{"id":3714,"date":"2022-01-26T16:46:44","date_gmt":"2022-01-26T20:46:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.recess4grownups.com\/?p=3714"},"modified":"2022-10-27T09:41:53","modified_gmt":"2022-10-27T13:41:53","slug":"dont-push-the-button-on-that-basic-economy-airfare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.recess4grownups.com\/blog\/dont-push-the-button-on-that-basic-economy-airfare\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t push the button on that Basic Economy Airfare"},"content":{"rendered":"

Don\u2019t Push the Button on that Cheap Airfare <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"The beginning of the year is a busy time in the travel industry as folks realize they haven\u2019t made vacation plans, are inspired by the cold to plan a warm trip or want to schedule time to visit family. As folks start searching online for flights, which can be a big part of the cost of a trip, there is a new hidden danger that can cause a lot of unhappiness and dissatisfaction. Looking for that \u2018cheap airfare\u2019 is a different game as of late.<\/p>\n

The name of this evil monster is\u2026basic economy. As the mainstream airlines \u2013 Delta, United, and American \u2013 have tried to restructure their offerings to compete with low-cost carriers such as Spirit and Frontier, the new \u2018cheap\u2019 fares have been causing great confusion. Customers who would not book Spirit or Frontier because of the restrictions of their products are now accidentally booking such tickets on their trusted full-service carriers.<\/p>\n

Basic Economy is a different fare category than the traditional main cabin or coach fare. While the seats are the same with the same food and drink offerings, other check-in and on-board amenities are different \u2013 namely, no pre-selected seats prior to check-in, luggage restrictions, last boarding priority and restrictions on upgrade and change options.<\/p>\n

\"\"Basic Economy is now available on international flights, which means you need to be extra careful when you find a great cheap fare, as you could end up on a very long flight with no seat assignment prior to boarding, no carry-on luggage and payment for a checked bag (no free first bag for long haul flights like you would get on a regular fare seat).<\/p>\n

If you are looking online for the cheapest ticket, it most likely will be a basic economy fare. Even within the travel professional community, many of our tools have started presenting these cheap fares that don\u2019t meet the needs of many of our clients, and we\u2019ve had to adapt our procedures to ensure we provide the best available coach fare that includes the amenities our clients expect.<\/p>\n

To avoid the grief of dealing with the inconveniences at check-in and onboard, be very aware of the fare class that you are booking. Check out this summary of the key airline offerings and associated restrictions:<\/p>\n

Delta Basic Economy [Booking class E]<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n