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
Oct 23, 2018, 4:14 pm
#106
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Berkeley, CA
Programs: UA Silver, Southwest A-List, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 818
Here's an article on SF Gate regarding the BE details.
Not sure how much is different than stated before, but thought it would be a good review article:
https://www.sfgate.com/chris-mcginni...s-13329704.php
Not sure how much is different than stated before, but thought it would be a good review article:
https://www.sfgate.com/chris-mcginni...s-13329704.php
Oct 23, 2018, 4:51 pm
#107
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
AS' use of Saver for both BE and for lowest award flights got me to wondering. I'm kind of surprised that none of the airlines have implemented BE award so far.
Oct 23, 2018, 4:52 pm
#108
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
Read tomorrow's news today on FT. 
Fare class X emerges on AS
(note the date of the post)
But good coverage for sure.
Fare class X emerges on AS
(note the date of the post)
But good coverage for sure.
Oct 23, 2018, 5:17 pm
#109
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SEA, NW/DL 1.6Million Miler
Programs: DL 1MM Annual Silver,AS 100K 22-24, AS 75K 15-21
Posts: 4,278
So moving forward in 2019, we will have to pay a little more to feel elite. If graphic is authentic, at least in 2019, it seem mileage programs are still mileage based.
Jiburi
Jiburi
Oct 23, 2018, 5:51 pm
#110
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Berkeley, CA
Programs: UA Silver, Southwest A-List, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 818
Read tomorrow's news today on FT.
Fare class X emerges on AS
(note the date of the post)
But good coverage for sure.
Fare class X emerges on AS
(note the date of the post)
But good coverage for sure.
Oct 23, 2018, 6:03 pm
#111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
(My comment is more about FT scooping the journos. Again. Rather than critiquing posts...)
Maybe merge them? Wikify them once merged?
(I am not sure "fare code X" is a good way to say "Saver Fare" to anyone who isn't really into the details of this...)
Oct 23, 2018, 8:05 pm
#112
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Berkeley, CA
Programs: UA Silver, Southwest A-List, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 818
Does it make me an addict, if I would say normally yes I am constantly checking? (That said, it's been hectic at work lately, so not as often right now)
Good idea!
(That said, it's been hectic at work lately, so not as often right now) Good idea!
Oct 23, 2018, 10:12 pm
#114
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,158
I’m not sure what the point would be. The idea behind BE is to match ULCC fares and capture price-sensitive customers, without having to give everyone a lower fare. It’s just better price discrimination. But why would AS (or anyone else) want better price discrimination with award tickets? It’s not like they’re dying for someone to redeem AS miles instead of DL miles. It could help them throw out a lower number in ads (“Awards start at only 4,000 miles!”), but they could already do that anyway and just severely limit the availability of those tickets.
Oct 23, 2018, 10:16 pm
#115
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,460
Oct 24, 2018, 12:50 am
#116
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
I’m not sure what the point would be. The idea behind BE is to match ULCC fares and capture price-sensitive customers, without having to give everyone a lower fare. It’s just better price discrimination. But why would AS (or anyone else) want better price discrimination with award tickets? It’s not like they’re dying for someone to redeem AS miles instead of DL miles. It could help them throw out a lower number in ads (“Awards start at only 4,000 miles!”), but they could already do that anyway and just severely limit the availability of those tickets.
Not that I think it would be a good idea, but it's possible.
Oct 24, 2018, 12:47 pm
#117
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
I’m not sure what the point would be. The idea behind BE is to match ULCC fares and capture price-sensitive customers, without having to give everyone a lower fare. It’s just better price discrimination. But why would AS (or anyone else) want better price discrimination with award tickets? It’s not like they’re dying for someone to redeem AS miles instead of DL miles. It could help them throw out a lower number in ads (“Awards start at only 4,000 miles!”), but they could already do that anyway and just severely limit the availability of those tickets.
It's completely possible and a way to devalue the program.
Oct 24, 2018, 6:10 pm
#118
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska Airlines
Posts: 659
This is all quite clever of AS actually. This way, they can still say "We're a mileage based FF program, not revenue-based".
On the other carriers, you need to spend more money in order to qualify for status. That is NOT true on AS!
But you do have to pay more to ENJOY your status.
They just flipped the model on it's head...
On the other carriers, you need to spend more money in order to qualify for status. That is NOT true on AS!
But you do have to pay more to ENJOY your status.
They just flipped the model on it's head...
Oct 25, 2018, 5:04 pm
#119
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Snohomish, WA
Programs: AS MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,796
Basic Economy starts selling November 7th. From the Q&A on the Q3 investor call:
As for what markets it'll start with:
Neil
We are going to do a – what we're calling a soft launch on November 7 where we will start selling Saver Fares in a small subset of markets (33:40) in December and we'll use those lessons learned throughout December to figure out if it makes sense to launch fully on January 1. And it probably won't be January 1, it'll be like the 10th, we'll get through the holiday returns or if we need to go at a little slower pace. But I will say, as is often the case, we go a little slower on these sorts of things, and the benefit of that is we've been able to learn from others that have gone before us and so, we should be able to get here quicker than others have had in the past.
Yeah. No, I think we won't – we'll disclose them once we've got sort of the final decision on where they're going to be. We'll have Matt follow up with you.
Oct 25, 2018, 5:05 pm
#120
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Snohomish, WA
Programs: AS MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,796
And this juicy bit on how Alaska is leaving money on the table by not having saver fares. Here's the question:
And here's the answer:
Emphasis mine.
Neil
How are you thinking about the appetite for those fares in Hawaii? And is there – was one of the reasons why Hawaii might be soft right now is because of some of that basic version that's being deployed that you could see in filings of course by your competitors maybe ahead of your Saver Fare launch? Is that one of the issues, that you think maybe you're optimistic and I can get cleaned up pretty quickly once Saver Fares are in that market, if that makes any sense?
Yeah, I think it does, Hunter. I think what you're saying actually is system-wide for us. Our hands are a little bit tied behind our back because we don't offer Saver Fares. And so our competitors, one in four times they're getting an extra $25 to $35 more than we are. And that will be rectified going forward next year, and obviously we've seen that on Hawaii across all our major competitors.
Neil