If you have been searching for airline tickets for your summer vacation or for your holiday trip to visit family, you’ve likely noticed that the lowest fares are marketed as basic economy. You might have also noticed that this airfare may not earn miles or allow you to pick a seat. What is a basic economy fare? Is it a good way to save some cash or will you end up in a middle seat, separated from your family and wishing you would have paid an extra $14 for the main cabin fare?
If you’ve never booked a basic economy fare before and are wondering what it is, or if it’s been a few years since you booked one of these low-cost airfares, read on.
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What Are Basic Economy Fares?
In order to better match their lowest-priced offering to the ultra-low-cost carriers like Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant, the legacy airlines have stripped away standard benefits like seat selection from their lowest economy fares. This allows them to compete with the low-cost carriers on price while retaining a differentiated product for their business customers and frequent flyers.
Delta Air Lines was the first to offer basic economy fares on a select number of routes in 2012, but all of the other legacy airlines soon followed, offering their own version and changing the restrictions over the years.
In theory, the basic economy fare seems like a good idea for the budget conscious. In exchange for certain restrictions—such as seat assignment at the gate, being the last to board the plane, no ticket changes and only being allowed a personal item—you can pay significantly less for your ticket. But the tickets come with some serious caveats that could leave some flyers paying as much or more as if they’d bought a regular main cabin fare.
What You’ll Lose by Booking Basic Economy
You Won’t Get Your Choice of Seat Assignment
If where you sit in the plane is important to you, you might want to think twice about booking a basic economy airfare. Generally, you should expect that you won’t be able to select where you sit and you likely won’t be seated next to your party. Here are the restrictions for the major U.S. airlines:
- Delta: Your seat will not be assigned until after you check in to your flight. If no seats are available at check-in time, your seat will be assigned at the gate. You will not be seated next to other people in your party. You can not either status upgrade or purchase a seat assignment.
- American: You can choose a seat at any time for a fee. If you are an AAdvantage elite member, you may be eligible for a free seat assignment, based on your status. American can’t guarantee that parties will be seated together but will attempt to keep children under 15 seated by at least one parent.
- United: You will be assigned a seat prior to boarding and won’t be able to change your seat once it is assigned. Advance seat assignments may be available for purchase during booking and up until check-in opens. You’ll be eligible to purchase Economy Plus® seating at check-in only. MileagePlus members, including Premier® members, cannot use complimentary, earned or mileage upgrades, or Economy Plus subscription benefits.
- Alaska Airlines: In some cases, you will be able to choose your seat when booking directly at alaskaair.com. If seat assignments aren’t available or if you purchased through a travel agency, you will be assigned a seat at check-in.
You Will Board Last
If you book basic economy tickets, you should expect to board with the last boarding group. If you checked bags and don’t need overhead bin space or just prefer to spend less time on the aircraft, this might not be a big deal for you, but if you’re counting on space for your carry-on bags, you’re likely to be out of luck.
- Delta: Basic economy ticket holders are last to board.
- American: Basic economy ticket holders board last, with boarding Group 9
- United: With basic economy, you’ll be in the last boarding group unless you’re a MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation, the primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or a Star Alliance Gold member.
- Alaska Airlines: Saver fare holders board last, in boarding group E.
Changes Aren’t Allowed
In the last few years, airlines have gotten much more generous with changes and cancellations. Many airlines have eliminated change fees for standard tickets, meaning that if your plans change, you can at least be eligible to receive a travel credit for your ticket’s price. In 2021, Delta allowed even basic economy customers to change their flights without penalty. However, starting in 2022, the airlines have started tightening up change policies and changes aren’t allowed on basic economy tickets.
- Delta: Ticket changes or refunds not allowed after the 24 hour Risk-Free Cancellation period. Tickets are cancelable for a partial eCredit after a cancellation or change.
- American: No basic economy tickets are eligible for ticket changes.
- United: Refunds are not allowed except as stated in the United 24-hour flexible booking policy.
- Alaska Airlines: No changes or refunds are allowed to Saver fares outside of the 24-hour cancellation policy.
Same-Day Changes and Standby Aren’t Allowed Either
Many airlines offer some form of same-day confirmed or same-day standby changes. But, with the exception of American Airlines, your basic economy ticket won’t be eligible for same day changes of any kind. If you think you might want to hop on an earlier flight home, you’ll usually have to pay up for a main cabin fare.
- Delta: Tickets are not eligible for same-day confirmed or same-day standby travel changes.
- American: Same-day changes are allowed, but customers traveling on a basic economy fare must make changes on the American app, aa.com or visit a ticket counter to request a change.
- United: Ticket changes are not allowed. This includes advance changes and same-day changes, even for Premier members. However, you may stand by for other flights within 24 hours of your original departure time.
- Alaska Airlines: No same-day standby or same-day confirmed changes are allowed on Saver fares, regardless of Mileage Plan elite status.
You Won’t Get an Upgrade
If you prefer to sit in the front of the plane, or even a seat with extra leg room, don’t expect a basic economy ticket to get you there. With the exception of American Airlines, the major U.S. carriers do not offer paid or complimentary upgrades, even to seats with extra leg room, to customers flying on basic economy tickets.
- Delta: Basic economy is not eligible for: paid or complimentary upgrades; paid, complimentary or discounted Delta Comfort+; or paid or complimentary Preferred Seats
- American: Basic economy fares are eligible for upgrades.
- United: MileagePlus members, including Premier® members, cannot use complimentary, earned or mileage upgrades, or Economy Plus subscription benefits
- Alaska Airlines: Saver fares are not eligible for complimentary upgrades to Premium or First Class. Mileage Plan elites may enjoy complimentary upgrades two hours before departure time.
Your Carry-On Bag Might Cost You
If you plan to travel with a carry-on bag, you might want to double-check your airline’s cabin luggage policy. While most airlines allow the same carry-on baggage allowance for their basic economy and main-cabin customers, United doesn’t allow most basic economy customers who don’t hold status or a credit card to have a full-sized carry-on bag on most domestic flights. Further, if you show up at the gate with a bag and they check it, they’ll charge you for the checked bag, plus an additional handling fee.
- Delta: Cabin baggage allowance is the same for basic economy and main cabin customers.
- American: Basic economy customers are entitled to one personal item and one carry-on bag.
- United: Full-sized carry-on bags are not allowed on many routes, including U.S. domestic routes and those who bring a full-sized carry-on bag to the gate will be charged the applicable baggage fee, plus a $25 gate handling fee. MileagePlus Premier members, their companions traveling on the same reservation, MileagePlus credit card holders and Star Alliance™ Gold members may bring a full-sized carry-on bag.
- Alaska Airlines: Saver fares offer the same carry-on allowance as Main fares, and elite members still receive their checked baggage allowance
Your Ticket Might Not Help You Earn Miles or Elite Status
Depending on your airline, flying might not earn any rewards. On Alaska Airlines, you earn miles and qualifying miles on Saver fares and on American, basic economy tickets earn loyalty points and award miles, so if elite status and earning miles are your objectives, there’s little downside to booking one of their basic economy fares. However, on Delta, basic economy tickets earn neither redeemable miles, nor qualifying miles. Here are the details of each airline’s policy:
- Delta: Basic economy tickets earn no miles and no credit toward SkyMiles Medallion Status.
- American: Basic economy tickets earn award miles and Loyalty Points.
- United: If you’re a MileagePlus member, you will still earn award miles based on the fare and your MileagePlus status, as well as full Premier qualifying points, lifetime miles and credit toward the four-segment minimum. However, Basic economy flights do not count as Premier qualifying flights.
- Alaska Airlines: Mileage Plan members earn miles flown on all fares, including Saver fares.
What You Gain by Booking Basic Economy
You Will Save Some Money, but Not Much
For most travelers who aren’t loyal to one airline, it often makes little difference what airline they fly. This competition keeps prices, including the price for main cabin fares down. That said, you might find that you will save less money than you would expect when you book basic economy.
How much will you save? That depends on the airline and flight, but oftentimes the savings are minimal. Prices change and your mileage may vary, but purchasing a main cabin fare may not be that much more expensive than a basic economy fare.
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Bottom Line
Booking a basic economy fare can be a way to save a little bit of cash on your upcoming air travel, but be sure to understand what you are giving up by booking this bottom-of-the barrel airfare. Even if you are not chasing elite status, in most cases, it’s likely that perks like seat selections, cabin baggage allowance and the ability to change your ticket is worth more than the marginal amount you’ll save by booking basic economy fares.
