No longer is it enough to simply search for the cheapest airfare. The bigger challenge in today’s world of additional fees, writes The New York Times, is figuring out what you actually get for the base ticket price.
More legroom? That’ll cost you extra. Need overhead bin space? It can be your if you bought an upgraded ticket. In short, similar-sounding fare classes like “economy” and “basic economy” can mask big differences in the level of service being offered. As problematic: Booking websites often do a poor job of explaining what travelers are actually getting for the listed price.
“You need a supercomputer sometimes to figure out what you are getting and what you are not getting,” says Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst at Atmosphere Research Group. “Just to add confusion to the mix, obviously not every airline’s lowest fare includes or excludes the same things.”
With a basic economy ticket on American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, travelers can’t select a seat in advance. But on Delta, basic economy passengers are still permitted to use the overhead bins if there is available space. On American and United, those overhead compartments are off limits to those who purchase the lowest fares.
“You have to do more research than ever,” says Paul Hudson, the president of FlyersRights.org, a consumer advocacy group.
