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Ah, the dreaded basic economy curse: How we hate the newest cost-cutting measure from airlines greedy to turn a little extra profit off of standard amenities such as seat selection and larger carry-on bags.
Now that all three major US carriers offer some version of basic economy, we’ve found the tiered economy status quickly becoming a reality of everyday domestic — and sometimes even international — travel. We’ve reviewed offerings from United, Delta and American, and the general consensus is that we’d prefer to never do it again if at all possible.
Fortunately for anyone who shares our sentiments, first Google Flights, and now the Chase Ultimate Rewards booking portal have made it a little easier for travelers to filter out basic economy fares when searching for flights. Here are some example searches of the Chase portal now showing side-by-side fares of different economy classes:
Airlines that don’t offer tiered economy fares were clearly marked in the portal with just a single price option, such as this JetBlue flight from JFK to SFO for $242, the same price as Delta’s basic economy fare.
Keep in mind, though, that the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal may not offer the cheapest available fares, so we always suggest doing your own due diligence to ensure you’re paying the best rate you can for the fare you want.
H/T: View From the Wing
Photo by Kwanchai_Khammuean/Getty Images
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NEW INCREASED OFFER: 60,000 Points
TPG'S BONUS VALUATION*: $1,200
CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. View our latest valuations here.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
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- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
