United Airlines will soon roll out “Basic Economy” fares in select markets that carry important restrictions. Here’s everything you need to know about these new United fares.
What is the Difference Between United Economy and United Basic Economy?
Let’s focus on the restrictions of Basic Economy.
No advance seat assignments. Seating is assigned at check-in and United will explicitly warn you that if traveling in a group, you have no guarantee of sitting next to each other, or even near each other. Advance seat assignments are not even available for purchase.
Carry-on restricted to one personal item only — no hand baggage permitted in overhead bins. United MileagePlus credit card holders and United Premier members will be exempt from this rule. If you bring an extra carry-on bag, you will have to pay to check it at the gate.
No ticket changes. All tickets can be cancelled within 24 hours of booking, but beyond that cool-off period, changes are cancellations are not allowed. Change of plans? You hope for a schedule change or forfeit the entire value of your ticket.
No elite qualifying miles. If you’re trying to gain or re-qualify for status, avoid these fares.
No lifetime flights miles. Trying to earn Million Miler status? Avoid these fares.
How About Upgrades?
No EconomyPlus or upgrading. Even a top-tier Global Services member who purchases an Economy Basic fare would technically not be eligible for EconomyPlus. Upgrades will not be sold to Economy Basic travelers and miles cannot be used to upgrade.
Last Boarding Group. Even if two carry-on bags were permitted, by the time Group 5 boards, the overhead bin space is likely be gone anyway. Like the carry-on limit, this rule does not apply to MileagePlus elite members or United-branded credit card holders.
Cannot combine with partner carriers. Say you are going to Canada and want to fly United’s Basic Economy in one direction and Air Canada in the other. Not possible unless you book as two separate one ways. United also will not check your bag through if you are on an Economy Basic ticket connecting to another Star Alliance or even United flight on a separate itienrary.
What Comes With United Basic Economy?
Once onboard, service levels between United Economy and Basic Economy will be identical. Light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will still be free. Wi-Fi and IFE will be available for purchase. Award miles will still be earned and club access permitted (for qualified members or one-time pass holders) on Basic Economy tickets.
Will United Basic Economy Be Sold in All Markets?
No. We don’t know yet whether United will offer these fares only in markets where it faces stiff ultra-low-cost competition from the likes of Spirit and Frontier or in a broader market. United has made clear that Basic Economy will not be offered on every United flight.
Will These Restrictions Really Be Enforced?
Flight Attendants are very excited about the new Basic Economy fare structure because it will presumably reduce the number of carry-on bags brought on planes. This has been a perennial problem that inevitably requires several bags in the final boarding group to be gate-checked. Gate agents, on the other hand, are not as excited. They will be forced to enforce this new policy and my prediction is that the carry-on enforcement will be hit or miss.
Already, gate agents are supposed to carefully check each carry-on bag brought onboard to ensure it fits into a sizer bin located at each gate. Few do. Gate agents are also supposed to limit passengers to one carry-on bag and one personal item. Instead, I routinely see people schlepping the “kitchen sink” onboard. With intense pressure to get flights out on time, I think we will see many instances in which gate agents will not enforce this rule.
I also wonder whether United really can keep these Basic Fares out of EconomyPlus without “upgrading” regular United Economy passengers (creating an even bigger hassle at the gate). Here’s how it usually works — people book tickets and choose seat assignments in the regular economy class cabin. The cabin fills up and no further seat assignments are available unless you pay to upgrade to EconomyPlus. But many of the tight-fisted passengers who hold off on a seat assignment end up getting EconomyPlus for free — because they are the only seats left in the economy cabin. United is going to somehow have to block additional seats in the regular economy cabin that match or approximate the number of Basic Economy fares sold if it wants to ensure that these “cheap” passengers don’t wind up with prize unclaimed seats at the last minute when seat assignments are given.
CONCLUSION
The sad thing about these fares is that they will just replace the cheapest fare bucket available now: it’s not like we will see even cheaper fares than are available now. Thus, this represents a cutback. I find it odd that United will not award lifetime flight miles for these tickets. But I do appreciate that these new Basic Economy fares will have the chance to finally solve the carry-on problem. If the era of crammed overhead bins is over on United, these changes will be a net-positive.
There is no way these people don;t end up in economy plus seats. United has no way to know how many seats they need to block and that would be an IT nightmare. And what if they change planes after they start selling seats and screw up the blocked out seats. It just seems too complicated for United to pull off
On a full flight, where no free flights remain at 24 hour check-in, you go to counter pre-security to check bag and get a seat. How do you reassign someone who has reserved a seat to economy plus. How do you know if they are sitting in the same row with family or maybe in an aisle aisle situation (as my wife and I often do). I would be super upset if I go to scan my mobile boarding pass and they say you need to check in at counter, you have been reseated and I then miss my boarding group and have to gate check my bag.
This is garbage. Your concluding paragraph is right, it just replaced the lowest fare and didn’t lower anything. How do I know this? Well I was searching for flights from ORD to LAX. On 4/17 the cheapest Economy seat was $177. Today, Economy is $197 and Basic Economy is $177. Now if Basic Economy was $157 I’d say that fits their logic. Instead it’s just another way for the airlines to rip us off. Instead, if I had booked a day earlier I would have all the perks being Premier Gold carries with it. Today, I need to pay $20 more for that benefit (and $40 more on the return flight).
Sorry to hear. I agree that this is a hugely customer unfriendly move rolled out during time in which UA is fighting a PR disaster on other fronts. Very bad decision making once again.
I just flew on a “basic economy” ticket without realizing any of these new restrictions were in place. I fly a lot and I almost never check a bag – one of the perks of not checking a bag is being able to just check in online and roll up to the airport with enough time to breeze through security and be on your way. What I have not seen being talked about yet is this: United will not allow “basic economy” ticket holders, customers who must ONLY have a carry on to begin with, to check-in online!!!! I missed a flight because of this absurd restriction. I tried to check in online on my way to the airport but received the message that “passengers who are not checking a bag cannot check in online.” When I arrived at the airport I had to wait and speak to agent and at that point it was too late to check in for my flight. When I questioned her regarding the online check-in restriction, she told me: “well you are an economy basic customer and we want to be able to check ya’ll ourselves to make sure your carry-ons are appropriate.” Seriously? Does this not completely defeat the purpose of traveling light and efficiently? (Note: I was traveling with a shoulder bag that fits under the seat – that’s it). United continues to climb the ladder of worst-customer-service and outright class discrimination airline companies ever. They are lucky that I belong to the racial majority – if that weren’t the case, the apparent discriminatory screening process based on ticket class would look a whole lot worse. Based on their track record, however, am sure it won’t be long before they get themselves in hot water in that area.
Very helpful data point. I will write about this.
Here is the message that one receives when trying to check in online with no bags to check:
“Travelers who purchased Basic Economy and have indicated that they’re not bringing a checked bag need to see a United representative to complete their check-in. You may complete check-in online if you indicate that you’ll have a checked bag.” – United
YES. And nowhere is it mentioned that this is the case until after you try to check in! I have a super quick NY trip this week (less than 48 hours on the ground), and I barely need a personal item, let alone a full sized carry on. I can’t believe they won’t let me check in without checking a bag. (And people ask me why I prefer JetBlue. I can’t roll my eyes hard enough at this bizarre choice United has made.)
I flew home for my sister’s graduation and unfortunately we also are going to have to put my dog down on the day of my flight. I purchased an economy basic ticket and I called and ask due to these special circumstances can I push my flight one day and they said no and there was nothing they could do. Losing my dog is worse than losing a family member and they won’t even give me partial credit. I fly back and forth from LA to NY a lot and I only flew with United, I even have the United credit card, but now I won’t be flying with them again.
I purchased a round trip basic economy ticket from Denver to DC, in the interim I went on an international bussiness trip (with United) that was extened. The extension forced me to miss the first leg of my basic economy ticket. My fix was to fly direct to DC and use the second leg of the basic economy back to Denver. I called to explain but was told the entire basic economy ticket would be voided if I wasn’t on the first leg. I explained to the rep that I am missing the orginal leg due to a different United flight for which I paid a $400 change fee to extend my overseas bussiness. My pleas fell on deaf ears, I too will give up on United
I think this fare discriminates against women because they carry a purse. Whatever the size, it’s considered the one personal item. I will never purchase this class again! And as the other people noted, the check in problem is HUGE!
How does it discriminate against women? No one forces you to carry a purse. Also, everyone has the same restriction, one personal item of a certain maximum size. What you put in that bag is your business. So, if you wish to carry a purse, put it inside of the larger personal bag.
I actually say a woman asked to do just that. She did. Problems solved.
Hmmmm, well, you are not a woman. Soooo, keep your prejudices to yourself. Women do have items they need that men do not need, shall I go into details?
Simmering misogyny…with you and United.
How does one know if you are Basic Economy? My fare class is listed as: United Economy (V)
I;ve checked the United website and a couple others and I can’t seem to figure this out.
Hi John,
Basic Economy is booked into N-Class.
V-Class is a middle economy fare.
I did not realize I booked basic economy which does not allow a carry on. Odd that I am unable to pay upgrade to allow carry on. Will avoid flying United in fhe future. Made a big mistake-admittedly my error for not looking at restrictions before completing booking.
What is my CPAP machine identified as? Is it considered my one personal item that I may bring on board, or because it is a medical device I will be allowed to bring it on board and also my one personal item to fit under the seat in front of me?
Also, I recently read that as of September 5, 2018, I will be able to bring my one personal item on board and may also bring another on board item to go either in the overhead or it will be taken on the plane from the Jet way for no extra charge. This is very interesting.