Last edit by: IADCAflyer
What is Basic Economy?
Basic Economy is (generally) the lowest, "no-frills" Main Cabin (Economy) fare on American Airlines and their Atlantic Joint Business partners (British Airways, Iberia, and Finnair). Basic Economy fares on American Airlines book into the As the lowest fare, it has some special restrictions that other Main Cabin fares do not.
What are the Restrictions?
You can read American Airlines' web page summarizing Basic Economy for the exact details, but there are a few points that likely matter most to FlyerTalkers:
* exceptions apply for American Airlines elite-level frequent flyers as noted below.
Despite these restrictions, Basic Economy can be a good value in certain circumstances.
Are the seats or service any different?
Once you are on the airplane, the experience (seats / drinks / snacks) will be identical to regular Main Cabin.
How can I tell if I have a Basic Economy fare?
Your reservation on aa.com may say it. Basic Economy fares on American Airlines flights book into the B booking class, though Basic Economy fares on BA/IB/AY and their AA* codeshares can book into almost any revenue booking class.
I have an AA credit card, what does that get me?
Yes, if you have an American Airlines credit card that comes with preferred boarding or a free checked bag on domestic itineraries, you will receive those benefits. Additionally, if you have a Citi Executive card, you may use the Admirals Club as normal.
I have AA elite status, what does that get me?
You WILL get the following elite benefits when you buy a Basic Economy fare (note this is not an exhaustive list, basically everything not expressly forbidden is allowed):
Families with children over 13 will have to pay for seat assignments to be seated with their children.
I am flying on a British Airways, Iberia, or Finnair airplane, is anything different?
If you do not have AA or oneworld elite status, the restrictions are quite similar and you should expect to pay for everything: paid checked bags, paid seat selection, and no changes / cancellations. Depending on available fare classes, you may have an opportunity to earn additional redeemable miles or elite qualifying dollars by booking a BA / IB / AY flight number instead of an AA flight number; check your options and the partner earning charts on AA for each respective airline (British Airways, Iberia, Finnair).
If you have status, buckle up, because it gets technical, though there are some opportunities to cherry pick benefits and save money. This has been already summarized in the counterpart to this thread on the British Airways forum., so we will not reproduce it here. Note the following correspondences between status levels:
Basic Economy is (generally) the lowest, "no-frills" Main Cabin (Economy) fare on American Airlines and their Atlantic Joint Business partners (British Airways, Iberia, and Finnair). Basic Economy fares on American Airlines book into the As the lowest fare, it has some special restrictions that other Main Cabin fares do not.
What are the Restrictions?
You can read American Airlines' web page summarizing Basic Economy for the exact details, but there are a few points that likely matter most to FlyerTalkers:
- Your first checked bag will cost money on a Basic Economy fare*.
- Your seat will be automatically assigned when you check in and unchangeable, unless you pay to change your seat. You may pay to reserve a seat any time after booking*.
- No elite upgrades to first class, or complimentary access to preferred seats (green on the seat map) or Main Cabin Extra (orange on the seat map)*.
- You will board last, in Group 9 for domestic flights or Group 8 for international flights*. On a full flight, this likely means you will have to gate check your carry-on bag (which is free)*.
- You will earn 50% EQMs per mile flown and 0.5 EQS per segment. You will earn full RDMs (based on fare flown) and EQDs.
- Changes are not permitted (worldwide from 01APR21).
- In IRROPS, Basic Economy customers will not be re-accommodated on other airlines, and will have to wait for the next American Airlines flight (or BA/IB/AY for INTL).
* exceptions apply for American Airlines elite-level frequent flyers as noted below.
Despite these restrictions, Basic Economy can be a good value in certain circumstances.
Are the seats or service any different?
Once you are on the airplane, the experience (seats / drinks / snacks) will be identical to regular Main Cabin.
How can I tell if I have a Basic Economy fare?
Your reservation on aa.com may say it. Basic Economy fares on American Airlines flights book into the B booking class, though Basic Economy fares on BA/IB/AY and their AA* codeshares can book into almost any revenue booking class.
I have an AA credit card, what does that get me?
Yes, if you have an American Airlines credit card that comes with preferred boarding or a free checked bag on domestic itineraries, you will receive those benefits. Additionally, if you have a Citi Executive card, you may use the Admirals Club as normal.
I have AA elite status, what does that get me?
You WILL get the following elite benefits when you buy a Basic Economy fare (note this is not an exhaustive list, basically everything not expressly forbidden is allowed):
- 1/2/3 checked bag fees waives, depending on status.
- Priority check-in / security / boarding.
- Lounge access, if applicable.
- No same-day standby or same-day confirmed flight changes, paid or otherwise.
As it does today, American’s reservations system will check for families traveling with children 13 and under a few days before the flight, and attempt to seat each child with an adult. This is the same process we follow for Main Cabin customers.
I am flying on a British Airways, Iberia, or Finnair airplane, is anything different?
If you do not have AA or oneworld elite status, the restrictions are quite similar and you should expect to pay for everything: paid checked bags, paid seat selection, and no changes / cancellations. Depending on available fare classes, you may have an opportunity to earn additional redeemable miles or elite qualifying dollars by booking a BA / IB / AY flight number instead of an AA flight number; check your options and the partner earning charts on AA for each respective airline (British Airways, Iberia, Finnair).
If you have status, buckle up, because it gets technical, though there are some opportunities to cherry pick benefits and save money. This has been already summarized in the counterpart to this thread on the British Airways forum., so we will not reproduce it here. Note the following correspondences between status levels:
- AA Gold - BA Bronze - oneworld Ruby
- AA Platinum or Platinum Pro - BA Silver - oneworld Sapphire
- AA Executive Platinum or Concierge Key - BA Gold - oneworld Emerald
- If you are a Platinum, Platinum Pro, or Executive Platinum elite, you can generally book Iberia or Finnair-operated Basic Economy flights and not notice any baggage or seating restrictions, as long as they were not marketed by BA.
- If you do not care about your seat assignment, you can book AA-operated flights with an IB or AY flight number and still receive a checked bag if you are Platinum or higher. You may earn more or fewer RDMs, EQMs, and EQDs.
- If you do not need to check a bag, you can book BA-operated flights with any flight number, and can choose your seat (7 days in advance for Gold, at booking for Platinum and higher, Exit Rows for EXP).
Basic Economy Fare as of 2017 (also AY, BA, IB), incl. elite benefits (Master thread)
#316
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CUR
Posts: 2,170
Just went to make ares for an early March trip (leisure) turns out even as a Plat no seat assignment till day of = probably some middle seat in the reg Y section. Is AA Nuts! no way Im doing that so I booked the trip elsewhere and took an aisle seat and will board with my carry-on as well, just it wont be on AAand I land now 10 mins later then the AA will
I don't really see what your complaining about. AA isn't forcing you to buy the Basic fare, you can just as easily buy the regular fare.
#317
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Just went to make ares for an early March trip (leisure) turns out even as a Plat no seat assignment till day of = probably some middle seat in the reg Y section. Is AA Nuts! no way Im doing that so I booked the trip elsewhere and took an aisle seat and will board with my carry-on as well, just it wont be on AAand I land now 10 mins later then the AA will
People with any flexibility will go to great lengths to avoid those seats so if there is another option, people book later/earlier and those are the seats that go out empty. Now, those seats go out occupied.
Whether it's worth the savings is a personal issue.
As to compliance overlay software such as Concur, that is easily programmed. If your employer wants to permit paid F, it can do so. If it wants to force you into BE, it can do that as well.
#318
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinium
Posts: 1,334
With Basic Economy those routes are not $20 cheaper each leg, and that's the main concern for many of us.
#319
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
What do you mean with buy a regular fare? because I don't see cheaper price for Basic Economy, what I see now is a more expensive fare but with less benefits. MIA-TPA was like $80 a couple of days ago and now is $120 for B.E. and if you want "O/Q" fare you need to add another $40 ($20 extra for each leg), samething for PHL.
With Basic Economy those routes are not $20 cheaper each leg, and that's the main concern for many of us.
With Basic Economy those routes are not $20 cheaper each leg, and that's the main concern for many of us.
The question is not whether the fares are cheaper than they were a few days ago, it is whether the BE fares are the cheapest fares available today for the flight you want today (or whenever it is you want to fly).
If people are paying $X for BE on this route, what possible argument is there to AA that it ought to toss in the benefits of Y, such as they are, in order to get your business?
#320
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CUR
Posts: 2,170
What do you mean with buy a regular fare? because I don't see cheaper price for Basic Economy, what I see now is a more expensive fare but with less benefits. MIA-TPA was like $80 a couple of days ago and now is $120 for B.E. and if you want "O/Q" fare you need to add another $40 ($20 extra for each leg), samething for PHL.
With Basic Economy those routes are not $20 cheaper each leg, and that's the main concern for many of us.
With Basic Economy those routes are not $20 cheaper each leg, and that's the main concern for many of us.
#321
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Got a large stash of miles that I will go thru AA wnt be seeing another dime outof me unless they are by far the cheapest
#322
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CUR
Posts: 2,170
The so called reg fare was what they now call the Economy fare. So basically they are charging Plats to select a seat, no thank you, not gonna fall for that scam, I will simply give my $$ to those that arent pulling that nonsense
Got a large stash of miles that I will go thru AA wnt be seeing another dime outof me unless they are by far the cheapest
Got a large stash of miles that I will go thru AA wnt be seeing another dime outof me unless they are by far the cheapest
#323
Moderator, Amtrak & Spirit Airlines
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: EWR :rolleyes:
Programs: AC 50K, AS MVP, AA Plat Pro, DL Plat, UA Silver, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 9,620
Even worse than I thought - didn't realize that BE would be a subset of most booking classes and therefore an option even when lower booking classes sell out. This makes avoiding BE impossible under my current corporate booking site. Nice job AA, will be booking away unless resolved.
#324
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
Edit: Found the text on this site
Basic Economy fare tickets aren't eligible for complimentary/discounted access to Main Cabin Extra seats.
Delta still allows seat selection at T-24 (if there are any, but at least the hope remains). Delta also allows a roller-bag in their basic fare, and being in the last boarding group you would expect it to get gate-checked but it saves you $25 each direction.
He's voting with his wallet. What's 10 markets now will soon be nationwide, so why continue to earn reduced EQM now? The sooner he swaps to another carrier the sooner he can start a status challenge/match. And "add a connection" isn't always an option in corporate booking systems, to reduce mileage churn a lot of corporate systems flag that sort of thing.
#326
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
Per NBC News:
The Fort Worth, TX-based carrier said it will expand the basic economy fares to other markets later this year but chose these launch routes because they provide "a variety of competitive situations."
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/trav...-fares-n723751
The Fort Worth, TX-based carrier said it will expand the basic economy fares to other markets later this year but chose these launch routes because they provide "a variety of competitive situations."
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/trav...-fares-n723751
#327
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,231
No link needed, I think it's fairly obvious.
Whether every city pair has this will depend on the competitive situation most likely, but anyone who doesn't think these fares will be on many more than 10 routes is fooling themselves.
Whether every city pair has this will depend on the competitive situation most likely, but anyone who doesn't think these fares will be on many more than 10 routes is fooling themselves.
#328
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,586
Even worse than I thought - didn't realize that BE would be a subset of most booking classes and therefore an option even when lower booking classes sell out. This makes avoiding BE impossible under my current corporate booking site. Nice job AA, will be booking away unless resolved.
1) Realize that AA does not want business travelers to be buying these fares. If they have any competency at all, they will be tweaking the fare rules to minimize the likelihood that typical business travelers (to the extent there is such thing) will be caught up by them. That's part of the reason for the initial limited roll out. These fares are for the once a year leisure traveler type - AA wants the business travel segment buying the higher fares.
2) This:
DL business travelers found that after a few hiccups, most employers modified their travel policy to exclude these fares. Some decided that the savings are worth it. If your company has an AA/UA contract, perhaps you ought to raise this with your travel hierarchy sooner rather than later. I would focus on the economic case for the company, not your FF status or seat assignment preferences.
The sky is not falling (at least not here). These are a blip. The fares aren't going away, but for the business traveler the negative impact should be pretty limited once things settle out.
#329
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
There's a vast difference between "more than 10" and "nationwide." Since someone was authoritatively recommending that we make major changes to our spending and travel habits in anticipation of a nationwide rollout, I was wondering whether he had any concrete information.
#330
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Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
There's a vast difference between "more than 10" and "nationwide." Since someone was authoritatively recommending that we make major changes to our spending and travel habits in anticipation of a nationwide rollout, I was wondering whether he had any concrete information.