DL - SM; Marriott, Hilton, SPG - Gold
Posts: 194
Ugh! Yeah, the sucktastic changes just keep coming. Makes me less and less likely to want to push for another year of MVPG status and maintain loyalty to AS. I'm just waiting for the inevitable move to revenue-based mileage earning. That will be the nail in the coffin to end my relationship with Alaska, and move to Delta for business travel, and cheapest fare for everything else.
This is incredibly disappointing.
This is incredibly disappointing.
May 9, 2018, 6:50 pm
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,414
I definitely will push more to WN because of AS deciding they need to follow DL/AA/UA.
To be honest. DL first class monetizing works OK if I want to fly F... AS isn’t as good at it.
May 9, 2018, 7:54 pm
#51
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Berkeley, CA
Programs: UA Silver, Southwest A-List, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 818
Agreed. I was hoping they'd at least cut MVPs a break and provide a discount on the change fees. I said in the earlier thread that I'd hope they'd re-introduce a plans change pass alternatively. I guess I was hoping they'd be creative in a way that didn't seem like a single fee. However, it does seem like they are taking from the Big-3's playbook.
That said, even with these changes, I'm probably still willing to look for AS. I'm glad they kept the intra-CA same day change at $25. However, it becomes harder to ignore other carriers when they are substantially cheaper or have better timing and harder to ignore WN when I need some flexibility.
That said, even with these changes, I'm probably still willing to look for AS. I'm glad they kept the intra-CA same day change at $25. However, it becomes harder to ignore other carriers when they are substantially cheaper or have better timing and harder to ignore WN when I need some flexibility.
May 9, 2018, 8:18 pm
#52
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SEA
Programs: DL Plat, AS MVPG, Bonvoy Plat/LT Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,266
Yep, and with no change fees to buy that F seat, even for non-status passengers. I hope to be able to fly AS enough to maintain MVPG; if not, I see limited value in MVP.
May 10, 2018, 7:23 am
#54
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,434
May 10, 2018, 7:54 am
#55
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
Yikes. My first time MVP, and looks like it might be last. I had been changing over all my flights from WN to AS to try and make MVP this year, but now I do not think I will bother. Maybe if I could get to Gold I would, but not a chance in H I will be able to do that. Having the option to change or cancel my booking is a huge plus for me, even 60 days out. But AS still has the best availability out of SEA so it is not like I am going to quit them altogether, just not going to make an effort to use them instead of someone else.
May 10, 2018, 7:59 am
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Yes, any ticket booked prior to 6/5 is still eligible for a change/cancel for free outside 60 days of departure. However once its reissued the first time post 6/5 you cannot make any further changes without a change fee. The lack of change fee is written into the fare rules which is why you get the change/cancel. The reissued ticket would be subject to the new rules.
Last edited by CDKing; May 10, 2018 at 8:33 am
May 10, 2018, 10:19 am
#57
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 669
I am not a fan of these changes. Alaska needs to be careful how much more they cut. The way they've really been a leader in the industry is customer service (not so much product), so the more they cut from their strong area, the more their weaker attributes are obvious.
May 10, 2018, 10:47 am
#59
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Upfaring is not an official exception to the change fee, so unless you otherwise have a waiver (24 hours of purchase more than 24 hours before flight or Gold/75K status or refundable ticket) it would apply as it does now. In practice, an agent may or may not waive the fee.
May 10, 2018, 3:22 pm
#60
Moderator Communications Coordinator, Signatures
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: deep within the Eskimo lair
Programs: TubWorld, Bar Alliance, Borratxo Legendarium
Posts: 16,968