Main Cabin vs. Basic Economy: How to Pick the Best Fare for Your Trip

Frequent fliers know that buying a plane ticket is much more than deciding between economy and first class. Within economy, there are different fares – basic economy, main cabin, premium economy, and sometimes even classes like Delta Comfort+, which falls somewhere in the middle. I spoke with a representative at United Airlines to uncover the major differences between main cabin and basic economy to figure out which one you should purchase and why. 

What is main cabin? 

Main cabin is exactly what you think of when you hear “economy.” This is a standard economy ticket that generally allows you to put a carry-on in an overhead bin, select your seat, and change your reservation in advance of your flight. You don’t get any premium benefits with this ticket, but you get the standard benefits you expect when flying. Typically, there will be more main cabin seats on any given aircraft than any other seat, as most fliers choose this option for its convenience and affordability. 

What is basic economy? 

Basic economy fares were introduced to compete with low-cost airlines like Spirit and Frontier. These airlines allow travelers to fly for a very low price, but they’ll have to sacrifice a lot of comforts that they are used to. Basic economy tickets are a way travelers can save money but fly on an airline they might have loyalty to. However, there are strict limitations on most things – the bags you can bring on board, whether you can change your fare, select your seat, or even earn miles on your trip. The primary benefit is that the ticket is cheaper, but basic economy only makes sense for specific travelers in certain situations. 

“Basic economy allows customers to save on their ticket price and get most of the same inflight services as standard economy, like drinks, snacks, and inflight entertainment,” says United. 

On three of the biggest airlines in the U.S. — Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines — basic economy tickets are called “basic economy.” However, there are a few companies that call them by a different name. On JetBlue, these fares are called Blue Basic, while on Alaska Airlines, they are called Saver. 

Main Cabin vs. Basic Economy

There is no difference between the actual seats in main cabin and basic economy on almost any airline. The difference between these fares is noticed outside of the seat – when you board, what you’re allowed to bring on board, and what you can change before your flight. 

“The main difference between basic economy and standard economy is that when flying basic economy, your seat selection is automatically assigned for you, and carry-on bags are not included unless you’re flying to South America, across the Atlantic, or on an international flight across the Pacific,” says United. This is an important thing to point out – not only will basic economy fares differ between airlines, but they will differ depending on the route you take.  

Price Comparison

One of the most significant differences between main cabin and basic economy is the ticket cost. On average, you can expect to pay around $50 to $60 less for a round-trip basic economy ticket compared to a main cabin ticket, but you do sacrifice a lot to compensate for these savings. For example, some airlines won’t let you earn points or miles with their loyalty program if you purchase a basic economy ticket. Many points and miles enthusiasts, myself included, don’t consider this a fair trade-off. You’re flying, so you want to earn miles and earn toward elite airline status. 

It’s also important to note that if you aren’t loyal to one airline, you can shop around for the cheapest main cabin fare, making a basic economy ticket less enticing. 

Seat Selection

Most airlines, apart from American, will not let you select your seat in advance if you have a basic economy ticket. This means your seat will be assigned at check-in, and you can either see your seat assignment in the app or on the monitors at your gate. You are much more likely to get a middle seat if you go this route, likely near the back of the plane. If you’re traveling with friends or family, there’s no guarantee you’ll be near each other, even if you’re on the same reservation. American lets you select your seat in advance on basic economy fares for a fee. Once you pay that fee, the price difference between main cabin and basic economy might not be great enough to justify the cheaper ticket in the first place. 

Boarding Priority

If you book a basic economy ticket, you should expect to be the last on board. The only times this can change is if you are a cardholder of the airline's co-branded credit card or if you’ve earned elite status with that airline. If you want to get on the plane quickly, you should book a main cabin ticket. 

Upgrade Availability

Apart from American, you cannot get a paid or complimentary upgrade with a basic economy ticket, including seats with extra legroom. It seems like airline seats are getting closer together every year, so if you want to get an exit row or bulkhead seat, you’ll typically need to purchase a main cabin ticket. 

In-flight Experience

You won’t notice much difference between main cabin and basic economy during your flight. The most notable difference is that, since you can’t select your seat in advance when purchasing a basic economy fare, you might have to endure the dreaded middle seat throughout your flight. If you’re lucky enough to get a window, your in-flight experience will be the same as if you purchased a main cabin fare. 

Bag Fees

The baggage you can bring on board will vary between airlines. If you’re flying basic economy on Delta or American, you can have a carry-on bag in the overhead bin space above your seat. However, since you’ll be one of the last to board, there’s no guarantee of any space left. If the overhead bins are full, you’ll be required to gate-check your bag and pick it up when you land. On JetBlue and United, basic economy fares are even more restrictive. You aren’t allowed to have a carry-on at all – only a personal item that can fit under the seat in front of you. If you’re going away for a night or two and don’t need to bring much, a basic economy ticket could work just fine. But, if you want to ensure you have a larger bag to pack your essentials, you’re better off booking a main cabin ticket. 

Flight Modifications

On almost every major airline in the U.S., apart from JetBlue, you cannot change or modify your basic economy fare. This means that if you need to make any changes, you have to buy an entirely new ticket. If you are 100 percent confident you won’t need to change your ticket, then a basic economy fare could be an option. However, if there’s any doubt in your mind about your trip, you are better off paying a little extra for the main cabin fare. Even though JetBlue allows you to make changes to its Blue Basic fares, it can cost up to $200, which might be the same price you paid for your ticket to begin with. 

Keep in mind that most major airlines got rid of change fees during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. So, if you need to change your main cabin ticket, you only have to pay a possible fare difference. This makes main cabin even more worthwhile if you’re nervous your travel plans could change. 

Choosing Your Fare

When you use a flight search engine like Google Flights, you might get excited by the affordable fares you see for trips worldwide. Once you click on the ticket, you will see the advertised fare is likely a basic economy ticket. Then, airlines will do everything in their power to persuade you to upgrade to main cabin. For example, Delta makes you check a small box saying you accept the restrictions that come with basic economy. This box is located below a much larger red button that says “move to main.” And, even though the seats are the same, airlines only sell a limited number of basic economy tickets per flight.

In general, travelers who know their trip won’t change and are fine sitting wherever they end up on the plane can book a basic economy ticket without worrying about it. When I was in college, I flew basic economy on Delta all the time. I had the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express card, which let me check a bag for free, so I was happy to purchase the cheapest ticket possible to travel around. Now that I’m an adult, I would much rather have the flexibility and comfort that come with higher-fare classes.