Things I Think About When Booking Basic Economy Class
As most frequent travelers know, the underlying economics have changed dramatically since airlines began adding low-cost fare options over the past decade.
Airlines initially saw basic economy as a way to compete with low-cost carriers, and the general principle has remained fairly consistent. You pay a lower fare than a main-cabin ticket, but you lose some services—or at least lose free access to them.
However, airlines regularly adjust what is and isn’t included in the base economy fare, as well as what you can add on for a fee after choosing a lower-priced ticket.
There have been some positive changes in 2024. Most recently, United Airlines finally started allowing passengers to fly on tickets without amenities. check in online for their flight. Previously, these travelers could not do so.
Basic economy policies vary from airline to airline, and they’ve changed over time. So I personally find it helpful to have a mental checklist of factors to consider when evaluating whether it’s worth saving a little money (or sometimes quite a bit) by booking a basic economy ticket… or whether an all-inclusive economy ticket is the better option.
Here are the top factors I consider.
Large handbag
This is a problem that causes difficulty for many travelers when checking in luggage.
Traditionally, the general economy policy across airlines has been to limit large carry-on bags and overhead bin access. This means that the only bag you can take on board for free is a personal item that fits under your seat.
Like most travelers, a small backpack is usually not enough for me—at least on most trips.
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For that reason, basic economy is usually not for me on airlines where the basic fare limits overhead bin access. However, I may reconsider that stance. if i have a credit card Or elite class that allows me to bring one piece of checked baggage free of charge or that allows me to skip the basic baggage restriction altogether.
Carry-on baggage rules are about to disappear
Fortunately, these types of carry-on baggage restrictions are much less common on major airlines than they were a few years ago.
Of the three major airlines — American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines — only United limits free overhead bin access to base fares. Even JetBlue recently announced will end its restrictive policy on Blue Basic fares.
Friend will However, you can still find these policies applied to most basic fares of low-cost airlines.
On the other end of the spectrum, Southwest Airlines remains the most lenient U.S. airline when it comes to luggage. The airline allows each passenger two free checked bags and one free large carry-on bag.
Related: Southwest Rapid Rewards: The Complete Guide to Earning, Redeeming, and Maximizing Points
Seat selection
One long-standing annoyance of many economy class travelers is the lack of free seat selection.
If you’re worried about being stuck in a middle seat or want to sit next to a loved one or travel companion, basic economy is often a gamble. However, some airlines have taken Active shift towards family seating how they allocate seats in front pressure from the Biden administration.
Seat selection is another area where having a airline credit card Or elite status can help you overcome any basic economic limitations.
However, if I end up having to pay for a seat, I’ll usually “upgrade” to main cabin and skip basic economy altogether.
Loyalty and earning benefits
Another important factor I think about when deciding whether to book a basic economy ticket is whether I can enjoy frequent flyer benefits, earn miles, and progress to elite status while traveling.
Some airlines incorporate promotions and incentives into their basic decision-making process regarding savings.
For example, Delta Air Lines does not allow basic economy passengers to earn SkyMiles for their flights. Those passengers also did not receive Delta Sky Club can access before or after their flight, even if they are members.
Related: Best Delta Credit Cards
Each airline’s policy will be different.
American Airlines AAdvantage Members will enjoy miles and Loyalty Points but at a lower price than economy class passengers.
United’s basic economy class passengers earn MileagePlus miles and Prime minister qualifying points but not Premier qualifying flights.
While you want to pay the lowest fare, you also hate paying for a flight that doesn’t count toward an airline’s frequent flyer program. So this is a deciding factor in whether or not basic economy is worth buying. It often depends on how big the price difference is between basic economy and economy.
Flexibility of itinerary
Another characteristic of basic economy tickets is that they often lack flexibility. when it comes to making changes (in addition to the 24-hour grace period after booking that all passengers are entitled to under U.S. Department of Transportation policy).
The lack of flexibility in basic economy fares compared to other fare types is even more apparent today: Most U.S. airlines have eliminated change fees for all-inclusive fares in recent years. However, basic economy passengers still don’t have the right to change in most cases.
If you need to cancel a basic economy ticket, you may be able to get some of your money back in credit for a future trip, but you’ll often have to pay a fairly high cancellation fee (sometimes approaching $100).
If I have a hunch that I might have to change or cancel my trip before departure, I certainly wouldn’t choose basic economy.
If I’m really confident that the trip will go as planned or I’m not worried about not getting a refund for the flight, I might go ahead and buy the cheap flight.
The last line
With policies varying from year to year and from airline to airline, it can be difficult to decide between a basic economy ticket and an all-inclusive economy ticket. For that reason, it’s important to know which services and benefits are most important to you so you can make the best decision about which ticket type is right for you.
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