Gone are the days when a coach ticket meant just a coach ticket.
Now there are multiple booking types across economy class, from basic and all its restrictions to flexible airfares and ones that come with perks like early boarding or extra legroom.
Basic is always the cheapest but it comes with a lot of rules, such as boarding last, being ineligible to earn miles, and forfeiting the privilege of choosing a seat or using overhead space.
And while many travelers go out of their way to avoid it for those reasons, basic economy can still be worthwhile, and not just for the rock-bottom prices.
Here are a few situations in which booking basic economy airfare is actually a good idea.
In this article
You Want to Book the Cheapest Flight Possible
There’s no way around it. For the absolute cheapest airfare, you’ll have to book basic economy.
Maybe you’re working with a limited travel budget or hope to splurge on other travel expenses later on. Either way, unless other fare types are on sale at the time of booking, you can expect to find the lowest price when booking a basic economy ticket.
I’m based in Pittsburgh and have booked Basic Economy fares when flying to or from New York City and Washington, D.C., since these routes only have me spending an hour or so in the air.
For short journeys like this where I won’t mind being stuck with a middle seat, I’d rather book the cheapest flights and allocate more of my travel budget to unique boutique hotels.
You’re Confident That Your Travel Plans Won’t Change
Basic economy tickets come with a lot of restrictions that make it difficult to pivot and rebook if your plans change later on.
Most basic economy tickets can only be changed for a fee, or canceled for a partial travel credit (if any) when changes or cancellations are made more than 24 hours after booking.
Because of this, booking basic economy isn't ideal for trips where plans are still in flux.
However, if your itinerary is set and unlikely to change, you can likely safely book a basic economy ticket without worry, especially when the price is too good to ignore.
You’re Flying Solo
Another concern with basic economy is that you cannot choose your own seats ahead of time. Unless you pay an additional fee for seat selection, the airline will assign you a seat at check-in.
This can be a problem if you’re flying with a companion and want to sit next to one another, as it can be hard to score seats together on a full flight.
But that’s not a problem for solo travelers (so long as you don’t mind the potential of a middle seat). When there’s no one to link up with and any seat will do, a basic economy ticket feels less risky.
You’re Not Tied to One Airline Loyalty Program
Basic economy tickets typically don’t allow you to earn airline miles. So when flying with American Airlines, Delta, or United, non-elite fliers and those without a co-branded credit card can’t earn miles or status-qualifying segments on basic economy bookings.
Even when booking Blue Basic, which is JetBlue’s lowest level fare, or basic, which is Southwest’s lowest tier fare, non-elite status fliers earn points at a reduced rate.
So travelers who are loyal to one airline, want to maximize miles earned, have status within reach, or need to maintain their elite standing, should avoid booking basic economy tickets.
But if you’re a traveler who flies with different airlines often and only books based on price, this likely won’t matter much, as you’re less likely to have a large accumulation of miles with one airline. In those cases, basic economy might not seem like such a tradeoff.
You Pack Light
Basic economy sometimes means leaving your wheeled carry-on behind and boarding a flight with a personal item only as overhead bin access only comes with a higher-priced ticket. That’s the case with United, where basic economy tickets only include a personal item.
Other airlines like American Airlines, Delta, and Southwest include both a carry-on bag and a personal item, but basic economy ticket holders usually board last. Overhead bin space might be long gone by the time they find their seat.
This may be a non-starter for habitual overpackers who want to bring all their belongings onboard.
But if you’re a light packer who only needs the space under the seat in front of you, this might not be an issue at all. An underseat weekender bag may be all that’s needed anyway for quick getaways.
The Shortcut
Solo and short-haul flights are the sweet spot for basic economy. If you're flying alone on a route under a couple hours, the drawbacks (no seat choice, late boarding) won't matter all that much.
Lock in your dates before you book. Basic economy fares are hard to change or cancel, so they only make sense when your plans are already set in stone.
Try your best to pack ultra-light. If a personal item is all you need, you can forfeit the overhead-bin competition that comes with boarding last.
Basic economy usually means no miles earned, but if you're not loyal to a particular airline you're better off booking on price, not points.
