You can’t escape the orange. That’s what travelers this summer have been reckoning with — swaths of tangerine, traffic cone and burnt sienna on maps indicating record high temperatures around the globe. Four concurrent heat domes from the southern United States to East Asia descended on millions — Phoenix residents enduring 31 days of 110-degree-plus temperatures. Italians in more than a dozen cities under extreme weather warnings. And in South Korea, at least 125 people were hospitalized for heat-related conditions at the World Scout Jamboree.
The 4 Different Types of Economy Airfare, Defined
27.07.2023 - 18:14 / smartertravel.com / Virgin Atlantic
Choosing an airline is no longer as simple as economy, business, or first class. The majority of flyers select economy, but that’s become a complicated option: When you fly one of the legacy lines, you’ll have to select from up to four distinct versions of economy airfare, encompassing three different products.
Here’s what to look for when you’re booking economy airfare, and what it means.
‘Basic’ Economy AirfareThe idea of a stripped-down, “nothing but the seat” version of economy airfare that Delta inaugurated on domestic flights has now headed to Europe on many legacy lines. It’s typically nonrefundable, with no advance seat assignment, reduced or no frequent flyer mileage earnings, no possible status upgrades, plus late boarding, and usually you can only take carry-on one personal item without a fee. The idea is to be able to post lowball fares that compete more effectively with low-cost lines. The hard product is a step below regular economy in terms of allowances or add-ons, but still better than some low-fare lines’ hard product.
Related:Red-Eye Flights Aren’t Your Only Option to Europe Anymore ‘Main Cabin’ or Standard EconomyThe old economy product that you love (or more likely, hate) remains, with the usual fees for ticket changes but sometimes includes a checked bag, meals, maybe a seat assignment, and the other stuff you’ve expected for years, like a personal item and carry-on bag allowance. The hard product includes the typical economy seat that’s too narrow for most adults, and limited legroom.
‘Stretched Economy’ AirfareThe names differ: American says “Main Cabin Extra,” Delta says “Economy Comfort,” and Virgin Atlantic says “Economy Delight.” But the product is the same: Standard, narrow economy seats with three to six inches of extra legroom. Seats in exit and bulkhead rows automatically provide extra legroom, and lots of airlines, including low-fare lines, charge a premium for these seats. The big U.S. lines have installed several rows of extra-legroom seats in designated cabin sections and offer them either as an optional add-on to regular economy, or as part of an upgraded economy bundle.
Among European lines, only KLM offered stretched economy until recently. Several other European lines are adding it to provide consistency with their U.S. alliance partners, and they can also sell it on codeshared flights operated by U.S. airlines. The soft product is typically the same as regular economy, but Delta offers some other upgraded features.
Related:What Is Dynamic Pricing? Why Airfare Results Could Soon Depend on Who You Are Premium EconomyPremium economy airfare is the only one of these that’s really a different class. The hard product is a lot better than regular or stretched
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