Flying Basic-Economy

I spent last week in North Carolina being a Grandmother. It was a wonderful time seeing my grandson and spending time with my son and daughter-in-law. Since the journey in every experience is part of the fun, I had to share about my airline experience.

I booked my flight on Expedia and flew out on American Airlines and back on United Airlines. My AA flight was in coach and the UA flight was basic economy – so basic that the airline felt the need to send me an email stating that I had chosen basic economy and must realize that I would be considered slightly above convicts and pedophiles but way below regular paying customers. The email made it was clear that I would be unable to sit with loved ones, have no assigned seat, and would be in the last group to board.  The message had a tone that seemed to say…”This is a bad decision.  We truly hate you for it but have no choice but to honor your poor choice. We will do everything within our power to make you regret it. Just watch…” I prepared myself with the knowledge that I may be flying back to San Diego in a seat on the wing.

About a week before I left, I went online to check out seat assignments – again, referring to the email that I was not allotted one. To my pleasant surprise, I was able to purchase an assigned seat for the tune of about $7.00. It was a regular coach seat but I quickly grabbed one in the back of the plane that had the whole row open.  Who knows, I thought… I could get lucky. (I also like the back of the plane when it already looks packed since there is no pressure to jump up when the plane stops. I just continue reading the first 3/4 of the plane has deboarded.) I packed my bags with the knowledge that I would be unable to bring a wheeled carryon so felt no pressure to bring only bare necessities – I would have a check the bag regardless (At 55, I can fill a bag with nothing but extra underwear and shoes.) Little did United know that I was flying singly anyway so the threat to separate me from my loved ones had no weight.

My flight out to North Carolina took a left turn when my originating flight was delayed by two hours. I’m glad that I checked the night before since my original boarding time was 6:00am and being the Monica Geller neurotic type, I was planning on being at the airport at 4:30am. (My husband is a good man and doesn’t fight my neurosis…he just goes with it!) The flight was changed to leave at 8:11am. Upon trying to check my bags at the curb, I was told that there may not be enough time to make my second flight and I would need to check in inside. I tentatively approached the ticket agent, ready to tell them that on this flight, I was not a second-class citizen but a regular paying customer!  The flight attendant looked at the times and said, “It will be tight. Do you have tennis shoes on?”  Thanks to reading a recent article on plane crashes and how you should always wear closed-toe shoes on airplanes, I was fully prepared with ASICS to run to the second plane. She assured me that if I failed to make it there on time, I wouldn’t be stuck overnight….just for an additional 3-hour layover. I agreed to run my fastest and she took my bag. She made things even better by giving me the front row of coach to ensure that I could de-board quickly.  Thank you, United, for prepping me to check my bag – it made getting off the first flight much easier.  I made it to my second flight with ten minutes to spare…I’m big…but fast. My first flight was near empty and I ended up the front row alone. Life is good.

I braced myself for the flight home at the end of my trip. I was unsure how it was going to go, even with being able to choose my seats.  Would I be the one person boarding in Group 5? Would it be announced that I was flying Basic Economy and it was not only permissible but encouraged to make fun of me? Would I truly end up on the wing? As the boarding groups were called, I realized that I was in good company.  There was a whole group of us cheapskates boarding in the last group. Only one person had to be reminded that they had to check their roll-on. The rest of us boarded with one personal item- and we all got a seat. There was only one empty seat on the entire plane. It was between me and the person sitting on the aisle in my row. I happily watched two movies on my cell phone since I was still allowed to use the United Entertainment App and relished in the fact that my Basic Economy ticket provided the same experience that I would have had as a Coach customer.  I even got water and pretzels. The only downside of the flight was waiting on the runway for 30 minutes since a thunderstorm had delayed take-offs and planes were lined up trying to get in the air. I’m a realist with that one. Take your time. Get up safely. I have closed toe shoes on but let’s not take our chances.

What did I learn from my experience? I hate to tell you United, but I’ll probably fly Basic Economy going forward. The flight was a good experience and I was not labeled as a “BE” customer once I boarded. There is a chance my Grandson may need surgery for an umbilical hernia in the next few weeks.  If so, I’m hoping to fly back out…and most likely in Group 5. Life is short. I’d rather spend the money on something my kids need…or yet another trip. In the end, as long as you get me from point A to B, I’m a happy camper. If not, I’ll have my ASICS on…at least they are getting some use.