Originally Posted by DCP2016

Let me throw in a personal example because you both seem confused. On a given route on a given airline, I've flown it for around $100 in the past, one way. That was for a regular economy ticket that included the usual such as changes/refunds for a fee, free non-premium seat selection in advance, and regular boarding. Today on that same airline, same route, and same time of year, that $100 ticket is still there. However now it is a "Basic Economy" ticket with no changes/refunds, no advance seat selection, last boarding group, and on United, no carry-on. If I wanted the same experience that I got for $100 in the past, I now have to pay an additional $30 (the going rate for the difference between Basic Economy and Main Cabin on most domestic routings) for that privilege. Same class of service, same time of year, same airline, same flights, but I have to pay more now for the "privilege" of not suffering through Basic Economy.