Basic Economy Flights: How U.S. Airlines Are Going Budget

Even economy class has tiers now—not all seat assignments are created equal.
Delta plane A321 interior
Courtesy Delta

Air travel is polarizing these days—quite literally—with more people flying than ever before, but in two very different ways. On one end of the spectrum, passengers enjoy bars manned by mixologists and private suites on planes; on the other, we have economy experiences so basic that you'll truly begin to understand the term "cattle" class. Most recently, American Airlines joined its "Big Three" compatriots Delta and United in offering "basic economy," and though all these options are marketed as a new way to introduce low fares and flexibility, there's a lot more to it, most of which is neither cheap nor cheerful.

Initial Savings—But Potential for Extra Cost

Delta is the only carrier to officially launch "basic economy" fares, debuting the service on 40 percent of its routes with national service expected by the end of the year. American and United will follow suit this quarter; United rolls out service in Minneapolis starting in March before venturing nationwide and into the Caribbean, while American will announce launch markets any day now. How basic are these fares? A recent search showed round-trip prices that were $30-$40 cheaper on average—before you start tacking on unexpected fees like seat assignments or luggage allowances. If the fares (and their rules) aren't made abundantly clear at booking, it's hard to say how much you can actually save—only that base ticket prices are cheaper and there's more room for customization.

You Can't Change Your Ticket...

That's a biggie right off the bat. Unlike the standard offerings from the Big Three, basic fares will not allow for cancellations or changes, even for a fee. If you can't use your ticket, you'll simply need to eat the fare and make an entirely new, separate booking.

...And You Can't Pick Your Seat

See, we told you this wasn't cheerful. You'll receive a seat assignment either at check-in or at the gate, once the rest of the cabin has been processed. The exception to the rule: American will allow passengers to pay for seat selection—once again chipping into any initial savings—within 48 hours of the flight's departure. With each carrier, you'll be the last group to board. Since it's all about the inches or fractional inches, you'll do best on United, which offers an average 17.3'' of seat width, a whopping extra .01 inch compared to the other two airlines, on widely used aircraft such as the Boeing 737. Fortunately, even on a basic economy fare, you do still get to use the regular economy cabin. To date there has been no successful way to move passengers into cargo holds, but only time will tell.

Only Delta Allows Full-Sized Carry-Ons

You're almost guaranteed to cough up an extra $25 each way to check a bag on United or American: Full-sized carry-ons aren't allowed in the overhead bin with a basic economy ticket. You can still bring on a personal item that fits below the seat in front, so that's...something? Even the space below the seat varies: That personal item can be anywhere from 9''x10''x17'' on United to a more forgivable 18''x14''x8'' on American. On the plus side, if you carry your airline's credit card (all three have one) you'll still receive a first checked bag free and retain priority boarding privileges.

The Snacks Stay the Same

They can take your carry-on, but they just can't touch your pretzels. Other than writing a large B on your boarding pass to signify you're basic economy (which American is actually doing), the airlines would have trouble distinguishing one economy passenger from another—so everyone gets the same snacks! Expect a brief beverage service on shorter domestic flights and enhanced snacks and light meals on transcontinental routes.

What About Upgrades, Miles, and Benefits?

Basic economy fares aren't eligible for upgrades or preferred seats, even if your elite loyalty status usually grants them. For all you travel hackers out there, no really means no. No way to upgrade with miles, certificates, or anything else. American Airlines will reward its fliers with only half the usual credits toward elite status, while United will not award any. On all airlines the fares will earn miles, since each airline now primarily awards miles based on the purchase price of the ticket, not the distance traveled.

The Bottom Line

Travelers make booking decisions purely on price more than ever before; and with record low fares thanks to innovative budget carriers like Wow Air or Southwest, the Big Three have grown tired of competing on price while "overdelivering" on amenities. With basic economy, the major airlines can now match the lowest prices offered by budget carriers while offering the passenger less of everything. If you want the experience you're used to, you'll pay more. Otherwise, you may want to sign up for an airline credit card.