United Airlines Basic Economy vs Economy (Key Differences) [2023]

Are you thinking about saving a little bit of money by flying Basic Economy on United Airlines?

If so, you’re probably curious about the differences between United Basic Economy and regular (or standard) economy.

In this article, we’ll take a deep dive at all of the big (and small) differences so that you know exactly what to expect before flying on Basic Economy.

I’ll also analyze the price differences and give you some insight into whether or not it’s worth it to fly United Basic Economy.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Booking United Airlines Basic Economy

Booking a United Airlines Basic Economy fare will be the same process as booking a ticket for standard economy.

If there is a United Airlines Basic Economy fare available, you’ll clearly see it when selecting your fare during booking.

Also, the differences between economy and Basic Economy will be made very clear to you as you go through the booking process.

Multiple windows will appear showing you the difference between the two so that you don’t make an uninformed decision.

But even with all of those prompts, there still are quite a few nuances that you want to be aware of and I’ll go into those below.

Full-sized carry-on bags

The biggest difference between economy and Basic Economy that most people are probably familiar with is the carry-on baggage policy.

Basic economy fares do not allow you to bring on a free carry-on bag on all routes.

However, some routes will allow you to bring a free carry-on item and those include:

  • Trans-Pacific flights to and from the US
  • Trans-Atlantic flights to and from the US (flights to Europe, Africa and the Middle East)
  • Flights to and from Mexico and Central America, and South America.

Also, if you have a certain type of membership you might still be able to bring a carry-on even with the Basic Economy ticket.

These memberships include if you are a:

  • MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation
  • Primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or
  • Star Alliance Gold member.

If you are not allowed a carry-on bag but bring one anyways you will be required to pay the applicable checked baggage fee. In addition to that, you will likely be charged a $25 gate handling fee.

Personal item

Just like standard economy passengers, United Basic Economy passengers are still allowed to bring a personal item.

A personal item is basically a smaller carry-on which could be something like a small backpack, purse, laptop, etc.

The dimensions allowed for your personal item are: 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm) or less. In my experience, if the object can easily fit under your seat it should not be a problem.

Mobility aids, assistive devices and medical devices including breast pumps are also permitted.

Seat selection

Economy passengers are allowed to select their seat at the time of booking. During that time, you’ll be shown a seat map of the plane and you can select any open seat or choose to pay more for an Economy Plus seat.

However, if you book a Basic Economy ticket, your seat will automatically be assigned prior to boarding (at check-in) and you cannot change it once you have been assigned to it.

In some cases when booking a Basic Economy ticket it will be possible to purchase advance seat assignments during booking and up until check-in opens.

This can be done after you input your personal information during booking and prices will differ based on your route and where in the cabin you are selecting a seat.

For a standard seat in economy, the price for seat selection may range from $10 to $20.

As you’ll see below, sometimes the price difference between economy and Basic Economy is not that great so selecting your seats could be more expensive than just booking economy.

Note: MileagePlus members, including MileagePlus Premier members, will not earn PQP or other accruals toward Premier status for purchasing a standard Economy seat assignment

If you want to purchase Economy Plus tickets, that will only be available at the time of check-in.

Elite benefits and upgrades

Also, MileagePlus Premier members won’t be eligible for complimentary Economy Plus seating. That’s actually a pretty major drawback because Economy Plus upgrades for elite members are extremely common to get.

Note: MileagePlus members, including Premier members, cannot use complimentary, earned or mileage upgrades, or Economy Plus subscription benefits.

Groups and families

When it comes to selecting your seats, a major factor to keep in mind is that customers traveling in groups (including families) will not be placed in seats together.

The only way to ensure that you’ll be seated by each other is if you book advanced seat assignments.

Unaccompanied minors

Seat assignments can be made for unaccompanied minors flying on United.

If you are dealing with an unaccompanied minor on a Basic Economy ticket, call the United Customer Contact Center after you finish your booking and pay the unaccompanied minor fee.

Passengers with disabilities

Passengers with disabilities can be accommodated when purchasing a Basic Economy ticket. You just need to make sure that you make a request at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled flight.

Boarding

United Airlines has a pretty straightforward boarding process. If you booked an economy ticket you’ll be boarding somewhere between groups 3 through 5, unless some special status applies.

However, if you have a Basic Economy ticket you will be the last to board the plane in group 5.

Normally, that would cause issues for finding overhead storage bin space for your carry-on bag. However, in this case you won’t have a carry-on bag so it is much less of an issue.

There is a very high chance you’ll be given a middle seat so be prepared for that.

Something to be aware of is that if you are a United Basic Economy passenger, you can still retain your priority boarding if you are 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.

Checked baggage

For the most part, the checked baggage policies for United Basic Economy and regular economy are the same. However, things might be slightly different on international flights.

That is because for Basic Economy fares on trans-Atlantic flights, you’ll have to pay for your first checked bag.

Refunds and changes

There is no change fee for most United standard economy tickets. The only out-of-pocket expense you would have when changing a standard economy ticket would be if the fare is more expensive.

However, things are much different for United Basic Economy. In order to make a change you would have to add economy benefits (which I talk about below).

Basic Economy tickets are not eligible for changes, but are eligible for a full refund inside 24 hours of booking as long as you completed your purchase one week or more before the original scheduled departure flight.

Also, if you cancel a United Basic Economy ticket, you will not get a travel credit. Instead, you would have to add the economy benefits in order to receive a travel credit upon canceling.

Most likely that travel credit will be good for 12 months from the time of ticketing.

MileagePlus and Premier member benefits

If you’re wondering about earning miles and credit toward elite status things are almost the same between economy and Basic Economy.

MileagePlus members will earn award miles for Basic Economy tickets but they will be at 50% the rate as a standard economy ticket.

They will also earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) as well as lifetime miles and accrue toward the four-segment minimum.

But one major difference is that Basic Economy tickets are not eligible for Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs). 

If you’re wondering about checked baggage, elite members will still receive the complimentary checked baggage allowance they are entitled to.

In-flight experience

The in-flight experience for a Basic Economy and economy passenger will be very similar.

Basic Economy passengers will still have access to purchase things like in-flight Wi-Fi, entertainment, food, drinks, etc.

And contrary to some rumors that surfaced at some point, Basic Economy passengers will not have to pay to use the lavatory.

Adding economy benefits (upgrading)

If you purchase a Basic Economy ticket but end up deciding that you don’t want to miss out on the standard economy benefits, you can still add them.

Prices may vary but you might be paying around $45. Keep in mind that every passenger on the itinerary must be upgraded with economy benefits — you cannot mix economy passengers with Basic Economy.

This can be done after the time of booking by visiting the Trip Details page on united.com, or Reservation Details in the United mobile app. 

If you’re in the middle of the trip you can still add economy benefits to your return trip as long as the return trip has not started.

Obviously, the sooner you act the more seats you will have available to you, so acting quick can be very beneficial.

The Basic Economy upgrade benefits include being able to:

  • Cancel or change your flight without paying a change fee
  • Bring one full-size carry-on item on board
  • Receive a complimentary seat assignment prior to check-in
  • Purchase Economy Plus or premium cabin seats
  • Enjoy select Premier status benefits associated with your Premier status: complimentary access to Economy Plus and preferred seating, Complimentary Premier Upgrades, and the option to upgrade using PlusPoints, as applicable

You may not be able to add economy benefits to all Basic Economy tickets but generally you should be able to when flying on select domestic U.S. flights and short-haul flights to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.

Note that you may not be able to add economy benefits if you purchased a bulk fare, award ticket, or a deeply discounted ticket.

Prices

Now that you know about all of the major differences and benefits between basic economy and economy, let’s take a look at the price differences for some of the most popular routes.

After analyzing 100 data points, we found that United Basic Economy was on average about 18% cheaper than economy.

The price difference could range from a small as $3 to over $60 so if you’re choosing between the two fares you don’t always want to assume that United Basic Economy is a far superior deal.

Here is all of the data that we found.

Basic EconomyEconomy
Chicago, IL (ORD)
Phoenix, AZ (PHX)$185$199
Seattle, WA (SEA)$232$249
Washingon, D.C. (DCA)$69$94
Las Vegas, NV (LAS)$192$195
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW)$79$89
Baltimore, MD (BWI)$89$109
Atlanta, GA (ATL)$163$173
Akron, OH (CAK)$116$194
Cedar Rapids, IA (CID)$141$169
Charleston, WV (CRW)$184$209
Denver, CO (DEN)
Phoenix, AZ (PHX)$64$84
Allentown, PA (ABE)$156$181
Brownsville, TX (BRO)$123$168
Butte, MT (BTM)$79$89
Cheyenne, WY (CYS)$56$61
Dodge City, KS (DDC)$96$107
Fresno, CA (FAT)$127$167
Harlingen, TX (HRL)$123$168
Hobbs, NM (HOB)$173$193
Joplin, MO (JLN)$122$127
Houston, TX (IAH)
San Antonio, TX (SAT)$79$104
San Diego, CA (SAN)$149$174
Austin, TX (AUS)$59$84
Jacksonville, FL (JAX)$129$154
Columbus, OH (CMH)$139$164
Indianapolis, IN (IND)$129$154
Lincoln, NE (LNK)$224$249
Louisville, KY (SDF)$192$231
Madison, WI (MSN)$158$183
Manchester, NH (MHT)$177$227
Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
San Diego, CA (SAN)$89$114
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW)$182$193
Austin, TX (AUS)$70$99
Jacksonville, FL (JAX)$256$267
Mason City, IA (MCW)$165$220
McAllen, TX (MFE)$168$193
Miami, FL (MIA)$229$233
Milwaukee, WI (MKE)$308$329
Mobile, AL (MOB)$250$267
New York, NY (LGA)$199$218
New York, NY (EWR)
Phoenix, AZ (PHX)$137$168
Philadelphia, PA (PHL)$174$199
San Antonio, TX (SAT)$108$133
San Diego, CA (SAN)$158$198
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW)$99$134
Austin, TX (AUS)$94$119
Jacksonville, FL (JAX)$49$74
Columbus, OH (CMH)$89$114
Indianapolis, IN (IND)$119$144
Charlotte, NC (CLT)$119$144

When United Basic Economy is not worth it

There are a few instances when United Basic Economy will probably not be worth it.

  • You want to bring a carry-on item
  • You want to sit together with a family or group
  • You think you might need flexibility to make a change or cancel
  • You need to earn Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs)

As you can tell from above, the price difference between economy and United Basic Economy is not always that much but the price to add economy benefits can be much higher than that difference.

For example, imagine purchasing United Basic Economy because it is $20 cheaper but then having to shell out $45 to make a change or cancellation.

So at the end of the day you may end up spending more money trying to save if you later end up realizing you need the economy benefits.

United Basic Economy FAQ

Are Basic Economy fares available on all United flights?

United Airlines states that “Basic Economy fares are available on select routes” so you might not be able to find these on every route.

Does United offer you a carry on for Basic Economy fares?

On domestic flights you are not offered a free carry-on but on many international routes you will be allowed a free carry-on bag.

Can you change a United Basic Economy fare?

No, you cannot change a Basic Economy fare. Instead, you will have to add economy benefits in order to make a change to your flight. This essentially works out to be a “change fee.”

Does United Basic Economy count towards status?

Yes, you can earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) as well as lifetime miles and accrue toward the four-segment minimum. But Basic Economy tickets are not eligible for Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs). 

What can you take on United Basic Economy?

You can take a personal item with you but full-sized carry-on bags are not allowed on many routes. When flying internationally, you may be allowed a carry-on bag so be sure to check the terms of your booking.

How much does it cost to check a bag with United Basic Economy?

The standard checked bag fees will apply. However, if you have to check a carry-on bag you will have to pay an additional $25.

How do you upgrade from United Basic Economy?

Upgrading can be done after the time of booking by visiting the Trip Details page on united.com or Reservation Details in the United mobile app. You may not be able to add economy benefits to all Basic Economy tickets. 

How much is it to choose a seat on United Basic Economy?

The price will differ based on the route and where in the cabin you are selecting a seat. Prices can be as cheap as $10 but can increase to $20+.

How much cheaper is United Basic Economy than standard economy?

We analyzed 100 data points and found that United Basic Economy is approximately 18% cheaper on average.

Final word

United Basic Economy is a way to save money on airfare no doubt. If you don’t have a need for a carry-on and don’t care where you sit on the plane, it could make sense for you to purchase a Basic Economy fare.

The problem is that if an unexpected situation arises and you need to make a change or cancellation, you may end up spending more money than you initially would have had you simply booked an economy ticket.

Also, while you can retain some elite benefits like priority boarding and free checked baggage, you lose out on things like upgrades to economy plus.

Alaska Airlines Saver Fare vs Main Cabin: What Benefits Do You Lose?

If you’ve been planning a trip on Alaska Airlines chances are that you may have come across Saver Fares.

These can be really tempting tickets based on the lower price but what exactly will you lose out on if you choose a Saver over a Main Cabin Fare?

In this article, we will take a deep dive and compare each aspect of Saver Fares against what you would be offered when flying Main Cabin.

Everything from boarding, carry-ons, and pricing will be discussed.

By the end of the article, you’ll be able to make an informed decision on whether or not it would be worth it for you to book a Saver Fare or just go with Main Cabin.

What is the Alaska Airlines Saver Fare?

An Alaska Airlines Saver Fare is the cheapest fare available on some Alaska Airlines routes. It’s the equivalent of “Basic Economy” on other airlines.

While it is the cheapest fare, it comes with limitations on important things you’ll care about like: changes, seat selection, and boarding.

For your reference, the different type of fares you can choose from when booking an Alaska Airlines ticket include:

  • Saver
  • Main Cabin (standard economy)
  • Premium Class (not a true fare but an upgraded seat)
  • First Class

So this article is focusing on the differences between the cheapest two fares offered by Alaska.

Note that these different fares will not be available on every route.

Related: Alaska Premium Class vs Main Cabin vs First Class: Which Is for You?

Booking Alaska Airlines Basic Economy

It’s very easy to purchase an Alaska Airlines Saver Fare.

After you input your flight search details, the results will show the option to select “Saver” or Main assuming that both are available.

You can simply select the option you would like and if you select “Saver” you will probably receive a confirmation message to make sure that you understand the restrictions.

Simply proceed through booking as you normally would and it’s as easy as that.

Throughout the booking process you will have multiple opportunities to upgrade to Main Cabin just in case you end up changing your mind.

Also, you can even choose a Premium Class seat when it comes time to seat selection.

Note: If you purchase a Premium Class seat with a Saver Fare, Saver Fare restrictions still apply.

Carry-on bags

Anytime you’re dealing with a Basic Economy Fare such as the Saver Fare the biggest question on your mind is probably can you bring a free carry-on bag?

Well, you will be happy to know that Alaska Airlines allows you to bring a free carry-on bag when flying on a Saver Fare. This is the same policy that applies to Main Cabin.

The same size restrictions also apply so your carry-on item needs to be no larger than 22″x14″x9.”

Considering that Saver Fare passengers will be the last to board (unless you have some kind of special exception), you may want to try to go with a smaller carry-on to avoid having to check it.

But then again, if you already are facing a high likelihood of checking your bag, maybe you want to go ahead and utilize all of the space that a full-size carry-on bag affords.

Alaska Airlines overhead storage space

Personal item

Both Main Cabin and Saver passengers can bring a personal item on board with them for free.

A personal item is usually smaller than your carry-on bag and it often consists of a backpack, purse, laptop bag, camera bag, etc.

The major distinguishing factor between a carry-on and a personal item is that your personal item typically goes underneath the seat in front of you and needs to be a size that can easily fit under there.

When flying a Saver Fare, you probably want to put things like lithium ion batteries into your personal item because you may have to check your carry-on bag if the plane is full (but more on that below).

Related: What’s a Personal Item on a Plane?

Checked baggage

Alaska Airlines charges $30 for your first checked bag and $40 for your second checked bag. These prices apply the same to both Saver Fares and Main Cabin Fares.

You’ll be happy to know that if you have elite status, you will still maintain your baggage allowances even if you purchased a Saver Fare.

Also, Alaska Airlines credit card holders can qualify for free checked bags.

Seat selection

When you purchase a Saver Fare, you are not able to select your seat for free. Instead, seats will be assigned to you at the airport/check-in.

If you don’t get a seat when you check in, your seat will be automatically assigned at the gate.

On my prior Alaska flights, I heard them make a special announcement for passengers who have not received an assigned seat to come up to the desk so that might be how you find out where you will be seated.

You should be prepared for a middle seat on a lot of flights especially if they are full. However, if the occupancy rate is lower you might still get away with a window or aisle seat.

This is a pretty big difference between Saver Fares and Main Cabin since Main Cabin gives you the option to select your seat for free.

For groups or families wanting to sit together, you should be aware that there is no guarantee that parties of two or more will be seated together.

So Saver Fares are often NOT the best options for families traveling together.

It’s worth pointing out that elite members do NOT receive preferred seating or upgrade benefits with Saver Fares.

Alaska airlines main cabin seat

Boarding

When you fly with a Saver Fare, you’re going to be in the very last boarding group which is Boarding Group E.

When flying Main Cabin you could be in Group C or Group D.

Typically, if your seat is in the front of the Economy Cabin then you’ll be in the latter group and if you are seated towards the back of the plane you will be in Group C.

The implications of this means that if you are boarding with a Saver Fare, you could struggle to find overhead storage bin space.

Overhead storage bin space could potentially be an issue for Main Cabin passengers in Group D as well.

I’ve flown economy with Alaska Airlines and boarded with Group D and we did not have any problem finding overhead storage bin space so I know it can be done. It just might make you a little bit nervous.

In the event that there is no space for your carry-on you can bring it forward and they will check the bag for free.

For that reason, if you are flying on a Saver Fare try to keep things like lithium ion batteries in your personal item such as a backpack so that you don’t have to deal with the challenges of checking such bags.

If you have a Saver Fare and qualify for pre-boarding you can still take advantage of pre-boarding but you need to notify an agent about that.

Something else worth pointing out is that Elite Mileage Plan passengers get their elite boarding perks even when flying on a Saver Fare.

That’s a pretty big perk that can make Saver Fares much more appealing.

Alaska airlines boarding

In-flight experience

Once you have made it to your seat and the plane takes off, the in-flight experience is going to be identical whether you are flying Main Cabin or a Saver Fare.

Your legroom will be the same since the seats are all identical in economy.

The only time you would have more legroom is whenever you are flying in a Premium Class seat or you get a seat in an emergency exit row.

However, the latter would be tough to come by with a Saver seat since they are typically reserved for elites.

Standard legroom in main cabin.
Standard legroom in main cabin.

You’ll be able to get the same Wi-Fi and in-flight entertainment streaming options as Main Cabin.

It’s also nice that you can often find outlets and USB ports in the Economy Cabin so it’s pretty easy to keep your devices charged up when flying Main Cabin or Saver.

That’s pretty important because Alaska Airlines does not have seatback TVs.

Both Main and Saver passengers can choose food and drink options from the menu.

You can get complimentary drinks like soda water and some light snacks like Biscoff Cookies but if you want a meal you will need to pay for that and also perhaps order ahead of time.

If your elite status entitles you to free snacks or beverages you can get those.

Refunds and changes

If you book a Saver Fare or Main Cabin ticket, you can always cancel for no penalty within 24 hours for tickets purchased 24 hours or more prior to your scheduled departure time.

Another big difference between Main Cabin and Saver Fares is that they allow changes for Main Cabin tickets (a difference in fare may apply).

However, Saver Fares cannot be changed or canceled.

So you don’t want to book a Saver Fare unless you are absolutely 100% positive that you will be flying that day.

Another major rule to be aware of is that there are no same-day standby or same-day confirmed changes allowed on Saver Fares. This is the case even for those who have Mileage Plan elite status.

And finally you are not allowed to mix Saver Fares with Main Cabin Fares on the same itinerary.

Earning miles and loyalty points

Whenever you fly a Saver Fare also known as an “X” fare, you’ll be happy to know that you will earn 100% of your base miles.

What’s more, if you have elite status with Alaska Airlines you’ll also earn 100% of your bonus miles.

Upgrades

Both Main Cabin and Saver Fares can be upgraded to First Class.

These paid upgrades can be done on the day of departure at the check-in kiosk or airport ticket counter/gate. In some cases, you may be able to upgrade online before then.

The biggest thing to be aware of is that if you do upgrade to First Class from a Saver Fare, Saver Fare restrictions still apply.

So you won’t be able to cancel or change your flight. The same thing applies whenever you purchase a Premium Class seat.

And be sure that you don’t rush into upgrading or purchasing a seat because once you make a purchase, you won’t be able to get a refund for Premium Class seat purchases or First Class paid upgrades.

Pricing

We were very curious about the price differences between Main Cabin and Saver Fares so we conducted a small study with about 30 different Alaska Airlines routes.

Our findings showed that Main Cabin was on average 23% percent more expensive than a Saver Fare.

Interestingly, the price difference between the two fares is usually always in exact increments of $20, $30, $40, and $50.

This can make it really easy to decide if a Saver Fare is worth it.

For example, you can ask yourself is saving $50 worth potentially losing out on everything due to not being able to make changes to your flight?

Or, in other cases is $20 worth giving up your ability to sit with your travel partner and potentially having to check your carry-on?

When you attach that type of specific value to your savings, it’s a little easier to decide whether or not it’s worth it to go with the cheaper fare.

Because we always like to disclose our data points, below you can find all of the different price points we found:

RouteSaverMain
Seattle (SEA) to Juneau (JNU)$80$110
Seattle (SEA) to Fairbanks (FAI)$119$149
Seattle (SEA) to Honolulu (HNL)$259$299
Seattle (SEA) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)$159$209
Seattle (SEA) to New Orleans (MSY)$189$229
Los Angeles (LAX) to Anchorage (ANC)$171$201
Los Angeles (LAX) to Puerto Vallarta (PVR)$151$191
Los Angeles (LAX) to Salt Lake City (SLC)$159$189
Los Angeles (LAX) to Washington, DC – Dulles (IAD)$169$209
Los Angeles (LAX) to Newark (EWR)$138$178
San Francisco (SFO) to New York-Kennedy (JFK)$158$188
San Francisco (SFO) to Chicago-O’Hare (ORD)$131$161
San Francisco (SFO) to Las Vegas (LAS)$49$69
San Francisco (SFO) to Phoenix (PHX)$159$189
San Francisco (SFO) to Austin (AUS)$139$179
Portland (PDX) to Anchorage (ANC)$128$158
Portland (PDX) to Maui (OGG)$259$299
Portland (PDX) to Reno (RNO)$99$129
Portland (PDX) to Albuquerque (ABQ)$99$129
Portland (PDX) to Boise (BOI)$69$89
San Diego (SAN) to Kona (KOA)$159$199
San Diego (SAN) to Boston (BOS)$179$229
San Diego (SAN) to Orlando (MCO)$189$229
San Diego (SAN) to Sacramento (SMF)$49$69
San Diego (SAN) to Cabo San Lucas (SJD)$166$206
Anchorage (ANC) to Chicago-O’Hare (ORD)$159$189
Anchorage (ANC) to Phoenix (PHX)$198$228
Anchorage (ANC) to Honolulu (HNL)$198$238

Final word

A lot of travelers are attracted to the cheaper Saver Fares on Alaska Airlines.

For some passengers, it makes sense to jump on these cheaper tickets but it may not be worth it if you want to secure overhead storage bin space, want to sit together, and have doubts that you might need to change your flight dates.

Sometimes having elite status can make choosing a Saver Fare a better option because you can still take advantage of perks like priority boarding but at the end of the day you will likely always be losing out on some type of benefits such as upgrades or seat selection.

My recommendation is to break down what specific benefits you will be losing out on with a Saver Fare and ask yourself if the price savings are worth it.

Personally, almost every time I do this the answer is “no” but it all depends on your personal circumstances and preferences.

American Airlines Basic Economy vs Main Cabin (Key Differences) [2022]

Almost every major airline offers some version of Basic Economy.

When it comes to booking Basic Economy with American Airlines, you’ll want to know the difference between Basic Economy and Main Cabin (or standard economy).

In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Basic Economy and these differences.

What is American Airlines Basic Economy?

American Airlines Basic Economy is the cheapest fare available on some American Airlines routes. While it is the cheapest fare, it comes with limitations on important things you’ll care about like: change fees, seat selection, boarding, free checked bags, and upgrades.

Sometimes you can pay to obtain some of these benefits like seat selection or you can obtain them for free by having elite status or certain co-branded credit cards. (I’ll break down all of the information you need to know below.)

For your reference, the different type of fares you can choose from when booking an American Airlines ticket include:

  • Basic Economy
  • Main Cabin (standard economy)
  • Main Plus (access to Main Cabin Extra and preferred seats if available)
  • Premium Economy
  • Business Class
  • First Class

Note that these different fares will not be available on every route.

Related: American Airlines Domestic First Class Ultimate Guide

Don’t Miss out! Find out which American Airlines credit card can set you up with a big bonus, lounge access, free checked bags, and a short-cut to AAdvantage elite status! Read more here!

Booking American Airlines Basic Economy

Booking in American Airlines Basic Economy ticket is very straightforward. As you are searching for available tickets, you’ll see one designation for Basic Economy and you really can’t miss it, especially when you see the confirmation message.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Carry-on bags

One of the most important things to look out for when booking basic economy is whether or not you are given a free carry-on bag. Some airlines will require you to pay for anything you bring on the plane beyond a personal item.

However, for both short-haul and long-haul flights, American Airlines allows you to bring a free carry-on when flying Basic Economy. This is the same policy for Main Cabin.

The dimensions for your carry-on need to be no greater than 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 35 x 23 cm), which is the same requirement for Main Cabin.

If for some reason there is no room for your carry-on item (since you may be boarding last), you can check your carry-on bag for no additional charge.

Personal item

Just like in Main Cabin where you are allowed a carry-on bag, you will also be allowed to bring a personal item.

A personal item is usually a smaller carry-on such as a smaller backpack, purse, laptop bag, camera bag, etc. These typically need to go under your seat so that you are not taking up too much room in the overhead storage bin.

However, if there is plenty of room in the overhead storage bin there’s usually not a problem putting your personal item up there.

The dimensions for your personal item need to be no greater than 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm), which is the same requirement for Main Cabin.

Related: What’s a Personal Item on a Plane?

Seat selection

You can choose a specific seat at any time but you will have to pay a fee.

If you don’t choose a seat, you will be automatically assigned a seat for free at check-in. This will most likely mean getting placed in a middle seat if the plane is full but that is not always the case.

For groups with Basic Economy tickets, American Airlines cannot guarantee that you will be seated together.

It’s worth noting that you can select a seat for free if you are an AAdvantage member with status.

If you’re a family traveling with children under 15, and do not already have seats assigned, the American Airlines seat selection system will try to find seats for you to sit together before departure. However, this may not always be possible.

At the very least they will assign seats so that children under 15 are next to at least adult.

Related: American Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Policy (Fees & Forms)

Boarding

American Airlines has a pretty standard boarding process.

As you would probably expect, flying basic economy means that you’ll be boarding last. Your exact boarding group will depend on your destination though.

If you are flying within North America you will likely be boarding in Group 9 but if you are flying internationally you will likely be in Group 8.

Citi/AAdvantage or AAdvantage Aviator Mastercard cardmembers can still get priority or preferred boarding privileges.

For example, If you hold the premium Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard you can board with Group 4.

If you have an eligible AAdvantage credit card like the Aviator Red or the Citi Platinum Select, you’ll get preferred boarding in Group 5.

Remember, you only need to hold these cards — you don’t have to purchase your ticket on them.

In-flight experience

The in-flight experience should be basically the same whether you are flying Main Cabin or Basic Economy.

You still have access to the same type of in-flight entertainment, wi-fi, drinks, and snacks. You’ll need to pay for food and drinks in Basic Economy but you also have to pay for them in Main Cabin.

Also, you’ll have access to the same type of seats and lavatory.

Related: American Airlines Main Cabin Extra 737-800 Review

Checked baggage

Unlike Main Cabin fares which get free checked baggage on many international routes, your options for getting free checked baggage are much more limited when flying Basic Economy.

When flying within the U.S., Canada, Central America, Mexico, Caribbean, and Guyana & Suriname you do NOT get a free checked bag with basic economy.

Seasonality can change the checked baggage fee but typically you’ll be paying $30 for your first bag and $40 for your second bag.

The exception here is if you are an AAdvantage status member. In that case, you still get the free bag that you are entitled to.

Also, if you have an eligible AAdvantage credit card, you are exempt when flying within the U.S. and Canada.

When flying to and from Europe and South America you will also NOT get a free checked bag. But once again there is an exception if you are an AAdvantage status member.

Your first checked bag for a transatlantic flight may be $75 and your second bag may be $100.

The good news is that you can get a free checked bag when flying to and from Israel and also to and from countries in Asia/Oceania such as India, China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand.

Refunds and changes

Whether or not you can change a Basic Economy ticket for free depends on where your flight is originating from.

Basic Economy fares bought on or after April 1, 2021, are non-refundable and non-changeable for flights originating in North America, South America and certain countries in Asia.

For flights originating outside North or South America the no change fee applies.

This is a major difference from Main Cabin tickets because most of those tickets can be changed for free.

Earning miles and loyalty points

As of January 1, 2022, Basic Economy fares earn award miles and Loyalty Points.

Upgrades

With a standard Basic Economy seat you will not be eligible for upgrades. However, if you have elite status you may be eligible for some upgrades. Also, Citi/AAdvantage or AAdvantage Aviator Mastercard cardmembers can still get upgrades.

Note: Upgrades from Basic Economy fares are only allowed for AAdvantage status members who book 24 hours before departure.

Final word

American Airlines Basic Economy tickets are not so undesirable because you still get benefits like a free carry-on and even a free checked bag on some routes.

Also, if you have elite status or have a co-branded American Airlines credit card, you’ll be able to still enjoy some perks like choosing your seat and getting upgrades.

When calculating the price difference between Main Cabin and Basic Economy you want to pay attention to the costs for:

  • Change fees
  • Seat selection
  • Checked baggage fees

Getting a sense of those fees will help you make a good decision when it comes to choosing between the two.