On a recent trip to Washington DC, I found a $99 Alaska saver fare. I could not pass up on this deal! Alaska makes sure the restrictions of a saver fare ticket are well known prior to booking.
The restrictions are as followed:
- You will be in the last boarding group.
- You cannot exchange or refund ticket.
- Seats assigned at check-in. I later found out this can sometimes mean you do not get your seat until the gate! Alaska does not make this part clear.
You are still allowed a personal item and a carry-on. You can check a bag for a $30 fee.
I booked this ticket for my husband and I and my mom booked a ticket on a separate reservation.
I made sure to check in exactly 24 hours in advance. However, it kept telling me I was not checked in and did not give me a seat assignment. It did give me blank boarding passes. I was really upset because everything I had read said I would get a seat assignment at check-in. I did not want to end up without a spot on my flight! I proceeded to message Alaska on Twitter. The response I got was they could not check me in and I would get a seat assignment at the airport.
My mom checked in about 22 hours in advance and received a seat assignment right away. It was a middle seat, towards the back, with the last boarding zone.
Upon check-in at the airport, it turns out I was checked in, but still did not have a seat assignment. The agent promised me I had a seat on the flight and would receive a seat assignment at the gate right before the boarding process started.
I need not have worried. Right before the flight started boarding the agent started calling people for their seat assignments. We ended up getting put in the premium cabin! These seats normally cost $99 more! They had 4 inches of extra legroom, an earlier boarding group, and included snacks and drinks. This was a nice surprise for us, especially since it was Valentine’s Day. I am not sure it if it was due to me checking in exactly 24 hours in advance, or my messaging Alaska on Twitter. We also opted to check our bags at the gate so we did not have to carry them on (aka free checked bags).
Overall, I had an AMAZING experience buying an Alaska Saver Fare. I would do it again, especially for a $99 across the country flight. As long as you go into the saver fare knowing you may be separated and end up in a middle seat, you will not have a bad experience.
Teacher Tips: Make sure to check in right at the 24-hour mark. You may end up next to your traveling buddies and end up with upgraded seats as we did.
Pack a carry on bag and then gate check it to save money on the baggage fees.
What experiences have you had with a Saver or Basic Economy fare?
