“Don’t mind not being able to pick your seats, boarding last, and carrying just a single personal item on board with you that fits under your seat? United Airlines thinks it has an option for you in its new, cheaper, “Basic Economy” fares.” …
College students travel light, anyway.
https://consumerist.com/2016/11/15/united-airlines-launching-cheaper-basic-economy-fares/
Delta did this over a year ago.
Delta was in front, but that is no reason for United to go pulling up the rear. I was disheartened to hear this news.
Most people I know hate United, and one of my children is clear that of all the choices, I should book that one for their flight only as a last resort. Still, I find this news souring, and telling (sadly).
This is disappointing–race to the bottom indeed! 
If the price is right, just strap me to the roof with warm clothes, goggles and an oxygen mask…
I didn’t think it was possible to go lower than United current economy, but I guess I was wrong.
On that note, folks, I’ll go change my under things. 
Guess they want to be like Frontier Airlines…which you couldn’t pay me to fly.
Or spirit. They stink too. Have never flown them but DS has. Blech.
^^yes, i’ve flown frontier recently. It’s so stripped down. Wish united wasnt going that way.
From the article:
Bahahahaha! 
Thank God we live in the Chicago area and have so many options with Southwest, as well as the places we fly most have frequent non-stop flights on Southwest - funny thing is… as all the other airlines have cut back on snacks, etc., it seems to me like Southwest is offering more along the snack lines. On my last flight three weeks ago, the FA came along with a box of options for me… peanuts, miniature Oreo pack, pretzels, and maybe one other item. And she encouraged me to take whatever I wanted, even if that meant one of each kind!
TSA goons, long lines, expensive parking, crazy airline policies. Flying has become such a PITA that I now much prefer to stay home.
I live near Dulles and have family not far from Chicago. Our FF miles are with United. I would do this for shorter flights ( I.e D.C. To Chicago).
Flying used to be nice. Our family calls it “a bus in the sky” because really its like riding a bus.
Actually, on some recent bus trips…riding a bus is NICER!
Honestly, I usually have a completely different experience as a passenger. It costs me a little extra money, but it is absolutely worth it. I do whatever I need to in order to maintain my Delta Diamond status. I realize this would be impossible to do if you weren’t a frequent flyer, but for those who have to fly all the time, it’s critical to your sanity. I would fly from Seattle to Portland via Paris at the end of the year if I had to, to maintain status. It truly makes air travel so much less painful, and even a pleasant experience, quite often!!
In order to do this, I get the Delta Amex card and collect 20K mileage qualifying miles a year. Then all flights I take are Delta, or Delta partner (usually Alaska), even if it’s kind of inconvenient and even if it costs a bit more. Going through security, I fly by in TSA precheck (or known crewmember, but I realize it’s not an option for most), and in Europe you can get shortcuts in Sky Priority.
Then you hang out and eat/drink for free at the Delta club till it’s time to go. Board early, get upgraded or at least exit row seats/Delta comfort seats. Get a phone line where they help you and fix all your problems, no waiting. Sometimes for a short connection in Atlanta, they’ll bring you down onto the ramp and drive you in an SUV to your next airplane.
I don’t know if other carriers programs are like this, but Delta treats you so nicely. Every now and then I have to fly with someone I don’t have status in, in a back center seat, and I wonder how people can even stand it. So stressful! I’m just too old to deal with that misery. 
All of the carrier’s I know (well…except Spirit and Frontier) treat their premium FF folks well. But reality check…many of us just aren’t business travelers anymore…or don’t fly enough to get FF status.
I can tell you, when my DH was a USAir FF with top status (they knew his name)…flying was great. We almost always got upgraded to first class, no extra charges for bags, priority boarding, etc.
He lost that status, so now we are just regular normal recreational travelers. And we get treated like the rest of the normal recreational travelers…lousy.
I haven been impressed with United’s “service” in years. This new economy program just makes it worse.
Yeah, thumper, I know, many people don’t fly enough to get status. But feel sorry for those of us who do fly all the time…and don’t get status. There are guys I work with who absolutely hate deadheading, because they are flying with so many different carriers and getting status on none. They get a lecture from me every time, why are you doing this?!
I don’t think I would fly this new economy program on United if they paid ME to do it!
We are very loyal to Southwest. No, we don’t get priority boarding…we don’t fly that much. But we all get at least one free round trip ticket a year. And that makes it worth it.
When my husband was a business traveler, he was very loyal to USAir. He was happy he left that job right around when they merged with American.
I fly Southwest every now and then. It seems relatively painless, especially if you get that Business Select, rush in and grab the mega leg room seat in the exit row. And at least you can kind of choose who you sit next to, if you’re not in the last group.
Let’s hope for good weather for all of us traveling over the holidays, and no delays. Thanksgiving always has the potential to be so awful!
I got to fly first class round trip from Maine to Austin last month (I had American miles that were about to expire, so I used all of them). It was nice, but not fancy. Reminded me of what flying used to be like when I was a kid!