Alaska Airlines has announced major changes to its Saver fares, which are the carrier’s version of basic economy. We knew some changes were coming, because yesterday we learned that mileage earning on Saver fares would decrease by 70%. Now we have the full story, and it’s not all bad news.
Alaska Airlines hugely changing Saver fares
Alaska Airlines is changing the value proposition of its Saver fares, and the changes are both good and bad news. Alaska describes these changes as giving guests what they want most, which is low fares and additional flexibility.
First of all, here’s what’s not changing about Alaska Saver fares:
- Those on Alaska Saver fares can continue to bring a free carry-on bag and a free personal item with them; some airlines add carry-on restrictions on these kinds of fares
- Those on Alaska Saver fares traveling with children 13 or younger will still be assigned seats together, in line with Alaska’s family seating policy
That brings us to the changes. The following new policies kick in for tickets booked as of May 22, 2023, and for travel as of July 19, 2023:
- Alaska Mileage Plan elite members (MVP, MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold 100K members) booked on Saver fares will be eligible for complimentary, same-day upgrades to first class and Premium Class, and they’ll be notified within two hours of departure if their upgrade has cleared; as a point of comparison, previously Saver fares weren’t eligible for these upgrades
- Alaska Mileage Plan members booked on Saver fares will go from earning 100% elite qualifying and redeemable miles to earning 30% elite qualifying and redeemable miles, so that’s a reduction of 70%
Meanwhile the following change applies for tickets booked as of July 19, 2023:
- Alaska Saver fares will no longer have no flexibility; if a guest cancels a Saver fare 14 or more days before departure, they’ll receive a 50% travel credit for their fare, plus 100% of applicable taxes and fees refunded
As before, Alaska Saver fares will remain ineligible for other changes, and seat selection in advance is not possible.
For those wondering about the logistics of being added to the upgrade list when booked on a Saver fare, here’s how that will work:
- Elite members will be added to the upgrade waitlist within two hours of departure
- At that point, they will fall within their tier at the bottom of the fare class order in terms of priority
- Since those on Saver fares aren’t added to the list until within two hours of departure, elite members on Saver fares will not see their name on the waitlist at all when check-in starts 24 hours before departure
My take on Alaska Saver fare changes
I have to give Alaska Airlines credit for making thoughtful changes to Saver fares, as it’s not all bad news. Whether these changes are good or bad depends on who you ask.
For those who don’t care about earning miles (or who aren’t miles & points junkies), I’d say these changes are objectively positive, as you can receive a travel credit worth 50% of your fare when canceling in advance. That’s worth more than a reduction in mileage earning for most people, in my opinion.
For elite members, it also depends what you value more. Yes, mileage earning is being reduced considerably, though at the same time you’ll now be eligible for upgrades on the day of departure. Personally if I were an Alaska Airlines elite member, I think I’d prefer the new system. That’s because I’d pay a significant premium to avoid having a seat assigned for me last minute, and to not be eligible for any sort of upgrades.
The major US airlines all have basic economy fares, and they all have punitive policies that are intended to encourage people to buy up to a higher fare band. While US airlines follow one another in so many ways, oddly each airline is unique with basic economy restrictions.
United doesn’t offer free carry-ons with basic economy. Delta doesn’t offer mileage earning with basic economy. Meanwhile American and Alaska take a middle of the road approach, and let you take a carry-on and let you earn miles at a reduced rate.
Bottom line
Alaska Airlines is significantly altering its Saver fares, which are the carrier’s version of basic economy. With these changes, we’ll see Saver fares only accrue 30% elite qualifying and redeemable miles. At the same time, elite members booked on these fares will be eligible for day of departure upgrades, and Saver fares will also offer a travel credit if you cancel at least 14 days in advance.
What do you make of these Alaska Saver fare changes?
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