Everyone is looking for cheap airfare. Right? Who wants to spend a lot of money on an airline ticket? How many times have I heard “I want the cheapest airfare!” You should be careful what you ask for…..
The 3 major U.S. carriers – American, Delta and United Airlines have rolled out ‘Basic Economy’ airfares. Yes, they are cheap. But what do you get for paying next to nothing for the airline ticket? Next to nothing. Less is more, right? Not necessarily.
You will not get a seat assignment in advance. If you are traveling with children, this can be a problem. You will not have access to the overhead compartment. If you bring an item onboard that is too large to go under the seat infront of you, they might gate check it-for the full on checked bag cost. Banking on that upgrade? Not going to happen with a Basic Economy fare, no matter what your frequent flyer status is. Have a change of plans? You will be purchasing another ticket because Basic Economy fares cannot be changed, even for a change fee. ‘Use it or lose it.’
These fares are being offered in most domestic markets and some short haul international markets. What this means is that reading the fare rules is more important now that ever before. For the consumer and Travel Advisors. If you aren’t aware of the fare rules of the ticket you purchased, you will be in for some unpleasant surprises when you arrive at the airport.
What the airlines hope to accomplish by this is enticing their customers to purchase up to the next highest fare. Most people don’t want the ‘nickel and dime’ mentality of bare bones airlines that charge you to purchase your ticket, charge you to pick a seat, charge you to check-in online, charge you to check your luggage and charge you to have a carry on. I don’t know many people that travel without luggage or a carry on, or don’t care about which seat they get when they fly.
The moral to this story is read the small print. Don’t click the ‘Buy Now’ button unless you know exactly what you are buying. Know what is important to you when you travel and if you are traveling with children, do not assume you can fix this at the gate the day you board your flight. There are a lot more people flying these days than ever before, so it is a good idea to purchase the correct airfare to fit your needs right from the start. I go by the adage ‘better safe than sorry’.