John Amis / AP
Basic economy isn't half bad.
- Major airlines such as Delta, United, and American Airlines started offering basic economy fares in 2016 and 2017.
- Basic economy tickets are meant to be the cheapest tickets on the plane and restrict a traveler's flexibility, choices, and luggage.
- I flew basic economy on both Delta and United over a holiday weekend, and it was much easier and more pleasant than people make it out to be - as long as you know what you're getting yourself into.
When major carriers including Delta and United introduced basic economy fares in the past few years, fliers were unhappy to say the least.
While the specifics of the fare class vary by airline, the general concept is that you pay the least on the plane to get the least on the plane: you generally have no flexibility in your fare, no ability to choose your seats, and no carry-on bag.
But, flying from New York City to Atlanta over Memorial Day weekend, I didn't much care.
Flights were expensive, as you'd expect on a holiday weekend. And when I started reading over the rules for basic economy tickets for me and my boyfriend, who was traveling with me, I had a thought: this doesn't sound so bad.
Especially for a weekend trip that's only a two-hour flight, I don't really care where I sit, or if I sit with my companion. As long as I get a seat and get there safely, I'm good. I don't like to stuff a full-sized carry-on in the overhead compartment because I can't reach it easily and I like to keep an eye on my bag. I keep my bag under the seat in front of me instead. And I've only ever cancelled a flight once.
Basic economy sounds rather like what I've been doing all along. So, I booked the tickets.
We traveled from New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (ATL) on Friday night via Delta for $143 each. We returned to New York's Newark Airport (EWR) via United on Monday morning for $148 each. It was virtually the same price on each airline and about $300 round trip (not all that cheap, but it was a holiday weekend) - so I was excited to see how basic economy compared.