Articles tagged “basic economy”

A new series of fares just launched by Air Canada should make it easier for discerning travelers to pick the fare that suits them best – as long as they're willing to pay for it.

Low-fare airlines got there first. Now, big carriers are launching basic economy fares across the Atlantic. Expect some confusion as their customers figure out the rules.

American's bare-bones basic economy fares are about to start appearing on long-haul routes.

Delta has a message for passengers who don't like Basic Economy fares: Trade up and buy a better product.

Amtrak's new videos speak the truth about the easy comfort of train travel, while flying basic economy is rife with pain points. But how many flyers will become rail-converts for the comfort?

As one carrier, United, backs off on basic economy, another, American Airlines, doubles down. Will this clear the field for American? Perhaps.

There's a reason they call it an act of God. Every airline in the world is going to lose money when a massive hurricane hits one of its largest hubs. United will be fine. It'll just take some time.

It will be interesting to see whether American and United can continue discounting to the degree they've been doing now that Hurricane Harvey has added vigor to already-rising fuel prices. With the likes of little Norwegian Air bringing its low fares across the Atlantic, this promises to likewise raise blood pressure levels in legacy airline boardrooms.

What have we learned from this investor conference? Americans are cheap. Some travelers probably do win when buying these fares, but United says as many as 40 percent of customers are choosing them. Surely, some don't know what they're buying.

Like them or not, basic economy fares are here to stay. And United is expanding them throughout its domestic markets.