When you’re traveling solo or have concrete plans, sometimes booking a basic economy ticket is the best way to save a few dollars on your trip.
Basic economy tickets are the cheapest tier that an airline has to offer, and as a tradeoff, you can expect some restrictions and limitations. For example, you won’t be able to choose your own seat and you’ll usually board last.
Every airline is different, and each has a different policy for their most affordable tickets. But to help decide which might be the best fit for upcoming travels, I compared what basic economy looks like on some of the most popular airlines, from the booking process to in-flight amenities, and seat sizes.
When flying Southwest, Delta, American, United, and Alaska, here’s what basic economy looks like, and which offers the best value.
Southwest
Flying basic economy on Southwest changed significantly in early 2026.
Gone are the days of checking in the day before, receiving a boarding group, and choosing any seat when you board. Still, it’s my preferred airline when I’m flying economy for the cheap tickets and general ease of travel.
Now, if I book the cheapest basic tier, I won’t receive a seat assignment until I check into the flight (unless you hold a Southwest-branded credit card, in which case you may select one 48 hours prior to departure) and I’ll be among the last to board the plane with more limited overhead bin access.
That said, basic ticket holders are still able to bring a personal item and carry-on onboard for free, and it’s the only airline I compared that offers rewards points in the basic economy tier.
The exact seat pitch and width depends on the aircraft and row, but you can expect to have 31-33 inches of legroom and a seat that’s 15.5 inches wide. That’s quite a bit smaller than other seat widths on our list, and as a plus-size woman, every inch of seat room makes a difference for me.
For inflight entertainment, Southwest does not have screens built into the back of seats. Instead, on planes with Wi-Fi connectivity, you can stream TV and movies on your own device for free through the company’s service.
I personally enjoy watching a good movie or the plane map on the back of the seat when I fly, so the lack of inlaid screens is a bit of a bummer. Small snacks, like crackers and cookies, and drinks are only served on flights over 250 miles.
Delta
Delta’s cheapest tier, Delta Main Basic, handles boarding much like Southwest.
You don’t choose a seat when booking; instead, you’ll be assigned a seat when you check in. You’ll also be the last to board, so overhead bin space might be limited. All Delta passengers can bring a personal item and a carry-on bag without a charge.
Delta has a ton of different aircrafts, so seat pitch and width varies widely based on what plane you’re flying on. In general, though, seats range from 17-18 inches wide and have around 30-32 inches of legroom. In my experience, Delta seats are some of the comfiest, though it depends on the exact plane you get.
Most Delta aircrafts have built-in screens on the backs of seats, and you’re able to stream complimentary content on your own devices, regardless of where you sit. On flights over 350 miles, you can expect a free sweet or savory snack and a nonalcoholic drink, too.
American
Like other airlines, when flying Basic Economy with American, your seat will be assigned at check-in and you’ll be the last to board. Though if that makes you anxious, unlike other airlines, you can choose your own seat for an additional fee.
You can also bring a personal item and a carry-on free of charge, but American’s site says that overhead bins are usually full by the time Basic Economy passengers board, so plan on gate-checking any large carry-on bag.
Like Delta, American has a variety of aircrafts with varying seat specifications. In the main cabin, seats usually measure around 16-17 inches wide with 30-31 inches of legroom, which is pretty comparable to others.
A few planes feature built-in screens, but the majority of online entertainment is offered to stream on your personal device, so make sure to come with one fully charged up.
Complimentary snacks and drinks are served on flights over 250 miles, including a choice between pretzels and Biscoff cookies. Non-alcoholic drinks are also available on request on flights shorter than 250 miles.
United
United’s Basic Economy tier is one of the most restrictive that I’ve seen, which has given me pause when considering booking one of these tickets.
As is standard, you will board last and have your seat assigned to you when you check in for your flight. Unlike other airlines, though, you are only permitted a personal item on domestic flights.
You’ll be allowed a carry-on on some international flights, but for the most part, you’re restricted to what you can fit under your seat. You won’t earn any frequent flyer miles, either, which is a major drawback for frequent fliers.
As with other airlines, the exact seat width and pitch depends on the plane. Economy seats usually measure around 16-17 inches wide with about 30-31 inches of legroom.
The majority of aircrafts have screens set into the back of the seats, and you’re able to stream TV, watch movies, and play games on your own device. Free non-alcoholic drinks are available on all flights, and snacks are served on flights over 300 miles.
Alaska
The cheapest tickets at Alaska Airlines are within its Saver tier, where you’re assigned a seat at the gate and board the plane last.
You can bring both a personal item and a carry-on for free in the basic economy tier, so long as there’s still overhead space available.
Built-in screens are available on limited Alaska planes, so you can expect to use your own device to stream in-flight content. Alaska seats are, on average, 17 inches wide with the standard 31 inches of legroom.
On my last flight with Alaska from Kansas City to Seattle, I found economy class seats to feel much smaller and more run down than other flights I’ve taken. Even though the seats were technically standard sizes, I remember feeling incredibly cramped during my four-hour flight. So, you might want to check the exact plane and its specs before considering taking a long-haul flight.
Complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and light snacks are served on flights longer than 350 miles.
The Shortcut
Booking a basic economy seat on a plane often means you won’t be assigned a seat until you check in and you’ll board the plane last.
Most airlines allow both a personal item and carry-on without an extra charge, but United limits these passengers to what fits under the seat, no overhead bin access is included.
Southwest is the only one of the five that lets you earn frequent flyer miles on its cheapest tier, although the points earned are lower than higher-tier fares.
