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Details/Discussion of Saver (Basic Economy) "X" Fares

Old Nov 27, 2018, 7:54 am
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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:
  • Limited seating may be available at the time of purchase. Most seats will be assigned at check-in.
  • We cant 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
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Details/Discussion of Saver (Basic Economy) "X" Fares

Old Nov 27, 2018, 1:53 am
  #361  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Originally Posted by sfozrhfco
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?
There are several points. 1) There is still opportunity to book AS regular main cabin fares. 2) If Southwest is more favourable, fly it! Southwest doesn't work for me. 3) Some fly AS for Mileage Plan and don't necessarily purchase the cheapest fares. 4) Southwest isn't going to get me international premium cabin awards. 5) You don't have to pay a $30 premium (subject to change, nothing is etched in stone yet) on a $50 throwaway fare. Fly the saver. You still get EQM, RDM Bonus, early boarding, bin space, checked bag, drink, entertainment player as appropriate, etc.... If you absolutely can't live without a Premium Seat or a chance of an upgrade on a sub 2 hour flight then cough up the money for the fare increase. Do we know 100% that AS won't assign an Elite a Premium Seat if there is availability? They have only said you cannot select one at booking.

I am just comparing AS with WN on random city pairs and dates. I do see SFO-LAX where AS Saver fares are the same as WN WGA and main cabin AS are $30 more but I also see others where some WN WGA fares are higher than AS P fares. Here is one SFO-PDX for March 3rd.






When WN installs First Class seats, flies internationally to Western Canada and partners with international airlines for premium cabin awards then we can compare apples with apples. Until then no need for the fermented grapes. Things change!

James
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Old Nov 27, 2018, 2:15 am
  #362  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Berkeley, CA
Programs: UA Silver, Southwest A-List, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 818
Originally Posted by Flying for Fun
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?
Sorry, but this comparison has a hole in it. An Anytime Fare is Refundable. The AS P fare is subject to a $125 change fee for non-elites. More importantly, it goes to the travel bank regardless of status. Anytime fares are refunded to the original payment. In your example, you should compare WN's Anytime Fare ($305) to AS's Refundable Fare in Main ($420).

Also, I would suggest doing SF Bay Area vs. picking SFO or OAK alone. It's a bit misleading not to have any WN non-stops (most likely out of OAK) in that comparison.

However, overall, you have valid points and I am changing my short haul to WN. You're right that it won't get me international travel, but at legs earning 750 RDM at most each go, I think I can get just as much value out of RR. I don't actually care about the front or premium seat as much for short haul (esp-intra CA), so everything else being equal to me WN's generous change policy is the decider for me and is easily worth a $10-20 premium.
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Last edited by FlyingBear; Nov 27, 2018 at 2:34 am
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Old Nov 27, 2018, 3:02 am
  #363  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Originally Posted by FlyingBear
Sorry, but this comparison has a hole in it. An Anytime Fare is Refundable. The AS P fare is subject to a $125 change fee for non-elites. More importantly, it goes to the travel bank regardless of status. Anytime fares are refunded to the original payment. In your example, you should compare WN's Anytime Fare ($340) to AS's Refundable Fare in Main ($420).

Also, I would suggest doing SF Bay Area vs. picking SFO or OAK alone. It's a bit misleading saying there are no non-stops on WN from the Bay Area to PDX in the morning by only looking at SFO.

However, overall, you have valid points and I am changing my short haul to WN. You're right that it won't get me international travel, but at legs earning 750 RDM at most each go, I think I can get just as much value out of RR. I don't actually care about the front or premium seat as much for short haul (esp-intra CA), so everything else being equal to me WN's generous change policy is the decider for me and is easily worth a $10-20 premium.
I chose SFO only because it was a reply to @sfozhrfco so I anticipated he was somewhere between San Francisco, Zurich and Rome.

I am not familiar with the WN network and while your point is valid on refundable fares it is the AS Elites, a lot of which have a change fee waiver, that have their hands up in the air so that is most likely less relevant to this thread.

The P fares are less expensive than eligible fares for instant upgrades sans GGUs. Those are still cheaper but the differential makes for a very poor use of them. Those are available to everyone. I certainly would just buy the P fare in that case and enjoy the 75% COS Bonus.

Comments like having to pay more for their promised benefits is just ridiculousness. Benefits are never promised, never guaranteed and can be changed at anytime with or without notice. Just because they have had their cake and eaten it too since the roll-out of BE on the Big 3 it shouldn't be a shock that the cake is pretty much gone.

I have been saying all along that if WN works better then move along and fly WN. If your travel is hybrid using the best of both airlines even better. I just don't see the need to stick around and whine over the changes like broken records.

At some point you need to assess what is working and not working for your particular situation independent of everyone else. For me, AS is still working wonderfully. I continue to assess as changes occur and if at some point it is no longer a value proposition for me I will say so and look for other opportunities.

James
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Old Nov 27, 2018, 7:36 am
  #364  
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: Alaska Gold 100k, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 226
Do you still get qualifying miles and bonus miles on X fares?
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Old Nov 27, 2018, 7:55 am
  #365  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Sorry James but you are twisting yourself into contortions to defend AS by deliberately choosing flights a couple weeks before the saver fares kick in on that route and you also did not even sort the Southwest schedule by non stop flights. That is like picking fares on AS from
SFO to LAX that connect in SEA and say wow AS charges such high fares.

You can see WN has far more non stop flights on that route and AS is the weaker player. How is it going to help them to give live less benefits all around compared to WN at an airport which they are struggling at even before the jntro of saver fares?
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Old Nov 27, 2018, 7:55 am
  #366  
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Originally Posted by brentyb
Do you still get qualifying miles and bonus miles on X fares?
Yes.

Earn Miles on New Alaska Airlines Saver "X" Fares? (Yes)
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Old Nov 27, 2018, 7:57 am
  #367  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,284
Originally Posted by brentyb
Do you still get qualifying miles and bonus miles on X fares?
Yes, you do.

FYI, I've created a wiki for this thread since these questions will come up for years to come, I'm sure. If anyone has the time to review and/or add other info., that'd be great.
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Old Nov 28, 2018, 4:14 pm
  #368  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,490
Originally Posted by diver858
About 1 week ago, I received an email from Tilden, talking about his recent visit to my home base (San Diego), thanking me for my business. As a lowly MVPG, I assume hundreds if not thousands of other San Diegans received the same letter. After reading this thread, I decided to reply to the email, voice some of the concerns included above. Will report back on what if any response is received.
Received the following response today:
Dear XXXX,

Your email to Brad Tilden was forwarded to me for handling. Brad asked that I personally respond on his behalf. Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding our new saver fares and the effect you feel it has had on our main fares.

I checked with the Director of our Pricing Department and his response was we have rolled out competitive fares with what other airlines are doing and we are still fine tuning the process. He does appreciate your sharing your concerns.

XXXX, it is my hope that your future flights with us will reflect the high level of service you have come to expect when traveling with us. We value your patronage and look forward to welcoming you aboard another Alaska flight soon.

Sincerely,

Adora Becker
Customer Care Specialist


I responded with the following:
Thank you for the response, Adora.

From what I am reading in multiple online travel forums, some number of newly minted California-based elites feel alienated by the most recent changes. Will be interesting to see how many of us end up going back to Southwest, Delta and American, or simply become free agents loyal to no one carrier. Should this occur, you should hope the Alaska Pricing Department fine tunes the process, does not squander the progress made on the West Coast.

As others have suggested in this thread, patience is in order. I would expect some reduction in the main cabin premium for shorter flights and lower loads, increases in longer flights, those with lots of elites, higher loads. For example, main fares to Hawaii (from SAN) are currently $45 more than saver, $20 between SAN-SJC and SAN-SMF.
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Old Nov 28, 2018, 4:27 pm
  #369  
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I don't think that Alaska is at all competitive for shuttle markets. Flexibility is extremely valuable on flights like that, which is probably why WN dominates despite, shall we say, a sub-par product. People are willing to sit in the equivalent of a flying city bus for an hour if it means that they can cancel their flight with no penalty.

We have people in our office who live in LA and commute (to SFO) for the week 2-3x per month. Sometimes they have to stay late. Sometimes they are dond early and want to get home to their families for the weekend a bit earlier. Flights get moved around a lot. I don't think that our company is unique in this regard.

Offering a use-it-or-lose it fare to "compete" with WN shows a complete misunderstanding of this market.

On longer flights it's less of a big deal. Transcons are a PITA to change anyway. But offering the choice of use-it-or-lose it, or a 60% fare increase, on a 1 hr flight seems like they are just giving that market away.

If they think that this makes them "competitive"... that's just clueless.
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Old Nov 28, 2018, 5:56 pm
  #370  
nsx
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Originally Posted by VegasGambler
We have people in our office who live in LA and commute (to SFO) for the week 2-3x per month. Sometimes they have to stay late. Sometimes they are dond early and want to get home to their families for the weekend a bit earlier. Flights get moved around a lot. I don't think that our company is unique in this regard.

Offering a use-it-or-lose it fare to "compete" with WN shows a complete misunderstanding of this market.
+1. I remember United Express offered free changes to everyone for intra-California flights. Southwest defeated United Express by offering much greater frequency and an insane earning rate (4 cheap round trips to earn an unrestricted transcon round trip, which was almost a 100% effective rebate). But United understood the rules of the game. They gave themselves a decent chance to win, had Southwest not been willing to dip into its pockets without apparent limit.

Alaska's $30 premium, or even a $20 premium, combined with less frequency and longer block times, gives it no chance to beat Southwest intra-California.

With the new "use it lose it" policy for elites, these Saver fares should be called Loser fares. Elites lose and Alaska loses. It's an own goal.
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Old Nov 29, 2018, 9:07 am
  #371  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: JNU
Programs: HH D, AS MM/MVPG for life/AL, Awesome Wipes VIP Club, NEXUS, Hertz 5-Star Gold
Posts: 2,893
I've gone through the entire thread and didn't see the answer to the question I posed to a CSA on the phone this morning: if a MM buys a saver fare on a flight with meal service, will s/he still get a free meal?

I saw the post that said elites would still get their refreshment bennies (i.e., a drink and a chocolate bar) but it was silent on the matter of the MM comped meal.

The agent checked with two leads and they both were not 100% sure but both said they though a MM would not get the free meal. Agent said she'd forward the question to higher-ups and report back with the "real" answer.

If a fellow MM has the opportunity to try this out, please let us know what you experienced. Thanks much.
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Old Nov 29, 2018, 9:37 am
  #372  
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
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Originally Posted by dave1013
I've gone through the entire thread and didn't see the answer to the question I posed to a CSA on the phone this morning: if a MM buys a saver fare on a flight with meal service, will s/he still get a free meal?

I saw the post that said elites would still get their refreshment bennies (i.e., a drink and a chocolate bar) but it was silent on the matter of the MM comped meal.

The agent checked with two leads and they both were not 100% sure but both said they though a MM would not get the free meal. Agent said she'd forward the question to higher-ups and report back with the "real" answer.

If a fellow MM has the opportunity to try this out, please let us know what you experienced. Thanks much.
​​​​​​Nothing so far suggests that FAs will be modifying status-based service due to saver fares.
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Old Nov 29, 2018, 11:57 pm
  #373  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVPG75k
Posts: 330
What I really don't like is AS saver fares are showing up in Google Flights as regular fares. There is no way to search for regular fares where I have my elite benefits. Anyone found a way to search only non-saver fares? This is bound to catch people who don't fly often by surprise.
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Old Nov 30, 2018, 9:52 am
  #374  
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I know that people rave about Google flights but I find it marginally useful at best. They exclude too much critical information. To search for flights between specific city pairs, I find matrix much more useful, and you can easily exclude the booking codes you don't want.

I like Google flights for the map view to give me ideas on where to go. But from there I go to matrix to search for what I actually want.
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Old Nov 30, 2018, 6:28 pm
  #375  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVPG75k
Posts: 330
Originally Posted by VegasGambler
I know that people rave about Google flights but I find it marginally useful at best. They exclude too much critical information. To search for flights between specific city pairs, I find matrix much more useful, and you can easily exclude the booking codes you don't want.

I like Google flights for the map view to give me ideas on where to go. But from there I go to matrix to search for what I actually want.
Great point on the Matrix, VegasGambler. I used to use Matrix exclusively, but moved to Google Flights for the alerts. I also like that I can quickly code out custom results on the map by editing the URL. Since Google Flights is built on the Matrix software, there's probably a way to filter by booking code that I haven't figured out yet. For now, I'm going to return to Matrix.
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