Basic Economy fares are still with us in 2025, and while the core idea hasn’t changed—lower fares in exchange for fewer perks—the fine print continues to evolve. Airlines have updated boarding orders, seat selection policies, carry-on allowances, and even elite benefits, sometimes with little notice.
The information below covers Basic Economy rules for major U.S. airlines on domestic routes. If you’re flying internationally, restrictions may be different, so always double-check the airline’s website using the links provided. These rules are accurate as of mid-2025 but may change—sometimes subtly—so it pays to verify before you book.
American Airlines – Basic Economy
Carry-On & Personal Item
One carry-on bag (22 x 14 x 9 inches) and one personal item (18 x 14 x 8 inches) are allowed. This applies to all Basic Economy passengers, including elites and credit card holders.
Seat Selection & Boarding
Seats can be selected for a fee or are auto-assigned at check-in. Families with children under 15 are seated with at least one adult when possible. Basic Economy boards in Group 9, though elites and credit card holders may board earlier.
Changes & Cancellations
- Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.
- If booked directly with American and linked to an AAdvantage account:
- $99 fee for domestic flights
- $129 for short-haul international
- $199 for long-haul international
- No changes allowed otherwise.
Same-Day Travel (Change / Standby)
- Same-Day Confirmed Change: $60 (U.S., Canada, Caribbean), $150 (JFK–LHR)
- Standby: Free for domestic routes; not available on other markets
Miles & Elite Qualification
Earns 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar and Loyalty Points. No bonus-earning multipliers for status tiers.
Elite & Credit Card Perks
Elites and cardholders retain seat selection, boarding priority, and baggage benefits.
Delta Airlines – Main Basic (Basic Economy)
Delta Air Lines N130DL by Richard Snyder from San Jose, CA is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Carry-On & Personal Item
One carry-on and one personal item allowed. Bags may be gate checked if bins are full.
Seat Selection & Boarding
Seats can be purchased in advance or auto-assigned at check-in. Families are not guaranteed to sit together. Boards in Zone 8. Elites and cardholders board by normal priority.
Changes & Cancellations
- No changes allowed.
- Cancellation for eCredit:
- $99 fee for U.S./Caribbean/Mexico/Central America
- $199 fee for long-haul international
Same-Day Travel (Change / Standby)
Not allowed for Basic fares—no standby or confirmed changes.
Miles & Elite Qualification
No SkyMiles, no MQDs, no elite credit earned.
Elite & Credit Card Perks
Only priority boarding and checked bag benefits apply (if eligible). No seat upgrades or mileage earning.
United Airlines – Basic Economy
Carry-On & Personal Item
Only a personal item is allowed unless you’re elite, a cardholder, or on a transatlantic/transpacific flight. Otherwise, unauthorized carry-ons incur a $65 gate-check fee.
Seat Selection & Boarding
Seats can be purchased; otherwise, assigned before boarding. Children under 12 are seated next to one adult for free. Basic Economy boards in Group 6 unless you qualify for earlier boarding.
Changes & Cancellations
- No changes allowed.
- Cancellation may return a partial travel credit if canceled before departure and tied to a MileagePlus account.
- 24-hour cancellation policy applies.
Same-Day Travel (Change / Standby)
Not available for Basic Economy except standby for Premier members.
Miles & Elite Qualification
Earns award miles and PQPs (Premier Qualifying Points) but no PQFs. Counts toward the 4-segment minimum.
Elite & Credit Card Perks
Carry-on, boarding, and checked bags apply if you’re eligible. No upgrades or Economy Plus seating.
Alaska Airlines – Saver Fares
Carry-On & Personal Item
Full carry-on and personal item allowed. Overhead space is first-come, first-served.
Seat Selection & Boarding
Seats are assigned at check-in. No guarantee of family seating. Saver fares board last.
Changes & Cancellations
- No changes allowed.
- 50% credit issued if canceled 14+ days before departure (for tickets booked after July 19, 2023).
- 24-hour full refund policy applies.
Same-Day Travel (Change / Standby)
Same-day confirmed changes allowed for a fee. Standby not available, even for elites.
Miles & Elite Qualification
Earns full Mileage Plan miles and elite credit.
Elite & Credit Card Perks
Boarding, baggage, and mileage benefits apply. No upgrades allowed.
JetBlue – Blue Basic
Carry-On & Personal Item
As of September 6, 2024, all Blue Basic passengers are allowed a carry-on and personal item.
Seat Selection & Boarding
Seats can be selected for a fee in advance or chosen for free at check-in. Blue Basic boards last unless you’re Mosaic or have Even More Space.
Changes & Cancellations
- No changes allowed.
- Cancellations permitted with a fee:
- $100 (U.S., Caribbean, Mexico, Central America)
- $200 (other international routes)
Same-Day Travel (Change / Standby)
Not allowed—no same-day confirmed or standby travel for Blue Basic.
Miles & Elite Qualification
Earns 1–2 TrueBlue points per dollar spent. Earns tiles toward Mosaic status.
Elite & Credit Card Perks
Carry-on and checked bag benefits apply if you’re Mosaic or have a JetBlue card. No fee waivers or upgrades included.
Southwest Airlines – Basic Fare
Carry-On & Personal Item
One carry-on and one personal item are allowed, consistent across all fare types.
Seat Selection & Boarding
Southwest uses open seating. Passengers board in check-in order (Groups A, B, and C) and select any available seat.
Changes & Cancellations
- No changes allowed.
- Cancellations are allowed if made 10+ minutes before departure.
- You’ll receive a non-transferable flight credit valid for 6 months from the original ticketing date.
Same-Day Travel (Change / Standby)
Not available—no same-day confirmed or standby travel for Basic fare passengers.
Miles & Elite Qualification
Earns 2 Rapid Rewards points per dollar. Also counts toward A-List and Companion Pass status.
Summary
Basic Economy (or similar) fares may offer the lowest upfront prices, but come with serious trade-offs. While the idea is the same across carriers—fewer perks for a lower price—the fine print varies greatly between airlines.
Key Takeaways
- Carry-Ons: Most airlines now allow a full-size carry-on in Basic Economy, including American, Delta, Alaska, JetBlue (as of Sept. 2024), and Southwest. United is the main holdout—no overhead carry-on allowed unless you’re elite, a cardholder, or flying internationally.
- Seat Selection: You’ll usually have to pay for advance seat selection or be assigned one at check-in.
- Family Seating: American and United make an effort to automatically seat young children with adults. Other airlines don’t guarantee family seating unless seats are purchased.
- Flexibility: Basic fares rarely allow same-day changes or standby. American offers the most generous policy (paid same-day confirmed changes and free standby). Others—like Delta, JetBlue, Alaska, and Southwest Basic—generally prohibit all changes and limit cancellations.
- Mileage & Status Earning:
- Full earning: Alaska, American, Southwest, JetBlue
- Partial earning: United (PQP only)
- No earning: Delta
Who Should Book Basic?
Basic fares can be a decent value for:
- Solo travelers packing light
- Elites or credit card holders who retain some benefits
- Anyone comfortable with being seated last and separated from others
Who Should Avoid Basic?
These fares are a poor choice for:
- Families or groups wanting to sit together
- Travelers bringing checked bags
- People who value flexibility or may need to change flights
- Anyone trying to earn elite status with Delta or United
Airlines now go out of their way to warn customers about these restrictions. But unless you’ve studied the fine print—or read posts like this one—it’s still easy to get caught off guard. Sometimes that bargain fare isn’t such a bargain after all.
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