Some airlines suspended some of their draconian restrictions of their Basic Economy products during the currently 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic — such as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines as two examples — but with the surge in demand for air travel, not only have the restrictions returned; but even more restrictions have been applied with some of the airlines.
Comparison of Basic Economy Fare Restrictions Between Airlines 2022 in the United States
The business model of ultra-low-cost carriers — such as Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines as three examples — has infiltrated the legacy carriers under the guise of Basic Economy fares, as neither offer such amenities as upgraded seats and changes to purchased tickets. However, each airline offers either its own version of Basic Economy or the overall ultra-low-cost travel experience.
A convenient side-by-side comparison of the restrictions of Basic Economy by six airlines which are based in the United States is given in the chart below and was accurate at the time this article was written; and a link to the official Internet web site of each airline is embedded in the name of the frequent flier loyalty program of the airline at the top of the chart:
| Basic Economy Restrictions |
American Airlines AAdvantage |
Delta Air Lines SkyMiles |
United Airlines MileagePlus |
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan |
JetBlue TrueBlue |
Hawaiian HawaiianMiles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Selection in Advance | Can be chosen in advance for a fee — except complimentary for AAdvantage members based on elite status | Only after checking in for the flight — seats cannot be chosen in advance | Automatically assigned prior to boarding the airplane — cannot be chosen in advance | Only after checking in for the flight — seats cannot be chosen in advance | Can be chosen in advance for a fee greater than 24 hours in advance | Only after checking in for the flight — can be chosen within 24 hours in advance |
| Carry-on Baggage: One Personal Item is Permitted — Plus… | One carry-on bag with complete access to overhead bin space — complimentary gate check if overhead bin space is full | One carry-on bag with complete access to overhead bin space — complimentary gate check if overhead bin space is full | One carry-on bag is permitted only when traveling transatlantic, transpacific, or to or from South America — any other items must be checked pay the applicable checked bag fee plus a gate handling fee of $25.00 | One carry-on bag with complete access to overhead bin space — complimentary gate check if overhead bin space is full | One carry-on bag is permitted when traveling to or from London or for members who have earned Mosaic status — any other items must be checked pay the applicable checked bag fee plus a gate handling fee of $65.00 | One carry-on bag with complete access to overhead bin space — complimentary gate check if overhead bin space is full |
| Checked Baggage | One free checked bag to or from Israel, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand; and within the United States, AAdvantage members who have earned elite status and eligible AAdvantage credit cardmembers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not included | Yes |
| Changes to Ticket | Not permitted — except for travel to and from Europe with the exception of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania | For flights within the United States and flights to and from the Caribbean, Latin America, or Mexico, the fee is $99.00 — otherwise, the fee is $199.00 for all other international flights | None | None | $100.00 for travel to and from the United States Caribbean, Mexico, or Central America — $200.00 for all other routes |
None |
| Complimentary Confirmed Same-Day Flight Changes | AAdvantage members who have earned elite status and eligible AAdvantage credit cardmembers | None | Stand by is allowed but not confirmed | None | $75.00 fee | None |
| Boarding Priority | Last group to board — except for AAdvantage members who have earned elite status and eligible AAdvantage credit cardmembers | Last zone to board | Last group to board | Last group to board | Last group to board | Last group to board |
| Upgrades | Eligible to AAdvantage members who have earned elite status and book travel greater than 24 hours prior to departure | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible |
| Earning Miles | AAdvantage miles are earned based on ticket price. | No SkyMiles are earned. | MileagePlus miles are earned based on ticket price. | Mileage Plan miles are earned at the full rate. | TrueBlue points are earned at a reduced rate. | HawaiianMiles are earned at the full rate. |
| Earning Credit Towards Elite Status Qualification | Yes | No | Full Premier qualifying points and lifetime miles; but no Premier qualifying flights | Yes | Unspecified | Yes |
| Refunds — Aside from 24 hour flexible booking policy | Not permitted | Not permitted — with very few exceptions | Not permitted | Not permitted | Not permitted | Not permitted |
At one time decades ago, the basic reason for purchasing a seat in which to sit aboard an airplane was to be transported from the origination airport to the destination airport…
…but over many years, airlines have strived to build loyal relationships with their customers to the point at which passengers had differentiated preferences of brands and were willing to spend more to remain loyal to the airline of their choice — to the point where they would consider taking longer flight times and circuitous flight routes which were less convenient simply to give their preferred airline the sale and maintain the “relationship” of loyalty.
I found myself taking more trips by car in recent years — even long distance ones — such as this road trip from Atlanta to Las Vegas in 2017, which I have yet to document in its entirety in future articles.
In the past, I would have booked a flight on an airline to earn frequent flier loyalty program miles and strive for elite level status for the next year — but for many reasons, I just do not believe that the opportunity cost is worth the effort anymore. One of those reasons is the proliferation of Basic Economy airfares, which have in recent years permeated across the United States like a contagious disease with all three legacy airlines and have now been spreading to international flights as well — and airlines based outside of the United States have started to embrace the concept.
A Look Back in Time: My First and Second Experiences With a Basic Economy Fare
I was not thrilled with the concept of the Basic Economy fare when it was first introduced by Delta Air Lines; but I thought I would try it back in the spring of 2014 and subsequently report on it. I tried the Basic Economy product of Delta Air Lines — an airfare which has caused a bit of controversy on FlyerTalk — as a passenger by purchasing a ticket; and I lived to tell about it…
…twice.
Also known as an E fare, the nascent Basic Economy fare offered by Delta Air Lines in 2014 became the least-expensive airfare you can purchase — even less expensive than a T fare, which was traditionally the cheapest airfare you can purchase — and three distinct components differentiated Basic Economy fares from other fares for seats in the economy class cabin:
- No refunds at all under any circumstance, no matter what
- No changes are permitted at all at any time
- Your seat is assigned to you when you check in on the day of your flight — not even when you check in via the Internet before you arrive at the airport
At that time, changes and refunds for domestic flights within the United States cost $200.00 on Delta Air Lines; so it really did not matter how restrictive was the policy for changes and refunds on an airfare of $200.00 or less in cost. In other words, if you paid $150.00 for your ticket and you needed to change it, did whether or not you are able to change it for a fee of $200.00 or if you cannot change it under any circumstance really matter? Either way, you lost your $150.00 if you cannot be a passenger on that flight you originally chose after all — so I really did not care much about the strict restrictions on refunds and changes on a Basic Economy fare ticket…
…and you were still able to earn the full amount of Delta Air Lines SkyMiles and credit towards elite level status for the next year that other economy class fares would earn for you — based on dollar value, of course.
I did not like the idea of not being able to select a seat in advance — I still do not like that idea, as I would most likely wind up with a middle seat towards the back of the airplane — but I wanted to see what would happen when I purchased a Basic Economy ticket. Both purchases were for a one-way flight from Atlanta to West Palm Beach; and both times, the flight cost $89.00 — including all taxes and fees, which is what that flight used to cost with a T fare prior to the introduction of Basic Economy fares.
This screen shot of two flights operated by Delta Air Lines from Atlanta to West Palm Beach on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 shows a comparison between the lowest economy class fare, the first class fare, and the Basic Economy fare. If the $32.00 difference in cost between the lowest economy class fare does not convince you to choose the Basic Economy fare for Delta Air Lines flight 1134, then perhaps the difference of $168.00 for Delta Air Lines flight 2014 might cause you to reconsider your stance — or spend the extra $247.00 and splurge for an A class fare, if you believe that a wider seat, a couple of chances at the snack basket and that extra drink before departure is worth the cost.
Both times, I qualified for and enjoyed using the Pre✓ program by the Transportation Security Administration; and passing through the airport security checkpoint at the international airport in Atlanta was effortless and took me all of five minutes — if that.
The first time, I received an aisle seat in the approximate middle of a Boeing 757-200 aircraft. The seat next to me was empty — but then again, the aircraft itself was not full. I was quite pleased.
The second time a few weeks later, the flight was initially oversold. When I attempted to check in for the flight at the official Internet web site of Delta Air Lines, I received a message on how much I wanted to bid to be voluntarily “bumped” from the flight. I entered an amount higher than the three amounts which were offered and continued with the ticketing process, knowing that the flight was full and I have no seat assignment.
When I arrived at the airport, I received my boarding pass — and sure enough, it was a middle seat on a Boeing 757-200 aircraft packed full with passengers…
…but wait — it was in an exit row seat which reclined. Leg room! I had more leg room than if I was seated in a seat in the Economy Comfort section of the aircraft!
While I felt sorry for the people in the aisle and window seats in my row across the aisle who had to contend with a male passenger whose girth did not allow him to sit comfortably in his seat and therefore spill over into the seats on either side of him, I had seat mates who minded their own business and left me alone.
All in all, I was pleased with both of my experiences.
My Thoughts on Basic Economy in 2014
In 2014, I believed that the introduction of Basic Economy fares was a smart move by Delta Air Lines: it was a way of introducing a competitive airfare to the likes of Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines — where there are no seat assignments on general airfares prior to checking in for the flight — but without the hassle of standing in line as early as possible to grab a seat; and you still get the amenities offered by Delta Air Lines in the economy class cabin, such as a snack, a beverage, greater frequency of flights, and a chance for an upgrade if you have elite level status.
Although I paid $89.00 for my airfare on Delta Air Lines, I could have flown as a passenger on Spirit Airlines for $79.00. I am not sure that the difference of $10.00 is worth it; but that same E fare ticket on Delta Air Lines increased in cost to $100.00 — while Spirit Airlines still charged $79.00 while it was one of the most profitable commercial airlines in the United States — that $21.00 difference could cause some hesitation when attempting to save money.
It is also a way for customers who pay more to have a better selection of seats which are considered preferred. Why have passengers who want to save money and are not as particular about where they sit take up a seat desired by someone else?
I had missed the upgrade by twenty passengers on the first flight and by five passengers on the second flight. Oh, well…
…but I looked at it this way: did I really want to pay more for an extra drink or two, a few snacks and a wider seat on a flight which is only approximately one hour and forty-five minutes in duration? Even if the difference in airfare was only $32.00, I could have purchased plenty of snacks at a local supermarket before I arrived at the airport — and still had money left over for dinner. The amenities just did not justify the cost on such a short flight, in my opinion.
My recommendation back then was that while I was not thrilled with E fare tickets primarily because of no advance seat selection — in fact, seat changes were supposedly not permitted even on the day of the flight — they do have their place: figure out what is your threshold while balancing whether or not the savings in cold hard cash are worth what you are willing to endure in terms of the restrictions listed above. For me, an E fare ticket is good for a flight whose duration is two hours or fewer and has a difference in cost significant enough to consider its purchase by me. Ten dollars was not significant enough for me — but it might have been significant enough for you.
I did not get reimbursed for my flights, as I paid for them with my own funds. I survived — and you would have as well if you had decided to purchase a Basic Economy fare ticket on Delta Air Lines back in 2014.
Final Boarding Call
Basic Economy fares exist because many passengers would rather save money than pay for what they may consider to be frills.
The obvious ways with which Basic Economy has worsened since 2014 is that now:
- All of the legacy carriers based in the United States offer that option — except for the ultra-low-cost airlines and Southwest Airlines, if that airline is now considered a legacy carrier
- It has been spreading rapidly to airlines which are based outside of the United States
- Restrictions have tightened for the most part — for example, the elimination of earning SkyMiles or credit towards Medallion elite status with Delta Air Lines which became effective as of Saturday, January 1, 2022
- The difference between the Basic Economy fare and a regular economy fare is significantly greater — typically on average of between $50.00 and $100.00 per one-way flight
But in the end, everyone else on the airplane will still know who you are: no matter on which airline you fly as a passenger, if you choose Basic Economy, you will board last — with very few exceptions.
The logic of Basic Economy fares may be considered quite simply a version of sleight-of-hand marketing, with the goal of enticing you with the lowest fare possible — fares which were once offered with regular economy class tickets which included additional features at no extra charge — while simultaneously ensuring that the Basic Economy offer is so unappealing that the airlines can upsell many people into scraping together additional money to trade up to the traditional economy fare, which has become significantly more expensive in recent years…
…meaning that Basic Economy fares also represents what appears to be a permanent yet somewhat inconspicuous boost of revenue for airlines which otherwise often struggle to increase the price of fares.
You should consider choosing to purchase a Basic Economy fare only if you:
- Will be traveling on a short flight — perhaps two hours in duration at the most
- Know that your plans are absolutely firm and will not change
- Are traveling alone without a companion
- Do not particularly care about earning miles and elite status — depending on the airline, of course
- Are willing to sacrifice some of the amenities, benefits, and privileges with which you could be marginally more comfortable
Other articles at The Gate whose main topic is Basic Economy fares include:
- Is $50 Worth “Upgrading” From Basic Economy to Main Cabin Economy Class?
- Basic Economy Tickets No Longer Eligible For Earning SkyMiles or Medallion Elite Status With Delta Air Lines
- Basic Economy in 1975: No Frills Fare on This Airline…
- My First Pandemic Flight — With a Basic Economy Fare
- The One Potentially Fatal Flaw with Basic Economy Airfares — Exacerbated
- The One Potentially Fatal Flaw with Basic Economy Airfares
- Delta Warns You Prior to Purchase of Basic Economy Fare — But Is Basic Economy That Bad?
- Why No More Upgrades on Basic Economy Airfares on Delta Air Lines Will Most Likely Not Affect You
- E Fares on Delta Air Lines: My Two Experiences
- New Basic Economy Class E Fares Introduced by Delta Air Lines
- No Fee to Change Basic Economy Tickets 2021 With United Airlines
- No Fee to Change Basic Economy Tickets 2021 With Delta Air Lines
- WestJet is the Latest Carrier to Introduce Basic Economy Airfares
- Air Canada Joins the Basic Economy Bandwagon
All photographs ©2016, ©2017, ©2018, and ©2021 by Brian Cohen.
