krazykanuck

So like I assume many others, when faced with a BE vs. Main Cabin fare difference, how do you decide when to pay the tax or not? Do you think of it as a $/flight hour, or likelihood of clearing into a better cabin, or what? Personally I generally don't have a problem doing BE on regional jets with a 2-2 because the downside risk on crappy seats is limited.

I'm thinking of this today because I'm looking at a flight from IAH-LGA on a non-Monday weekday morning on the A220 for a month from now. BE is $138. Main is $173. Seat map shows F is 1/12 so far, C+ is 2/15, and I'll be a Gold by flight time. So probably a given "upgrade" to C+, maybe even F. On the other hand it's a 2-3 setup, so I have a 20% chance of getting a middle seat going with BE, and being an early flight will probably sleep most of the way to LGA anyway, so limits the value of free drinks in C+, and that + food in F.

WDYT? I'm not counting the inflexibility of changing a BE ticket as this would be the tail end of a weekend trip that I can't see why I'd ever need to come home early from. My pet rock doesn't go hungry anyway.

sydneyracquelle

jdrtravel

I will never, for any reason, select a BE ticket.

CarmenOM

Duke787

Seems foolish to say you'd never buy BE. There are some limited use cases where it makes sense (especially since DL still awards full MQMs and allows you to take advantage of your elite status apart from upgrades) -- my requirements are typically under 1 hour and only on planes without middle seats (so CR2/7/9 or E170/175).

For example, I've only done BE once but it was because there was no way to justify spending an extra $50pp on RDU - DCA (maybe 40 minutes wheels up to wheels down) just to get a little extra legroom on C+/F and get a free drink (if FAs decided there was enough time). We preferred saving the $100 for our meals during the weekend.

IAH - LGA would be too long for me -- especially at only $35 with a decent shot at C+/F based on current loads.

jdrtravel

For me it has less to do with seat selection and more to do with the total lack of flexibility with the ticket. I guess if I were buying a ticket just a day or two before traveling and I was 100% certain about that trip then it might makes sense, but BE is usually sold out in advance.

sydneyracquelle

krazykanuck

See this is the kinda thought process I was hoping to elicit from this post. I see nothing wrong with choosing BE when you're not losing much. Easier to choose BE when you don't have status though.

Duke787

FYI if exit row is currently available that makes this an easy choice too -- I flew the A220 in both C+ and Y earlier this year on LGA - DFW - LGA and the exit row has good legroom, so even if the C+/F upgrades don't clear, the $35 is worth it for the exit row on a flight of this length and you'll get it at booking as FO with regular Y fare

pgh234

I never understand why people say this. I just took a $73 BE CVG-BWI flight, on a 2x2 CRJ-200 with no FC, just over an hour flight, that I knew I would not want to SDC...vs paying my additional $35 medallion tax for "Main Cabin." Please tell me why I made a dumb choice? I can't think of a single reason why booking BE was not the right thing to do.

While I defend booking BE in certain situations, I do not defend the fact that it exists in the first place.

ATOBTTR

HWGeeks

I only book BE if it's a short flight and there is no middle seat.

A short flight for me is less than 2 and a half hours.

I won't book BE if it's under 2 and a half hours if there is a chance for a middle seat.

I would avoid BE completely if delta goes the United route and bans carry-ons for BE passangers

lamprey

I believe you mean when.

flyerCO

Doubtful. DL has been the leader on BE. They didn't change even when UA and AA both announced their own BE, with no carry on allowance. AA in fact had to walk the restriction back, allowing passengers to take bag on plane.

lamont2718

Why are we calling this the "Medallion tax"? Don't ordinary non-Medallion customers face the same choice between Basic Economy and Main Cabin?