Jan 18, 2017, 9:12 pm
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)
Apr 16, 2019, 9:35 am
#1067
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: BNE / LHR
Programs: QF Gold
Posts: 1,601
Doing my first flight tomorrow.
OLCI open but I haven't clicked through.
My understanding is that Basic fares are filled from back to front, middle seats first.
Once all regular middle seats are taken, do they then move onto window/aisle from the back? Or middle in the more legroom section?
OLCI open but I haven't clicked through.
My understanding is that Basic fares are filled from back to front, middle seats first.
Once all regular middle seats are taken, do they then move onto window/aisle from the back? Or middle in the more legroom section?
Apr 16, 2019, 1:59 pm
#1068
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: SPG, AA, United
Posts: 1,811
Doing my first flight tomorrow.
OLCI open but I haven't clicked through.
My understanding is that Basic fares are filled from back to front, middle seats first.
Once all regular middle seats are taken, do they then move onto window/aisle from the back? Or middle in the more legroom section?
OLCI open but I haven't clicked through.
My understanding is that Basic fares are filled from back to front, middle seats first.
Once all regular middle seats are taken, do they then move onto window/aisle from the back? Or middle in the more legroom section?
Apr 16, 2019, 2:04 pm
#1069
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: BNE / LHR
Programs: QF Gold
Posts: 1,601
Only 8 middle seats left unassigned, so hoping even the auto allocation wont be too bad.
Apr 16, 2019, 2:17 pm
#1070
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Doing my first flight tomorrow.
OLCI open but I haven't clicked through.
My understanding is that Basic fares are filled from back to front, middle seats first.
Once all regular middle seats are taken, do they then move onto window/aisle from the back? Or middle in the more legroom section?
OLCI open but I haven't clicked through.
My understanding is that Basic fares are filled from back to front, middle seats first.
Once all regular middle seats are taken, do they then move onto window/aisle from the back? Or middle in the more legroom section?
Apr 19, 2019, 7:21 am
#1071
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: BA
Posts: 44
I have had a few TATL flights operated by AA but with a BA code late last year. As a BA Silver, I did get access to MCE for free. Now I booked basically the same basic economy ticket (same flight numbers, same booking classes, pretty much only different dates), but this time no MCE access for me.
The legs on AA metal in question are LHR-JFK / JFK-LHR. So I really regret not taking the BA metal flights going +/-30 min around the AA metal ones.
Apr 19, 2019, 8:02 am
#1072
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: London
Posts: 342
It's very strange.
I have had a few TATL flights operated by AA but with a BA code late last year. As a BA Silver, I did get access to MCE for free. Now I booked basically the same basic economy ticket (same flight numbers, same booking classes, pretty much only different dates), but this time no MCE access for me.
The legs on AA metal in question are LHR-JFK / JFK-LHR. So I really regret not taking the BA metal flights going +/-30 min around the AA metal ones.
I have had a few TATL flights operated by AA but with a BA code late last year. As a BA Silver, I did get access to MCE for free. Now I booked basically the same basic economy ticket (same flight numbers, same booking classes, pretty much only different dates), but this time no MCE access for me.
The legs on AA metal in question are LHR-JFK / JFK-LHR. So I really regret not taking the BA metal flights going +/-30 min around the AA metal ones.
Apr 20, 2019, 2:54 am
#1073
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 810
I wanted to add a data point about my recent experience with baggage fees.
I was travelling GLA-LGW-JFK (BA metal) / JFK-LAX (AA metal) on a Basic Economy ticket issued by BA.
I checked in at JFK for my LAX flight, and to my surprise, I was charged $60 for one piece luggage as I had done some extra shopping in NYC.
Neither my reasoning of a domestic AA sector or BA Gold status availed me any reprieve; I was told very specifically that as a BA Gold travelling on a Basic Economy TATL BA ticket that the BA rules apply, even on the domestic AA sector. I asked if this rule was changed recently, and the check-in agent said they were recently (re)trained.
A bit disappointed, as I have usually gotten flexible AA agents, but seems they're following the rule strictly now, at least at JFK.
I was travelling GLA-LGW-JFK (BA metal) / JFK-LAX (AA metal) on a Basic Economy ticket issued by BA.
I checked in at JFK for my LAX flight, and to my surprise, I was charged $60 for one piece luggage as I had done some extra shopping in NYC.
Neither my reasoning of a domestic AA sector or BA Gold status availed me any reprieve; I was told very specifically that as a BA Gold travelling on a Basic Economy TATL BA ticket that the BA rules apply, even on the domestic AA sector. I asked if this rule was changed recently, and the check-in agent said they were recently (re)trained.
A bit disappointed, as I have usually gotten flexible AA agents, but seems they're following the rule strictly now, at least at JFK.
Last edited by Frayed_Yak; Apr 20, 2019 at 3:04 am
Apr 20, 2019, 5:48 am
#1074
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: Sometimes BA, sometimes AA
Posts: 663
Clicked "like" on the above to say thanks for posting rather than liking the content. Am travelling in August on AA codeshare / BA metal. Will be AA sapphire by then so hoping that I'll get a bag or two. Keeping an eye on this thread so please keep posting experiences especially if including non-status companions on the same booking.
Apr 21, 2019, 4:24 pm
#1075
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: WRO, AQP
Programs: LatamPass Gold, SAS EBB, M&M
Posts: 674
A data point that I am not sure how to interpret myself. I booked a transatlantic basic economy fare from the USA to Spain, with a few domestic flights and the BCN-PHL flight (booked as an IB flight) on the return. Due to a schedule change it wasn't possible to make a connection to a domestic flight in PHL, so I requested rerouting via ORD. To my surprise, I was rebooked into Premium Economy (W) on the BCN-ORD flight: I was able to select premium seats free of charge; the domestic flight allows free seat selection in Main Cabin Extra, but the reservation page on aa.com still says it is basic economy. I wonder if I will be able to check baggage at BCN without an extra charge given that I fly Premium Economy, or is it still Basic Economy in the end and I was just lucky?
Last edited by krzysz; Apr 21, 2019 at 4:32 pm
May 7, 2019, 12:28 pm
#1077
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Los Angeles and Philadelphia
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 3
AA operated IB marketed codeshare - Basic Economy - AA Gold Status?
Hello, I got myself into a bind and looking for advice. I booked a flight, LAX - LHR, returning EDI - PHL, using Priceline. AA flight quoted at $4.5K, and Iberia was quoted $800. I obviously booked the IB codeshare fare. After booking the flights I saw "ECONOMY CLASS" on the Priceline receipt,
Once I received a AA flight record locator 24 hours later, I logged into AA to select seats and to my horror, saw my ticket was booked as Basic Economy. Speaking to a rep at AA, I was told even though it is an AA operated flight, it is an Iberia codeshare flight that I booked through Ibera, and I am under Iberia's rules, not AA, regardless of my Gold status, so no seat selection, no checked bags (regardless of also having the AA credit card). Iberia customer service is useless as well.
I then learned that Priceline does not show the correct fare class when making your selection when booking Iberia flights, at least I was not made aware of it. If I had gone to the Iberia page when booking, it would have been obvious my ticket class was "BASIC" and not "Economy." Sadly, Iberia's next class which includes baggage and seats would have only been $125 more, which I would have gladly paid had I known.
Can anyone give some guidance as to how this will play out at the airport? I will still go to the AA counter to check in, and show my gold status card and AA credit card, or does none of that matter regarding the baggage.
Once I received a AA flight record locator 24 hours later, I logged into AA to select seats and to my horror, saw my ticket was booked as Basic Economy. Speaking to a rep at AA, I was told even though it is an AA operated flight, it is an Iberia codeshare flight that I booked through Ibera, and I am under Iberia's rules, not AA, regardless of my Gold status, so no seat selection, no checked bags (regardless of also having the AA credit card). Iberia customer service is useless as well.
I then learned that Priceline does not show the correct fare class when making your selection when booking Iberia flights, at least I was not made aware of it. If I had gone to the Iberia page when booking, it would have been obvious my ticket class was "BASIC" and not "Economy." Sadly, Iberia's next class which includes baggage and seats would have only been $125 more, which I would have gladly paid had I known.
Can anyone give some guidance as to how this will play out at the airport? I will still go to the AA counter to check in, and show my gold status card and AA credit card, or does none of that matter regarding the baggage.
May 7, 2019, 12:41 pm
#1078
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, DL, SPG, HH, IHG
Posts: 81
Yup do it very often - AA metal, I am Gold status, code share IB ticket. You go to Priorirty check, since you also have a AA card, luggage allotment is 1 piece 50lbs, board zone 5 possibly even 4. All good except seat selection, will have to be at airport unless you want to pay. Hope this helps
May 7, 2019, 12:52 pm
#1079
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,728
The credit card luggage allowance is only valid on domestic flights so wouldn't apply here anyways. You will still get the Gold status luggage allowance though as long as your AA number is in your reservation. You shouldn't need to show your card.
May 7, 2019, 1:04 pm
#1080
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, DL, SPG, HH, IHG
Posts: 81
Thanks