Nov 27, 2018, 7:54 am
Last edit by: NoLaGent
How are Saver fares different?
Saver fares do include some restrictions on booking, refunds, changes, and seat selection.
These restrictions include:
Elite status benefits you do get when you buy a Saver Fare:
* Priority check-in
* Priority boarding group
* Baggage fee waiver
* Express security line at select airports (for MVPG+)
* Refreshments (alcoholic drink or chocolate for MVPG+)
* Complimentary inflight entertainment player - available on coast-to-coast and Hawaii flights (for MVPG75k, while they last)
* Bonus miles (by elite level)
Elite status benefits you don't get when you buy a Saver Fare:
* Access to preferred seating (certain seats behind Premium Class or in the exit rows)
* First Class upgrades, when available
* Premium Class upgrades, when available
* Waived change fees for MVPG+
* Complimentary same-day standby/flight changes for MVPG+
Full info here: https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...perience/saver
Saver fares do include some restrictions on booking, refunds, changes, and seat selection.
These restrictions include:
- Limited seating may be available at the time of purchase. Most seats will be assigned at check-in.
- We can’t guarantee that parties of two or more will be seated together.
- No refunds are allowed beyond the first 24 hours after ticketing.
- No changes, including same-day confirmed changes, are allowed for Saver fares.
- No standby is allowed for Saver fares, even for elite status guests.
- If a guest is a no-show for any flight during a trip, all other flights within that trip are automatically canceled, with no refund available.
- Saver fares cannot be combined with any other fare types on the same itinerary.
- Saver fares are non-transferable.
Elite status benefits you do get when you buy a Saver Fare:
* Priority check-in
* Priority boarding group
* Baggage fee waiver
* Express security line at select airports (for MVPG+)
* Refreshments (alcoholic drink or chocolate for MVPG+)
* Complimentary inflight entertainment player - available on coast-to-coast and Hawaii flights (for MVPG75k, while they last)
* Bonus miles (by elite level)
Elite status benefits you don't get when you buy a Saver Fare:
* Access to preferred seating (certain seats behind Premium Class or in the exit rows)
* First Class upgrades, when available
* Premium Class upgrades, when available
* Waived change fees for MVPG+
* Complimentary same-day standby/flight changes for MVPG+
Full info here: https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...perience/saver
Details/Discussion of Saver (Basic Economy) "X" Fares
Sep 19, 2018, 12:35 pm
#31
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There is a significant slice of the traveling public which simply abandons the residual credit from standard penalty tickets anyway. Either they don't travel enough, they forget or it is just to much of a hassle. Those people are attracted to the lowest fare. It is way overthinking things to believe that there are a lot of people who make a rational choice about these things.
Just look at the one-time wonder rants here on FT from people who bought a BE ticket, were forced to sit apart from somebody for a <2 hour flight and the carrier ruined their life because it would not force someone out of a seat to meet their needs. Or their dog ate a $5 winning lottery ticket and they are too upset to travel and can't understand why the carrier won't refund their BE ticket.
Just look at the one-time wonder rants here on FT from people who bought a BE ticket, were forced to sit apart from somebody for a <2 hour flight and the carrier ruined their life because it would not force someone out of a seat to meet their needs. Or their dog ate a $5 winning lottery ticket and they are too upset to travel and can't understand why the carrier won't refund their BE ticket.
Sep 19, 2018, 1:42 pm
#32
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There is a significant slice of the traveling public which simply abandons the residual credit from standard penalty tickets anyway. Either they don't travel enough, they forget or it is just to much of a hassle. Those people are attracted to the lowest fare. It is way overthinking things to believe that there are a lot of people who make a rational choice about these things.
Just look at the one-time wonder rants here on FT from people who bought a BE ticket, were forced to sit apart from somebody for a <2 hour flight and the carrier ruined their life because it would not force someone out of a seat to meet their needs. Or their dog ate a $5 winning lottery ticket and they are too upset to travel and can't understand why the carrier won't refund their BE ticket.
Just look at the one-time wonder rants here on FT from people who bought a BE ticket, were forced to sit apart from somebody for a <2 hour flight and the carrier ruined their life because it would not force someone out of a seat to meet their needs. Or their dog ate a $5 winning lottery ticket and they are too upset to travel and can't understand why the carrier won't refund their BE ticket.
Sep 19, 2018, 2:17 pm
#33
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Also, I am almost always able to get 1B, which I like (my wife grumbles in 1A but understands my desire for leg room).
Sep 19, 2018, 2:24 pm
#34
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Sep 19, 2018, 4:02 pm
#35
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All that matters is what a ticket costs tomorrow in BE and then plain old Y. The fact that carriers use BE not to cut fares, but to raise them is the subject of endless rants on FT, but carriers set prices based on what they can get today, not what they could get yesterday.
Sep 19, 2018, 6:26 pm
#36
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Sep 19, 2018, 7:39 pm
#38
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BE tix are essentially “use-or-lose” and cannot be changed at all ... but I would never be surprised to learn that, in some instances, a phone agent or airport counter agent might have waived that rule for an elite
Sep 19, 2018, 7:47 pm
#39
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It does not matter whether your ticket tomorrow represents a savings over your ticket today.
All that matters is what a ticket costs tomorrow in BE and then plain old Y. The fact that carriers use BE not to cut fares, but to raise them is the subject of endless rants on FT, but carriers set prices based on what they can get today, not what they could get yesterday.
All that matters is what a ticket costs tomorrow in BE and then plain old Y. The fact that carriers use BE not to cut fares, but to raise them is the subject of endless rants on FT, but carriers set prices based on what they can get today, not what they could get yesterday.
And where does that extra revenue (and presumably profit) come from?
Of course, it is too simplistic to assume that every BE fare is exactly what the regular Economy fare would have been ... (or was)
The airlines might say they need these “lower” fares to better compete with no frills carriers. You know, to fill all those empty seats we see on the planes with more price sensitive travelers.
Last edited by notquiteaff; Sep 19, 2018 at 8:07 pm
Sep 20, 2018, 12:14 am
#40
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If they didn’t think that they could earn overall more tomorrow than today (whether through add on fees or people opting to buy regular economy to avoid the restrictions), they presumably would not go through the trouble of creating them. Those cost of implementation and negative press isn’t exactly small.
And where does that extra revenue (and presumably profit) come from?
Of course, it is too simplistic to assume that every BE fare is exactly what the regular Economy fare would have been ... (or was)
The airlines might say they need these “lower” fares to better compete with no frills carriers. You know, to fill all those empty seats we see on the planes with more price sensitive travelers.
Sep 20, 2018, 12:38 am
#41
Join Date: Sep 2001
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I'm thinking that Club 49 benefits won't apply to Basic, and I think our elite benefits will be trimmed.
However, I'm optimistic. Was just pricing an AA Intl itinerary - and Basic to "Regular" was only $15 more.
However, I'm optimistic. Was just pricing an AA Intl itinerary - and Basic to "Regular" was only $15 more.
Sep 20, 2018, 7:03 am
#42
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Sep 20, 2018, 11:06 am
#43
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not to mention that the aforementioned "regular" is also much worse than it used to be, thanks to slimlines, high density seating configurations, bag fees, etc, etc.
Sep 20, 2018, 2:54 pm
#44
Join Date: Sep 2001
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But "other guys" Basic -> Regular Economy has been slightly larger jumps than $15. I've seen some hovering in the $50 range. So, I'll take $15 if I have to deal with Basic and let AAG pay their people more (or, I hope...)
