Basic Economy Airport and Plane Experiences (First or Second Hand)
#151
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 14,993
No advance seat selection means just that. If knees or transport of a priceless violin don't warrant an extra $20 for regular economy and/or E+ purchase, I see where the priorities are.
"The violin is priceless, but I don't want to pay an extra $20 to transport it".
"Here's your ticket Grandma - I don't care if you get a cr*p seat".
I'm sure UA will make accommodations in some cases, but then you get customers expecting something that they got from one agent that bent the rules, and who then tells other customers they got the rules bent...
#152
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA Plat, HH Gold, Marriott Amb
Posts: 417
I do wonder what they are thinking about pricing. Just looked at a flight this Friday to Green Bay from ORD. The fare difference between BE and an M-class economy fare? $1!! $487 vs $486 -- I just don't get it.
Return was $15 difference. Total fare $748 on UA vs $624 on AA (No basic economy offered).
Return was $15 difference. Total fare $748 on UA vs $624 on AA (No basic economy offered).
#153
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,098
I do wonder what they are thinking about pricing. Just looked at a flight this Friday to Green Bay from ORD. The fare difference between BE and an M-class economy fare? $1!! $487 vs $486 -- I just don't get it.
Return was $15 difference. Total fare $748 on UA vs $624 on AA (No basic economy offered).
Return was $15 difference. Total fare $748 on UA vs $624 on AA (No basic economy offered).
If people looked at DL's pricing scheme which had been around for over a year before they would have seen the price difference to be negligible at best compared to a regular fare.
#154
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA Gold, SPG Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 991
An elderly lady at checkout was complaining that she couldn't pick a seat and needed an aisle due to poor knees (she was using a cane). Apparently, her son had purchased her a BE fare and she wasn't told of the consequences. Ticket agent sent her to the gate agent to handle. Let's see what the gate agent does (I'm on the same flight).
Seat map after departure showed the only remaining seats as E- middle so she made out!
#155
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
I don't want to be an a** and say that: "She (or her son) bought her a BE ticket, therefore she should know what it entails". But at the same time, I don't want to start down this slippery slope of: "I didn't know it was a BE ticket, I DESIRE/DESERVE a better seat".
While this case was potentially medically inclined, I can easily see this becoming out of control. I mean, have you seen the number of passengers who require pre-boarding and then are magically healed upon arrival?
In legitimate cases, what should occur? What if the flight is full. Now what? Bump someone from their seat? Or force the passenger to sit in E- middle and have it become another 'headline story'.
Someone wiser than me, please provide a way of solving this without letting it spiral out of control / being taken advantage of like service animals on airplanes.
#156
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,384
Not a solution per se, but I if were in the shoes of a GA.. one pax with a medical issue, fine - can assign 7D from the list of blocked seats. Twenty people on an FLL flight who all want the same thing - "I'm sorry, ma'am but there's nothing I can do to help."
One-time exceptions requiring staff intervention are not likely to grow out of control the way early boarding does. If this causes a ruckus at the gate, well that's the fault of BE in the first place.
One-time exceptions requiring staff intervention are not likely to grow out of control the way early boarding does. If this causes a ruckus at the gate, well that's the fault of BE in the first place.
#157
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,716
For assigned seats for disabilities, isn't general practice that you call to get a seat assigned anyways? In fact, United's website recommends calling more than 24 hours before the flight for seat accommodations https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...modations.aspx and in fact UA's website specifically addresses how to handle it on a Basic Economy ticket.
At the gate, the GA should be able to stand by the "seat accommodations require calling at least 24 hours in advance" line, while hopefully applying a common sense standard.
At the gate, the GA should be able to stand by the "seat accommodations require calling at least 24 hours in advance" line, while hopefully applying a common sense standard.
#158
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,878
Obviously, that isn't going to happen, for multiple reasons.
But to the disability request, the BE page on UA.com says this:
Q: I have a disability that requires me to sit in a particular type of seat when I travel. Can I purchase a Basic Economy ticket?
A: Yes, certain seats are made available to customers with a disability if the request is made at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled flight. Please call the United Customer Contact Center after your booking is complete to receive a seat assignment. We also recommend visiting our Seating Accommodations page for more information.
A: Yes, certain seats are made available to customers with a disability if the request is made at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled flight. Please call the United Customer Contact Center after your booking is complete to receive a seat assignment. We also recommend visiting our Seating Accommodations page for more information.
#159
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,679
Probably the only actual solution is the Greyhound and WN model - nobody gets an assigned seat - BE or not, and in advance or at check in - you board and pick the seat you can get. And if you really need an aisle seat (or whatever)...make sure you check in right at the allowed time so you can get a seat.
Obviously, that isn't going to happen, for multiple reasons.
But to the disability request, the BE page on UA.com says this:
So the disabled traveler could have had a seat assigned in advance, even having bought BE. I'm actually kind of conflicted by this policy. On the one hand, those with disabilities obviously have circumstances beyond their control that may require them to actually need something that others don't (or that others just want/really want). Plus, there are seating exceptions for other situations - i.e. families with children using the bassinet get free bulkhead seats, etc. And I don't mean to sound like an a**, but on the other hand, others have other reasons they may need to buy a more expensive fare - i.e. one's schedule only allows them to book a later, more expensive flight. Plus, the disability policy is prone to abuse from those who will fake a 'disability' to take advantage of the policy. What happens when a blogger decides to post this loophole - here's how you can buy a basic fare and still get a seat.
Obviously, that isn't going to happen, for multiple reasons.
But to the disability request, the BE page on UA.com says this:
So the disabled traveler could have had a seat assigned in advance, even having bought BE. I'm actually kind of conflicted by this policy. On the one hand, those with disabilities obviously have circumstances beyond their control that may require them to actually need something that others don't (or that others just want/really want). Plus, there are seating exceptions for other situations - i.e. families with children using the bassinet get free bulkhead seats, etc. And I don't mean to sound like an a**, but on the other hand, others have other reasons they may need to buy a more expensive fare - i.e. one's schedule only allows them to book a later, more expensive flight. Plus, the disability policy is prone to abuse from those who will fake a 'disability' to take advantage of the policy. What happens when a blogger decides to post this loophole - here's how you can buy a basic fare and still get a seat.
#160
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,178
You can't discriminate against someone with a disability by making them pay more than someone else for the same product (i.e. people with disabilities will not be charged to bring a cane on board even though it has to be in the overhead bin) however the same carry on rules and other BE rules will apply (no upgrades, no PQD, or PQM), this is covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Carrier_Access_Act
#161
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO/SJC/OAK
Programs: OZ Diamond (*G), KQ Asante Gold (ST+), Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,510
I know many people have already mentioned it, but as a *G mainly flying United, I would really appreciate it if E+ was opened up to *G's 24 hours out, instead of seating BE passengers there, which is inevitable currently. It would be a much fairer system.
Last edited by zeer0; Jun 7, 2017 at 6:22 pm
#162
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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And let's keep in mind that it's UA which has elected to sell these fares.
#163
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
I agree! But the key word being here 'legitimate'. Who's the judge of it? What's the threshold?
#164
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 578
While I could see it becoming more complicated for GAs and UA to implement, wouldn't it be more reasonable to find any single fliers in E- and bump them to E+ first, before assigning the BE passenger to the now open E- seat? Or at least attempt to?
#165
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO/SJC/OAK
Programs: OZ Diamond (*G), KQ Asante Gold (ST+), Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,510
THIS!! That should be the policy for both BE customers and non-revs, who also often end up sitting in E+ if it is available. If United needs more E- seats, *G's and then *S's should be moved up to E+, followed by general members based on fare class.