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 4, 2019, 2:37 pm
#541
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,592
Weird. I'll keep an eye on that over the next couple weeks as I book my next travel - I've had business travel on plenty of R fares, but they may not have had X fares up long enough that I'd have been burned by it yet.
Jan 4, 2019, 2:40 pm
#542
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: 21,358
Jan 6, 2019, 10:36 pm
#544
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: 21,358
iPhone app; haven’t experimented with the full website
just tried a dummy round-trip booking to see what was what re seat selection on 737s and Airbii ... if Saver sears were unavailable on the first leg (last three rows of a 739), the only way to see availability on the second leg (last four rows of an A320) was to select a PC seat
just tried a dummy round-trip booking to see what was what re seat selection on 737s and Airbii ... if Saver sears were unavailable on the first leg (last three rows of a 739), the only way to see availability on the second leg (last four rows of an A320) was to select a PC seat
Jan 15, 2019, 10:53 am
#545
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: 21,618
Saver fares disappeared today from the OAK-OGG route I've been watching. At the top of the home page in yellow is the notice "Looks like we are experiencing a temporary technical issue. We are aware of the issue and are actively looking into it."
Edited to add: The fare listed on the date ribbon is the Saver fare, but the Saver column is absent from the fare matrix.
Edited to add: The fare listed on the date ribbon is the Saver fare, but the Saver column is absent from the fare matrix.
Jan 15, 2019, 1:03 pm
#548
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
I have no experience with saver type fare's, so I am pretty clueless. I had hoped that the agents would have a little flexibility with seating. Does not seem to be the case, sadly.
I am MVP and partner is not. I had booked my flight before Saver fares, and later booked my partner on a Saver (X) fare on same flight. He was seated in back of course, (not assigned until +24) and I was 10F. I did link the reservations together. For some reason, his FF number would not go into his reservation, so when we checked bags, we went to the MVP desk, I had them fix something on my reservation, then fixed his. I asked if they could move him up to the empty middle seat next to me, 10E. She said "certainly", then went in to do it, and after clicking around for a while, said that she was not able to because he had booked a saver ticket. The flight was not even close to being full, and went out with that seat next to me empty, along with almost every middle seat. I had hoped that since the reservations were linked, they would seat him next to me.
While I get it, that they do this to keep people from doing exactly what I had done, book one regular and one Saver fare, then moving later, but really this sucks. I doubt I will ever book anything but Saver fares, so it does nothing to encourage me to book Main. All it does is piss me off, and encourage me to fly Southwest, where at least I have a chance of sitting in the front of the plane with my traveling partner on their lowest fares.
I wonder if you could wait until the last to board, then ask if anyone is seated in a certain seat, then sit in it if no one is?
I am MVP and partner is not. I had booked my flight before Saver fares, and later booked my partner on a Saver (X) fare on same flight. He was seated in back of course, (not assigned until +24) and I was 10F. I did link the reservations together. For some reason, his FF number would not go into his reservation, so when we checked bags, we went to the MVP desk, I had them fix something on my reservation, then fixed his. I asked if they could move him up to the empty middle seat next to me, 10E. She said "certainly", then went in to do it, and after clicking around for a while, said that she was not able to because he had booked a saver ticket. The flight was not even close to being full, and went out with that seat next to me empty, along with almost every middle seat. I had hoped that since the reservations were linked, they would seat him next to me.
While I get it, that they do this to keep people from doing exactly what I had done, book one regular and one Saver fare, then moving later, but really this sucks. I doubt I will ever book anything but Saver fares, so it does nothing to encourage me to book Main. All it does is piss me off, and encourage me to fly Southwest, where at least I have a chance of sitting in the front of the plane with my traveling partner on their lowest fares.
I wonder if you could wait until the last to board, then ask if anyone is seated in a certain seat, then sit in it if no one is?
Jan 15, 2019, 1:53 pm
#549
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,029
I hope not. If I decide to pay for a main or premium seat I don't want to start getting bugged by people asking me about empty seats or seeing if I am willing to switch seats. If you wanted to sit next to your partner and booked them on a saver fare, you should have changed your seat to the back, next to them.
Jan 15, 2019, 2:02 pm
#550
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
I hope not. If I decide to pay for a main or premium seat I don't want to start getting bugged by people asking me about empty seats or seeing if I am willing to switch seats. If you wanted to sit next to your partner and booked them on a saver fare, you should have changed your seat to the back, next to them.
Jan 15, 2019, 2:23 pm
#551
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
There are no "main seats" or "saver seats". They are all main seats. Some of the main seats just can't be selected if you are on a saver fare. You may still be seated in them though.
And yes, of course you can always ask the gate agent if they can move you to an available seat.
And yes, of course you can always ask the gate agent if they can move you to an available seat.
Jan 15, 2019, 4:00 pm
#552
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
There are no "main seats" or "saver seats". They are all main seats. Some of the main seats just can't be selected if you are on a saver fare. You may still be seated in them though.
And yes, of course you can always ask the gate agent if they can move you to an available seat.
And yes, of course you can always ask the gate agent if they can move you to an available seat.
Has anyone had a different experience, and was it with check in agent or gate?
Jan 15, 2019, 4:19 pm
#553
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Gate agents can move you wherever they want, once it goes to gate control. They have full control over the seats. They often move people around to accommodate families and groups.
I would hope that they would give priority for "better" seats to people on main fares over saver fares. But people on main fares can choose those seats whenever they want, so, by the time it goes to gate control, I wouldn't see any problem in moving you to any non-premium available seat. They are generally very helpful (although often quite busy on a full flight, so you may have to wait).
I would hope that they would give priority for "better" seats to people on main fares over saver fares. But people on main fares can choose those seats whenever they want, so, by the time it goes to gate control, I wouldn't see any problem in moving you to any non-premium available seat. They are generally very helpful (although often quite busy on a full flight, so you may have to wait).
Jan 15, 2019, 4:37 pm
#554
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,029
Gate agents can move you wherever they want, once it goes to gate control. They have full control over the seats. They often move people around to accommodate families and groups.
I would hope that they would give priority for "better" seats to people on main fares over saver fares. But people on main fares can choose those seats whenever they want, so, by the time it goes to gate control, I wouldn't see any problem in moving you to any non-premium available seat. They are generally very helpful (although often quite busy on a full flight, so you may have to wait).
I would hope that they would give priority for "better" seats to people on main fares over saver fares. But people on main fares can choose those seats whenever they want, so, by the time it goes to gate control, I wouldn't see any problem in moving you to any non-premium available seat. They are generally very helpful (although often quite busy on a full flight, so you may have to wait).
Jan 15, 2019, 4:49 pm
#555
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
People ask GAs for seat changes all the time. Most people do it when they are in a group and did not manage to select seats beside each other. Some people will do it if they are stuck in a middle, and will request to be moved to a window or aisle if one becomes available. I do it when I get a premium seat that I don't like -- I try to figure out if someone in a seat that I want is likely to be upgraded, and I ask the GA if they can move me to that seat when/if they upgrade that person. I just ask politely and I've never been refused. You don't do it at boarding -- I usually try to get to the gate a little early (the GAs usually show up about 1 hr before takeoff) and try to ask them when they are not too busy. They will get to my request when they get to it, and if they don't (or can't) that's fine too. But they are generally very good at their jobs and are able to accommodate people quite well. Of course if the flight is very full you may be SOL, but that doesn't mean that you can't or shouldn't ask (politely, of course).
Just because you're not entitled to something doesn't mean that you can't get it if it's available. Just remember that you're not entitled to it when you ask (ie, you're asking, not demanding, and you need to be ok with it if the answer is "no")