Since December, my American Airlines membership account has been frozen at 55,361 miles. And so it will remain as another basic economy benefit bites the dust.
For more than a dozen years, the lowest fare ticket category has been a boon for budget travelers willing to trade comforts for a cheaper price. However, the major airlines have been pecking away at our perks, forcing us to reckon with a hard truth: Our devotion is unrequited.
“What the airlines are basically doing with these changes is telling the basic economy traveler we don’t value you or your business,” said Henry Harteveldt, founder and president of Atmosphere Research Group, a consulting firm. “The actions will not induce many of these travelers to become loyal.”
From the get-go, basic economy has been bare-bones, with no advanced seat selection or ticket changes or cancellations allowed. Passengers are often the last to board, and at least one airline charges for a carry-on bag. The most recent target: frequent-flier miles.
In December, American informed basic economy passengers that they no longer qualify for miles. As of April 2, United will institute a similar policy, with some exceptions. Delta eliminated the benefit in January 2022. Southwest, JetBlue and Alaska Airlines still permit travelers in this seat category to collect miles, but at a reduced rate.
Without the incentive of free travel, budget fliers might find themselves at a crossroads. They can resist the pressure to upgrade and remain steadfast in their lane. They can give in, paying more for a standard economy seat with fewer restrictions. They can switch to the even more stringent ultra-low-cost carriers. Or they can learn how to play the game.
Restrictions galore
The major carriers created the lowest economy tier to woo travelers away from such budget airlines as Frontier, Spirit and Allegiant, which were encroaching on their territory. Today, most domestic and international airlines offer a “basic” or “lite” economy class.
When booking, the airlines are up-front about the restrictions. After you click on the fare, a comparative chart will pop up, displaying all the perks you are sacrificing to save a few bucks.
The biggest drawback for many travelers is the strict nonrefundable and nonchangeable policy. To alter a ticket, passengers must cancel their flight and then rebook with the credit, plus pay a change fee and the fare difference. In higher ticket classes, most airlines waive the fee.
Nick Ewen, senior editorial director at the Points Guy, warned that if the cancellation fee exceeds the ticket price, you may not receive a credit.
Additionally, basic economy fliers cannot select their seats in advance, the bane of families with young children. Passengers board in the last group, increasing the odds of having to gate-check bags because the overhead bins are full. They are often assigned the inglorious middle seat.
“I don’t think the big airlines really want to sell you basic economy tickets,” said Jeb Brooks, a travel content creator who co-founded GreenerGrass.com with his wife, Suzanne. “During the online booking process, they’ll usually discourage you from buying these types of tickets.”
Still, compared with the low-fare carriers, the major airlines are fairy godmothers, even at the basic level. Drinks, snacks and carry-on bags are on the house. (United is the outlier, charging $65 to gate-check a bag.) WiFi is gratis for all passengers (JetBlue) or loyalty members (Delta, United, American). Passengers can watch free movies and TV shows on the seat-back entertainment system or the airline’s app.
“When you’re onboard, it is very much like everyone’s on a level playing field,” Ewen said. “It’s not like they lock you into a box and you can’t come out until you land.”
One day in April 2025, Jeb and Suzanne Brooks tested basic economy on three airlines. Jeb said the idea originated from followers who had shared their surprise at the tight restrictions. The couple experienced many of the disadvantages that budget fliers frequently complain about.
On the Delta leg from Los Angeles to Dallas, they had to gate-check their bags because the bins were stuffed. They were stuck in middle seats. They had better luck on the American flight from Dallas to Chicago O’Hare, seated together in the back row with a sliver of recline. For the Delta trip to Reagan National, they had to pay to check their bags, which pushed their fare above regular economy.
When asked if they would book basic economy for nonresearch purposes, he said that was “doubtful.”
Sally French, lead writer at NerdWallet, dances between basic and standard economy. For a low-risk, low-investment trip such as a Vegas bachelorette party or a family visit in Southern California, she will book basic economy. For a more expensive and momentous vacation, such as an $800 flight to Hawaii, she will spring for higher-priced economy.
Airlines can be like the bad boyfriend
Gary Leff, founder of the travel blog View from the Wing, compared the carriers to the bad boyfriend whose affections you try to win over.
“We’re going to treat you really badly, so give us more money and we promise we will treat you better,” said Leff, channeling the carriers.
Harteveldt said basic economy passengers are not essential on high-demand routes; enough people pay higher fares to make the flight lucrative. Budget travelers, he added, are often cast as seat fillers. In response to my query about the perceived snub of basic economy fliers, United reassured me that it loves all of its customers. American, meanwhile, reminded me that it allows passengers to bring two carry-on items in the cabin.
For budget travelers considering switching to the ultra-low-fare airlines, French listed all of the reasons not to: more restrictive rules, no perks, less frequent flights and fewer routes, subpar apps and customer service.
“I’ve had United flights canceled and the app immediately says, ‘Here’s your next option’ and makes it really, really easy,” French said. “With the budget carrier, it’s like, ‘Good luck.’ You’re on some massive phone tree with one customer service person.”
French cautioned against abandoning the major airlines over the most recent slight. Frequent-flier miles aren’t worth much anyway — less than two cents per mile, according to NerdWallet calculations.
“It may psychologically bum you out, but from a true cost standpoint, I would happily lose my ability to earn $3 worth of United miles to save a bunch of money on my flight,” she said.
Alternative ways to banking miles
Basic economy fliers can still accrue miles and valuable points through other channels.
Through an airline’s loyalty programs, you may be able to accumulate points that will raise your status level, opening the door to perks such as free checked bags, priority boarding and seat upgrades. Each carrier’s plan is different. On United, basic economy passengers can bank Premier Qualifying Points but not Premier Qualifying Flights, Ewen said.
Travelers can also earn miles by flying partner carriers in a global airline alliance such as Star Alliance (United), oneworld (American) and SkyTeam (Delta).
You know those in-flight credit card pitches? Pause the movie and listen up. In addition to a signing bonus, the cards allow their holders to accumulate miles on goods and services. Call it smart shopping or sweet revenge, but you can collect miles on your next purchase of a basic economy ticket.
“Those cards can help offset some of the basic economy restrictions,” Ewen said.
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