Is Basic Economy Always Terrible On Transatlantic Flights?

And What About Transpacific Flights? Is Basic Economy Just a Recipe for Disaster?

Can you actually enjoy air travel when you’re packed alongside other people like a sardine with no room to cross your legs, move your elbows, or move your seat back? Is that cheap $250 flight you scored on a direct route to Europe worth feeling immobile for so many hours? For some travelers, the answer is always “yes,” economy across an ocean is always terrible.

However, for other travelers, the feeling of being packed into a plane like a sardine really isn’t a big deal, especially when the tickets are so cheap. Let’s talk about what you miss out on when you book a basic economy fare and when it makes sense to let go of the opportunity to get a cheap flight and pay a little more for some breathing room.

These days, you have quite a few different options for airlines that cross the Pacific and Atlantic, which means comparison shopping is as easy as visiting a website and conducting a search for cheap flights. If you book far enough in advance, you can legitimately fly all the way from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Europe for $250 flat, which makes the inevitable jet lag that much easier to bear.

Now, you’ll have to cough up the same or more to get back to the United States, but a round-trip cost of about $500 for travel all the way from the West Coast of the United States to Europe is pretty darn cheap. The only caveat is that you do tend to give up a lot in order to save that much money. Unfortunately, getting a better flight experience often means doubling your fare cost. Yes, doubling!

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What Do You Give Up With Basic Economy?

At one time, an economy ticket was an economy ticket. You got a small seat, a snack, and room for a small piece of luggage. These days, just about everything except the seat is extra. With basic economy, you’re almost always just paying for your seat. And you don’t even get to choose which seat, either. You’re just paying for some random seat that the airline chooses for you.

If you want to take a luggage on the plane (like a regular, small, run-of-the-mill carry-on bag), you might need to pay extra. We’re not even talking about checking a bag, which almost always comes with an extra fee. You might only be allotted a personal item which isn’t even the size of a suitcase. We’re talking about a backpack or a small tote bag.

You’re also giving up the opportunity to score a window or an aisle seat. There is a zero percent chance you’ll end up in an aisle or a window seat when you go for a basic economy seat unless by some miracle the flight isn’t full. Flights across the ocean are virtually always packed these days because airlines have significantly trimmed their routes, leading to more packed flights than evere.

You also usually give up any and all food. The flight attendants might even look at you strangely if you ask for a bag of peanuts (do they even serve peanuts these days with half the population having an anaphylactic response?). If the flight is long enough, they’ll probably give you a small glass of water. You might even score a bag of pretzels if the flight is over six or seven hours long.

When Should You Opt for Standard Economy?

At a certain point, it doesn’t make sense to put up with the seating restrictions of a basic economy ticket. Often, airlines these days will make you pay extra for absolutely everything but will actually prevent you from buying a seat. So not only are you paying extra for your bags and a snack, but you’re also taking the chance that you’ll be seated in a middle seat for an 11-hour flight to Paris with no option to change.

If you’re at all concerned about your seat or if you have any preference for your seat, the basic economy ticket will almost never be worth it on a flight that crosses an ocean. Even if you’re flying from the East Coast of the United States to Heathrow in London, England, you’re still looking at a trip of more than six hours.

Paying $100 more for a standard economy ticket over the basic economy ticket that will not only get you a seat assignment option but a carry-on piece of luggage, too, may be worth the price. Consider the cost within the overall budget of your vacation. An extra $100 for a better seat on the way over to Europe – or even Asia, which takes longer to reach – may be entirely worth it on your international vacation.

If you’ve never flown basic economy before, or you’ve never been on an airplane for that many hours (anything over six hours is a long flight), it’s helpful to consider your tolerance level for seating, lack of space, and the shape of your body. Are you a giraffe with a statuesque height? Are you pleasantly fluffy and likely to feel a little cramped in a smaller seat? The upgraded economy seat might be the way to go.

You Can Upgrade Just Part of Your Journey

One facet of flying that I wasn’t aware of when I first started booking tickets eons ago is that you can actually book a better class of fare for your outbound flight versus the flight back home. That way, you can enjoy a more pleasant flying experience when you leave, so your arrival at your destination is less stressful, while your return flight home is just one where you have to buckle down and deal with the seat squeeze.

Let me tell you that you really do feel the squeeze of basic economy versus regular economy these days. At one time, all economy seats were pretty much the same, and the only folks who got more room were the exit row people. But these days? The airlines REALLY don’t give you any space in those budget seats, even if you’re flying with a major international carrier.

If I’m going to be uncomfortable on an airplane for several hours, the price has to be so incredibly good that my inability to move three inches to my left or right just doesn’t matter for however many hours I’m on the flight. When I’m facing an 11-hour journey, that practically means the airline needs to be paying me to fly on their plane.

But at the very least, if you’re trying to squeeze a bit of comfort out of your flight without breaking the bank, try to get an upgraded economy plane ticket on the way to your destination and go for the tiny seat on the way back. You might be just exhausted enough on the return trip home that you don’t give a whiff about the size of your seat or any of the inconveniences that come along with basic economy travel.

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