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)
#1201
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 11
#1203
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London, U.K.
Programs: bmi British Midland International Diamond Club
Posts: 3,370
I am BA Silver, oneworld Sapphire. Yesterday I booked (via a UK OTA) a Basic Economy itinerary OSL-LHR-LAX-LIH/LAX-LHR-OSL for departure next month. All flights are booked as BA operated with BA flight numbers and AA operated flights booked as BA codeshare flights. Difference in price between Basic Economy and Standard was approx £168 ($218) for 2 pax.
As soon as I received the PNR, within a few mins of confirming my booking, I immediately went online to ba.com and selected seats for the AA flights from LHR- LAX and onto LIH. I thought to myself, well, if I selected the seats BEFORE my booking got ticketed I might not have to pay and they might just stick. I got MCE seats for no additional charge for both international and domestic AA sectors. Etickets were issued within half an hour of booking - zero baggage allowance for all flights.
Going back to the seat selection process more than 24hrs after confirming them yesterday, if I want to change my seat selection then it prices accordingly and wants to charge me. I still have my seats I reserved, all intact and I think I am good to go. Anyone else with similar experiences of being able to preselect (and confirm) seats on a Basic Economy ticket without any charge?
#1204
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,352
Yes, when I have booked Basic Economy flights marketed/ticketed by Iberia but operated by AA I have also been able to select seats (including MCE) for free. The seat selection stuck, but could not be changed without paying. In both occasions, they were SFO-ORD flights connecting to an ORD-MAD flight operated by Iberia.
#1205
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London, U.K.
Programs: bmi British Midland International Diamond Club
Posts: 3,370
Yes, when I have booked Basic Economy flights marketed/ticketed by Iberia but operated by AA I have also been able to select seats (including MCE) for free. The seat selection stuck, but could not be changed without paying. In both occasions, they were SFO-ORD flights connecting to an ORD-MAD flight operated by Iberia.
#1206
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 33
Looking for a little insight here. I booked four tickets via Hop2 for basic economy to go to Italy over my sons spring break (april 2020). The flight goes from JFK to MIA on AA and then from MIA to MXP on BA. Returning the same routes and same metal (BA from MXP to MIA and AA from MIA to JFK).
When I pull up the record locator it looks like we have been assigned seats for all segments, both AA and BA. Can I rely on this to be true? I assume this is because we are travelling with children?
Can anyone help me out with how much baggage will cost us?
From what I'm reading it looks like a carry on is free for all passengers for all segments - confirm?
I have an AA credit card but this is transatlantic so I'm assuming we're on the hook for baggage. I think we'll likely have two or possibly even one checked bag.
We will also have two car seats (possibly booster seats). Do they fly free on BA?
How much am I looking at paying?
Thanks in advance for your help
When I pull up the record locator it looks like we have been assigned seats for all segments, both AA and BA. Can I rely on this to be true? I assume this is because we are travelling with children?
Can anyone help me out with how much baggage will cost us?
From what I'm reading it looks like a carry on is free for all passengers for all segments - confirm?
I have an AA credit card but this is transatlantic so I'm assuming we're on the hook for baggage. I think we'll likely have two or possibly even one checked bag.
We will also have two car seats (possibly booster seats). Do they fly free on BA?
How much am I looking at paying?
Thanks in advance for your help
Last edited by kingdeuceoff; Oct 29, 2019 at 5:29 pm
#1207
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 19
Bagge question.
Good afternoon,
I am flying on AA195 to Phoenix and have booked Basic economy.
I have now paid for an emergency exit seat.
My question is, do I still have to pay for a case at check in ?
If I do, can this be done in advance ?
Thanks for any advice.
Safe flying .
I am flying on AA195 to Phoenix and have booked Basic economy.
I have now paid for an emergency exit seat.
My question is, do I still have to pay for a case at check in ?
If I do, can this be done in advance ?
Thanks for any advice.
Safe flying .
#1208
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
AA collects baggage fees at the airport when you check the bag in.
#1209
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
AA now (it may have in the past, but it was not obvious) sells prepaid baggage at check-in. You will see the offer to do so when you go to check in.
But, there is no discount for doing so, not is it particularly a time-saver as you can pay at the kiosk before the counter anyway.
But, there is no discount for doing so, not is it particularly a time-saver as you can pay at the kiosk before the counter anyway.
#1211
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,179
I am sure that this has been covered before but could I check at the this fountain of knowledge as it seems that there have been some changes.
We are booked on a Basic Fare between Miami and Key West. We are both BA Gold (OW Emerald) . The rules are clear. I cannot Same Day change this flight status or no status - am I correct?Whi
Which Boarding Group will we be allowed to use? Is it Group 9 or some other? Lastly are we allowed to use the Lounges when travelling on such a fare?
Many Thanks in advance
We are booked on a Basic Fare between Miami and Key West. We are both BA Gold (OW Emerald) . The rules are clear. I cannot Same Day change this flight status or no status - am I correct?Whi
Which Boarding Group will we be allowed to use? Is it Group 9 or some other? Lastly are we allowed to use the Lounges when travelling on such a fare?
Many Thanks in advance
#1212
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
I am sure that this has been covered before but could I check at the this fountain of knowledge as it seems that there have been some changes.
We are booked on a Basic Fare between Miami and Key West. We are both BA Gold (OW Emerald) . The rules are clear. I cannot Same Day change this flight status or no status - am I correct?Whi
Which Boarding Group will we be allowed to use? Is it Group 9 or some other? Lastly are we allowed to use the Lounges when travelling on such a fare?
Many Thanks in advance
We are booked on a Basic Fare between Miami and Key West. We are both BA Gold (OW Emerald) . The rules are clear. I cannot Same Day change this flight status or no status - am I correct?Whi
Which Boarding Group will we be allowed to use? Is it Group 9 or some other? Lastly are we allowed to use the Lounges when travelling on such a fare?
Many Thanks in advance
you can’t change this flight at all
#1213
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,179
Once again this wonderful facility comes up with an ace. In one quick kind reply I have all the information that I need. I am most grateful for such a speedy and concise reply - thank you so much!
#1214
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London, U.K.
Programs: bmi British Midland International Diamond Club
Posts: 3,370
Need some advice please. Was charged £90 to check two bags yesterday for our LHR-LAX (see post 1189). I was most surprised when agent informed me that my Sapphire status does not entitle me to free checked bags. She checked with her supervisor who confirmed the same. They told me there had been a lot of confusion recently with Basic Economy and they had been retrained.
I booked this itinerary based on the fact that I thought I would be entitled to free bags. Looking at the baggage rules on aa.com and it looks like they have excluded free bags for Elite member flying Transatlantic Basic Economy. Can someone confirm if that has changed recently?
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...age-policy.jsp
Agent told me to pay and make a claim later if I wanted to dispute (which I will do) - I would never have booked Basic Economy if I had known free bags on Transatlantic flights were excluded for oneworld Elite members.
I booked this itinerary based on the fact that I thought I would be entitled to free bags. Looking at the baggage rules on aa.com and it looks like they have excluded free bags for Elite member flying Transatlantic Basic Economy. Can someone confirm if that has changed recently?
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...age-policy.jsp
Agent told me to pay and make a claim later if I wanted to dispute (which I will do) - I would never have booked Basic Economy if I had known free bags on Transatlantic flights were excluded for oneworld Elite members.
#1215
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
Need some advice please. Was charged £90 to check two bags yesterday for our LHR-LAX (see post 1189). I was most surprised when agent informed me that my Sapphire status does not entitle me to free checked bags. She checked with her supervisor who confirmed the same. They told me there had been a lot of confusion recently with Basic Economy and they had been retrained.
I booked this itinerary based on the fact that I thought I would be entitled to free bags. Looking at the baggage rules on aa.com and it looks like they have excluded free bags for Elite member flying Transatlantic Basic Economy. Can someone confirm if that has changed recently?
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...age-policy.jsp
Agent told me to pay and make a claim later if I wanted to dispute (which I will do) - I would never have booked Basic Economy if I had known free bags on Transatlantic flights were excluded for oneworld Elite members.
I booked this itinerary based on the fact that I thought I would be entitled to free bags. Looking at the baggage rules on aa.com and it looks like they have excluded free bags for Elite member flying Transatlantic Basic Economy. Can someone confirm if that has changed recently?
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...age-policy.jsp
Agent told me to pay and make a claim later if I wanted to dispute (which I will do) - I would never have booked Basic Economy if I had known free bags on Transatlantic flights were excluded for oneworld Elite members.