Basic Economy airline experience

[Scuba]

Every time I have checked for the flights we want, business and first are hugely more expensive than regular coach. For our trip to Greece this year, I used BA miles to get us there (regular coach) and we are flying back from Amsterdam on WOW Airlines. I bought their regular economy rather than basic as I was not willing to take our chances on what seats we’d have on a flight from AMS to LAX. We’ll see how it goes.

DH is after me to book premium economy or business class in the future. I understand the appeal but if it means taking only one trip instead of two or three per year, I don’t think it’s worth it.

Anybody who has had success finding relatively reasonably priced first or business class tix want to share how you do that?

 

[rodi]

As the plane is filling up, there's 3 guys in one row and they can't fit in their seats!!! All three are big guys in all dimensions (tall AND fat, er, sorry "big boned"). The plane is packed and no one wants to swap seats - flight attendants were trying to get a swap in middle seat...

I was on a return from a business trip - and the corporate travel agent had dropped the ball on seat assignments (this was the 90's and before wide use of internet for travel stuff.) It was from San Jose to Philly - so a long flight... and I was stuck in the middle seat between two oversize guys. I fit... but only if I leaned forward the entire flight. Their shoulders literally went several inches (each side) into my seat. And both guys (former football defensive players?) were armrest hogs. So 6 hours of literally leaning into my lap because I couldn't lean back.

I'm not as big as these guys were - but I'm tallish for a woman (5'9") and not as petite as some... What's scarier is that they've shrunk the seat width since this incident.

I swore I'd never do a middle seat again. And I've lived by that rule! That's why I'll pay to not have basic economy which can leave you stuck in the middle since you can't choose your seats. I'm not particular - window or aisle... Both can work since you can lean away from the poor middle passenger. I also always give the middle passenger the middle armrest... It's the courteous thing to do.

 

[tmm99]

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, on my most recent flight from Fort Lauderdale to Boston, First on Delta was about $80 cheaper than coach on JetBlue.

WOW How do you find something like that?

 

[Red Badger]

I was on a return from a business trip - and the corporate travel agent had dropped the ball on seat assignments (this was the 90's and before wide use of internet for travel stuff.) It was from San Jose to Philly - so a long flight... and I was stuck in the middle seat between two oversize guys. I fit... but only if I leaned forward the entire flight. Their shoulders literally went several inches (each side) into my seat. And both guys (former football defensive players?) were armrest hogs. So 6 hours of literally leaning into my lap because I couldn't lean back.

I'm not as big as these guys were - but I'm tallish for a woman (5'9") and not as petite as some... What's scarier is that they've shrunk the seat width since this incident.

I swore I'd never do a middle seat again. And I've lived by that rule! That's why I'll pay to not have basic economy which can leave you stuck in the middle since you can't choose your seats. I'm not particular - window or aisle... Both can work since you can lean away from the poor middle passenger. I also always give the middle passenger the middle armrest... It's the courteous thing to do.

+1 on letting middle seat use armrest.

I also wish the airlines had a size check for passengers and not just bags. If one has a two ticket ass (or gut, shoulders, etc), two tickets should be enforced.

 

[Gotadimple]

Basic Economy: no way. Economy on domestic flights as long as you don't get stuck in the back. Then, even if you wanted to buy food, there isn't any available.



International, book as Economy and then watch the price on premium Economy upgrades. If it gets to $95 - $110 as an upgrade, I'll do it.


Premium Economy on United is generally very good (even with a middle seat). And Lufthansa is great (Business Class service at Premium Economy price).


-Rita

 

[athena53]

+1 on letting middle seat use armrest.

I also wish the airlines had a size check for passengers and not just bags. If one has a two ticket ass (or gut, shoulders, etc), two tickets should be enforced.

This is one of those "hot button" topics on Flyertalk! Southwest seems to handle this pretty well, and they'll try to allocate a second seat to someone too large to fit comfortably in one seat, giving them the option of taking the next flight if an empty seat isn't available. The rest of the airlines just pretend the problem doesn't exist and let the passengers suffer one way or another (and I include the larger person in the group that's suffering), while making the seats ever smaller. Something as simple as a "frame" you have to walk through in order to occupy a single seat would work- far less humiliating than a scale, and it would also flag people whose shoulders are so wide they'd squeeze people in adjoining seats.

But- to get back to the OT- it's another good reason for choosing something above Basic Economy or even Economy.

 

[Scrapr]

Anybody who has had success finding relatively reasonably priced first or business class tix want to share how you do that?

I use Google Flights and save various trips & airlines. Then I get an alert on price changes. The prices change pretty dramatically. I was watching one flight LAX-AMS. It was about $6k. For one day it went to $19k. Then back down. It is trending up as we are about 3 months out from my search period (Sept)

My strategy is Business class over to a gateway city. Then econo box to Greece. I just can't do 11-12 hours in even Premium economy. I was goofing and found a cheap deal LAX-BOG-Mad. But the airline did not look well reviewed. Might do it and just figure it's an adventure whatever happens. I never thought about going to South America and then over

 

[marko]

WOW How do you find something like that?

I use Google Flights and save various trips & airlines. Then I get an alert on price changes. The prices change pretty dramatically. I was watching one flight LAX-AMS. It was about $6k. For one day it went to $19k. Then back down. It is trending up as we are about 3 months out from my search period (Sept)

In my example it was just a matter of looking on Google flights; admittedly it was mostly a matter of luck.

Google flights is a great tool and in addition to getting alerts on price changes there is also a bar-chart that shows lowest/highest prices during a set of weeks.

 

[tmm99]

In my example it was just a matter of looking on Google flights; admittedly it was mostly a matter of luck.

Google flights is a great tool and in addition to getting alerts on price changes there is also a bar-chart that shows lowest/highest prices during a set of weeks.

Thank you, Marko. For the kind of flights I'm looking at, there seems to be no fluctuation in prices, but I didn't know I could even look at the trend, or set up alerts, so thanks. I've just set one alert there already to see if there are any good deals coming my way.

 

[Red Badger]

Every time I have checked for the flights we want, business and first are hugely more expensive than regular coach.

Anybody who has had success finding relatively reasonably priced first or business class tix want to share how you do that?

I just checked Delta (LAX to LHR). Nonstop in Economy was ~$800. For Premium Economy (new cabin class much like domestic first class) was $1600. Delta One (with lie flat beds) was $4K+. The best part is the flights are all code share going on Virgin Atlantic.

The reviews for VA premium economy are pretty decent. Yeah, I wouldn't want to drop $4K per tix, but $1600 is worth it for us as we get a seperate cabin, wide seat and (almost) real food.

We have done Delta One going over and premium economy back (don't want lie flat for day flight to east coast) and the price comes in a lot closer to Premium economy.

I just checked LAX-LHR and Delta One out and Premium economy back priced $2650. These had one stop in each direction and were on Delta birds.

 

[Dtail]

Basic economy is usually not that much cheaper than regular economy. Some airlines don't allow carry on luggage in basic... and all of them restrict seat assignments. I accidentally booked a red eye that was basic economy from SAN to JFK.... The cost to upgrade to premium economy was the same cost as checking a bag... so I did that - got my carry on covered and got extra leg room.

I'm flying regular economy in a few weeks. I'm good at travelling light - but do need more than a book bag for a week of travel. We're returning in premium (DH and I) because there was only 1 seat that wasn't a middle seat in regular economy - I put my sons in adjacent window/middle, and upgrade DH and I to premium. I'm sure the kid that ends up in the middle seat will be grumpy. (Son's are 6'4" and 6'2".)

I stopped flying Allegient because their whole model is basic economy. Pay for seat assignments. (Including families traveling with small children!!!!!) Pay for carry on luggage. Pay more for checked luggage. Pay for water on the flight. Pay to use the bathroom (ok... not yet - but I think they are considering it.) Add to that they regularly cancel flights leaving people stranded.... I won't buy tickets on Allegiant again.

Plus you don't really know with Allegiant if the plane will land....

 

[athena53]

Thank you, Marko. For the kind of flights I'm looking at, there seems to be no fluctuation in prices, but I didn't know I could even look at the trend, or set up alerts, so thanks. I've just set one alert there already to see if there are any good deals coming my way.

Keep looking- I caught a bit of a break on Business Class to Edinburgh. I think it was last November or December for travel this September and one day the airfare was about $300 below what I'd been seeing (United/Continental via PHL). I grabbed it.

Apparently there are companies that claim they'll find lower fares than what you're seeing (for a price) but, according to the folks on FlyerTalk, they might involve two connections when you found a fare with only one, or may have a too-short layover in a place like Heathrow. No, thanks.

 

[audreyh1]

I use Google Flights and save various trips & airlines. Then I get an alert on price changes. The prices change pretty dramatically. I was watching one flight LAX-AMS. It was about $6k. For one day it went to $19k. Then back down. It is trending up as we are about 3 months out from my search period (Sept)

My strategy is Business class over to a gateway city. Then econo box to Greece. I just can't do 11-12 hours in even Premium economy. I was goofing and found a cheap deal LAX-BOG-Mad. But the airline did not look well reviewed. Might do it and just figure it's an adventure whatever happens. I never thought about going to South America and then over

I also watch via google flights. I know for domestic that I can often wait until about 4 weeks before for the price to come down. The prices jump up and down and will drive you crazy. I was seeing some high prices or an upcoming flight, but I just waited and saw some suddenly lower prices around 4 weeks - and the first class was not much higher than the higher prices I had already been seeing for economy so I jumped on it. Made a farelock on a Tuesday, and by Wed prices had already jumped up. Buying on Tuesday sometimes seems to help, also flying or returning on a Tuesday or Wednesday seems to get lower prices.

I also modified my plans slightly to return a couple of days later on a Tuesday, and that may have helped lower the price.

International flights I’m usually looking at about 2 months in advance, sometimes a bit earlier. I also see these come down around 2 months before flight. I guess we got lucky this year with the international flight because business class was about 2.5x economy. Last year I was able to upgrade for slightly less than that - I just watched until the upgrade prices came down, and I think they did because the plane wasn’t that full. The plane was more full this year so who knows if they would have had upgrades. Also folks looking to spend miles for international business upgrades have to also pluck down $500 each way and then they are on a waiting list hoping to make it - sorted by status, and then assigned what is left! Planes were very full this year, I don’t think that many got upgraded.

 

[Texas Proud]

Interesting about Google flight... will have to take a look at that going forward...


I was looking at Houston to London in July... from Houston it is over $1600... but from Austin it is less than $1100!!!


Business is over $3800 on BA but over $6K on United...


Still cannot figure out how Austin is cheaper than Houston

 

[marko]

Thank you, Marko. For the kind of flights I'm looking at, there seems to be no fluctuation in prices, but I didn't know I could even look at the trend, or set up alerts, so thanks. I've just set one alert there already to see if there are any good deals coming my way.

If you check far enough in advance the price doesn't move much until you get closer in time. Good luck!

 

[audreyh1]

Interesting about Google flight... will have to take a look at that going forward...


I was looking at Houston to London in July... from Houston it is over $1600... but from Austin it is less than $1100!!!


Business is over $3800 on BA but over $6K on United...


Still cannot figure out how Austin is cheaper than Houston

More airlines fly out of there? I’ve noticed competition is fairly fierce in Austin. But for me it would be a 6 to 7 hour drive, so it doesn’t work.

Once I think a flight to Seattle was only $180 or something crazy, 1/3 to 1/4 the amount it would be from here.

 

[audreyh1]

Three weeks is when prices start going up domestic for sure. But by three weeks some planes may be filling up, so the bargain seats may be gone - at least at the popular times. So it’s good to look a little earlier.

 

[audreyh1]

Here is a tracking from two years ago. Economy, international flight. I started tracking 82 days before. The price went up quite a bit for a long while, and then came down again for less than a week around the 60 day mark. That’s when I booked it. The price then didn’t come down quite as far, but did a little at the 40 day mark. Just gives you an idea.

If you are willing to leave on a really early flight, or late in the day, you can also find better prices. Popular times book up fast.

 

[Another Reader]

Plus you don't really know with Allegiant if the plane will land....

The plane will land, but you don't know how hard or in how many pieces...

Allegiant could be free and I would pass.

Many decades ago, I took a World Airways flight from SFO to Newark. World was on its' last legs at that point. There were about five people on the plane. I had to change seats twice because the seat belts were broken at the first two seats. As in detached. I was young and immortal then. Not now.

 

[Scuba]

Thanks for the tips. I do use Google Flights but haven’t been setting up alerts. Also we book further in advance so maybe that is why the fares always seem so high to us.

 

[Scrapr]

Thanks for the tips. I do use Google Flights but haven’t been setting up alerts. Also we book further in advance so maybe that is why the fares always seem so high to us.

I first looked in March (6 months ahead) There were some "OK" options. Since the prices are trending up. Sounds like as we get closer there may be some deals. I set up the alerts when I thought we might gfo in the Fall. Mrs Scrapr is a bit slower in recovering from surgery so I think it will be in 2019. I'm just going to watch these to see a pattern for next year

 

[YVRRocketSurgery]

In the past, we'd just jump on the cheapest flights but we're now a bit more selective depending on the situation and variables.

Cheap flights obviously don't necessarily end up a lot cheaper when factoring in fees.

For short flights (<2-2.5hrs), I'm willing to suck it up. Anything longer and I start eliminate certain carriers.



I had the opportunity to fly biz class again for a work trip that literally took me to the opposite side of the world. This was a just days after we came back from a 2 week trip to Asia where we flew economy on the same airline. While I find international economy on most mainline carriers generally reasonable, biz class really made the entire journey way more enjoyable, particularly since I had 2 connections and due to the overall travel time. I'd love to fly more biz class during retirement but we've got to find deals before booking biz class because it's hard to pay a lot more for it when we've snagged flights to Asia the last few years in the $400-$600CDN range.



+1. Middle seat gets both armrests!

 

[frayne]

After flying more than I'd care to admit while I was a working stiff, today I'd rather have a root canal. Hated standing in airport lines, security checks and being shoe horned into the aluminum flying tube where using the restroom was akin to superman changing in a phone booth. I don't care how glamorous the Ad world or others try to make it, I think it sucked, even flying first class. Just my two cents on the subject.

 

[shortstop14]

In a lot of years of flying, I don't think I've ever flown even business class, let alone first class - including trips to Australia and New Zealand. I expect once it happens I'll never want to fly economy again. But basic economy is just too annoying. I don't mind paying a little extra to avoid getting nickled and dimed by Spirit and the like, the experience has never been good.



But most of my domestic flights are Southwest, where pretty much everybody suffers the same. But first class internationally would blow a big hole in my travel budget.

 

[Texas Proud]

In a lot of years of flying, I don't think I've ever flown even business class, let alone first class - including trips to Australia and New Zealand. I expect once it happens I'll never want to fly economy again. But basic economy is just too annoying. I don't mind paying a little extra to avoid getting nickled and dimed by Spirit and the like, the experience has never been good.



But most of my domestic flights are Southwest, where pretty much everybody suffers the same. But first class internationally would blow a big hole in my travel budget.

I have actually flown all classes... but the current versions are going to be much better than when I flew as they now have lay flat beds and your own cubicle...



Yes, it was nicer but not worth the extra money if I were paying... unless I could get some of the deals some people talk about on these threads... my prices are not even close, like 5X or more higher...