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Over the past decade, more and more airlines have started offering basic economy tickets. These are simple, low-cost tickets that offer zero frills. Basic(ally), you get what you pay for. But you may be wondering what the American Airlines basic economy experience is like.
American Airlines started offering basic economy tickets in 2017, following the footsteps of legacy carriers like Delta and United. Here's everything you need to know about American Airlines basic economy tickets.
Page Contents
What Is Basic Economy on American Airlines?
Basic economy tickets are the lowest-priced tickets available from American Airlines. Because of the low price point, some limitations and restrictions apply to these tickets.
Your seat is still in the main cabin, and you'll enjoy the same benefits like free drinks, snacks, and in-flight entertainment offered to the passengers next to you (who may have paid more for their seats). However, you lose out on benefits like free checked bags and choosing your seats ahead of time, and you won't earn as many AAdvantage miles as you would with a main cabin fare.
American Airlines Basic Economy Restrictions
American Airlines basic economy tickets offer fewer perks than standard main cabin tickets. While both provide seats in the main (economy) cabin of the plane, basic economy tickets have the following rules:
- Seat selection isn't included in your ticket. Instead, you can pay an additional fee to choose your seat. Otherwise, seats will be assigned randomly during check-in. The system will give children under 15 a seat next to at least one adult in their party to keep families together, but putting the whole family together isn't guaranteed.
- Basic economy travelers will board last. You'll board in groups 8 or 9, depending on your destination. Elite members, AAdvantage credit cardholders, and those who have accrued 15,000 Loyalty Points in the qualification year will board in the group shown on their boarding pass, typically meaning with the first few groups.
- The only option for changing your ticket is on the day of your flight. If you try to change your flight, fees will apply. American allows basic economy travelers to stand by for a flight at no charge, should that be necessary.
- If you cancel your flight, you typically won't get a refund or a travel credit. However, there are two notable exceptions to this rule.
- If you cancel within 24 hours of booking, which only applies if you booked at least two days before departure, you'll get a refund.
- AAdvantage members flying on domestic itineraries booked through American Airlines and operated by AA can cancel a basic cconomy ticket for a travel credit minus a cancellation fee. Non-members cannot cancel and receive a travel credit.
American Airlines Basic Economy vs Main Cabin
If you're on the fence about booking a basic economy ticket, let's look at the differences between ticket types.
First, the most notable difference is that a main cabin ticket includes your first checked bag free for transatlantic flights, transpacific flights, flights to Haiti, and flights to South America (excluding Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Suriname). If you've booked a basic economy ticket, checked bag fees otherwise start at $30 per way.
Second, a main cabin ticket lets you change your flight ahead of time, while a basic economy ticket does not. If you need to change your basic economy flight, same-day confirmed changes start at $50. Or if something comes up and you can't take your international flight and need to cancel your basic economy booking, you'll forfeit what you paid for the flight unless you cancel in the 24-hour grace period after booking.
If you cancel a domestic itinerary as an AAdvantage member, you'll get a travel credit for the fare amount less a cancelation fee. However, a travel credit won't be issued if the fee is more than the ticket price. Bottom line: travel credits are not guaranteed on basic economy cancelations.
Third, seat selection is free for main cabin tickets. Basic economy ticket holders will have to pay an additional fee to select their seats ahead of time. Depending on where your flight is going, you could pay upwards of $150 (or more) for the ability to choose your seat.
AAdvantage credit card holders and elite status members can circumvent some of these restrictions, which we'll cover shortly.
Related: Do American Airlines AAdvantage Miles Expire?
Luggage Restrictions
There are some important baggage rules to be aware of when booking a basic economy ticket with American Airlines.
American Airlines basic economy carry-on policy
You're allowed one carry-on and one personal item. The carry-on must fit in the overhead bins, and the personal item must fit under the seat in front of you.
This rule is the same as the one for main cabin tickets, but there's one thing you'll want to note. Because you'll board last, the overhead bins may be full, and you may be required to gate-check your bag, which can be a hassle at times.
American Airlines basic economy baggage policy
Checked bags start at $30 per bag per way for most domestic flights but can cost as much as $75 for long-haul international flights. Depending on where you're going and how many bags you check, you'll want to be keenly aware of how much bags will cost. American's bag fees are posted on its website here.
However, even in basic economy, you can still enjoy your free checked bag (when flying domestically) and earlier boarding perks if you hold a co-branded American Airlines credit card. This perk alone may be one of the chief reasons to hold an American Airlines credit card.
Mileage Earnings on American Airlines Basic Economy
Even in basic economy, you'll earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points on your flight, but at a different rate than those in the main cabin.
Travelers flying on an American Airlines basic economy ticket will earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points at 2X per dollar spent. If you hold AAdvantage elite status, you'll still earn a bonus, but it will look different from what it usually does in the main cabin. Here's an example.
Let's say you book a $100 flight as an AAdvantage Gold member. You'll earn 2X AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points per dollar spent, plus a 40% bonus. Essentially, you'll earn miles and Loyalty Points at a rate of 2.8 per base fare dollar. In this example, you'd earn 280 redeemable AAdvantage miles and 280 Loyalty Points. Compare that to the 7 miles / 7 Loyalty Points per dollar earned with main cabin tickets.
Related: Why I’m No Longer Crediting Flights to the American Airlines AAdvantage Program
Benefits of Being an Elite Member or Cardholder
If you're an AAdvantage elite status holder or a co-branded credit cardholder, you might not find basic economy too restrictive. Here are some of the benefits status holders and cardholders can enjoy:
- First checked bag free, plus additional bags free depending on your status. This applies to eligible AAdvantage status members and AAdvantage cardmembers when traveling on flights operated by American Airlines. However, note that AAdvantage cardmembers only get a first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries.
- Standard boarding group privileges. This includes Group 5 boarding for most cardmembers, and Groups 2–4 for elite members, depending on your status.
- Complimentary Preferred and Main Cabin Extra seat benefits, based on AAdvantage status.
- Complimentary confirmed same-day flight changes, available for AAdvantage Executive Platinum and AAdvantage Platinum Pro members.
- Regular access to upgrade privileges, including systemwide upgrades.
Related: Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard Review
Bottom Line
American Airlines basic economy tickets are some of the best on the market. For comparison, Delta doesn't even let you earn miles on basic economy tickets.
Although you're giving up some perks when flying on basic economy tickets and earning fewer AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points on flights, these tickets still are a great choice for travelers who only need the basics and don't require flexibility. AAdvantage credit card holders can take advantage of perks offered by co-branded cards, which also offset the limitations of basic economy tickets.
Do you buy basic economy tickets? Or are the restrictions/reduced earnings too much for you?
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