Airlines will happily sell you a basic economy ticket, but they really wish you wouldn’t buy one.
That tension sits at the heart of a thoughtful new Washington Post story examining why airlines keep making their cheapest fares less appealing. The latest example: removing even the token mileage earning that once came with these tickets.
That framing may sound dramatic, but it gets to the heart of the issue. Over the last decade, airlines have steadily chipped away at the perks attached to their cheapest fares. No advance seat assignments. No changes. No cancellations. Last boarding group. Often a middle seat. And now, increasingly, no miles either.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
