Travel Blog

Am I the only person who sits down with dread to book a flight, longing for the days when there were travel agents to shield us from the vagaries of airlines?

Yesterday I went to my favorite travel fare aggregator for a trip north over Thanksgiving. (See? Now I have a favorite travel fare aggregator.) I watched in anticipation as the fares on my screen did their jumbled dance down to the lowest one. When everything stopped, I looked eagerly at the details and saw that it was for a flight leaving at 6:44 in the morning.

There were some other attractive fares, but they were for flights with one stop. I finally booked a nonstop flight at 9:30 am for $50 more than the early bird special. (That came to $100 of course for our two tickets, about half the cost of the other flight.)

A few minutes later I received a confirmation from the aggregator; an hour later I received an email from the airline, informing me of the nature of my “basic economy fare.” I was barely aware that I had chosen a “basic economy fare,” but soon I was keenly aware of its idiosyncracies. I would not be able to “choose a complimentary seat, or change or upgrade seats.” I would not be able to sit with my “group or family.” I would not be able to bring a “full-sized carry-on bag.” I was not allowed to change my flight, or use it to boost my miles with the airline.

This information was given in a table with two columns: one for “basic economy” and one for “standard economy.” The first carried a thin tower of red X’s, the second a thin tower of black checkmarks. I might have considered switching to the darling “standard economy” ticket, but of course I was not allowed to change my flight.

Here’s what I will change: The airline next time I fly.