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American Airlines' basic economy fares are often the first option you see when booking a trip. However, at checkout, American will try to upsell you to main cabin fares.
The key difference is flexibility: Basic economy tickets can't be changed or canceled for credit or refund. You'll earn no miles, get assigned a seat at check-in and board last. Here's what to know.
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American Airlines' basic economy restrictions
American Airlines' basic economy fares have a few limitations, plus one crucial restriction:
- Absolutely no changes are allowed after ticketing — not even for a fee. That means if you need to change your flight, you have to rebook and have no recourse for a refund of any kind (save for same-day flight changes, which we'll discuss in the next section).
- You can choose a specific seat at any time for a fee, otherwise, seats are automatically assigned for free at check-in. This means no guarantees for sitting together if you're traveling in a group.
- Basic economy passengers board in the last boarding group unless they have AAdvantage elite status or an eligible AAdvantage credit card.
- For basic economy tickets purchased on or after December 17, 2025, AAdvantage members do not earn miles or Loyalty Points. If you purchased your ticket prior to that, you'll earn 2 miles per dollar spent.
If those restrictions don't sound that bad, you're not alone in thinking so. NerdWallet testing concluded that American offered the best basic economy fares of any U.S. airline.
By comparison, United Airlines and JetBlue Airways restrict basic economy passengers from bringing a full-size carry-on bag on domestic flights (though JetBlue will allow a carry-on with its basic fare beginning Sept. 6, 2024). Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines doesn't allow any upgrades or mileage and elite earnings on basic economy fares.
None of these additional restrictions are in play on American basic economy fares.
Perks you still get in basic economy
To give you an idea of how minor the restrictions are, here are the perks you'll get when booking American Airlines basic economy fares.
Perks all travelers get on American Airlines' basic economy fares
- Full-size carry-on bags: When flying on American Airlines' basic economy fares, you'll get to bring a full-size carry-on bag onboard.
- Seat selection (for a fee): Want to avoid a middle seat at all costs? You can still do so even when booking American Airlines basic economy fares. While you'll have to pay to select a seat, you can do so anytime before check-in.
- Same-day flight changes: Basic economy passengers can make a confirmed flight change on the same day as their original flight for as little as $75. Or, you can standby for a different flight for free on domestic flights.
» Learn more: How to rebook and save on American flights
AAdvantage elite benefits on American Airlines' basic economy fares
American Airlines AAdvantage elites retain elite perks when flying on basic economy fares.
- Complimentary seat selection: AAdvantage elite members can select preferred or extra-legroom Main Cabin Extra seating for free — depending on the perks offered for your elite status level.
- Free checked bag: One perk of all AAdvantage elite status levels is (at least) one free checked bag on American Airlines flights. That's also the case on basic economy fares.
- Priority boarding: American Airlines basic economy passengers are assigned to the last boarding group: Group 8 or 9, depending on the route. However, AAdvantage elite status holders retain their priority boarding privileges, even when booking basic economy fares.
- Upgrades: All AAdvantage elite members are now eligible for complimentary first-class upgrades within North America. On international flights, AAdvantage members can use miles or systemwide upgrades to upgrade their ticket. Booking a basic economy fare won't keep you from using any of these upgrades.
» Learn more: The guide to AAdvantage
AA credit cardholder benefits
Like AAdvantage elites, American Airlines' credit cardholders can enjoy their card benefits when booking the airline's basic economy:
- Free checked bag: One perk of many AAdvantage co-branded credit cards is a complimentary first checked bag on domestic American flights. And you won't lose this perk when booking basic economy.
- Priority or preferred boarding: Some AAdvantage credit cards offer either priority boarding — such as the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® — or preferred boarding — such as the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® and the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®. Being a cardholder of one of these cards will keep you out of the Group 8 or 9 boarding group.
American Airlines credit cards provide several other perks to sweeten the flying experience, regardless of fare class.
American Airlines personal cards
Annual fee
$99, waived for the first 12 months.
$350.
$595.
Welcome offer
Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Earn 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $7,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
Earn rate
• 2 miles per $1 at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases.
• 1 mile per $1 spent on other purchases.
• 1 Loyalty Point per 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
• 6 miles per $1 on eligible AAdvantage Hotels bookings.
• 3 miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 at restaurants, including takeout and delivery, and on eligible Rides and Rails purchases, including taxis, rideshares and public transit.
• 1 mile per $1 on everything else.
• 1 Loyalty Point per 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
• 10 miles per $1 on eligible car rentals and hotels booked through AA.
• 4 miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases (5 miles per $1 after spending $150,000 total on the card in a calendar year).
• 1 mile per $1 on everything else.
• 1 Loyalty Point per 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
Learn more
With all this in mind, when does it make sense to pay more for American Airlines' main cabin versus basic economy?
» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now
When to book main cabin vs. basic economy on American Airlines
The restrictions on American Airlines' basic economy fares aren't bad. But there are a few times when it makes sense to pay more for American Airlines' main cabin fares instead.
Taking advantage of price drops
The primary restriction on American's basic economy fares is the lack of ability to make changes. This is an important restriction now that American has eliminated change fees on most main cabin fares. When booking a main cabin fare, you can take advantage of fare decreases.
So you might want to pay more for a main cabin fare if you're booking a flight far in advance and may want to change, cancel or take advantage of a lower price.
When you're going to pay for seat selection anyway
American Airlines' basic economy fares allow seat selection for a fee. If you're going to pay to ensure you avoid getting stuck in a middle seat, consider the price difference between the seat selection fee and upgrading to the main cabin fare.
It might be worth paying a main cabin fare to get a complimentary seat selection.
When the main cabin fare doesn't cost that much more
It's worth considering paying more for a main cabin fare when it doesn't cost that much more anyway. For example, we found a flight option from Chicago to New York that cost $100 one-way in basic economy or $135 one-way in the main cabin.
Between getting a complimentary seat selection, free changes and avoiding the last boarding group, it could make sense to pay $35 more for the main cabin.
AA basic economy vs. main cabin recapped
There's not much of a difference between American’s main cabin and basic economy offerings. All travelers get a full-size carry-on bag, mileage earnings and the flexibility to change flights on the day of travel for a fee. Plus, elite status members and credit cardholders enjoy all of their perks when booking basic economy fares.
The primary downside to the airline's basic economy fares is the lack of ability to make changes. American Airlines' basic economy fares are essentially "use it or lose it." Plus, this lack of flexibility means you can't take advantage of price drops after booking.
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