It’s quite interesting to see how United has modified their basic economy concept since introducing it early last year. United first introduced basic economy on select flights last February, and then extended it to almost all domestic flights last May.
United (in particular president Scott Kirby) was quite smug about the introduction of basic economy. Kirby thought for sure it would be successful if implemented across their network, and expected that better segmenting the marketing would generate a billion dollars in incremental revenue annually. When they presented the numbers, they did so based on the percentage of passengers they thought would opt for basic economy, and didn’t account for the customers they’d lose because of the introduction of basic economy.
The fact that an airline thinks they can introduce this without losing a significant percentage of their passengers shows how the US airline industry is desperately in need of more competition, because they basically feel like they have captive customers. The good news is that basic economy hasn’t worked out the way United had hoped, and they’ve backtracked on it quite a bit. Originally almost all domestic fares (even expensive last minute tickets) had basic economy, while now they’ve eliminated basic economy from many of their more expensive domestic fares.
Well, United has now decided that they want to segment their passenger base even further. One of the main restrictions on basic economy tickets has been that you can’t select a seat assignment in advance. As of February 1, 2018, United is letting basic economy passengers pay to assign their seats up until 24 hours before departure (at that point seat assignments become free).
As you’ll see during the booking process, the page asking you to choose whether you want a basic economy fare or not now says “choose a complimentary seat, or change or upgrade seats,” rather than “choose, change or upgrade seats.”
The next page shows “advance seat assignments may be available for purchase during booking and up until check-in opens.”
So, how much is United charging for seat assignments on basic economy fares? It will vary by flight, but for a Tampa to Chicago flight for later in the year, they’re charging $5 to assign a middle seat, $10 to assign a window seat, and $15 to assign an aisle seat.
For what it’s worth, the fare difference between economy and basic economy is only about $20 one-way
I guess there are two ways to view this change on United’s part:
- Basic economy isn’t panning out as United had hoped, and they’re acting desperately to try and generate more revenue, by now letting you buy one of the main perks that that’s excluded on these fares
- United is being smart in their effort to infinitely segment the market; after all, there are some people who may not value a carry-on, but who may still be willing to pay more to assign a seat; however, at some point this all seems a bit silly
What do you make of United now selling seat assignments on basic economy fares?
It's terrible. Have to pay extra for seats just to sit next to my family. I have flying anxiety and they choose to seperate people. Smh! Paying for a checked bag, no carry-on, it's sad.
Just flew to kona. Three legs of our journey from Toronto. Stupidly paid to have aisle seats beside each other. Got to the check in...no record of us having paid, even though it had a receipt on my phone to provide proof.
We lost our economy plus seats, but got to sit together.
I spoke to the gentleman who was sitting in the seat I selected and paid for....guess what...he had paid for...
Just flew to kona. Three legs of our journey from Toronto. Stupidly paid to have aisle seats beside each other. Got to the check in...no record of us having paid, even though it had a receipt on my phone to provide proof.
We lost our economy plus seats, but got to sit together.
I spoke to the gentleman who was sitting in the seat I selected and paid for....guess what...he had paid for same seat!
Is that not THEFT AND DECEIT?
The customer service people were well versed in platitudes and passing the buck
WORST AIRLINE EVER. CREW MEMBER TOLD BE STOP WHINING AND SUCK IT UP
WHAT.......????
United Airlines practices kangaroo seating of late. Should you buy two seats at the same time (Economy or Basic Economy - makes no difference), they will separate you as a matter of principle. I was on a four-seats-abreast plane with a family member - we were assigned 'A' and 'C', while another couple was assigned 'B' and 'D'. Funny the length an airline will go to try to spite you! Of course, we traded. Of...
United Airlines practices kangaroo seating of late. Should you buy two seats at the same time (Economy or Basic Economy - makes no difference), they will separate you as a matter of principle. I was on a four-seats-abreast plane with a family member - we were assigned 'A' and 'C', while another couple was assigned 'B' and 'D'. Funny the length an airline will go to try to spite you! Of course, we traded. Of course, when traveling with a bratty kid, it can be better to count on sitting in a different part of the plane from him. Let him be someone else's problem for a few hours while you nap.
Some people pay for more leg room because they are tall.
We found ourselves on UNITED last week only because our usual JETBLUE non-stop was sold out and UNITED offered a convenient travel time. We booked our BOS-IAD-AUS round trip through EXPEDIA which immediately books you into UNITED's "basic economy" fare. I later received a tersely worded email from UNITED explaining what "basic economy" means and what NOT to expect at this fare. I upgraded to "preferred seating" and for an additional $243.00 later, my wife...
We found ourselves on UNITED last week only because our usual JETBLUE non-stop was sold out and UNITED offered a convenient travel time. We booked our BOS-IAD-AUS round trip through EXPEDIA which immediately books you into UNITED's "basic economy" fare. I later received a tersely worded email from UNITED explaining what "basic economy" means and what NOT to expect at this fare. I upgraded to "preferred seating" and for an additional $243.00 later, my wife and myself were allowed to sit together. In ALL FOUR flight segments the gate agents felt the need to continually remind all "basic economy" passengers in a condescending tone that you board LAST, sit where you are assigned, have NO ACCESS to the overhead storage bins and you will need to stuff any personal belongings under the seat ahead. The tone in ALL FOUR flight segments was basically you are steerage and clearly not as welcome as boarding groups one through four. If UNITED is going to offer a "basic economy" product and try to compete with the LCC's , they really need to reconsider their marketing and correspondence and scripting at the gate agent level. If I want to fly a LCC, I can fly SOUTHWEST for less, have service with a smile and no $30.00 checked bag fee. I can fly SPIRIT for MUCH LESS if I want the condescension I received with UNITED. Having flown AMERICAN and DELTA basic economy over the last few years, the treatment you receive from them was seamless and unnoticeable, but UNITED feels the need to shove the basic economy rules and hyperbole down your throat from the moment you book your flight. I had not flown on UNITED for about 10 years and was skittish on using them again after the Dr. David Dao/United Express Flight 3411 incident and countless poor reviews online regarding their customer service. It seems not much has changed and UNITED's contempt towards it's customers is still there. This may have been my last trip on UNITED. So much for "The Friendly Skies"....
I'm flying South West Airlines next time. UA is way out of line when they charge $45 dollars for an isle seat.
I have two United credit cards. I bought a ticket to/from NYC. I still haven't a clue if I can check a bag for free or board with a carry-on for free. The flight is direct so I will just wait and see on the seat situation. United needs to better integrate the credit card benefits.
This makes me so mad!It just boils down to same fate for no consideration for the passengers.I will avoid United for the concept of same fate less service.Southwest or Alaska would be a good way to handle their portion of the passengers ,which should get smaller with this scheme!!!
They will keep doing this until some pervert molests a kid because the greedy airline put the parents 20 rows away from thier kids. Guess I will have to find another airline the actually cares about the welfare and safety of my family.
Airlines like United make so much money from first class, that they have a vested interest in making non first class passengers as uncomfortable as possible. This helps ensure people In First Class don't look back at steerage and say "that's not so bad!" This is been true for a long time, and they're expanding that model into economy itself. Making some economy seats smaller, and more uncomfortable. This is one more reason I refuse...
Airlines like United make so much money from first class, that they have a vested interest in making non first class passengers as uncomfortable as possible. This helps ensure people In First Class don't look back at steerage and say "that's not so bad!" This is been true for a long time, and they're expanding that model into economy itself. Making some economy seats smaller, and more uncomfortable. This is one more reason I refuse to fly in a domestic carrier other than Southwest. Their open seating model makes these sorts of games and possible.
“I guess the should just change their name to Frontier ”
@Joe no they shouldn’t. The expectations are different here. With ULCCs like Frontier, the baseline is that you’re buying a ticket with zero perks/amenities. People except nothing when they fly, so buying seats, bags, etc. are seen as an upgrade that is only available through incremental purchases. With legacy carriers people generally expect more. The idea that you’re choosing to downgrade from ‘the standard’...
“I guess the should just change their name to Frontier ”
@Joe no they shouldn’t. The expectations are different here. With ULCCs like Frontier, the baseline is that you’re buying a ticket with zero perks/amenities. People except nothing when they fly, so buying seats, bags, etc. are seen as an upgrade that is only available through incremental purchases. With legacy carriers people generally expect more. The idea that you’re choosing to downgrade from ‘the standard’ for a legacy carrier and then are going to start throwing money to move yourself back to the baseline is totally different. I don’t think people are dumb enough to choose the lowest legacy BE price and then pay-up to move back to a standard ticket they probs should’ve bought in the first place.
I think the bottom line is there are of dumb people, rich people, and rich dumb people. UA is just trying to relieve them of that extra cash.
I've never ever understood what would possess someone to pay $70-200 for legroom alone but I guess some people have money to burn!
I guess the should just change their name to Frontier ;-)
@Tom Schneider UA does not permit online check-in for Basic Economy tickets. You are required to see an agent so they can verify you don't have a carry-on.
Whatever,? ! As an ex UAX employee who worked in sales, sound like they are grasping for straws to see whatever will work. So sick of them and their logic
So will this allow Basic Economy fare purchasers the opportunity to buy an Economy Plus Seating Assignment for a fee as well?
I think there were a lot of people who bought BE on Expedia and Co websites without realizing it so this is their way of trying to goose some extra revenue from them.
Wow what an amazing customer friendly enhancement! So glad that United let's me unbundle all of these services and pick and choose exactly what I want!!
*eye roll*
@Mike Perhaps I am missing something from your comment but you can receive your boarding pass via the United App. Hell, I just used the boarding pass on the app to pass through security at IAH a few minutes ago.
$5 middle seats make sense if you have a companion with an aisle/window on a separate, non-Basic ticket. And IMO that situation is rare enough that it's rather an insult to the customer to offer for sale the inflight equivalent of shit on a stick.
$20 is a typical increment for one leg between basic and regular economy, so if you pay $15 to get an aisle seat you've now reduced your savings and given up flexibility, a carry-on and mileage earning for a whopping $5!
LOL
I need a cheap last minute round trip to EWR
Spirit and united were both a 6 am departure and cost $45 a week and a half before departure (one way)
I chose spirit because I can get my boarding pass on the mobile app on my way to the airport
I don’t want to be “policed” at the kiosk with my personal item in order to print my boarding pass. And have to arrive 10 minutes earlier
Bad move United !!!!
Haven't flown on United since the merger with Continental, so no big deal to me. I expect that at some point United with be like Allegiant, Frontier, etc charging for everything little thing they can get away with.
@chesterwilson - The irony of paying for a seat assignment pushing you to fly an airline where a seat assignment isn't even possible is not lost.
I would pay $20 for a seat in first class. Not a penny just for a regular economy seat
I would pay $5 just for "not the back row" so I guess I would pay $5 for a middle seat just to avoid that, but in reality I would pay $10 or $15 for the aisle or window toward the middle of the plane.
That I will continue to fly Southwest Airlines whenever possible.