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Basic Economy Airline Ticket Discussion
Posted on 8/17/25 at 8:31 am
Posted on 8/17/25 at 8:31 am
It's been a few years now that basic economy tickets have been introduced and we now have the last person at the party (Southwest). Basic economy tickets are pretty much the same price we used to pay, except with a lot less benefits such as no ability to pick your seat, no carry-ons on certain airlines, no cancellations, and more. It's the spirit/allegiant/frontier model except on the major airlines. I'm curious what others on here have been doing as far as purchasing basic economy tickets vs paying an extra $40/$50 to get a regular economy ticket?
For me, the only times I'll book a basic economy ticket are for a quick weekend trip where I'm taking a small duffle bag that fits under the seat. Think a 3 day trip for a long weekend. I've flown on Jetblue and United with these basic economy tickets. Jetblue you now get a carry-on (same with AA + Delta + Southwest), United you don't. I've pretty much told myself to never book on United just because of the no carry-on rule. For a short flight <3 hours, I'm fine if I end up in the middle seat on these cheap fares. Anything longer than that and I'm looking for a window or aisle.
For me, the only times I'll book a basic economy ticket are for a quick weekend trip where I'm taking a small duffle bag that fits under the seat. Think a 3 day trip for a long weekend. I've flown on Jetblue and United with these basic economy tickets. Jetblue you now get a carry-on (same with AA + Delta + Southwest), United you don't. I've pretty much told myself to never book on United just because of the no carry-on rule. For a short flight <3 hours, I'm fine if I end up in the middle seat on these cheap fares. Anything longer than that and I'm looking for a window or aisle.
11
Posted on 8/17/25 at 8:42 am to CuseTiger
Wife won’t let me buy economy since she doesn’t want to not sit somewhere next to each other. So we always end up paying the extra for a carryon and seat selection.
During my younger single years I probably would have bought them since they were cheaper.
During my younger single years I probably would have bought them since they were cheaper.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 8:50 am to Suntiger
quote:
she doesn’t want to not sit somewhere next to each other
This makes sense for couples. I just pulled up delta's language for basic economy tickets
quote:
With the Delta Main Basic (Basic Economy) fare, you are not guaranteed a seat next to traveling companions, including family members or groups
Little surprised about this but if it's only middle seats left, then they'll have to split up families to fill the remaining seats. I think the exclusion is for kids under the age of 12? I wouldn't want to be stuck next to some random kid with no parents
Posted on 8/17/25 at 9:01 am to CuseTiger
I always pay extra to pick my seat. Aisle seat all the way
Posted on 8/17/25 at 10:09 am to CuseTiger
My main course of action is to throw away any airline or credit card loyalty. The experiences have basically been whitewashed so now I shop by two factors alone, price and logistics.
I’ve seen SW fares more than first class in delta and then I’ve seen fares on SW as cheap as it was 15 years ago for the exact same route.
For decades, if I didn’t want to fly first class we would basically just book SW without even really shopping other airlines due to the smoothest boarding process in domestic air travel and free checked baggage. Now, we will only consider them if they’re significantly cheaper or direct.
All that said, I generally just bite the bullet and pay to select seats because the lowest fares usually don’t have any refund opportunities and at least the options to chose a seat some with a refund options (or flight changes) in points should we decide to make changes.
I’ve seen SW fares more than first class in delta and then I’ve seen fares on SW as cheap as it was 15 years ago for the exact same route.
For decades, if I didn’t want to fly first class we would basically just book SW without even really shopping other airlines due to the smoothest boarding process in domestic air travel and free checked baggage. Now, we will only consider them if they’re significantly cheaper or direct.
All that said, I generally just bite the bullet and pay to select seats because the lowest fares usually don’t have any refund opportunities and at least the options to chose a seat some with a refund options (or flight changes) in points should we decide to make changes.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 10:18 am to CuseTiger
Nope. No interest in purchasing those tickets.
Posted on 8/17/25 at 10:44 am to LSUfan4444
quote:
I generally just bite the bullet and pay to select seats because the lowest fares usually don’t have any refund opportunities and at least the options to chose a seat some with a refund options
This is generally why I book the regular economy tickets (refund or flight credit option). I'd be out a decent amount of $$ if I had booked basic tickets
Posted on 8/17/25 at 10:50 am to CuseTiger
Yeah, no doubt. We’re going to Fort Lauderdale in December and plan to come home on Sunday, December 12. After realizing my wife and I both had some extra PTO we needed to burn. We decided to change our itinerary and stay in Florida for a couple of more days. Have we not have the ability to move our Delta flight from Sunday to Wednesday at no cost? I don’t think we really would’ve changed an attitude to our vacation and not only that, we actually got the difference in fair back in points. That’s worth the additional cost to us just with that added flexibility and “insurance”
Posted on 8/17/25 at 10:52 am to LSUfan4444
quote:
Have we not have the ability to move our Delta flight from Sunday to Wednesday at no cost?
Besides that, schedule changes allow for a free change depending on the length of the change to any flight you want +/- 1 day. I'm not sure how schedule changes work on basic economy tickets since they flat out say no changes
Posted on 8/17/25 at 12:50 pm to CuseTiger
quote:
except with a lot less benefits such as no ability to pick your seat,
This tells me you don't have an assigned seat which means if the flight is over booked you will be the first one bumped.
If you go this route, I hope you have flexibility in your plans.
This is based on the advice of my mom who was a travel agent for over 30 years.
This post was edited on 8/17/25 at 12:53 pm
Posted on 8/17/25 at 1:17 pm to armytiger96
quote:
This tells me you don't have an assigned seat which means if the flight is over booked you will be the first one bumped
True but the airlines are required to solicit volunteers first. There's almost always someone willing to volunteer for the right price (I'm usually that person). Airlines do not want involuntary denied boardings (IDBs) as that gets reported to the DOT
Posted on 8/17/25 at 9:53 pm to CuseTiger
I've always been a bit amazed that to save $50 people book basic economy, but then drop $60 at the airport Chilis. I'm doing whatever I need to in order to select my seat.
Posted on 8/18/25 at 7:28 am to LemmyLives
I guess I’m the cheapest guy in the room, I book basic economy all the time with my family of 5. It’s generally no seat selection at the time of booking, but you can choose a seat usually within 24 hours of boarding. With a family I’m saving $250 each way, $500 or more round trip. We usually check one bag and everyone carries on.
I only do this if we are 100% locked into going. Otherwise we add the flexibility, but again family of 5 that can be $400-1000+ for non basic economy.
ETA: the nice thing about traveling with kids is they can easily carry on. Kids under 5 you can fit a weeks worth of clothes and 2-3 shoes into a something the size of the old school jansport back pack, put it under their seat and they still have leg room. My wife usually throws a pair of shoes, hair dryer, etc into each kids stuff and they still have tons of room.
I only do this if we are 100% locked into going. Otherwise we add the flexibility, but again family of 5 that can be $400-1000+ for non basic economy.
ETA: the nice thing about traveling with kids is they can easily carry on. Kids under 5 you can fit a weeks worth of clothes and 2-3 shoes into a something the size of the old school jansport back pack, put it under their seat and they still have leg room. My wife usually throws a pair of shoes, hair dryer, etc into each kids stuff and they still have tons of room.
This post was edited on 8/18/25 at 7:31 am
Posted on 8/18/25 at 7:53 am to CuseTiger
I booked basic economy once with the thought that it can’t be that bad. I won’t ever do that again.
Posted on 8/18/25 at 9:13 am to CuseTiger
I book them a good bit. Mostly because I didn't notice at first that they took away the ability to pick a seat without lowering the cost. Then once I did notice I kept doing it out of principal. I won't do it on the airlines that don't allow carry ons though. It's pretty rare that I end up in a middle seat. Usually if we get split up I just go talk to the gate agent and ask if we can sit together and they usually make it happen. United denied it once and it was pretty ridiculous because we both had window seats. I tried to explain to the gate agent that one of us was willing to sit in the middle so we could sit next to each other and there has to be someone with a middle seat that would prefer a window but no luck.
The real issue is not being able to change your flight so you have to be certain when you book it. But if you book far enough out the airline is likely to change the flight time by 10 minutes and then you usually qualify for a change
The real issue is not being able to change your flight so you have to be certain when you book it. But if you book far enough out the airline is likely to change the flight time by 10 minutes and then you usually qualify for a change
Posted on 8/18/25 at 9:15 am to deltafarmer
quote:
I booked basic economy once with the thought that it can’t be that bad. I won’t ever do that again.
If you want the extra leg room for a longer flight, I understand. What other options were ‘so bad’?
Posted on 8/18/25 at 10:23 am to baldona
quote:
If you want the extra leg room for a longer flight, I understand. What other options were ‘so bad’?
no changes, no refunds.
life happens sometimes. would hate to be out the whole fare if plans changed rather than the difference for a fare class that i can change or get a refund for.
Posted on 8/18/25 at 10:25 am to baldona
I was in the very back row of seats on the small regional jet. The guy I had to sit by at first, not the airlines fault as that just is luck of the draw, was so large that people trying to use the restroom right next to us couldn’t open the restroom door. They had to make him switch seats with someone who was large but not quite as large about mid flight. It was just a bad flight. The return trip was a little better but not enough to roll the dice again.
Posted on 8/18/25 at 1:12 pm to CuseTiger
Google Flights lets you filter out Basic Economy fares now so I don't even see how much they are.
Posted on 8/18/25 at 1:13 pm to Bunsbert Montcroff
quote:
no changes, no refunds. life happens sometimes. would hate to be out the whole fare if plans changed rather than the difference for a fare class that i can change or get a refund for.
No doubt. I’m not familiar with the others as much as Delta, but Delta is generally no refund but they will give you a credit. Changes cost money, usually $99 or more.
How often do things happen? The airlines know that people will spend an extra 25% to prevent an issue that may happen 5% of the time.
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