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
Nov 26, 2018, 5:28 pm
#346
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
Actually, not so bad. Basically, for same price short routes, choose WN. Otherwise if WN is more, just treat AS $50 or under fares as disposable. Longer routes, like transcon, pay for Main/GGU fares.
At least, if I miss a flight, don't even have to bother cancelling or notifying them, assuming they don't start charging for no shows.
At least, if I miss a flight, don't even have to bother cancelling or notifying them, assuming they don't start charging for no shows.
Nov 26, 2018, 5:40 pm
#347
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Well, not completely true. Sure, no upgrades but you get to board before most on your elite status thereby knowing you will have plenty of carry on space, you still get a "free" drink in the back of the bus based on your elite status. Yes, i get this is not important to many, but you do get "some" benefits based on your elite status.
I am astonished that so many are surprised the cheapest fares are now saver. Did you expect saver to cost less? Operating the flights cost more than last year. Fares are increasing. Would you be happier with a blanket increase of fares with all the same benefits? It seems to bother many that the approach has been to keep a few seats as saver fares without the increase to be competitive with the other airlines BE pricing while offering better value comparatively.
If Southwest is a better fit, please, by all means fly them. They have thoudands of flights a day to offset a lost leader in an AS Market. Yet for 12/3 SW OAK-SEA WGA Fare is $186, AS main $69, At least 2 U available for GGUs at $122 or P for $164. I don't like to compare AS & SW because they are apples and oranges in FF Benefits.
The cheap, full benefit fares have come to an end. Why are you not happy to have had them when the rest of the industry never did? Alaska could have said no benefits for our BE competitive fares at the outset. Full Stop.
James
Nov 26, 2018, 5:54 pm
#348
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,639
If Southwest is a better fit, please, by all means fly them. They have thoudands of flights a day to offset a lost leader in an AS Market. Yet for 12/3 SW OAK-SEA WGA Fare is $186, AS main $69, At least 2 U available for GGUs at $122 or P for $164. I don't like to compare AS & SW because they are apples and oranges in FF Benefits.
s
s
Nov 26, 2018, 6:05 pm
#350
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,857
”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.
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...perience/saver
i think we will have to wait and see how many non-middle seats will be available for Saver tickets at booking.
Nov 26, 2018, 6:32 pm
#351
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,300
That is not how Alaska describes it.
”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.
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...perience/saver
i think we will have to wait and see how many non-middle seats will be available for Saver tickets at booking.
*edited to add - or on my outbound, none. Unless I want to pay $35 for PC as booking a Main seat is not an option on the "Saver" fare.
Nov 26, 2018, 6:35 pm
#352
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
That is not how Alaska describes it.
”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.
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...perience/saver
i think we will have to wait and see how many non-middle seats will be available for Saver tickets at booking.
As of now, everything towards the rear of the plane (eg, row 28+) is available for saver. That includes windows and aisles. Of course, as people buy tickets and select seats, these seats may fill up, and so it's possible that there are very few, or even no, saver seats available for selection when you buy a ticket. That's the reason for this disclaimer.
Of course they may change it in the future and make window and aisle saver-ineligible, but that's not the case now.
That's actually why saver is currently a pretty good deal for non elites. You give up very little. There were only ever a couple of rows that were ahead of the exit rows that were not "elite" seating. I see very little reason for a non-elite to buy up to main.
That is the problem with this. It's not that fares have gone up a little bit for everyone. It's that fares have gone up a lot for elites who want to use their elite benefits, and stayed the same for everyone else. It's a bait-and-switch for people who spent the year earning elite status, only to be told now that if they want to use most of the benefits that they were promised, they need to pay more than everyone else.
Nov 26, 2018, 6:41 pm
#353
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: AS MVP Gold
Posts: 80
"Saver fares - now available on Alaska Airlines
Experience the inflight benefits of Main seating at a lower price.We’re introducing our newest ticket, the Saver fare, to offer you the same comfortable, friendly Main Cabin inflight experience you’ve come to expect, now at our most affordable price."
My main issue, honestly, is the slippery way this has been presented to frequent flyers. Saying Saver fares are "now" available is disingenuous to those of us who have seen the same cheap fares (under a different name) on the webpage for years and purchased them precisely because of the flexibility and the potential for an upgrade that we thought we paid for on the front end, by acquiring status. I don't usually bring bags, I've never been 75K so don't get a complimentary digi, and it's nice to bank miles but I don't get to use them often because then I won't make status next year.
The operating costs fluctuate but go up over the long term, yes. That is not the purpose of this change. They are simply monetizing specific prized benefits of status (as opposed to the acquisition of status, like the majors do), in hopes that people are willing to pay more for them. I am not. I also know I'm not the only one.
My main issue, honestly, is the slippery way this has been presented to frequent flyers. Saying Saver fares are "now" available is disingenuous to those of us who have seen the same cheap fares (under a different name) on the webpage for years and purchased them precisely because of the flexibility and the potential for an upgrade that we thought we paid for on the front end, by acquiring status. I don't usually bring bags, I've never been 75K so don't get a complimentary digi, and it's nice to bank miles but I don't get to use them often because then I won't make status next year.
The operating costs fluctuate but go up over the long term, yes. That is not the purpose of this change. They are simply monetizing specific prized benefits of status (as opposed to the acquisition of status, like the majors do), in hopes that people are willing to pay more for them. I am not. I also know I'm not the only one.
Nov 26, 2018, 6:53 pm
#354
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,857
No we don't. We can see it now.
As of now, everything towards the rear of the plane (eg, row 28+) is available for saver. That includes windows and aisles. Of course, as people buy tickets and select seats, these seats may fill up, and so it's possible that there are very few, or even no, saver seats available for selection when you buy a ticket. That's the reason for this disclaimer.
As of now, everything towards the rear of the plane (eg, row 28+) is available for saver. That includes windows and aisles. Of course, as people buy tickets and select seats, these seats may fill up, and so it's possible that there are very few, or even no, saver seats available for selection when you buy a ticket. That's the reason for this disclaimer.
That is the problem with this. It's not that fares have gone up a little bit for everyone. It's that fares have gone up a lot for elites who want to use their elite benefits, and stayed the same for everyone else. It's a bait-and-switch for people who spent the year earning elite status, only to be told now that if they want to use most of the benefits that they were promised, they need to pay more than everyone else.
Nov 26, 2018, 8:50 pm
#355
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Snohomish, WA
Programs: AS MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,793
Alaska's fault for being completely stupid with how they describe it. Directly from https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...erience/saver:
"Elite Mileage Plan passengers keep elite boarding status. Other Saver fare rules and restrictions apply to MVP®, MVP® Gold, and MVP® Gold 75k Mileage Plan members."
It's very easy to mis-read that you only get your elite boarding status and nothing else. You have to go way down into the FAQ to get the breakdown, and even then it is spread across multiple questions.
Neil
"Elite Mileage Plan passengers keep elite boarding status. Other Saver fare rules and restrictions apply to MVP®, MVP® Gold, and MVP® Gold 75k Mileage Plan members."
It's very easy to mis-read that you only get your elite boarding status and nothing else. You have to go way down into the FAQ to get the breakdown, and even then it is spread across multiple questions.
Neil
Nov 26, 2018, 9:03 pm
#356
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,857
"Saver fares - now available on Alaska Airlines
Experience the inflight benefits of Main seating at a lower price.We’re introducing our newest ticket, the Saver fare, to offer you the same comfortable, friendly Main Cabin inflight experience you’ve come to expect, now at our most affordable price."
My main issue, honestly, is the slippery way this has been presented to frequent flyers. Saying Saver fares are "now" available is disingenuous to those of us who have seen the same cheap fares (under a different name) on the webpage for years
My main issue, honestly, is the slippery way this has been presented to frequent flyers. Saying Saver fares are "now" available is disingenuous to those of us who have seen the same cheap fares (under a different name) on the webpage for years
Nov 26, 2018, 9:56 pm
#357
Join Date: Sep 2001
Programs: Alaska Tanzanite 100K
Posts: 3,858
$30 to destroy my itinerary, checked bags, and snag exit row. Sure. I already said, being in the minority, I'm OK with paying for this level of flexibility. I already do that when I buy into "K" class or higher for insta-upgrades/GGUs, etc.
Nov 26, 2018, 10:14 pm
#358
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Near SEA
Programs: UA MM, AS MVPG75K, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,969
sure but now you’re paying $30 for X->G/R/T and another $30+ for G/R/T->K/L
Nov 26, 2018, 11:10 pm
#359
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Yes, in fact I did. The date should have been 1/3. Southwest also has a $69.00 WGA fare that date on their non-stop but their anytime fare is almost twice the price of the AS P fare. Southwest's 8 hour 15 min two-stop first flight of the day is already sold out on WGA. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? 
James
AS OAK-SEA 1/3
OAK-SEA 1/3 Southwest
James
AS OAK-SEA 1/3
OAK-SEA 1/3 Southwest
Nov 27, 2018, 12:36 am
#360
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,848
[QUOTE=Flying for Fun;30470460]Yes, in fact I did. The date should have been 1/3. Southwest also has a $69.00 WGA fare that date on their non-stop but their anytime fare is almost twice the price of the AS P fare. Southwest's 8 hour 15 min two-stop first flight of the day is already sold out on WGA. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
James
/QUOTE]
This is a thread about saver fares and you picked a date when saver fares are not applicable yet on that route and did not include the many other non-stops that WN had either? What was the point of that?
James
/QUOTE]
This is a thread about saver fares and you picked a date when saver fares are not applicable yet on that route and did not include the many other non-stops that WN had either? What was the point of that?