There is a good deal of confusion in the marketplace about basic economy fares, the no-frills tickets that Delta has been selling for several years now and American and United are poised to begin selling this quarter.
My biggest concern with basic economy fares is that there’s no good way to identify them when searching using Google Flights, or really anywhere other than the airlines’ websites. This seems like an easy feature for Google to add and would go a long way toward helping consumers make an informed decision about what they are about to buy. Of course I’d like to see all of the online travel agencies implement something similar, and honestly, I think that is coming.
But it turns out that there’s a lot more confusion about basic economy than just our inability to identify these fares. Let’s look at six alternative facts about basic economy.
Basic Economy Tickets Won’t Earn Miles
Fact Check: Mostly False
United and American both plan to follow Delta’s lead by letting you earn award miles on basic economy tickets. That said, you won’t earn many given that all three carriers award miles based on the cost of the ticket nowadays — not the distance flown — and these tickets just don’t cost much.
On United, however, you will neither earn premier qualifying miles, dollars, segments, nor lifetime miles, meaning that flying basic economy won’t help you make any progress toward keeping your status next year or achieve million miler. That sets them apart (in a bad way) from American and Delta.
Honestly, I would have thought it should be the other way around.
Spirit and Frontier have incredibly weak frequent flyer programs to the point that I’m not even sure it’s worth signing up for an account. So it might have been justifiable for the the legacies to match that by not letting you earn award miles.
Instead, at least in the case of United, they don’t want you to earn status from flying on these cheap fares, which seems redundant (or punitive) given that they already have revenue requirements anyway. I mean, wasn’t that supposed to prevent you from earning status on the cheap?
Basic Economy Is About Giving You Choices
Fact Check: False
The airlines are telling us that basic economy is designed to let us choose only the services we want such that we don’t pay for ones that we don’t want. That sounds all well and good except who doesn’t want to select their seat when they book a ticket?
In reality basic economy is just another way for the airlines to goose their bottom lines. I think part of their hope is that these fares will be so unattractive that you’ll pay more to avoid them. United says they expect to generate an extra $250 million this year from basic economy. Where do you think that comes from?
You Can’t Use The Overhead Bins
Fact Check: False
The basic economy fares from United and American will only allow you to bring a personal item onto the aircraft. A personal item is basically anything that will fit under the seat in front of you. But that doesn’t mean it must go under the seat, only that it must be able to go under the seat. See the difference?
The truth is that once you’re on the plane, you can pretty much shove it wherever it’ll fit. If that’s under the seat, fine. If it’s in the overhead bin, that’s fine too.
You Can’t Change Or Refund Basic Economy Tickets
Fact Check: True
Yep, this one is true. But among the grievances many of us have with basic economy, this should be at the bottom of the list. It just doesn’t matter, so continuing to talk about it just distracts from the bigger issues.
United, American, and Delta all charge $200 to cancel a domestic ticket. Yet most basic economy tickets won’t even cost $200 to begin with. So why would you pay more to refund a ticket than it’s worth? The answer is you won’t.
Instead, you’ll just throw the ticket away and start over.
Legacies Are Facing Stiff Competition From Low Cost Carriers
Fact Check: Unclear
This has been the party line among airline executives and pundits for why basic economy fares are being introduced. Heck, I even said this in my post yesterday. But I’m not sure I really believe it.
The fact is, we lack scientific data to evaluate this claim. I’d like to see a systematic survey of fares on a variety of routes and a variety of dates such that we can compute some statistics about whether the legacies really are matching the fares from Spirit and Frontier or not. It would be informative to see if, on average, United charges 5%, 50%, or 500% more than say Spirit or Frontier. And course, we’d want to see how that ratio varies as you get closer to departure.
If they are only able to command a 5% premium, than we might agree that the competition is stiff. If they are able to charge 5x what Spirit charges, I won’t have much sympathy.
But alas, we don’t have that data, so we’re left to argue out of anecdotes.
Here’s a Google Flights listing of fares for a ticket from Minneapolis to Denver in May, and it was fairly typical of any day that month.
Delta is pretty clearly going head-to-head with Sun Country, and they aren’t that far above Spirit and Frontier.
But claiming that United is competitive here is like saying the Green Bay Packers were only a dropped pass or two from winning the NFC Championship. Sorry, but if your team doesn’t even show up to the stadium, then there’s no competition.
If United wants us to believe that they face stiff competition, they should actually compete. If they were already matching, or close to matching, the lowest fares in the market, that would be one thing. But if they are still able to charge a premium on these routes, it’s hard to fathom why they need to drop the service levels.
All Basic Economy Fares Are Bad
Fact Check: Mostly False
Delta started selling basic economy fares in 2012. They first offered them on flights between Detroit and Florida where maybe they really did face stiff competition from Spirit. They’ve slowly spread to more and more routes since that time.
But here’s the thing — Delta’s version of basic economy isn’t that bad, at least by comparison.
Delta still allows a carry-on with these tickets. And they still let you earn elite qualifying miles.
All they’re really doing is saying no seat assignments at the time of booking, no changes or refunds (which we shouldn’t care about), and no upgrades (which most of the flying public doesn’t care about either). So at the end of the day, buying a basic economy ticket on Delta just means you’re gonna end up in a middle seat a few rows from the lav.
Compared to basic economy on American and United, this sounds downright flyer friendly.
Bottom Line
I’m not a fan of basic economy. It seems like the wrong approach to dealing with a problem that, to be clear, I’m not even entirely sure exists for the airlines.
Right now, there are some really good reasons to fly a legacy carrier, even if it costs a little more, and I regularly advise my friends and family to do just that. But once they take that all away — no carry-ons, no seat assignments, no elite miles — they end up looking just like Spirit.
And at that point, you might as well just fly Spirit. Because nobody is going to out-Spirit Spirit at being Spirit.
What other alternative facts have you heard about basic economy?
You left out the big one regarding "no advance seat assignments"... Delta's the only one of them I'm aware of that EVEN AT CHECK-IN and EVEN AT BAGGAGE CHECK station will regularly issue you a 'Seat IOU'. So you go through security not knowing whether you will get on the plane or not.
Very late in the process, you really only exist as a "Spot on a Standby List", so on a day like today...
You left out the big one regarding "no advance seat assignments"... Delta's the only one of them I'm aware of that EVEN AT CHECK-IN and EVEN AT BAGGAGE CHECK station will regularly issue you a 'Seat IOU'. So you go through security not knowing whether you will get on the plane or not.
Very late in the process, you really only exist as a "Spot on a Standby List", so on a day like today (more DL system issues) you are VERY unlikely to get where you are going... Once you are a displaced passenger you are on the very bottom of every standby list.
That's a huge reason NEVER to be on that fare class.
I know that "Delta never cancels any flights ever" but today's a bad day to offer that argument.
Delta technically bans carry-ons in Basic Economy on full flights, as they require Group 5 to gate check. There also is a higher possibility of getting involuntarily denied boarding as Basic Economy tickets are the last to have seats assigned (except Medallion and Amex card holders.)
Honestly, I absolutely have no problems with these basic Economy fares. Neither do I bother (U)LCC...
I think they have a very specific purpose and that is allowing people to go from A to B, quickly, efficiently and without major costs.
Indeed, from a FF perspective these fares aren't attractive but one might doubt how much you are willing to pay for the -ever downgrading- benifits you get on premium carriers/with premium fares....
Honestly, I absolutely have no problems with these basic Economy fares. Neither do I bother (U)LCC...
I think they have a very specific purpose and that is allowing people to go from A to B, quickly, efficiently and without major costs.
Indeed, from a FF perspective these fares aren't attractive but one might doubt how much you are willing to pay for the -ever downgrading- benifits you get on premium carriers/with premium fares. You can easily get low fares to destinations of interest. With those savings think of the 'benifits' you could buy. That is -for intrance- a priority pass membership. You won't get lounge access from your FF-programme but you can easily purshase some equivalent.
I think LCCs and basic fares are absolutely amazing allowing many people to fly for a low cost. You don't get any service level... But the difference isn't that big I think.
This feeling is strengtenth by the fact that here in Belgium, we don't tend to have "crazy" credit card offers like there are in the US.
Honestly earning miles in Europe is horrible and is making it worth to be focused more on price tags than the carriers.
Problem with LCCs are the people.. Expecting a business class experience because they were able to get on a plane. One should be realistic. If so, short haul flights are absolutely fine on LCCs.
@Bob
>>"What a narrow-minded post"
The entire post is narrow-minded because you disagree with a single point?
I'm going to add your post to Urban Dictionary as the definition of narrow-minded.
My AA domestic flights are almost always full. Perhaps it's because I'm flying at peak times but it's hard to imagine how BE will generate more revenue from my flights. Seems like they will be getting less revenue for seats that once sold as Y. Of course, if they raise Y fares, and make BE the old Y price, then I guess it works for them.
Excellent post.
I wish that the media would understand these points as they continually misreport these items.
@Pat - that's exactly what Spirit does, actually. They offer you a voucher (can't remember if it's $10 or $20) for a future flight if you affirmatively cancel a flight before departure. It's pretty amazing, really, that we now live in an alternative universe where Spirit offers the most customer-friendly policy.
It's always shocking to me to see how much more expensive United is that everyone else. HNL-NYC in business? double the price of Delta's comparable product. NYC to PVR in Business? Triple the price of Delta's comparable product. Like even if you forget the LCC's for a moment who would willingly pay nearly $2000 more for an identical flight?
I agree with Anon; I've always been amazed at "throwaway tickets" being a thing. I know the airline wants to maximize change-fees, but don't they also want advance-notice that a reserved-passenger won't be on a flight?
The right answer probably is "Airlines would rather preserve the change-fees and depend on historical data for flight-loading", but it still seems that the Airlines are declining valuable information. If I ran an airline, I would offer a nominal...
I agree with Anon; I've always been amazed at "throwaway tickets" being a thing. I know the airline wants to maximize change-fees, but don't they also want advance-notice that a reserved-passenger won't be on a flight?
The right answer probably is "Airlines would rather preserve the change-fees and depend on historical data for flight-loading", but it still seems that the Airlines are declining valuable information. If I ran an airline, I would offer a nominal refund (say $20) if the customer notified me that they no longer wish to be on a flight.
@Credit: hilarious!
My concern is a family of five will buy basic economy, get separated into middle seats and do the musical chairs thing. They'll ask people to switch, but no one will want to. They'll get pissed off and everyone's grumpy, and you end up babysitting some stranger's kid the whole flight.
What a narrow-minded post.
It absolutely does matter that basic economy tickets aren't changeable or refundable. That's the primary reason that many corporate travel policies/systems will exclude them from booking. Meaning many business travelers won't be flying on these fares - which is what both the travelers and airlines want.
United really screwed up their implementation of basic economy. If it doesn't improve I'm jumping ship.
Whine : economy class is uncomfortable. There is not enough space, tickets are expensive and you are not treated as humans.
Alertnative fact: it brings people closer. Close enough to smell each other. You may find a new BFF or even a new bedmate. Tickets are expensive to remind you how well you are doing in life if you are willing to pay so much for so little. As an added benefit you realize...
Whine : economy class is uncomfortable. There is not enough space, tickets are expensive and you are not treated as humans.
Alertnative fact: it brings people closer. Close enough to smell each other. You may find a new BFF or even a new bedmate. Tickets are expensive to remind you how well you are doing in life if you are willing to pay so much for so little. As an added benefit you realize too that you need to lose weight. Consider us as the personal trainer who reminds you that you are fattie all the time. We just don't charge for it. As far being treated as humans, we will open a new class of service transporting cows and pigs in the back of the plane and they won't get any seats. Still think we don't treat you as humans.
While it may be permissible for Basic Economy pax to place their carry-ons into the overhead bin, those passengers will be the last to board so they may not find any open bin space.
Good post. I agree with much of this. I do disagree that Spirit's program is "incredibly weak". It's not awesome and you really need the credit card to take advantage of it but it isn't all that bad.
My big picture worry about all these changes or additions in fare class will kill my choices and benefits when booking through my corporate travel (Concur) system. So far it blocks out much of Southwest and...
Good post. I agree with much of this. I do disagree that Spirit's program is "incredibly weak". It's not awesome and you really need the credit card to take advantage of it but it isn't all that bad.
My big picture worry about all these changes or additions in fare class will kill my choices and benefits when booking through my corporate travel (Concur) system. So far it blocks out much of Southwest and doesn't seem to pull in Frontier and Spirit much but eventually I fear it will pull those fares in as well as include basic economy fares. It would leave me at the mercy of less benefits for business travel. I would earn less miles (now points). It would make it harder to earn status, etc.
I also think that the main reason to create these basic fares is simply so they show up on comparison sites like Google Flights. It's almost bait and switch in my view. I obviously have no issue with LCC's like Spirit but I think it's just a way to game the advertised price. It will make it much harder to find the true cost for a normal seat in the marketplace.
I also don't see the legacy carriers moving to include basic fares at a lower award redemption point (in most cases). The further pushes the public toward credit card points that can be used to book any airline on a cash basis.
I see Basic Economy fares much like I see baggage fees, rebooking fees, and any other fees airlines charge - its all about the airlines bottom lines. I just hope AA comes up with a good way to distinguish Basic Economy fares.
Honestly I never realized that United is so much expensive... Btw. is there any reason why US domestic fares are so much expensive compared to intra-European flights (of course I mean EasyJet or Ryanair, not AirFrance or BA or LH) - because of higher standards?
Financially it probably doesn't make a difference to United whether you earn elite from one fare or another, but they also know people interested in status will pay up to earn it.
"You Can’t Change Or Refund Basic Economy Tickets"
you can fight back against BE and its ilk by checking for a flight you don't intend to take and making it harder for the airline to fill that seat and get additional income