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)
#796
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Stilllwater OK (SWO)
Programs: AAdvantage ExecPlat, World of Hyatt Globalist, plain "member" of Marriott, IHG, enterprise, etc.
Posts: 1,848
I have a couple Basic Economy tickets left that I purchased late last year before swearing them off. I am currently plat pro (through the promo offer) and at check in a couple days ago the agent wouldn't let my wife (on the same PNR) carry on her purse and an equally sized leather bag (carrying a camera and small electronics), both of which could fit under the seat together - I thought since we wouldn't use 'overhead space' and I'm a Citi Exec AA card holder and Plat Pro, we'd be fine (and maybe we should have been?), but apparently not. We had to stuff her purse in one of our checked bags (minus her wallet which fitted in the 'camera bag'), and the agent expressed regret that AA has concocted so many rules on these fares and she was tired of hassling customers over them. I agreed. I mean, here I was, with three large checked bags totally 120 lbs between us (checked for free) and AA had to make an issue about a 0.5 square foot bag where we either had to get rid of it, check it, or pay 50$ because of our BE ticket.
#797
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
One option would have been to see if you can talk a nearby store out of a plastic bag to put the two carryon items into.
#798
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: LGB
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 241
Interestingly, American specifically addresses baggage fees and changes to status:
If your status level is:
So, in general, you should get the checked bag. But, there is a chance that this is nullified by a clause in your challenge T&Cs.
What will it cost?
Complimentary bags
In some cases, you won't have to pay the fees for up to 3 bags. If you qualify for complimentary bags based on elite status, the benefits are based on your highest status level at time of ticketing or check-in.If your status level is:
- Higher at ticketing than at check-in, show your ticket receipt to the airport agent
- Lower at ticketing than at check-in, current benefits will automatically apply
So, in general, you should get the checked bag. But, there is a chance that this is nullified by a clause in your challenge T&Cs.
#799
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: LGB
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 241
I have a couple Basic Economy tickets left that I purchased late last year before swearing them off. I am currently plat pro (through the promo offer) and at check in a couple days ago the agent wouldn't let my wife (on the same PNR) carry on her purse and an equally sized leather bag (carrying a camera and small electronics), both of which could fit under the seat together - I thought since we wouldn't use 'overhead space' and I'm a Citi Exec AA card holder and Plat Pro, we'd be fine (and maybe we should have been?), but apparently not. We had to stuff her purse in one of our checked bags (minus her wallet which fitted in the 'camera bag'), and the agent expressed regret that AA has concocted so many rules on these fares and she was tired of hassling customers over them. I agreed. I mean, here I was, with three large checked bags totally 120 lbs between us (checked for free) and AA had to make an issue about a 0.5 square foot bag where we either had to get rid of it, check it, or pay 50$ because of our BE ticket.
If you incurred any costs, I would request a refund, and expect it to be granted. I have had to do this a couple of times for things that should have been free, but weren't because the rules weren't applied properly by IT/Gate Agents.
#800
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, Alaska MVP, Hyatt Discoverist, National Executive
Posts: 116
500 mile upgrade coupon on Basic Economy?
Can AA's 500 mile upgrade coupons be applied to Basic Economy fares? I understand 500-mile upgrade coupons apply only to cash fares in the U.S., not to awards.
Thanks
Thanks
#801
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
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ic-economy.jsp
Also keep in mind you get only 1/2 EQM and EQD if you're trying to requal status, and I don't think you can pick MCE as Platinum either.
#803
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
#804
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,226
Sometimes you get lucky with IRROPS or schedule changes on B fares, if the option to rebook you doesn't appear in their normal workflow, you might get rebooked on a regular Y ticket. I had this happen to me earlier this year. I had a EWR -> MIA and MIA -> JFK booked on separate PNRs both in B. There was bad weather in NYC and a travel advisory was issued. I called in and asked if I could keep the same length of my trip but swap my dates. The outbound was rebooked in B but the return was booked in S. I was able to use stickers to upgrade that reservation which was awesome because that was a wide body aircraft with lie flat seats.
#807
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: LGB
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 241
You can ...
- Take 1 personal item that fits under the seat (no larger than 18 x 14 x 8 in.)
- Take 1 carry-on free of charge to store in the overhead bin (no larger than 22 x 14 x 9 in.)
- Keep your priority or preferred boarding privileges
- Keep your checked bag benefits***
#808
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
Thats what I was thinking ,but wanted to be sure. I see very little downside to a BE fare on AA Eagle where the flight is a E145. No upgrades going be happening, the bags are all valet tagged anyhow. Preboarding still green light.
Only downside is that I might be seated next to the engine, but we can live with that on a 45 minute flight. And only 250 EQMs.
Only downside is that I might be seated next to the engine, but we can live with that on a 45 minute flight. And only 250 EQMs.
#809
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Los Angeles California
Posts: 1,395
Basic economy - How to get free checked bag?
I don't have a status on AA and don't have any AA affiliated credit card... I am planning to book 5 basic economy tickets from LAX - BCN return and planning to check in 3 bags.. whats the best strategy apart from paying $60 for each bag?
#810
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,212
You're buying basic economy, have no status, and no AA-affiliated credit cards. Exactly what are you asking for a strategy on? If you don't want to pay for a bag, I believe your options are either to not check any or buy a higher fare class.
If you have an Amex Platinum card, Amex will refund the fees (up to $200/year) if you select AA as your airline fee credit carrier.
If you have an Amex Platinum card, Amex will refund the fees (up to $200/year) if you select AA as your airline fee credit carrier.