fbpx

Advertiser Disclosure

an economy cabin

Chase Rolls Out New Feature to Beat Basic Economy

This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. For more information check out our Advertising Disclosure.

The proliferation of Basic Economy fares on U.S. airlines has been confusing for travelers, to say the least. It’s not always easy to tell what fare you’re booking and whether it will include baggage and seat selection until it’s too late.

Today, Chase’s Ultimate Rewards booking portal rolled out a great new feature that allows you to see the price for both a basic economy and main cabin fare. It also provides a quick breakdown of what is and is not included in the cheaper fare.
 

Chase-Basic Economy
Chase's revamped booking portal gives travelers a look at what a Basic Economy includes.

It may seem like a small development, but this is great for consumers. After all, no one likes snagging a cheap flight only to find you’re seated away from a companion and paying out the nose for baggage. Seeing the price for a full fare upfront is the perfect remedy. As a reminder, basic economy fares don’t allow seat selection or upgrades, and they can’t be changed. Delta allows free carry-ons with their Basic Economy product while United and American do not.

Thrifty Tip #1: You can beat Delta basic economy fares by carrying a co-branded Delta SkyMiles card.

As these bare-bones fares have spread from ultra-low-cost carriers like Spirit to every major domestic airline, the airlines have slowly provided more information to warn travelers about the limits of their basic economy ticket. Google Flights is our favorite travel search engine, but even Google doesn’t provide this much information up front when selecting your flight. Chase already allowed travelers to exclude basic economy fares from a search, but this provides another layer of integral information.
 

Chase-Basic Economy
Google doesn't provide nearly as much information on basic economy fares upfront as Chase's new portal features.

Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the most flexible points currencies out there. It’s easy to build up a solid stash of Ultimate Rewards points with cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Thrifty Tip #2: Not sure which Sapphire card is right for you? See our guide on the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve.

 

Bottom Line

One of our favorite uses of Chase points is booking the flight deals you see on here or at Thrifty Traveler Premium through the Chase travel portal. This newest Chase feature makes this even better. However small it may seem, giving travelers more information on their options as they’re booking is a great development. Kudos, Chase!

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *