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
#781
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,329
Non-elites are being put in premium as well. I don't think we have strong evidence that being an elite gives you a better chance.
#782
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: 16,846
Well, I don’t recall that this was disclosed when I spent money qualifying for MVPG status.
#783
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
However, for most, they are a bad deal. Whether you ordinarily pay a change fee or not, these tickets are wholly inflexible. If you need to make a change or cancel, the ticket loses all value and you simply buy a new one.
This ship sailed 6 years ago when DL introduced the fares and started expanding them because they are highly profitable and many customers like them (because they are cheaper and they want to save money).
#784
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,597
In any case, none of the airlines really want you to buy them. It's there so they show up in the first page along with NK on the various search engines. At this point the airlines have so confused the low end fare restrictions that the search engines are useless (probably intent on the part of the airlines) and unless you're planning absolutely no changes and a $1 difference in price matters to you, you have to go to all the airline sites anyway to figure out the actual price for your combination of flights and baggage.
#785
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
That all having been said: lol @ OP
#786
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Matching the ULCCs is the justification the carriers all give for adding BE, but that rarely, if ever, seems to actually be the case. AS's X fares are the same as what the pre-X R fares were, so they were already showing up alongside NK; this just lets them extract more money from anyone who wants upgrades or flexibility.
That all having been said: lol @ OP
That all having been said: lol @ OP
#787
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: sometimes, strangely, I find myself at home
Programs: I need to do better in managing my affiliations. Oops, I overshot the runway for status next year.
Posts: 651
What specific term of the program was violated by AS introducing a new fare basis which has different features? You can look all you want and you will not find it. In fact, you will run straight into the disclosure that the program may be changed at any time (although the program has not been changed at all).
However, for most, they are a bad deal. Whether you ordinarily pay a change fee or not, these tickets are wholly inflexible. If you need to make a change or cancel, the ticket loses all value and you simply buy a new one.
This ship sailed 6 years ago when DL introduced the fares and started expanding them because they are highly profitable and many customers like them (because they are cheaper and they want to save money).
However, for most, they are a bad deal. Whether you ordinarily pay a change fee or not, these tickets are wholly inflexible. If you need to make a change or cancel, the ticket loses all value and you simply buy a new one.
This ship sailed 6 years ago when DL introduced the fares and started expanding them because they are highly profitable and many customers like them (because they are cheaper and they want to save money).
Last edited by PaperGlider; May 11, 2019 at 1:25 pm Reason: typos
#790
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
More importantly, this one isn't even close. It is a contract which OP chose to enter with AS and now argues AS should not enforce.
That is going nowhere with anyone. Most of all because a similar provision is in the terms of every FFP I can think of. Thus, even dumping AS doesn't get you anything.
#791
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Lifetime Silverwings members file class action against UA
Million Miler Sues United [Judgment for UA Jan 2014] Judgment Affirmed Dec 2014
#792
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVPG75k
Posts: 330
RE: the theory that saver fares require Y space to be available, here is an example where only X is for sale.
When selecting "MVP® Gold guest" (thus filtering out saver) this flight option disappears.
When selecting "MVP® Gold guest" (thus filtering out saver) this flight option disappears.
#793
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Edit: AS doesn't hide it... no clue why it looks that way for you.
Cheap buy-up too.
#794
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVPG75k
Posts: 330
#795
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
It's showing both as T for me, which explains the price difference. I don't know why they aren't selling you T though
ETA: What if you click through from here: https://flights.app.goo.gl/gLr5y
It shows me a $20 buy-up
ETA again: but when I clicked through, it said that a "real-time price change" caused my itinerary to be repriced, and it showed me G. I guess they zeroed out T? And it took a while to fully propagate?
ETA: What if you click through from here: https://flights.app.goo.gl/gLr5y
It shows me a $20 buy-up
ETA again: but when I clicked through, it said that a "real-time price change" caused my itinerary to be repriced, and it showed me G. I guess they zeroed out T? And it took a while to fully propagate?
Last edited by VegasGambler; May 13, 2019 at 2:01 am