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United’s basic economy fare will save you money, yes. But the lower ticket price means you’re subject to more restrictions around upgrades, baggage allowances, and seating.
That may not sound so bad if you’re just taking a quick flight to the next state over, but for longer routes, foregoing conveniences and amenities may significantly impact your travel experience.
The good news is that there are a few ways you can soften the basic economy experience without having to shell out for a higher fare class. First, you might need to get a United credit card or earn United elite status.
What is Basic Economy on United?
United's basic economy ticket isn’t all bad. You, of course, get a lower-priced fare compared to other economy options, but you’ll also receive many of the same amenities and services like inflight entertainment, snacks, and beverages.
But what you choose to go without includes potentially vital perks like a free carry-on, optimal MileagePlus earn rates, and the ability to change or get a refund on your flight.
United Basic Economy baggage allowance
Baggage rules for transatlantic flights are the same as standard economy tickets — you’re allowed one full-sized carry-on bag (9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches), plus a personal item at no additional cost. However, you won’t be allowed to bring a full-sized carry-on bag for all other flight routes.
You can bring a small personal item (no larger than 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches) that will fit under your seat — think a purse, laptop bag, or shoulder bag. Anything larger counts as a carry-on and must be checked. If checked before you go through airport security, such items will be charged a checked bag fee (typically $35 for the first bag).
Good to know
If you take your chances and discover your bag won’t fit under the seat after clearing security, you’ll be charged $65 to check it.Baggage fees
- The fees for checked bags on basic economy flights within the U.S. are the same as those for standard economy. If you prepay, your first checked bag costs $35, and your second costs $45.
- Standard economy on transatlantic flights includes one free checked bag, but basic economy charges $75 for the first. The second costs $100 in either class.
- Basic economy passengers flying to international destinations across the Pacific (i.e., not Hawaii) won’t be charged for their first checked bag, but a second costs $100.
United Basic Economy seats
There’s perhaps no more timeless debate than which seat on an airplane is best. Window? Aisle? Closer to the front? Exit row?
When booking a basic economy fare on United, you give up the ability to choose, and your seat will be automatically assigned without the option to change it.
Thankfully, if that’s the only thing keeping you from a basic economy ticket, you can purchase seat assignments for an extra fee and choose where you’d like to sit. You can even upgrade all the way to an Economy Plus seat, which comes with extra legroom.
United Basic Economy cancellations and changes
Once booked, you won’t be able to make any changes to your basic economy flight with United, including same-day or advanced changes. You also won’t be eligible for refunds unless they fall within the rules of United’s 24-hour flexible booking policy, which states that you may qualify for a refund if you cancel within 24 hours of your purchase, as long as your original departure flight is a week or more in advance.
If there’s even a slight chance you might not be able to take your flight as planned, this could be a major deterrent from flying in basic economy. You stand to lose quite a bit of money depending on the cost of your ticket.
However, canceling outside the 24-hour flexible booking window could get you a partial travel credit, but you’ll have to use it on flights booked through United or non-ticket items like seat upgrades.
MileagePlus award miles and elite status credits
If you’re a United MileagePlus member, you can earn award miles for your basic economy ticket. And while you’ll also earn full Premier qualifying points (PQP) toward elite status, you won’t earn any Premier qualifying flights (PQF). United MileagePlus Premier status requires a combination of PQPs and PQFs.
How to make Basic Economy more convenient
1. Become a MileagePlus Premier member
United MileagePlus members with Premier status can get one carry-on bag free when flying basic economy, canceling out one of the main downsides of these discounted fares. This benefit also extends to those traveling with eligible Premier status holders.
There are four MileagePlus Premier tiers that, as noted, require you to earn a certain number of PQFs and PQPs in a calendar year to qualify:
- Premier Silver: Complete 12 PQFs and earn 4,000 PQPs or earn 5,000 PQPs
- Premier Gold: Complete 24 PQFs and earn 8,000 PQPs or earn 10,000 PQPs
- Premier Platinum: Complete 36 PQFs and earn 12,000 PQPs or earn 15,000 PQPs
- Premier 1K: Complete 54 PQFs and earn 18,000 PQPs or earn 24,000 PQPs
You also need to fly at least four paid flights or flight segments operated by United or United Express for all these tiers.
If all that sounds like a lot of work, it is. You earn one PQP for every U.S. dollar spent on United flights, including base fare and carrier surcharges. You can also earn PQPs on partner award flights at one PQP for every five award miles redeemed on some “preferred” partners and one PQP for every six on others. PQP earnings on partner flights are capped by fare class.
You can earn one PQF for every flight on United, United Express, or a United partner airline. That means that, at minimum, you’ll need to fly with United or one of its partners 12 times within a year (or earn the extra PQPs required) to reach even the lowest status tier. Unless, that is, you have a United Airlines co-branded credit card.
2. Get a United Airlines credit card
Holding a United credit card comes with a lot of benefits for the frequent United passenger. Not only can you reach elite status more easily by earning PQPs on everyday spending, but you can also circumvent the whole status process and get around the carry-on restriction, boarding order, and fees on checked bags.
Eligible United cardholders can get one free carry-on bag when flying Basic Economy. That’s great on its own, but some United cards also come with free checked bags for cardholders and their companions. That means your basic economy traveling companion’s prohibited carry-on can become a checked bag at no cost.
So you’ve got your carry-on. Great. Now you have to worry about if there’ll be room left in the overhead bins. After all, basic economy boards last, with Group 6. But if you’re holding the right United card, you could also get free priority boarding as a benefit.
| Card | United perks | Annual Fee |
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United℠ Explorer Card
|
|
$95 (waived first year) |
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United Quest℠ Card
|
|
$250 |
/images/2024/12/17/chase-united-club-infinite-12172024.png)
United Club℠ Infinite Card
|
|
$525 |
/images/2024/12/17/chase-united-business-12172024.png)
United℠ Business Card
|
|
$99 (waived first year) |
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United Club℠ Business Card
|
|
$450 |
Pro tip
The benefits of holding a United card when flying basic economy with the airline are clear, but before you apply, consider whether the perks justify the annual fee.3. Become a Star Alliance Gold member
Like MileagePlus Premier members and certain United cardholders, Star Alliance Gold members can also bring a carry-on bag and get priority boarding when flying basic economy with United.
You earn Star Alliance Gold status by reaching certain elite status tiers with alliance airlines. For example, you get Star Alliance Gold status when you’re a MileagePlus Premier 1K, Premier Platinum, or Premier Gold elite member with United.
This isn’t all that consequential to MileagePlus Premier elites looking for an improved basic economy experience, since they’ll already get those perks through their status. But if you’ve got elite status with another airline in the Star Alliance network, you might already have Star Alliance Gold and can then enjoy a less restrictive basic economy flight on United. For specifics, check the Star Alliance website.
FAQs
What is the difference between Basic Economy and Economy on United?
When flying United, you’ll receive the same in-flight service whether you choose a Basic Economy or a regular Economy fare. The difference, however, is that Basic Economy travelers will be subject to certain restrictions.
These include no advanced seat selection (without a fee) and no full-size carry-ons. Basic Economy travelers are also the last group to board, can’t make flight changes or get refunds (outside United’s 24-hour flexible booking policy), and do not earn Premier qualifying flights on their fares.
How much is seat selection on United Basic Economy?
To choose your seat yourself when booking a basic economy fare rather than having United assign you a seat automatically, you’ll need to pay a seat selection fee of $15 per flight per passenger.
Can United Basic Economy tickets be upgraded?
Yes, customers traveling on a United Basic Economy ticket can upgrade to Economy Plus — which includes extra legroom and a seat close to the front of the cabin — but you can only do this at check-in.
Bottom line
Although United Airlines Basic Economy fares have fewer perks than other fare classes, there are ways to eke out a more comfortable flying experience. If you have elite status or book a flight using a co-branded United Airlines credit card, you can get perks like carry-on bags and priority boarding.
Keep in mind that some Basic Economy rules will still apply, even if you qualify for one of the workarounds we cover here. For example, you likely won’t be able to change your reservation once you’re outside United’s 24-hour flexible booking window. For some peace of mind there, consider travel insurance.
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