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)
#976
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, Hilton
Posts: 159
Family trip on basic economy
Jumped on a fantastic BE deal lately, I have learnt so much from this thread and I would like to share my experience for the folks who think about buying these fares for family trip.This trip has 4 segments, 2 domestic and 2 transatlantic. When I purchased the tickets, my biggest concern was somehow we would separate with my 2 kids (both under 12) or got terrible seats when checked in. So the question was whether I should purchase seats in advance which would cost ~$200 in total for all segments. It turned out just a day after my purchase, AA auto assigned seats for us. Three segments are not ideal but acceptable, only one is terrible (right next to the bathroom). Most important of all, we will sit on the same rows. So I simply went to aa.com and changed one segment which cost me only $45. The other disadvantages of BE fares are largely mitigated by my AA status. So the remaining downsides are 1) 50% of EQM (I care very little), 2) no chance to get MCE (unlikely to get 4 from my flights anyway) and 3) no change or cancel and low on re-accomodation.
Overall, I saved ~$500 compared to buying MC fare. That's 2 nights hotel for a rather expensive European city. I know folks here generally don't like BE. I have never purchased BE fare before and tried to avoid BE if possible. But this time it provided us great value that I can't resit. I will report back if the actual flying experience is any different.
Overall, I saved ~$500 compared to buying MC fare. That's 2 nights hotel for a rather expensive European city. I know folks here generally don't like BE. I have never purchased BE fare before and tried to avoid BE if possible. But this time it provided us great value that I can't resit. I will report back if the actual flying experience is any different.
#978
Join Date: May 2017
Location: ORD
Posts: 369
We (me, Mrs. Meathead, and Little Meathead) completed our first BE round-trip yesterday. On the outbound, paid $22 to pre-book two seats on the outbound, plus $30 to check one bag, and we were allowed to preboard by the GA (Little Meathead is 6 months old), so it would appear that the GAs have some discretion on that (when I called reservations a few months ago to ask, they said we wouldn't be able to preboard). On the inbound, we paid $49 total to book the A and C seats towards the back of the 788 that don't have a middle seat, plus $30 to check one bag. We more or less boarded at final boarding, so I couldn't say if we would have been able to preboard or not.
The BE round-trip was about $100 cheaper than the next highest restricted fare, and we have no status that would have allowed us to check a bag for free or pre-reserve the seats we got on the return for free, so we still came out ahead.. The travel experience was largely the same as traveling on a restricted ticket: Still got PreCheck, same inflight service, etc., etc. None of the nickel-and-diming you see on ULCCs.
The BE round-trip was about $100 cheaper than the next highest restricted fare, and we have no status that would have allowed us to check a bag for free or pre-reserve the seats we got on the return for free, so we still came out ahead.. The travel experience was largely the same as traveling on a restricted ticket: Still got PreCheck, same inflight service, etc., etc. None of the nickel-and-diming you see on ULCCs.
#979
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
I had to book my sister and niece for a flight between TPA and MIA. Despite the fact that we are travelling on separate itineraries, she’ll get a lot because of her 9-mth old. Free check on stroller and car seat and a diaper bag in addition to her 1+1 allowance. She’ll also have pre-board. Not bad considering the buy-up to the next fare bucket was almost $200 for a flight that shouldn’t cost more than $50 on a good day.
#980
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 54
Basic Economy Question
Quick question with BE. I know you can pay to pick a seat 48 hrs before a flight with BE, can I get seats assigned and then change if I want? Or once a seat is assigned I am stuck there? Its about a $200 difference right now for a flight from DCA to TLH for a wedding for me and my wife. Its a regional jet so its 2-2 config and want to sit together. Any ideas or suggestions?
#981
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
Quick question with BE. I know you can pay to pick a seat 48 hrs before a flight with BE, can I get seats assigned and then change if I want? Or once a seat is assigned I am stuck there? Its about a $200 difference right now for a flight from DCA to TLH for a wedding for me and my wife. Its a regional jet so its 2-2 config and want to sit together. Any ideas or suggestions?
#982
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Quick question with BE. I know you can pay to pick a seat 48 hrs before a flight with BE, can I get seats assigned and then change if I want? Or once a seat is assigned I am stuck there? Its about a $200 difference right now for a flight from DCA to TLH for a wedding for me and my wife. Its a regional jet so its 2-2 config and want to sit together. Any ideas or suggestions?
At worst you could also ask onboard if someone would switch seats so that you both could sit together.
#983
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 54
The flight is not until mid march. Been putting the flight on hold the last few days to see what price does. I have it held for $270 roundtrip per person. This morning is showed as $313 BE/$373 MC per person roundtrip. Just wasn't sure if after we get assigned seats as BE fares if we can then pay to try and sit together. Or if on a 2-2 config they would put us together in the back or something
#984
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
The flight is not until mid march. Been putting the flight on hold the last few days to see what price does. I have it held for $270 roundtrip per person. This morning is showed as $313 BE/$373 MC per person roundtrip. Just wasn't sure if after we get assigned seats as BE fares if we can then pay to try and sit together. Or if on a 2-2 config they would put us together in the back or something
#986
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
Other than being in the back, back, back of a plane, I would be hesitant to ever pay for a seat on a BE fare on any 1x2 or 2x2 configuration aircraft.
#987
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
If there are 2 seats together than yes you could sit pay to sit together but again there's no guarantee if you wait until T-48 that 2 seats together will be available. It's a crap shoot as to whether you're be seated together through auto assign. The only sure way is to buy MC and choose 2 seats together. Or again at worst you could try to switch seats once onboard.
#988
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 3
I assume it's an AA booking operated by Finnair?
As OW sapphire, will or have you received 2 checked bags accoring to AA or just one bag according to AY policy?
#989
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Andover, MA, 01810
Posts: 1,972
I would like to know the same. Can you change for free after checkin and before arrival at the airport?
#990
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EP; WN CP;UA SILVER; MARRIOTT TITANIUM; HH DIAMOND; IHG PLAT; RADISSON PLAT; HYATT GLOBAL
Posts: 1,938
Just flew with SO & 2 kids a BE itinerary with 4 legs total. At 24 hour check in, called and was seated all together in main cabin (3-1, then 2-2) on both ways.
So flying with minors is definitely a way to be placed all together. I tried to get MCE as a PLT, but system did not let agent book MCE seats.
As I am budget conscious leisure flyer that has to pay for 4 tickets, I will gladly buy BE as PLT with my kids.
So flying with minors is definitely a way to be placed all together. I tried to get MCE as a PLT, but system did not let agent book MCE seats.
As I am budget conscious leisure flyer that has to pay for 4 tickets, I will gladly buy BE as PLT with my kids.