I flew United's basic economy. The fare is restrictive, but I'd book again if the price were right.

Taylor RainsJul 13, 2024, 18:54 IST

The "United Next" cabin on a Boeing 737 Max 8 in full view.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

United Airlines introduced basic economy in 2017 to compete with budget carriers.
I booked the discounted fare from New York to Denver to experience the airline's most basic option.

United Airlines introduced a "basic economy" ticket in 2017 to compete with budget carriers like Frontier and Spirit Airlines.

The discount ticket comes with a random seat and a personal item when flying domestically. There's no option to pay extra for a carry-on — it has to be checked for a fee.

Albeit restrictive, this cheaper alternative helps lure more price-sensitive travelers who prefer the perks of a mainline carrier like United — like seatback screens and free snacks — instead of the barebones amenities of a low cost.

I've personally moved toward booking basic economy instead of budget carriers for convenience and comfort. I'll upgrade to regular economy if necessary, but I usually like to save a buck where I can.

My go-to is normally Delta Air Lines for its reliability, but I recently tried United between New York and Denver.

I wanted to see how the airline's more restrictive basic economy rules played out in reality and how its "United Next" cabin felt after four hours across the US.

Most of my experiences on United have been transatlantic, with my last domestic flight being in the summer of 2022.

United's 767-300ER widebody cabin has comfortable seats and the much-needed adjustable headrest, but the soft products — like food and linens — need improvement.Taylor Rains/Insider

However, the difference in my booking this time was opting for basic economy.

The United 737 Max 8 parked at the gate in Denver after landing from LaGuardia.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Unlike Delta and American, which similarly offer unbundled basic coach fares, United doesn’t include a carry-on bag for domestic flights.

The Boeing 737 Max 8 "United Next" cabin.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

I arrived at New York's LaGuardia Airport at 5:15 a.m. to give myself plenty of time to check my bag before the early morning flight.

The boarding pass made it crystal clear that I was not allowed a carry-on bag with my ticket.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Security was quick, thanks to TSA PreCheck, and I spent an hour at the new Chase lounge before heading to the gate.

The Chase Lounge at LaGuardia is bigger than I expected.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Boarding was also seamless, though the gate agent double checked I didn’t have too many bags.

United has bag-size checkers at the airport. The max personal item dimensions are 17x10x9 inches.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

It was a tight squeeze, but my personal item fit snugly under the seat in front of me as I settled into 35B.

The view of the cabin from the author's middle seat.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The middle seat isn’t ideal and I often pay more for the aisle, but I found it as comfortable as competitors.

The seatback pocket was big enough for my water bottle and tablet.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

My seat came with the common perks like power and an adjustable headrest. It doesn’t matter at this point if you booked basic or regular coach.

United's coach cabin passengers are a mix of basic, regular, and economy plus ticketholders. The legroom was enough for my 5'3" self, but taller travelers may want to upgrade for more space.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Probably the biggest standout, however, was the Bluetooth-capable seatback screens.

I travel with overhead Beats headphones and AirPods but I prefer the Beats.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Bluetooth complemented the good mix of entertainment options.

The inflight entertainment content kept up with new movies, like Ghostbusters and Kung Fu Panda 4.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The flight also featured free WiFi for T-Mobile customers like myself, with the paid option costing $8 for MileagePlus members.

The screenshot shows the option. All passengers can message for free, but the paid option is $8 for members and $10 for non-members.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

I watched Kung Fu Panda 4 and worked for most of the four-hour flight. Everything went smoothly — and my bag made it to Denver.

Screenshot of United app telling me my bag made it onto the flight.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

While I hesitated about United after mediocre long-haul experiences, this flight proved its domestic product is solid.

Flight attendants did two full cabin services.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

However, I’d note United’s restrictive bag policy for basic economy could trip up inexperienced travelers or push people away.

Screenshot of Google Flights showing $109 for United and Delta for LaGuardia to Denver in late September.Google Flights

I took a luxurious sightseeing train in Japan for just $12. The stunning views weren't even the best part.

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