Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal Now Filters For Basic Economy Fares

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