American Airlines will start selling a budget fare on Feb.
10, and like United Airlines, American will restrict purchasers from using the
overhead storage bin.
Basic Economy fliers must fit carry-on items beneath the
seat in front of them, and they will be required to check all larger bags at
the standard cost of $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second.
United said in November that the airline would launch its
budget fare sometime during the second quarter of 2017. United made headlines in
becoming the first major U.S. airline to create a fare class that does not
include use of the overhead bin. Delta has had a basic fare since 2012, but
purchasers can use overhead storage.
The basic fares are a competitive response to ultra-low-cost
carriers Allegiant, Spirit and Frontier. All three airlines charge passengers a
fee to use overhead storage bins.
American will begin selling its Basic Economy seats on 10
routes. The carrier didn’t say which routes, but it’s likely they’ll be ones in
which American competes directly with an ultra-low-cost competitor.
Flights with the Basic Economy fares will begin shortly
after the Feb. 10 sales introduction, American said. The airline expects to
offer the low-end fare on additional routes later in the year, but has no plans
to offer it for all flights.
Delta expects to offer its basic fare on all domestic routes
by the middle of the year.
Aside from the baggage rule, American’s Basic Economy
passengers will have the same in-flight experience as standard economy
passengers, the carrier said, including seats and row configurations of the
same dimensions as well as the same food and entertainment offerings.
Like the basic economy products of Delta and United,
passengers who purchase tickets in that fare class will trade lower costs for
seats at the back of the plane, boarding in the last group, tickets that are
nonrefundable and non-changeable and seat assignments that are given only upon
check-in.
American said it would attempt to seat children 13 and under
with an adult, but it is not guaranteeing that families will be able to sit
together.
Some exceptions to the Basic Economy rules will be made for
AAdvantage Elite customers and eligible AAdvantage card members. Specifically,
they’ll be able to use their priority boarding privilege and to take one
roll-aboard bag on the plane.