Basic economy: why cheap long-haul flights could be the best deal for savvy travellers
If you’re carbon conscious, don’t mind where you sit, you hate airline food and don’t like paying for other people’s luggage, basic economy – with ‘get what you pay for’, inflexible tickets – could be perfect for you
Discount flights are so hard to ignore, and yet the recent trend for a “basic economy” tier on aircraft has caused uproar.
Although a hard definition of what a basic economy fare actually consists of is still up in the air, it usually means you can’t make changes to your ticket, you get no food or drink, you can’t select your seat, and you can’t check in luggage. You have to pay extra for everything.
It’s a trend that started in the United States, with the full-service airlines American, Delta and United trying to compete with low-cost competitors whose super-low fares easily win on price comparison websites despite offering less.
Eight destinations for a cheap holiday, from Asia to Europe and North Africa
So this is largely about advertising. “The objective is to attract passengers with the lower fare and then have them ‘spend up’ to a normal fare once they understand the product,” says Will Horton, analyst at Capa Centre for Aviation in Sydney, Australia.
However, understanding the product may lead some to believe that less is more. Have you ever travelled with hand luggage only? Since a standard economy long-haul ticket includes two free checked bags (at least, for now), those who travel light have effectively been paying for other people’s stuff.
The unbundling of fares allows travellers to pay for what they really need. In a way, it is a more personalised way of buying flight tickets
It’s also greener. “Minimal baggage in economy is the way to go for the carbon-conscious traveller,” says Justin Francis, CEO at Responsible Travel.
