We’re all trying to figure out the best bang for our buck when it comes to travel. This includes trying to purchase the lowest possible fare on airlines that will charge you for everything including, printing your boarding pass, choosing your seat and who knows, maybe if you have two arms. And, although I always try to find the cheapest fare, sometimes I don’t really care. However, this time around I decided to purchase American Airlines basic economy tickets from Los Angeles International (LAX) to London, England’s Heathrow Airport (LHR).

I did some research and although, I found lower fares for American Airlines basic economy tickets on other weekends, the weekend I choose to travel is a little more expensive. My fare turned out to be $585. Not a screaming deal, but it’s pretty good.

My American Airlines basic economy fare is sold by AA but operated by British Airlines. That means I’ll be taking a flight to London on a British Air flight.

Things you Should Know About Buying an American Airlines Basic Economy Ticket

If you’re an American Airlines or One World elite member, like me, you should be aware that purchasing an American Airlines basic economy ticket doesn’t help you with the usual perks you get if you have status.

For example, you can’t choose your seat. If you want to choose your seat you have to pay for it, or they will assign it upon checking in, which isn’t a big deal. However, low-cost websites like CheapOair does the same thing.

This also means if you’re traveling with family or friends you might not get seats together.

It’s $13 if you want to pay for your seat, per flight. Not terrible.

Next, you only get fifty percent of the miles (and dollars) if you’re trying to collect miles. American Air has made collecting miles more difficult in the past years, but that’s a longer post for another day.

Purchasing an American Airlines basic economy ticket will not place you on any upgrade lists. So, good luck if you’re hoping to buy a cheap ticket to hopefully get upgraded to first or business class.

You will board last and if you have anything other than a carry-on bag, you’ll have to pay to check it.

What You May Not Know… Until Now

Ok. So, you clicked purchase. Now what? Are you heading to the pen with the chickens? Not exactly.

First, let’s get back to this flight. If you purchase an American Airlines Basic Economy ticket, operated by another airline, things may be a little different. 

At the last moment, I decided to just pay my $13 per seat. Why not? Let’s live a little! So I log onto my AA.Com account and click on the “pick my seat” link. It redirects me to British Air. It turns out, British Air doesn’t care if this is an American Airlines Basic Economy ticket. THEY DON’T CHARGE YOU TO PICK YOUR SEAT! I mean, that’s incredible. Done deal!

I pick my seats at no extra cost on my flights to and from the US to London. However, the one catch is I have a layover in Seattle. My last leg is on an American Airlines flight. Therefore, I had to pay $13 to pick my seat from Seattle Washington to Los Angeles. But overall, not a life or death situation. I’m happy.

If you have any status with American Airlines, it still counts when you board. They told me that the basic economy tickets board last.

I managed to board with the elite group. Perhaps it’s because I choose my seats. Maybe I just discovered a travel hack and picking your seat means you DO NOT board last? Or is this a rumor conjured from the travel woes of passengers past?

To Purchase or Not to Purchase an American Airlines Basic Economy ticket? That is the Question!

Purchasing a cheap plane ticket is always great. However, having a little flexibility like paying for your seat is even better. After all is said and done, I paid just under $600 round trip from LAX to LHR for this American Airlines Basic Economy ticket.

It’s not the biggest or best deal but there was no major hassle at the end of the day.

But what about the flight? Was it horrible? Did they treat me like cattle? Did they spit in my coffee for being a lower class ticket holder? You’ll just have to find out on my British Airlines review.

What about Domestic American Airlines Basic Economy Flights?

This is where I thought things would go downhill. I arrive in Seattle, Washington after a long flight from London on British Air. Luckily, I have all my boarding passes. I look at my boarding pass from Seattle to Los Angeles and it says “Boarding GroupGP.”

What the hell does GroupGP mean? Does it mean I board last? Do I board with group seven? I walk up to the gate agent to ask. She says “that’s weird” and prints a new boarding pass. Guess what? I STILL boarded with the elite group. 

Here I thought my status wouldn’t matter one bit with these American Airlines Basic Economy tickets. The most interesting thing is that this is an actual American Airlines flight, not AA operated by British or anything like that.

So there you have it, definitely purchase an American Airlines basic economy ticket. It’s economical and if you have status it helps.

Let me break it down for you:

Purchasing an American Airlines basic economy ticket can be cheap but it’s different. 

Things you need to know are:

• You need to pay $13 if you want to choose your seat (unless the flight is operated by another airline, then you don’t pay to pick it.) Or they will assign it to you upon checking in.
• You only get 50 percent of your miles and dollars that go towards your elite status
• You’re not eligible for upgrades
• Pay to check your bags (carry on is ok though)

So, should you risk the aggravation and purchase that American Airlines basic economy ticket? Yes.

But, make the flight simple. Only take a carry-on. If you’re flying on an international flight operated by another airline, they will not charge you to pick your seat. Also, it’s not true that you board last.

I hope this helps. Happy traveling.