Looking for the cheapest & best way to travel? Then United Basic Economy is the best choice for you. That’s why today we will discuss everything important about United Airlines Basic Economy class.
From answering questions like – what is the basic economy in the United, to discussing amenities like United basic economy carry on. And, even discuss the value of this fare class by doing a United Airlines Economy Vs Basic Economy comparison.
So, let’s start.
A Brief Introduction – What is Basic Economy on United
Firstly, to answer the question, “is united economy the same as basic economy?”, no, it is not. The United Basic Economy is the cheapest fare class onboard United Airlines. In order to make sure that everyone can experience flying, regardless of their financial standing, United has the Basic Economy fare class.
For passengers who are very price sensitive, especially the ones on short-haul flights, this is the best fare class for them. However, the fact that it’s the cheapest fare class, doesn’t mean that it has no services. On the contrary, Basic Economy provides passengers with a suite of amenities & inflight services.
Steps To Book A Flight In United Basic Economy
- Open United Airlines’ official site and fill in all the details in the booking form that you will find on the homepage.
- Select the economy fare if you want to book your ticket on United Airlines.
- Select “Flights” from the menu.
- Now there will be four different kinds of fares displayed on the screen. Select your flight ticket under “Basic Economy.”
- Click on “continue” and follow the rest of the on-screen instructions.
- When you complete the payment process, you will get a notification of your booking confirmation.
Amenities & Inflight Services of United Basic Economy
If compared to upper fare classes like Business & First Class, Basic Economy lacks a lot of luxurious complimentary services & amenities. However, that is not to say that it provides passengers with some basic allowances & services to ensure a good traveling experience.
So, let’s talk about the services, one by one. And then, move on to make the comparison of United Economy vs Basic Economy.
United Basic Economy Carry on Allowance
As a rule of thumb, United does not allow free/complimentary Carry-On baggage allowance. However, depending on the route, sometimes it’s possible for passengers of United Basic Economy to be able to have carry-on baggage onboard. So, let’s see these routes.
| Traveling To & From | Carry-On Eligibility |
| Within the U.S. | ✕ |
| Canada | ✕ |
| Mexico | ✕ |
| Caribbean | ✕ |
| Central America | ✕ |
| South America | ✔ |
| Trans-Atlantic | ✔ |
| Trans-Pacific | ✔ |
So, to answer the question, “Can I bring a carry-on with the united basic economy?”, yes, passengers with Basic Economy fare can take carry-on baggage with them onboard. But, only on select routes, in other cases, they must pay a carry-on baggage fee.
And in case, you purchase the carry-on allowance at the airport, you’ll have to pay $25 extra along with the charges.
Personal Items Onboard Your Flight
Unlike carry-on, United allows passengers of Basic Economy to have one personal item onboard their flights, regardless of the route. These items can be anything, from laptops, Tablets, to Breast Pumps.
However, there is a size limit for personal items onboard.
| Dimension | Measurement |
| Length | 17 inches |
| Breadth | 10 inches |
| Height | 9 inches |
And, there are no weight limits on carry-on or personal items.
Checked Baggage
Unfortunately, Basic Economy fares do not include complimentary checked baggage allowance on the itinerary. However, passengers are allowed to purchase baggage allowance at the airport or through the website. Although, we recommend you purchase your additional baggage allowance through the website, as it will cost less.
Also, charges like those for additional, oversized & overweight baggage differ based on the type of travel – Domestic or International. So, let’s discuss these guidelines.
Baggage Charges
| Type of Travel | 1st Bag | 2nd Bag | 3rd & Consecutive Bags |
| Domestic | $30 | $40 | $150 |
| International | $75 | $100 | $200 |
- The checked Bag must be less than 50 lbs. In weight.
- The combined dimensions (length, width & height) should not exceed 62 inches.
Oversized & Overweight Charges
| Type of Travel | Oversize Fee | Overweight Fee |
| Domestic | $200 | 51 to 70 lbs. – $100 71 to 100 lbs. – $200 |
| International | $200 | 51 to 70 lbs. – $200 71 to 100 lbs. – $400 |
- Keep in mind that even oversized & overweight bags have limits on them. United will not allow bags weighing more than 100 pounds or with combined dimensions of more than 115 inches.
- Also, if you are carrying special items like a wheelchair, sports equipment, etc. Then, you may check out the specifications for them, here.
Complimentary Advanced Seat Selection
Unfortunately, passengers with Basic Economy fares, have free seat selection services. That is not to say that they can’t select seats, but they will have to pay a charge for it. Also, Basic Economy passengers, do not get a lot of seating options to select from. In addition to that, they are not eligible for upgradation.
The seat selection charge depends on the flight route & distance. Passengers can select seats after booking, using the United Airlines Manage Booking section.
MileagePlus & Premium Membership Services
Members of the MileagePlus & Premium group with Basic Economy fare will still get to enjoy some of the privileges and services of the clubs. So, let’s check them out.
- Available Services
- Award Miles
- Earn Premier Qualifying Points
- Lifetime Miles
- Unavailable Services
- Premier Qualifying Flights
- Complimentary Economy Plus Seating
- Paid Upgrades
- Mileage Upgrades
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades
- PlusPoints Upgrades
Upgrade to United Economy Benefits
In case you find yourself in need of some of the benefits of United Economy, you can get them for a fee, depending on your route/fare amount. With these benefits, you may get to enjoy a more comfortable experience than Basic Economy. Some of the benefits of this service are-
- Free Flight Change & Cancellation
- 1 X Carry-On Baggage Allowed for free
- Complimentary Advanced Seat Selection Service
- Option to upgrade further to Economy Plus/Premium Cabin.
A Comparative Analysis of Fares – United Economy VS Basic Economy
As the name suggests, both Basic Economy & United Economy are closely related fare classes. That is to say, the United Economy fare class is just above Basic, and therefore, offers many of the same services.
However, you will find the difference and the value of both fares depending on the type of your travel. However, before we discuss that, let’s check the availability of some basic services on both these fares.
| Services/Amenities | Basic Economy | United Economy |
| Free Cancellation | X | ✓ |
| Flight Change | X | ✓ |
| Claim Refund | X | Charged |
| Inflight Entertainment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Onboard Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ |
| Food & Beverage Services | Limited | ✓ |
| Economy Plus Seating | X | ✓ |
| Seat/Fare Upgrade | X | ✓ |
| Complimentary Checked Baggage | X | Only on International Routes |
| Carry-On Baggage | For a Fee | Free (x1) |
| Seat Selection | Charged | Complimentary |
So, now that you know about the difference in available services amongst the two fare classes, let’s see which one is better.
Conclusion – Basic Economy VS Economy United
In terms of services & amenities available, it’s clear that United Economy is the clear winner. However, it’s not just about the services, price is also a big issue when it comes to choosing your preferable fare.
The price difference between the two classes can be from as little as $40 – $50 to as much as a couple of hundred bucks. Also, many of the essential services for comfortable travel are present in Basic Economy too.
So, the real deciding factor comes down to affordability & flight time. In short, for short-haul flights, Basic Economy is the best choice for passengers. You might even get to take a short nap to recharge without all the distractions.
But, for medium-haul flights (ranging from 3 to 6 hours), Basic Economy will become quite boring & uncomfortable. So, for these flights, it’s best to chip in a couple of extra bucks & go for the United Economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What does Basic Economy mean on United?
This is the latest fare introduced by United Airlines to make their flights even more affordable. The United Basic Economy fare is the cheapest fare available on the airline, but still provides many of the features of the United Economy fare.
To learn more about United Airlines Basic Economy fare, read the blog above.
Q2. Do you get a free checked bag with United Basic Economy?
Unfortunately, no, the United Basic Economy fare does not have a complimentary checked baggage allowance on the itinerary. So, if passengers want to bring along checked baggage, they’ll have to purchase the allowance at the airport, or through the website, using manage to book.
Keep in mind, that the cost of checked baggage differs based on the number of bags and the type of route.
Q3. How strict is United with Basic Economy?
To be honest, the restrictions on United Basic Economy fares are not that much different than on United Economy fares. There are some services & amenities that have been removed from the United Airlines Basic Economy fares, like-
- Free Flight Change
- Cancellation & Refund
- Carry-on Allowance
- Economy Plus Seating
- Upgrades, etc.
However, the necessary services & the experience remain the same.
Q4. How much does it cost to check a bag on United with Basic Economy?
The price of Checked Baggage for United Basic Economy fares, depends on two things – The type of Route & Number of Bags. To make it easier for you to understand and find the answer, here is a table depicting the charges.
| Type of Travel | 1st Bag | 2nd Bag | 3rd & Consecutive Bags |
| Domestic | Airport – $35 Online – $30 | Airport – $45 Online – $40 | $150 |
| International | $75 | $100 | $200 |
Q5. What does Basic Economy include?
United Basic Economy fare includes much of the same services & amenities as the United Economy, like-
- Personal Item
- Somme MileagePlus & Premium Membership Perks
- Inflight Entertainment
- United Wi-Fi
- Food & beverage Services, etc.
Q6. Does United basic economy include carry-on?
If you are traveling within the same state, you will not be allowed to bring carry-on luggage, but you can take one personal item in the cabin with no charges. If you are traveling outside your state, then you can bring one carry-on bag, but you will need to pay charges for that. Also, you have to leave your carry-on bag in the hands of airline staff for checking, which costs you $25.
Q7. How much does it cost to check a bag on United basic economy?
If you are traveling domestically within the United States and Canada, then your first checked bag will cost you $30, your second checked bag will cost you $40, and if you are bringing a third or more checked bags, it will cost you $150. If you are traveling to and from New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, then your first checked bag will cost you $30, the second checked bag will cost you $40, and it will increase to $50 and $200 for a third or more checked bags. If you are flying to or from Cuba or the United States, your first checked bag will be $30, your second bag will be $100, and your third bag will be $500. To learn more about checked baggage fees in other locations, visit the United Airlines website.
Q8. Can you choose seats on United basic economy?
With a United Basic Economy flight ticket, you will have some restrictions that you must follow. During the time of your reservation in United Airlines Basic Economy, the airline will assign you a seat automatically. After completing the reservation process, you will not be able to change your flight seat under any circumstances.
Q9. Is Basic Economy same as main cabin?
There is a significant price difference between Basic Economy and Main Cabin. In United Airlines’ Basic Economy, the airline released some restrictions, including seat selection, cancellation, change, refund, and more that must follow. Talking about the Main Cabin is a little more expensive than Basic Economy and allows you to travel freely. In United Airlines’ Main Cabin, you can select the seats of your choice even after completing the booking process. If you cancel your flight, you can claim a refund.
Q10. Does Basic Economy include meals?
There are many restrictions on United Airlines Basic Economy. However, you can enjoy some other complimentary premium amenities on board, such as complimentary upgraded beverages, meals, snacks, etc.
