Generally speaking American Airlines has the most consumer-friendly policies for basic economy tickets. You can bring a full-sized carry-on bag on board. You can make changes for a $99 fee if you’re an AAdvantage member. You can pay for seat assignments, or have one assigned to you free. And all status benefits for frequent flyers apply. You can even upgrade on basic economy fares.
You give up some change flexibility, and earn fewer miles and status credits, but these most-restrictive tickets can still be a good deal, especially for someone like me that’s already earned my status for next year. When I flew to Dallas a week and a half ago to speak at the Southern Methodist University Texas Economic Forum, I picked up a $58 basic economy fare and was upgraded.
The rules for these fares have been in constant flux. American first introduced basic economy with carry-on bags restricted like United. During the pandemic they not only became upgradable but also earned miles at the same rate as other fares. So they’re constantly tweaking, becoming more and less generous. It’s hard to know exactly where they end up.
In fact, American has just tightened up on one feature that passengers were using to get value while traveling with the airline.
- After earning 15,000 Loyalty Points, AAdvantage members receive Group 5 boarding for the membership year, plus a choice of: 1,000 Loyalty Points; Priority privileges and Group 4 boarding for a trip; or 5 Preferred Seat coupons.
- These Preferred Seat coupons get waived fees on green seats on this seat map:
- There are other ways to get these preferred seat coupons. They’ve been prizes in sweepstakes, for instance. Using these on basic economy tickets has been much-discussed in message forums and social media.
- But American is eliminating the ability to use these on basic economy fares.
American laid out this restriction in a recent internal memo:
Members with status can still book preferred and extra legroom seats for free on basic economy fares. But seat coupons will no longer work for other members to save money on seats when buying the cheapest fares.
“Members with status can still book preferred and extra legroom seats for free on basic economy fares” this was really helpful to me when I flew with a large group; I booked all of us in Basic Economy, and then used my PP status to put us in MCE from the get-go. The ability to book MCE seats from booking is the thing I value most about my AA status.
So no real change. Only impacts those without status who have a seat coupon. Has to be a very small %. As I read it (and confirmed w AA) as lifetime Platinum I still can book MCE on BE and board in group 3
It amazing how many passengers without status, purchase Basic Economy tickets don’t care where they sit. They just wait for check-in to have a seat assigned. The product serve well those are very budget conscious. The problem comes when the passenger has a change of plan!
gary, when was the last time you were NOT upgraded, on any airline? (airlines only, no hotels or anything else)
@hagbard celine – on the return portion of that very same trip, I was #1 on the list for a cabin checked in full
Basic economy is great if you have high status and flying on an American Eagle flight. Also I am a basic bytch so it suits me fine.