4 things I think about when booking basic economy

As most frequent travelers know, basic economy has evolved quite significantly since airlines began adding the low-cost fare option over the course of the last decade.

Airlines originally saw basic economy as a way to compete with low-cost carriers, and the general principle has remained pretty consistent. You pay a lower ticket price than you would for a main cabin ticket, but you'll lose some services — or, at least, lose complimentary access to them.

However, airlines have routinely tweaked what is and is not included with a basic economy fare, as well as what you can add for a fee after choosing the lower-priced ticket.

There have been some positive changes in 2024. Most recently, United Airlines finally started allowing passengers flying on a no-frills ticket to check in for their flight online. These travelers couldn't do so previously.

Basic economy policies differ from one airline to another, and they've evolved through time. So, I personally find it helpful to have a mental checklist of factors to consider when evaluating whether it's worth saving a little money (or sometimes quite a bit) by booking a basic economy ticket ... or if a full-fare economy ticket is the better option.

Below are the top factors I consider.

The full-size carry-on bag

This is a deal breaker for a lot of travelers wary of checking a bag.

Historically, a common basic economy policy among airlines has been restricting full-size carry-on bags and overhead bin access. This means the only bag you can bring on board for free is a personal item that fits under the seat.

Like most travelers, a small backpack typically isn't going to cut it for me — at least, on most trips.

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For that reason, basic economy is usually a no-go for me on airlines where the basic fare restricts overhead bin access. However, I might re-evaluate that stance if I have a credit card or elite status that gets me a free checked bag or allows me to skirt the basic bag restriction altogether.

Carry-on rules disappearing

Fortunately, these types of carry-on bag restrictions are far less common on the biggest network airlines than they were just a few years ago.

Among the Big Three legacy airlines — American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines — only United restricts complimentary overhead bin access on basic fares. Even JetBlue recently announced it would end the restrictive policy on its Blue Basic fares.

You will still find these policies in place on the most basic fares for nearly all of the budget airlines, though.

At the other end of the spectrum, Southwest Airlines remains the most lenient U.S. airline across the board when it comes to bags. The carrier allows two free checked bags and free full-size carry-ons for every passenger.

Related: Southwest Rapid Rewards: Complete guide to earning, redeeming and maximizing points

Seat selection

Another longtime basic economy pet peeve of many travelers is the lack of complimentary seat selection.

If you're concerned about getting stuck in a middle seat or eager to sit next to a family member or travel companion, basic economy is often a gamble. However, some airlines have made proactive family seating-oriented changes to how they assign seats in the face of pressure from the Biden administration.

Seat selection is also another area where having an airline credit card or elite status can help you circumvent any basic economy restrictions.

But, if I'm ultimately going to have to pay for a seat, I'll usually "upgrade" to the main cabin and skip basic economy altogether.

Loyalty perks and earning

Another key factor I think about when deciding whether to book a basic economy fare is whether I'll be able to enjoy my loyalty perks, earn miles and make progress toward elite status while traveling.

Some airlines inject loyalty program carrots and sticks into the basic economy decision process.

For instance, Delta Air Lines doesn't let basic economy passengers earn SkyMiles for their flights. Those passengers also don't get Delta Sky Club access before or after their flight, even if they're members.

Related: Best Delta credit cards

The policies differ from one airline to another.

American Airlines AAdvantage members earn miles and Loyalty Points but at a reduced rate compared to main cabin flyers.

United's basic economy flyers earn MileagePlus miles and Premier qualifying points but not Premier qualifying flights.

While you'd rather pay the lowest fare, you'd also hate to pay for a flight that doesn't count toward an airline's loyalty program. So, it's a factor in deciding whether basic economy is worth it. It often hinges on how big the price difference is between basic economy and economy.

Itinerary flexibility

Another hallmark of basic economy tickets is that they traditionally lack flexibility when it comes to making changes (beyond the 24-hour grace period after booking that every passenger is entitled to under U.S. Department of Transportation policy).

The inflexibility of basic economy tickets compared with other tickets is all the starker now: Most U.S. airlines have ditched change fees on full-fare tickets in recent years. However, basic economy flyers are still not entitled to changes in most cases.

If you need to cancel a basic economy ticket, you may be able to get some money back in future trip credit, but you'll often pay a steep cancellation fee (sometimes close to $100).

If I have some inkling that I may end up needing to change or cancel my trip before departure, basic economy is certainly off the table.

If I'm uber-confident that the trip will go on as planned or have little fear of not getting a refund for a flight, I may proceed with the no-frills ticket.

Bottom line

With varying policies through the years and from one airline to another, it can be difficult to decide between basic economy and full-fare economy tickets. For that reason, it's a good idea to know what services and benefits are most important to you so you can make the best decision on the right type of ticket.

Related reading:

• The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare
• What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuations