It has never been cheaper to fly. If you follow our Twitter or Facebook, we regularly post R/T flights to Europe from the West Coast for prices starting in the high $200s or low 300s. You can also regularly fly to asia for less than $400. This is due to increased competition, the rise of ultra low cost international carriers, and low oil prices. To compete traditional carriers have almost all introduced basic economy fare. The problem is each basic economy fare is different and leaves even the most experienced passengers confused.
Before determining whether it is worth saving $30-$50 each way by booking basic. You need to know what restrictions you will be facing. This guide will let you know whether it is worth booking that sub $60 basic economy on either Delta or United.
Domestic Basic Economy
Before diving into the wider world of international flights, I will start with domestic. Currently four traditional carriers, United, American, Delta, and Alaska, offer basic economy flights in some form. Hawaiian Airlines has announced it will be starting basic economy flights at some point this year. Basic economy generally includes restrictions in five major area 1) Seatting, 2) Carry-On; 3) Cancellation/Rebooking; 4) Boarding; 5) Reward Earning. A lot of theses restrictions can be defeated by being a holder of the airlines branded credit card. However, it is generally advised that basic economy is not good for families as there is almost no guarantee you will be seat together.
Below is a general chart of the restrictions in basic economy.
| Alaska | American | Delta | United | |
| Seating | Limited Advance Seat Selection (Last 5 Rows). If none available seat will be randomly assigned. | Advanced seat selection for a fee or Randomly assigned. | Seat choice available at check-in (24 hours prior to departure) | Advanced seat selection for a fee or Randomly assigned. |
| Luggage | 1 Carry-on; 1 Personal-Item | 1 Carry-on; 1 Personal-Item | 1 Carry-on; 1 Personal-Item | 1 Personal-Item (must fit under seat and will require prior approval from united) |
| Boarding | Board Last (Except Alaska elites) | Board Last (Except elites and credit card holders) | Board Last (Except elites and credit card holders) | Board Last (Except elites and credit card holders) |
| Miles Earned | No Restrictions | .5 of elite qualifying miles/segments | No Restrictions | .5 of elite qualifying miles/segments |
| Refund | None | None | None | None |
American Airlines Basic Economy
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Seating
With basic economy in American Airlines, you are able to purchase a seat ahead of time. If you choose not to purchase a seat you will randomly be assigned a seat at check-in. I recently flew AA basic economy from Nashville to Seattle with a layover in Dallas. If I wanted to pay for a seat, it would cost me $12-$20 per flight for a standard seat selection. These prices increase if you are aiming for a seat towards the front of the plane or in the Main Cabin Extra Section.
Ultimately, I opted not to purchase a seat prior to check-in. Despite hoping that I would be able to choose my seat at check-in, this was not the cast. American Airlines assigned me a random middle seat despite many window or aisle seats being available at the time. Once your seat is assigned to you, you still have the option to purchase a better seat if you wish. However, you are stuck with what you are assigned. This is also the case for families. If your tickets are booked in a group they will attempt to seat you together if those seats are available. However, should those seats not be available, American will not make any accommodations to have you seated by your family.
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Carry-On
In AA basic economy you are entitled to 1 full size carry and one personal item. The carry on must fit in the overhead bin. The personal item must fit in the seat in front of you. This is the standard economy baggage allowance. So you are not limited in what you are allowed to carry on with AA basic economy. However, given you are boarding last, there is a good chance there will be no room for your bad and they will likely gate check your bag onto your final destination
- Cancellation/Rebooking
There are no flight exchanges or refunds if you book into AA economy. So if you are unable to make your flight for any reason, you are out of luck.
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Boarding
With basic economy you will board with group 9. Currently AA has 9 boarding groups and the very last people on the plane are basic economy passengers. As a basic economy passenger, you will wait a long time to board. As the last to board, you will be forced to get check your bag if the plane runs out of overhead space. AA tends to overbook its flights and more often than not you will have to check your bag.
- Reward Earning
On AA basic economy you will earn the standard 5 redeemable miles per dollar spent. But you will only earn half the Elite Qualifying Miles/Segments you would earn with an economy fare. This is a major downside if you are after status.
Alaska Airlines “Saver” fare
Alaska is the most recent full service airlines to introduce its form of basic economy called the Saver fare. Alaska’s Saver fare contains many of the same restrictions as other basic economy fares. While I have not flown an Alaska Saver fare, this should provide a good summary of the restrictions
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Seating
Alaska’s Saver fare seating policy is without a doubt the most generous in the industry. Alaska allows its Saver fare holders to select from a limited selection of seats at the time of booking. Based on a sample booking, I would have been able to select seats from the last five rows of the plane at now additional fee. This makes Alaska’s Saver fare the most family friendly of the basic economy fares. However, if those last five rows are selected at the time of booking, you will be randomly assigned seats at check-in.
Any status you have with Alaska will be irrelevant to the seat assignment. As elite members are not allowed any upgrade or preferred seat benefits with a Saver fare.
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Carry-On
You are allowed the full standard allotment of carry on bags. One bag in the overhead bin and one under your seat. This being said, like the other basic economy fares you will be the last to board. If the plane is out of overhead space you will be required to gate check your bag.
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Cancellation/Rebooking
There are no flight exchanges or refunds if you book into Alaska’s Saver fare.
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Boarding
All Saver fare holders will be in Alaska’s final boarding group. Alaska status holders do get to board early as allowed by their elite stats. As the last to board, you will be forced to get check your bag if the plane runs out of overhead space.
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Reward Earning
Alaska is one of the few airlines left that allow you to accrue miles based on the distance flown. Booking a Saver fare does not impact your miles earned even towards elite status.
Delta Basic Economy
I have flown Delta’s basic economy both in both my Boise and San Francisco trips. I have had no issue with them and found their policies to not be all that restrictive. However, I still would not recommend Delta basic economy to families.
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Seating
Delta does not allow you to select your seat in advance of your flight. At booking it will warn you that your seat will be assigned at check-in. This is not 100% accurate. You can select your seat from any open non-preferred seat at the time of check-in. Thus, it is extremely important to check in immediately when check-in opens 24 hours before the flight. If there are no non-preferred seats available Delta will randomly assign you a seat at the gate. I was able to get my prefered window seat on both my Delta flights by checking in immediately when check in opens.
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Carry-On
You are allowed the full standard allotment of carry on bags. One bag in the overhead bin and one under your seat. This being said, like the other basic economy fares you will be the last to board. If the plane is out of overhead space you will be required to gate check your bag.
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Cancellation/Rebooking
No flight exchanges or refunds.
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Boarding
All Delta basic economy passengers will be in Delta’s final boarding group. Delta status holders and credit card holders do get to board early as allowed by their respective programs. As the last to board, you will be forced to get check your bag if the plane runs out of overhead space.
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Reward Earning
Basic economy passengers earn award miles and elite qualifying miles as they would on a normal flight.
United Basic Economy
United Basic Economy is by far the worst of all of the basic economy options. I have not been shy about my disdain for UA’s basic economy based on my experience on my UA flight to San Francisco. Despite an amazing experience on the inaugural flight of the 787-10 in basic economy, I still feel UA’s basic economy should be avoided.
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Seating
United does not let you choose a seat for free at the time of booking with basic economy. However, you can choose to buy one. On both of my flights choosing a seat with a basic economy ticket ran between $7-13 depending on which seat you want. If you chose not to buy a seat you will be randomly assigned one at check in. After checkin, you are stuck with your seat and cannot purchase a better seat.
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Carry-On
United has the most restrictive carry-on policies. They strictly enforce these policies and makes it a nightmare to check in. United only allows its basic economy passengers to bring aboard one personal item that must fit under the seat in front of you. This in theory is not a huge restriction, but how they enforce it is a nightmare. If you choose not to purchase a checked bag United Airlines will not let you check in online. Once you get to the airport, they make you check in at a kiosk. If you again chose not to pay for a checked back an alert pops up on the screen and a united Customer Service rep must talk to you. From that point on your are at their mercy.
The CSR will ask you to place your carry-on into their sizer to see if your bag will fit under the seat. In my opinion these sizers are actually smaller than the space under the actual seats. When I fly I always fly with the same backpack. It is big but I have never had issue with it fitting under the seat. When I fly United, the sizer is always a concern. The CSR will pick the most awkward angles to determine whether your bag fits and if they deem that your bag doesn’t fit they make you pay for a checked bag. If your CSR is on a power trip like mine was in SFO they will make you wait in line again even if a minimal adjustment will make the bag fit at their awkward angle.
Regardless, more than any other airline if you are flying basic economy in UA make sure your “personal item” is pretty small or you will have a hard time.
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Boarding
All United basic economy passengers will be in United’s final boarding group. United status holders and credit card holders do get to board early as allowed by their respective programs.
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Flight Exchanges/Refund
No flight exchanges or refunds.
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Reward Earning
You will earn 5x the number of dollars spent on the flight as redeemable miles. However, you will only earn half the normal amount towards elite qualifying miles/segments.
Overall
Generally, Basic economy is a good way to save some money on domestic flights. However, you are subjecting yourself to some significant restrictions. Personally, I would avoid United’s basic economy like the plague as they are by far the most restrictive airline. Additionally, I would avoid basic economy if you are flying as a family as most airlines will not allow you any guarantee you will sit together unless you pay for advanced seat selection. As a solo traveler, I would not hesitate to book any non-United basic economy is it will save you upwards of $30.