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.

Delta Air Lines was the first major U.S. carrier to introduce the "Basic Economy" fare class, launching the product in 2012. Originally, Delta created this category as a "Spirit-match fare" to directly compete with ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs) like Spirit and Frontier on specific routes. The goal was to offer a rock-bottom price for price-sensitive travelers while stripping away standard amenities to encourage higher-paying customers to "buy up" into a more comfortable fare class. Initially, Basic Economy was limited to a few dozen markets, but its success as a market segmentation tool led Delta to expand it to over 500 routes by 2016 and eventually to its entire domestic and international network. By 2017 and 2018, American Airlines and United Airlines followed suit with their own versions of the product. These fares typically include restrictions such as no advanced seat selection, no ticket changes, no upgrades, and sometimes no overhead bin access for carry-on bags. By 2026, the term "Basic Economy" has become a permanent fixture in the aviation industry, allowing legacy carriers to maintain price competitiveness while maximizing revenue through upselling more inclusive fare tiers.