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
Jan 2, 2019, 10:23 am
#526
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 20
This is my main concern as an AS elite. As someone who pays for all of my tickets to commute to my work, I need this flexibility. If the BE fare does not allow elites a free change, and the price increase for a normal economy is more expensive than Southwest, why would I stay with Alaska? This would apply to lots of small business travelers who currently choose Alaska over Southwest. This is the main elite benefit that I hope Alaska does not tinker with on BE fares.
If I don't get the free chocolate and alcohol on a BE fare, I can live with that. If I have to sit in the middle seat as an elite, I'm not sure if I can live with it. Perhaps I can live sometimes. But, don't take away my free change benefit as an AS Gold. Otherwise, why am I flying you Alaska instead of Southwest? And, I get free drink tickets from Southwest too. And no middle seat on Southwest as an A-Lister. I guess Alaska has to decide who their competitors are. Is it JetBlue and Southwest or the Big 3? Maybe Alaska has determined that they don't have many small business travelers so they don't care if they lose them.
If I don't get the free chocolate and alcohol on a BE fare, I can live with that. If I have to sit in the middle seat as an elite, I'm not sure if I can live with it. Perhaps I can live sometimes. But, don't take away my free change benefit as an AS Gold. Otherwise, why am I flying you Alaska instead of Southwest? And, I get free drink tickets from Southwest too. And no middle seat on Southwest as an A-Lister. I guess Alaska has to decide who their competitors are. Is it JetBlue and Southwest or the Big 3? Maybe Alaska has determined that they don't have many small business travelers so they don't care if they lose them.
Jan 2, 2019, 11:02 am
#527
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
It's true that Southwest doesn't have change fees, but neither do they have SDCs. Moving to a later flight costs the fare difference, regardless of status, which can be quite a lot of it's the difference between a WGA fare and a same day ticket.
I'm wondering how people who do commute between cities for work deal with that? I guess you could always book a very late flight and stand by for earlier flights, if the flights are usually not full.
I'm wondering how people who do commute between cities for work deal with that? I guess you could always book a very late flight and stand by for earlier flights, if the flights are usually not full.
Jan 2, 2019, 11:07 am
#528
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,639
It's true that Southwest doesn't have change fees, but neither do they have SDCs. Moving to a later flight costs the fare difference, regardless of status, which can be quite a lot of it's the difference between a WGA fare and a same day ticket.
I'm wondering how people who do commute between cities for work deal with that? I guess you could always book a very late flight and stand by for earlier flights, if the flights are usually not full.
I'm wondering how people who do commute between cities for work deal with that? I guess you could always book a very late flight and stand by for earlier flights, if the flights are usually not full.
Jan 2, 2019, 12:09 pm
#529
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Seattle
Programs: Alaska airlines 100k
Posts: 923
It's true that Southwest doesn't have change fees, but neither do they have SDCs. Moving to a later flight costs the fare difference, regardless of status, which can be quite a lot of it's the difference between a WGA fare and a same day ticket.
I'm wondering how people who do commute between cities for work deal with that? I guess you could always book a very late flight and stand by for earlier flights, if the flights are usually not full.
I'm wondering how people who do commute between cities for work deal with that? I guess you could always book a very late flight and stand by for earlier flights, if the flights are usually not full.
not true. As a A list with companion level you can have free SDC. In fact to achieve A list with companion level you can actually use the credit card which counts as a means to achieve added points.
Jan 2, 2019, 12:37 pm
#530
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Does it say that somewhete on southwest's website? I couldn't find it. It says you can have free same day standby to an earlier flight, but that confirmed changes require that you pay the fare difference. I saw nothing about this fare difference bring waived for companion pass holders.
Jan 2, 2019, 12:55 pm
#531
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,624
Does it say that somewhete on southwest's website? I couldn't find it. It says you can have free same day standby to an earlier flight, but that confirmed changes require that you pay the fare difference. I saw nothing about this fare difference bring waived for companion pass holders.
Jan 2, 2019, 10:58 pm
#532
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
You are correct. Same day STANDBY is available, but only for EARLIER flights. The workaround, as ucdtim17 mentioned, is to book a flight at the end of your travel window rather than the middle. A-list priority for standby gives an excellent success rate unless there has been a cancellation. (Displaced customers have priority, as they should.)
Jan 2, 2019, 11:30 pm
#533
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798
Jan 4, 2019, 1:45 pm
#534
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Idaho
Programs: Alaska
Posts: 3
Corporate Travelers Problems on Alaska
Been a Gold or 75K for about 18 years. Just booked 2 tickets through my corporations Concur, I get X savers. 75K is useless when you cant pick a seat or get any benifits. Alaska Reservations said I should talk to my company about changing settings in Concur. What a joke! If I cant pick my seats or get any benifits, Southwest will have a new frequent flyer.
Jan 4, 2019, 1:54 pm
#535
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS MVPG, 1MM
Posts: 377
Been a Gold or 75K for about 18 years. Just booked 2 tickets through my corporations Concur, I get X savers. 75K is useless when you cant pick a seat or get any benifits. Alaska Reservations said I should talk to my company about changing settings in Concur. What a joke! If I cant pick my seats or get any benifits, Southwest will have a new frequent flyer.
Jan 4, 2019, 2:04 pm
#536
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: 21,371
Been a Gold or 75K for about 18 years. Just booked 2 tickets through my corporations Concur, I get X savers. 75K is useless when you cant pick a seat or get any benifits. Alaska Reservations said I should talk to my company about changing settings in Concur. What a joke! If I cant pick my seats or get any benifits, Southwest will have a new frequent flyer.
Jan 4, 2019, 2:07 pm
#537
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,597
Been a Gold or 75K for about 18 years. Just booked 2 tickets through my corporations Concur, I get X savers. 75K is useless when you cant pick a seat or get any benifits. Alaska Reservations said I should talk to my company about changing settings in Concur. What a joke! If I cant pick my seats or get any benifits, Southwest will have a new frequent flyer.
Jan 4, 2019, 2:18 pm
#538
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,624
Except why would the company want to pay more than Southwest, which offers free cancellation and changes at the same price as Alaska's Saver fare? Unless the company has already made that decision for United, American, and Delta?
Jan 4, 2019, 2:25 pm
#539
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,597
Because WN doesn't have non-stops to a lot of transcon destinations, and when they do they aren't competitively priced or on the desired schedule? We have discount contracts with UA and WN, but it doesn't keep me from being able to fly on AS for a lot of my transcon (and sometimes regional) travel. Most of my travel is booked less than 2 weeks out, with a lot of it less than 7 days. WN is a lot less competitive that close in, and AS is often competitive with our discounted UA fares.