American Airlines’ goal was to roll out Basic Economy nationwide by the end of September, and it seems that they are running ahead of schedule. As of the morning of September 5, 2017, AA has rolled out Basic Economy to every domestic route.
What does this mean for you? If you want to have the same travel experience on AA, you’ll have to shell out more cash. If you don’t, you’ll be restricted in a number of ways.
- Elites aren’t eligible for upgrades when booked in Basic Economy
- Basic Economy customers are last to board the plane
- No carry on bag allowed – only a personal item
- No same day changes, refunds, or standby flying
- Seat assignments available at checkin or 48 hours ahead of time for an extra charge
- No reaccommodation on other air lines in the case of mechanical delays/cancellations
At this time, Basic Economy has not yet been rolled out to all North American routes. If you are flying to Canada, Mexico, or other destinations abroad, you aren’t yet going to be restricted by Basic Economy fare classes.
Also, for the time being, low level saver domestic awards are not booking as basic economy. Now that the cash fares are higher for many routes, the value proposition for using miles may be changed. Always check the flight prices in cash and compare with the mileage cost before booking a ticket, and make sure you are comparing equal fare classes, especially if you plan to bring a full-size carry-on onboard.