Originally Posted by
ty97
On routes where Basic Economy (E fares) exist, this is correct. Not all routes have E fares, and these fares are easily avoidable if you don't want to be stuck with the E fare conditions (delta.com provides you a dire warning about the downsides of E fares and makes you affirm you are okay with the restrictions).
The OP's complaint appears to be that, without AA FF status, the vast majority of non-middle seats are not selectable in advance on any coach fare (*This may not be true for the most expensive AA coach fare classes like Y and H, which I think might be eligible to select preferred seats.)
Originally Posted by
hi55us
It's pretty easy to avoid those dreadful E fares, usually it's ~$10-$20 more to get a fare with a lot less restrictions.
Got it. Thanks.
Since the fare was only $49 from BOS to ORD you could pay the fee for a better seat. It would be like paying a little more to avoid the Delta Basic Economy situation. I would think it is really a matter of the price and not really the ability to pick better seats.
Of course it is easy for me to say since I am Platium and I can pick any seats without paying extra on AA.
I would never buy the Delta Basic Economy and I have seen difference of more than $10-$20 on Delta.