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)
#211
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 56
■Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) and Elite Qualifying Segments (EQSs) earned at a reduced rate of 0.5 per mile/flight segment flown
From my personal account, it appears that flights marketed and flown by AA, you earn mileage toward million miler based on your EQM (this is based on my economy tickets earing 1 EQM per mile flown).
On a flight that was marketed on Qantas, I earned .25 EQM per mile flown toward my million miler balance.
Hopefully we'll get SOME miles, but I think we'll have to wait to see how the fares shake out once people book a few of them. Maybe I'll take a short test run on a BE fare to see what happens
#212
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: FNT, but DTW if I can't help it
Programs: AAdvantage Former EXP/Current PLT / Total Rewards - Diamond / Hilton HHonors - Gold
Posts: 757
Not 100% but I would assume the Million Miler balances would be accrued in the same manner as EQM, as per the AA website:
■Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) and Elite Qualifying Segments (EQSs) earned at a reduced rate of 0.5 per mile/flight segment flown
From my personal account, it appears that flights marketed and flown by AA, you earn mileage toward million miler based on your EQM (this is based on my economy tickets earing 1 EQM per mile flown).
On a flight that was marketed on Qantas, I earned .25 EQM per mile flown toward my million miler balance.
Hopefully we'll get SOME miles, but I think we'll have to wait to see how the fares shake out once people book a few of them. Maybe I'll take a short test run on a BE fare to see what happens
■Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) and Elite Qualifying Segments (EQSs) earned at a reduced rate of 0.5 per mile/flight segment flown
From my personal account, it appears that flights marketed and flown by AA, you earn mileage toward million miler based on your EQM (this is based on my economy tickets earing 1 EQM per mile flown).
On a flight that was marketed on Qantas, I earned .25 EQM per mile flown toward my million miler balance.
Hopefully we'll get SOME miles, but I think we'll have to wait to see how the fares shake out once people book a few of them. Maybe I'll take a short test run on a BE fare to see what happens
I would suspect million miler would continue to accrue at 1 per mile flown.
Last edited by josmul123; Jan 22, 2017 at 6:56 pm
#213
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 56
On AA metal, million miler miles have (since around 2008, I believe) been based on "butt in seat" miles. They are in no way tied to the EQM (e.g. You don't receive 2x million miler miles for a paid business class ticket).
I would suspect million miler would continue to accrue at 1 per mile flown.
I would suspect million miler would continue to accrue at 1 per mile flown.
And I never fly business so I don't know how those would accrue
#214
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
I hope that the list of flights and "Main Cabin/First Class" fares that comes up when you search for flights on the AA website will not show only Basic Economy for coach tickets, if that's then the lowest fare. When US Airways tried something like this years ago, the US Airways website showed each fare code and each fare, and you could pick among a variety of coach fares. AA should do that.
AA should also note that when US Airways tried something like this (giving no elite-qualifying miles for low-fare tickets), the frequent flyer base resisted, and US Airways dropped the change. Unfortunately since there are only a few legacy airlines left, they have a lot more pricing power now, however.
AA should also note that when US Airways tried something like this (giving no elite-qualifying miles for low-fare tickets), the frequent flyer base resisted, and US Airways dropped the change. Unfortunately since there are only a few legacy airlines left, they have a lot more pricing power now, however.
#215
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,239
I hope that the list of flights and "Main Cabin/First Class" fares that comes up when you search for flights on the AA website will not show only Basic Economy for coach tickets, if that's then the lowest fare. When US Airways tried something like this years ago, the US Airways website showed each fare code and each fare, and you could pick among a variety of coach fares. AA should do that.
AA should also note that when US Airways tried something like this (giving no elite-qualifying miles for low-fare tickets), the frequent flyer base resisted, and US Airways dropped the change. Unfortunately since there are only a few legacy airlines left, they have a lot more pricing power now, however.
AA should also note that when US Airways tried something like this (giving no elite-qualifying miles for low-fare tickets), the frequent flyer base resisted, and US Airways dropped the change. Unfortunately since there are only a few legacy airlines left, they have a lot more pricing power now, however.
AA currently shows Main Cabin, Business and First (on a 3-class, for example), so they just need to add that extra column for basic economy when it's available.
#216
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,814
On AA metal, million miler miles have (since around 2008, I believe EDIT: It was 2011 when the change happened) been based on "butt in seat" miles. They are in no way tied to the EQM (e.g. You don't receive 2x million miler miles for a paid business class ticket).
I would suspect million miler would continue to accrue at 1 per mile flown.
I would suspect million miler would continue to accrue at 1 per mile flown.
Miles earned toward Million Miler status are based on the distance of your flight for travel on American marketed flights or the base miles earned for travel on eligible partner marketed flights.
#218
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: LAX
Posts: 13
I sure hope so, but I am not sure. I stepped into this trap with Lufthansa in December. They already have this sort of basic economy and Concur did not highlight it. I ended up with a nice fee in Copenhagen to get my bag checked.
#220
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
For travel on or after January 1, 2017
Cabin
Purchased fares booked in** EQMs per mile flown*** EQDs****
Full Fare First/Business
F, J 3.00 Yes
Discount First/Business
A, P, D, I, R 2.00 Yes
Economy
Y, B, W* 1.50 Yes
Economy
H, K, M, L, W, V, G, Q, N, O, S 1.00 Yes
#221
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,814
Ironically not on AA.com (https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...airlines.jsp):
For travel on or after January 1, 2017
Cabin
Purchased fares booked in** EQMs per mile flown*** EQDs****
Full Fare First/Business
F, J 3.00 Yes
Discount First/Business
A, P, D, I, R 2.00 Yes
Economy
Y, B, W* 1.50 Yes
Economy
H, K, M, L, W, V, G, Q, N, O, S 1.00 Yes
For travel on or after January 1, 2017
Cabin
Purchased fares booked in** EQMs per mile flown*** EQDs****
Full Fare First/Business
F, J 3.00 Yes
Discount First/Business
A, P, D, I, R 2.00 Yes
Economy
Y, B, W* 1.50 Yes
Economy
H, K, M, L, W, V, G, Q, N, O, S 1.00 Yes
#222
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
#224
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: NYC,MIA,XFL
Programs: AA EXP, B6 Mosaic, DL PM
Posts: 863