@longtimelurker wrote:Well, sort of new! Next month AA begins, on certain routes, "Basic Economy" which has several restrictions, two of which are:
1) No access to overhead bins
2) If a bag has to be checked at the gate, there is a $25 fee
You are also in the last boarding group (presumably to help staff check that you aren't trying to use the bins!)
With both the Citi and Barclays card, you don't have these restrictions, and you can board in group 1.
So, slight advantage if Basic Economy is much cheaper, and the other restrictions (no standby, no changes or refunds, seat assignment free only at checkin etc) are acceptable
I was just approved for the Citi AA Card a few days ago (haven't received it yet) and read about the new class of service today. My first thought was, this is actually a nice new bonus. I almost never check bags if I'm traveling alone, but always have a carry on so I'd definitely benefit if using Basic Economy. I didn't think about the boarding order but that's nice as well.
Not sure if I'd actually use Basic Economy though. I'd definitely pay to get an assigned seat (which is an option), as flying middle seat is acceptable to me only in the most dire of circumstances.
@happypill wrote:
@longtimelurker wrote:Well, sort of new! Next month AA begins, on certain routes, "Basic Economy" which has several restrictions, two of which are:
1) No access to overhead bins
2) If a bag has to be checked at the gate, there is a $25 fee
You are also in the last boarding group (presumably to help staff check that you aren't trying to use the bins!)
With both the Citi and Barclays card, you don't have these restrictions, and you can board in group 1.
So, slight advantage if Basic Economy is much cheaper, and the other restrictions (no standby, no changes or refunds, seat assignment free only at checkin etc) are acceptable
I was just approved for the Citi AA Card a few days ago (haven't received it yet) and read about the new class of service today. My first thought was, this is actually a nice new bonus. I almost never check bags if I'm traveling alone, but always have a carry on so I'd definitely benefit if using Basic Economy. I didn't think about the boarding order but that's nice as well.
Not sure if I'd actually use Basic Economy though. I'd definitely pay to get an assigned seat (which is an option), as flying middle seat is acceptable to me only in the most dire of circumstances.
Given all the changes with AA this actually might make the card a bit more useful. Then again I flew one airline recently (can't remember if it was AA but maybe) where I had an economy seat and because I did not have status I could not book my seat until like the day before and by that time the only available seats were middle seats. Of course all the open nicer seats could be mine if I paid an additional fee. Airlines are run by really scummy people.
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@longtimelurker wrote:Well, sort of new! Next month AA begins, on certain routes, "Basic Economy" which has several restrictions, two of which are:
1) No access to overhead bins
2) If a bag has to be checked at the gate, there is a $25 fee
You are also in the last boarding group (presumably to help staff check that you aren't trying to use the bins!)
With both the Citi and Barclays card, you don't have these restrictions, and you can board in group 1.
So, slight advantage if Basic Economy is much cheaper, and the other restrictions (no standby, no changes or refunds, seat assignment free only at checkin etc) are acceptable
Actually from the blog View from the wing (i suck at cut and pasting LOL) There are now 9 groups - If you have a AA executive card you are now group 4, other AA cards are group 5.......
@iced wrote:
@Random_idiot wrote:
Anyone else find this degrading? lol.. There better be a big diff between Economy and Basic for me to go through all of that..People get what they pay for, and the new basic economy tier is a play to the market against the other LCCs like Spirit. There will still be regular economy, premium economy, business, and first classes for everyone else. If you use the amenities of the other cabins, buy a ticket for the other cabins and the problem is solved with no degradation.
Likewise, if someone's only determining factor on buying a ticket is price, they have no room to complain as they wanted to fly as cheaply as possible.
I agree 100%. You get what you pay for.
If the prices for the basic, were the same as what the reg economy is now, well. thats an issue.
