PV_Premier

Today, AA became the last of the big 3 to introduce a basic economy fare, which basically is a stripped down coach ticket with limited elite benefits and no seat assignment. You can only bring a personal item.

Delta introduced theirs to much "fanfare" in early 2016, and were (of course) followed by United late last year. AA joins the fray today.

There is strong speculation that these fares may soon be "system wide" including international travel.

So, how long will it be before AS "enhances" its R fare bucket to the basic economy level?

PDXPremier

I'm sure it will be introduced, but my guess is that it will only apply to those AS elite members that didn't get the thank you gift, rollover miles, 10K bonus miles, or free baggage on VX flights

jrl767

note that AA, like UA (but unlike DL), says that Basic Economy passengers can only bring one carry-on item that must fit under the seat ... it will be interesting to see how they enforce the "no use of overhead bins" restriction

berliner5000

Delta already offers the basic E fare on SFO-ATL-JNB, so that's happening.

sdsearch

These "basic economy" fares at those other airlines were designed primarily for routes on which there's competition from ULCCs like Spirit (whose regular fares are cheap in part because they're stripped of the same kind of benefits that Basic Economy fares leave out). Basic Economy fares thus don't appear on every route.

Does Alaska have many such routes on which ULCCs are competition?

Jimgotkp

Frontier flies DEN/PHX, Spirit flies LAS/LAX and will be starting new routes to BWI, DTW, and IAH. So, five routes ex-SEA that ULCCs compete with AS.

jrl767

DL has begun expanding their E fares across more of their system, including international routes

danielonn

April 1st 2017 all people who book travel starting on this day will show them booked in First Class except Frequent Fliers even without status and FlyerTalk Members who enter the secrete code in the Discount Box or who call Alaska with the secrete code but when the non special passengers who don't belong on FlyerTalk or who can't even read the fare terms and conditions come to checkin they learn they are booked in R class. R for Ration Class no bags, poor seats and pay to use the overhead bins. Just look at the family who thought they booked First Class be silently downgraded to the lowest of the low booking classes with poor seat selection.

Oh that Polenta Dinner you wanted will now cost you $15. Want a drink there will be a $5 surcharge over the regular price. Need to use the restroom its right next to you but you will need a code and that code requires an onboard purchases of a minimum amount of $5. Tough luck Charlie Toilet paper and soap not included and you will be timed for the use or else another $5 will be collected under Misc Charge Alaska on your Debit or Credit Card.

Sorry you can't get the MQM miles and you won't be getting full points for your trip.

xliioper

My guess is they will not actually try to enforce it. The press release doesn't say anything about not being able to use the bins, just that the personal item must be able to fit under your seat.

http://news.aa.com/press-releases/pr...e/default.aspx

The information on the web page could be incorrect when it claims you actually won't have access

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ic-economy.jsp

Kufat

I imagine the bin restrictions will be largely enforced by the boarding order. If you board last, you're not getting much (if any) bin space.

jinglish

AA has noted, though, that elites and credit card holders still get priority boarding on these fares.

notquiteaff

And if there happens to be space, am sure the FAs have better things to do than to check the boarding passes of the last minute boarders to see if they are entitled to put their backpack in the available space.

UA as well. But it is probably fair to assume that most elites will rarely book these fares.

3Cforme

Delta introduced Basic Economy fares in March, 2012.

http://news.delta.com/basic-economy

When you're the #5 airline and 3 of your 4 largest competitors have them, you have to offer them too - presuming AA and UA's implementations are successful.

beckoa

...slippery slope...

ashill

AA has also noted that elites and credit card holders are exempted from the rollaboard restriction: elites on basic economy fares can bring on a rollaboard and put it in the overhead bin. (Elites also keep their free checked bags.)

(AA misspells rollaboard in their press release: they spell it rollerboard. )