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What You Need To Know About Alitalia's Basic Economy Fares

July 20, 2019
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2 min read
Alitalia post-departure
What You Need To Know About Alitalia's Basic Economy Fares
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Many airlines these days, including American, Delta and United, are offering 'basic' economy fares. While in most cases this simply means that the base fare remains the same and you end up paying more for things you used to get for free, it does seem to be a trend in the industry.

Alitalia is the latest to follow this trend by offering a basic economy ticket known as "Light Economy." Like with most other airlines, these means you don't get to choose your seat ahead of time and other restrictions around what types of luggage you can bring on board the aircraft.

For Alitalia that means that if you're flying on a Light Economy ticket, you will be limited to a single carry-on bag that weighs less than 8 kilograms. If you book a 'classic' economy ticket, you get a checked bag included in your ticket price. With Light Economy, you also won't be able to make any changes to your booking before your flight. And if something happens that causes you to miss your trip, you won't be able to get a refund — yet another reason to have travel protection.

While it seems that this trend of offering lower basic fares is here to stay, it's always a good idea to figure out the final cost of your flight if you have to check baggage because you can't bring it on board, or you want to be able to choose your seat before you check in for your flight. In the long run, you might be better off paying for the slightly more expensive ticket in some cases.

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Featured Photo by Ryan Patterson/The Points Guy

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.