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 22, 2018, 9:03 am
#76
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
Gross. Interesting read on the link you provided. Since saver fares need dual availability, I wonder if we'll see 'saver' as an option for all coach fares, or if AS will stop offering it once fares get pricey.
I'm surprised to see mileage-earning unchanged, but I won't be buying these fares based on the draconian restrictions for elites.
I'm surprised to see mileage-earning unchanged, but I won't be buying these fares based on the draconian restrictions for elites.
Oct 22, 2018, 9:40 am
#77
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,847
[QUOTE=be_rettSEA;30342791]This link (a guide to saver fares for travel agents) was posted in an 75K facebook group I follow and describes a lot of the benefits (or lack of) that the saver fares will have:
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...es/saver-fares
It sounds like it won't necessarily be it's own distinct fare class from the description (so you could potentially buy a non-saver R fare or a saver Y fare, for example), but in summary:QUOTE]
Looks like both X class and the actual fare class have to be available to get the saver fare so it will be offered all the way up to Y
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...es/saver-fares
It sounds like it won't necessarily be it's own distinct fare class from the description (so you could potentially buy a non-saver R fare or a saver Y fare, for example), but in summary:QUOTE]
Looks like both X class and the actual fare class have to be available to get the saver fare so it will be offered all the way up to Y
- Booking class: Saver fares are filed in booking class (RBD) “X” and at a range of levels, each one linked with a corresponding fare basis beginning with a Y, S, B, M, H, Q, L, V, K, G, T, R.
- Dual availability required: Saver fares require dual availability (book “X” but another applicable Main Cabin inventory code must also be available).
Oct 22, 2018, 9:49 am
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,386
Heh. So basically elites on those fares get RDM bonuses and early boarding, nothing else.
If AS matches WN lowest fares with these fares I basically have very little incentive to not book WN; it’s not like I get F or changes or standby anyway for being a Gold. Essentially I get to pay a surcharge for the Gold benefits I want to use.
I guess it’s free agency in 2019. I can’t see chasing status so I can pay extra to use my status. A lot of my destinations have options (DAL/DFW, LAS, LAX, ORD/DFW, Florida). It was a good run I guess.
If AS matches WN lowest fares with these fares I basically have very little incentive to not book WN; it’s not like I get F or changes or standby anyway for being a Gold. Essentially I get to pay a surcharge for the Gold benefits I want to use.
I guess it’s free agency in 2019. I can’t see chasing status so I can pay extra to use my status. A lot of my destinations have options (DAL/DFW, LAS, LAX, ORD/DFW, Florida). It was a good run I guess.
Oct 22, 2018, 10:08 am
#80
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,847
Oct 22, 2018, 10:20 am
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,386
Oct 22, 2018, 10:30 am
#84
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,757
UA got smart somewhere along the way with seating for elites on Basic Economy fares though. While you still can't select your seat in advance, I'm 100% for being placed in E+ even when E- is empty. I would hope AS does the same by placing eligible members in Premium seats.
Oct 22, 2018, 11:10 am
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,386
UA got smart somewhere along the way with seating for elites on Basic Economy fares though. While you still can't select your seat in advance, I'm 100% for being placed in E+ even when E- is empty. I would hope AS does the same by placing eligible members in Premium seats.
I would hope AS isn't filing YB or SB fares because that would be very painful: a MVPG75K on a $600 ticket one way bought last minute, skipped over for upgrades for some MVP on a $400 ticket bought in advance. Fun times, and the exact opposite of what you want to encourage in this "we treat you as well as the price you paid for your ticket today" scheme.
Oct 22, 2018, 11:57 am
#86
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
I flew basic economy on DL for the first time the other weekend, and it wasn't awful--I didn't exactly need an F or C+ upgrade on a SEA-SFO trip, and I still got to board with group 1. But I also managed to get a window seat in both directions thanks to DL's mobile app auto-checkin and the ability to set seating preferences in my SkyMiles profile. I'd expect to get stuck in middles a lot on AS, since they have neither.
Oct 22, 2018, 12:13 pm
#87
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,847
Now once the fares hit a certain level on UA, basic economy is not even given as an option--even when fares within California get up to the $150 range many times basic economy is blocked. It is one thing on a $29 fare from LAX to SFO. That you would expect to have restrictions. If AS gives you say a $25 discount off the full Y fare and gives you "basic economy" treatment, those people will not be happy at all.
Oct 22, 2018, 12:24 pm
#88
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,386
Yes, UA had a terrible roll out and some $1000+ domestic one ways for last minute travel were coded as basic economy. I imagine people were not happy to find out that the "flexible" fare ticket they thought they were buying was confiscated and electronically shredded if they didn't board on time Now once the fares hit a certain level on UA, basic economy is not even given as an option--even when fares within California get up to the $150 range many times basic economy is blocked. It is one thing on a $29 fare from LAX to SFO. That you would expect to have restrictions. If AS gives you say a $25 discount off the full Y fare and gives you "basic economy" treatment, those people will not be happy at all.
Now once the fares hit a certain level on UA, basic economy is not even given as an option--even when fares within California get up to the $150 range many times basic economy is blocked. It is one thing on a $29 fare from LAX to SFO. That you would expect to have restrictions. If AS gives you say a $25 discount off the full Y fare and gives you "basic economy" treatment, those people will not be happy at all.
Oct 22, 2018, 2:35 pm
#89
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: AS, SQ, SPG, IHG
Posts: 319
Agreed--oftentimes, ex-DCA for the flights I take, the lowest fare available is an H fare anyway. If I have to start paying a premium on top of the H fare to be considered for an upgrade, that's really going to bother me.
Oct 22, 2018, 2:54 pm
#90
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
UA got smart somewhere along the way with seating for elites on Basic Economy fares though. While you still can't select your seat in advance, I'm 100% for being placed in E+ even when E- is empty. I would hope AS does the same by placing eligible members in Premium seats.