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
Sep 27, 2019, 3:20 pm
#856
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVPG75k
Posts: 330
Perhaps even more annoying is when I run into flights that allow ONLY for saver to be purchased. Clearly an AS IT bug as there is significant space in F and Y on example flight. And yes, the site does offer to upgrade to main cabin when booking, and then errors out.
Oct 2, 2019, 8:20 pm
#857
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA MM PP, MR LT Plat, Globalist
Posts: 1,006
I cheaped out on my 1 hour flight and am now in a middle seat. A couple posts back, people were saying that MVPs can sometimes get a premium seat.
Is it better to ask the check-in agent or the gate agent for a better seat?
Is it better to ask the check-in agent or the gate agent for a better seat?
Oct 2, 2019, 10:15 pm
#858
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: 42,957
I have a confession to make.
I booked a saver fare PSC-ANC for travel later in the month.
Will see how it turns out
I booked a saver fare PSC-ANC for travel later in the month.
Will see how it turns out
Oct 2, 2019, 10:20 pm
#859
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,695
Oct 18, 2019, 11:43 pm
#862
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Maui
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 199
I booked a red eye OGG-SEA in December. I figure I slept the whole time on my last two red eyes, so I might as well save a few bucks. Hopefully it works out.
Oct 19, 2019, 12:51 am
#863
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 223
I tried to price this out on ITA Matrix. I can repro the $172 main cabin; for saver, I cannot repo the $305, and instead see $378 (!!).
Main cabin is a single $134 WAS-YYC fare plus taxes/fees. Saver is not a single fare, but rather the sum of 3 fares (WAS-SFO, SFO-SEA, SEA-YYC). I no doubt believe that saver is cheaper than main cabin on each segment, but the sum of 3 segments in saver is far more expensive than one O&D fare in main cabin.
Perhaps AS is beginning to experiment with O&D pricing, WAS-YYC is one of those markets, and their experiment only covers main cabin but not saver fares?
Oct 19, 2019, 4:29 am
#864
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: 42,957
PSC-SEA ended up with a 2 HR delay; Misconnected in sea- saw this during the rolling delay so called AS and was protected on the 11:30 PM to ANC.
Went from 30C to 16B*
... so there was that; plus getting in hours later
*was the last seat on the a/c
Worked fine for the needs at hand.
Oct 19, 2019, 12:55 pm
#865
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVPG75k
Posts: 330
In the past couple earnings calls, AS has talked about moving from segment pricing to O&D pricing. I wonder if that's the root cause here?
I tried to price this out on ITA Matrix. I can repro the $172 main cabin; for saver, I cannot repo the $305, and instead see $378 (!!).
Main cabin is a single $134 WAS-YYC fare plus taxes/fees. Saver is not a single fare, but rather the sum of 3 fares (WAS-SFO, SFO-SEA, SEA-YYC). I no doubt believe that saver is cheaper than main cabin on each segment, but the sum of 3 segments in saver is far more expensive than one O&D fare in main cabin.
Perhaps AS is beginning to experiment with O&D pricing, WAS-YYC is one of those markets, and their experiment only covers main cabin but not saver fares?
I tried to price this out on ITA Matrix. I can repro the $172 main cabin; for saver, I cannot repo the $305, and instead see $378 (!!).
Main cabin is a single $134 WAS-YYC fare plus taxes/fees. Saver is not a single fare, but rather the sum of 3 fares (WAS-SFO, SFO-SEA, SEA-YYC). I no doubt believe that saver is cheaper than main cabin on each segment, but the sum of 3 segments in saver is far more expensive than one O&D fare in main cabin.
Perhaps AS is beginning to experiment with O&D pricing, WAS-YYC is one of those markets, and their experiment only covers main cabin but not saver fares?
Also useful to know about Matrix showing the saver fares as prices higher due pricing as three separate legs.
Oct 19, 2019, 1:29 pm
#866
Join Date: Sep 2001
Programs: Alaska Tanzanite 100K
Posts: 3,858
When booking SAVER, do NOT select your seat, even if one is available. Wait until check-in at 24 hours before and (I have NOT yet tested this), but the entire seat map less PREMIUM ECONOMY opens up, including our beloved exit rows. The Elite/Y blocks get zapped, so they are fair game for anyone. You should be able to select it, unless Alaska disables seat selection during check-in for SAVER.
Nov 6, 2019, 11:39 am
#867
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: MFR
Programs: Alaska MVP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 714
Another saver question: When booking an Alaska Saver fare through a third party (Chase UR) is there any way to select available Saver seats at the back of the plane? Chase won't let me pick one and once it's ticketed Alaska won't let me make any seat selections or changes. Am I missing something?
Nov 6, 2019, 8:38 pm
#868
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 168
Another saver question: When booking an Alaska Saver fare through a third party (Chase UR) is there any way to select available Saver seats at the back of the plane? Chase won't let me pick one and once it's ticketed Alaska won't let me make any seat selections or changes. Am I missing something?
Nov 9, 2019, 6:06 pm
#869
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,538
I am looking at a flight ex-SEA (SEA-JFK) in a week (from today) with no only middle seats left to choose from (including premium and exit row seats). No harm in booking saver?
Nov 10, 2019, 9:51 pm
#870
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: SJC
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 2,117
Wait, are travelers on saver fares able to select a seat during check in? My experience has been that a seat is assigned and it cannot be changed.
Another saver question: When booking an Alaska Saver fare through a third party (Chase UR) is there any way to select available Saver seats at the back of the plane? Chase won't let me pick one and once it's ticketed Alaska won't let me make any seat selections or changes. Am I missing something?
Another saver question: When booking an Alaska Saver fare through a third party (Chase UR) is there any way to select available Saver seats at the back of the plane? Chase won't let me pick one and once it's ticketed Alaska won't let me make any seat selections or changes. Am I missing something?