When did airlines start basic economy?

Delta was the first of the U.S. hub airlines to introduce basic economy in 2012. United and American followed in 2017.



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Delta Air Lines was the first to offer basic economy fares on a select number of routes in 2012, but all of the other legacy airlines soon followed, offering their own version and changing the restrictions over the years.

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Basic economy fares are cheaper than main cabin. However, you lose out on flexibility for flight changes and/or cancellations, seat selection options and the ability to earn miles at a high rate.

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Many airlines have phased out separate first- and business-class cabins on their longer routes as travelers got used to more luxurious business-class offerings.

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If luxury and extra legroom is really important to you, book it in advance. However, if you're perfectly willing to fly economy class, and willing to roll the dice, a last-minute upgrade can be the cheapest option. You may even get lucky and score a free upgrade.

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Unless you pay for a seat, you'll be assigned one either at check-in or at boarding time. You are, however, guaranteed a seat as much as with any other ticket.

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Basic Economy tickets are nonrefundable and non-changeable except as allowed by our 24-hour flexible booking policy. They can't be combined with any other fare type. They have no value if canceled or unused. They may be eligible for partial travel credit if canceled prior to departure.

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Delta was the first of the U.S. hub airlines to introduce basic economy in 2012. United and American followed in 2017. The bare-bones fare enables them to compete more effectively with budget carriers Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant.

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Those who book basic economy tickets won't be able to select seats; instead, a seat will be randomly assigned to each passenger after check-in. This includes families and groups who are traveling together — expect to be split up when booking a basic economy ticket.

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A quick easy way is to go into your reservation on the United website or app and try to select a seat. If you are Basic Economy, it won't let you select a seat or have a seat assignment in advance unless you purchased one.

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How do you avoid a seat selection fee? If you're traveling with a group, the best way to avoid a seat selection fee is to book your seats at the same time. If the airline is assigning seats for you, it typically seats people under the same record locator number together.

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Upgrade Your Air Travel: 10 Tips to Score a First-Class Seat
  1. Join airline loyalty programs.
  2. Volunteer to be bumped.
  3. Use offers from your credit cards.
  4. Book flights during off-peak times.
  5. Check for available upgrades online.
  6. Consider late flight offers.
  7. Arrive early for check-in.
  8. Bid for an upgrade.


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Airlines with the least expensive business class
  • Hawaiian Airlines.
  • Icelandair.
  • JetBlue.
  • Jetstar Airways (a subsidiary of Qantas)
  • Norwegian Air (which claims status as the world's best low-cost carrier for long-haul flights)
  • TAP Portugal.
  • Turkish Airlines.


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The potential for the most legroom comes from United, whose mainline fleet of 813 planes includes both narrow (single-aisle) and wide-body (dual-aisles) aircraft, with the Boeing 767-300ER (Layout 2) topping out at up to 34 inches of legroom in economy and potentially 9 extra inches in Economy Plus on the Boeing 767- ...

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