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Yeah good question considering they offer less benefit so they should naturally cost less. Seems like something the author could lead with. I subscribed to Sco
by technofiend 8y ago
Yeah good question considering they offer less benefit so they should naturally cost less. Seems like something the author could lead with.
I subscribed to Scott's Cheap Flights to see some new (to me) parts of the world on the cheap. I'd say 80% of the flight deals are basic-economy-class seats and it's exceedingly rare to see a similar deal for the next fare class up. In other words if the normal difference between basic economy (can't pick your seat, luggage is extra) is $200, the difference between basic and regular is now far more. In fact it's so much more the flyer may as well pay the upcharge to take a bag.
I'm not sure if this is airlines dumping basic economy seats because they simply don't sell, or if they're trying to make flyers used to paying for upgrades since it's still all in cheaper than the next fare class.
Regardless it makes sense for airlines to price basic economy for the least amount of air miles as the seats again offer the least benefit and the airline will make their money up billing cash rather than miles for the extras.
- monksy 8y agoI wish they wouldn't advertise basic economy tickets. They're a terrible value.
- sokoloff 8y agoAs long as customers are shopping on basic price, [un]bundles like Basic Economy tickets will be a thing. For some people, they're exactly what is needed.
- gok 8y agoWell it's also that many business travelers are required by policy to book the cheapest flights
- sokoloff 8y agoIf your company is sending you Basic Economy, save them the other 75% of the airfare and just don't go.
- Scoundreller 8y agoIt’s very industry dependent. Sometimes you get paid very well in the public sector with good health benefits, but they’re highly’restrictive about travel expenses because of the poor optics.
- hakfoo 8y agoThe one thing I find baffling is the luggage angle. "We're going to charge you $25 for a checked bag" triggered everyone to stuff everything in the universe into a carry-on. Now you end up with half the flight being told "the carry-on space is full, but we'll check the bag for free" at that point. So they're checking bags anyway. I wish they'd let travelers choose either a checked or carry-on bag for free. I honestly don't need my carry-on during the flight, so long as I can stuff a snack and book into an under-the-seat laptop bag, and if I can check the bag instead for free, then I don't have to schlep it across the airport.
- sokoloff 8y agoRandom trivia: airlines don’t have to weigh your carryon nor count it against performance criteria. Bags that go underneath are weighed and “count” for performance calcs. Obviously, it affects the airplane either way and there are some safety margins built-in, but the airlines have some reason to push people to maximize use of carry-ons.
- jboles 8y agoOne annoying thing about basic economy fares is that the airline charges you to carry your own bag on (though I think one or two airlines may have since reversed this policy). It is “enforced” by relegating basic economy fares to the last boarding group, by which time the overhead bins are likely already full. While basic economy + carryon fee is usually still less than regular economy, it feels like the airline is coercing more money out of you to avoid the risk of a bad customer experience.