Before You Book A Basic Economy Airfare, Read This

[MULTIZ321]

Before You Book A Basic Economy Airfare, Read This.


https://www.forbes.com/sites/adviso...basic-economy-airfare-read-this/#20365f51e5ed.


Richard

 

[bogey21]

Back in my traveling days when I flew I would never check a bag. I would only put selected/important items in my carry-on and purchase the rest, t-shirts, shorts, socks, bathroom items, etc. new when I arrived at my location. Before heading home I would stuff all of the new stuff I wanted to keep in a USPS One Rate box and mail it to myself. It worked like a charm...

George

 

[Dori]

Free checked bags is one of the reasons we love Southwest!

Dori

 

[RNCollins]

Thanks for the article @MULTIZ321 Richard.

 

[silentg]

I’m thinking of flying first class to Phoenix, Arizona the price seems high, but the airline allows two checked bags free, lunch included, first to board, refundable tickets.
Usually we fly Southwest with free bag each, but we are planning a two week vacation.
Am I being extravagant? Never flown first class before.
Silentg

 

[Luanne]

I’m thinking of flying first class to Phoenix, Arizona the price seems high, but the airline allows two checked bags free, lunch included, first to board, refundable tickets.
Usually we fly Southwest with free bag each, but we are planning a two week vacation.
Am I being extravagant? Never flown first class before.
Silentg

Southwest allows two free bags each.

I have only flown first class a couple of times. They were both free upgrades. To me it wouldn't be worth it to spend that much for the flight.

 

[WinniWoman]

I’m thinking of flying first class to Phoenix, Arizona the price seems high, but the airline allows two checked bags free, lunch included, first to board, refundable tickets.
Usually we fly Southwest with free bag each, but we are planning a two week vacation.
Am I being extravagant? Never flown first class before.
Silentg

When we flew to Utah in Sept my husband and I both commented that we did not see much of a difference between flying in the first class section and the economy class where we were sitting- at least considering the difference in price. Don't see how it would be really worth it. We usually get two isle seats next to each other and consider ourselves lucky with that.

We put our carryons in the overhead bins and two personal bags (back packs) under the seats. We were away for 9 days. We used the laundry facilities at the resort once- right before we headed home.

 

[rboesl]

That article doesn't take into account affinity credit cards. We mostly fly Delta. With our affinity credit card we get free checked bags along with the cheaper basic economy pricing. Plus, we get double miles buying the seats with the cards. Yes, there's an annual fee on the card. But, we have annual travel that allows us to use the free companion fare we get for paying the annual fee allowing us to recoup that cost plus.

Occasionally we don't fly Delta. We also have an American Airlines affinity card with the same checked bag benefit. This gives us an alternative for flights. In addition, it gives us an alternative card to use when a vendor won't accept the American Express credit card.

 

[rapmarks]

I paid for economy rather than basic economy on United Tuesday. I do two carryons and a big purse plus our two sleep machines. I picked window seat and aisle seat. I ordered wheelchair assistance for my husband for cognitive problems
When we arrived at airport at five am the line for United was at least fifty people long. I didn’t want to stand in line to ask for wheelchair assistance.
I had trouble with security and got a body search. Meanwhile I look and my husband is on the other side of security and I am calling him please come through security
Get back to our items and I notice my husband has placed his wallet, keys, and the tv remote in the bin. Have to repack all my electronics and set him up to get the gate.

When going through security the bar code had not printed on paper tickets. The agent did not come to the gate until ten minutes before boarding. At that time she has a line about forty people in length waiting for seat assignments. I have to get in the line to get new boarding passes. She announces seat assignment on left and we need 14 bags checked line upon right. It is a mess the repercussion of having a basic economy class affects everyone
When they announce early boarding I go up for that. My husband is polite and becomes separated from me and can’t find me. I am trying to wave him over and call his name and people in line are being nasty.
My husband will stand in front of overhead bin all day to put in luggage because he thinks about all the different ways he can put it in and not be able to follow verbal directions. We would hold up entire plane
Finally get settled and he can’t understand why we have a seat between us and he wants to give uphis window seat for whoever is coming.
We arrive in Chicago and a kind person takes the luggage down but he can’t figure out what he is supposed to do. There is a huge wait for him to get off plane. He gets to wheelchair but can’t figure how to sit in it.
He gets wheeled to other gate and they ask do you need the restroom, he says no. We get deposited and he now tells me he needs washroom. It is across hall and I show him. He comes out and is totally lost and can’t find where to go.
Process repeated on second flight but when he comes off the plane a lady was rolling his luggage.
We don’t travel for pleasure but it may be our last trip and I won’t get to see our grandkids anymore,
I can ship the contents of one bag but not the sleep machines and not the bag filled with electronics and medications. If I check a bag, I set him down with all the carryons but he gets up and wanders away. I hate traveling by air

 

[silentg]

Wow! I thank all of you for your input. I’m going to look into the AA credit card. We have a Venture card that we use for travel. Going to see what Southwest will charge when they open the travel window for the end of April.

 

[Luanne]

Wow! I thank all of you for your input. I’m going to look into the AA credit card. We have a Venture card that we use for travel. Going to see what Southwest will charge when they open the travel window for the end of April.

Just one more comment about flying first class. It never looks to me like the first class cabins are all that much bigger on the domestic flights. Again, it's not worth it to me to pay the extra for what little additional comfort I might get. I usually will pay the extra for Economy Plus seats on United, Jet Blue and Alaska Airlines, and for Southwest we try to snag the exit row seats which give us more leg room.

Southwest is now booking through April 13. Per their website: "On October 30, 2019, we will open our schedule for sale through June 06, 2020. (Date is subject to change; please check back frequently.)"

 

[silentg]

Just one more comment about flying first class. It never looks to me like the first class cabins are all that much bigger on the domestic flights. Again, it's not worth it to me to pay the extra for what little additional comfort I might get. I usually will pay the extra for Economy Plus seats on United, Jet Blue and Alaska Airlines, and for Southwest we try to snag the exit row seats which give us more leg room.

Southwest is now booking through April 13. Per their website: "On October 30, 2019, we will open our schedule for sale through June 06, 2020. (Date is subject to change; please check back frequently.)"

Thanks Luanne

 

[rapmarks]

We took Amtrak this summer and I believe the same space for nine seats on a plane equals the space for two seats on Amtrak

 

[bobpark56]

That article doesn't take into account affinity credit cards. We mostly fly Delta. With our affinity credit card we get free checked bags along with the cheaper basic economy pricing. <snip>

Occasionally we don't fly Delta. We also have an American Airlines affinity card with the same checked bag benefit. <snip>.

Not the same. When we fly Delta basic economy to Mexico, our bags go free. This is not true for American Airlines.

 

[Talent312]

We upgraded to first class for a domestc trip recently.
The perks are nice, but clearly not worth the expense.
BTW, you can get better food at a cocourse deli.

OTOH, there is value in the comfort & convenience.
So I say, if 3 months later, you won't miss the $$, go for it.

.