“Basic Economy” is now a thing.

Flying home on United, and pissed at the company. Three things happened because I had a “Basic Economy” ticket, all related in retrospect:

1. I was not allowed to check in online, unless I paid for checked bags. (Felt like something that cost them nothing and has become customary being taken away).

2. I got to the airport, and was not allowed to check in at the kiosks I first found. I was told to walk several minutes to the “Economy Lounge” to be able to check in, like an inferior being that can’t be seen in the areas for normal people. (Again, felt like they were disabling features to punish me for not paying more).

3. In the basic bitch checkin area, I was asked to check my backpack size against the briefcase sized “travel item” and backpack/rolly sized “carry-on item” boxes. Under a sign that said “Economy: 1 Travel + 1 Carry-on”. I naturally began checking my backpack as a carry on item.

“No, bitch”, the attendant said. “Travel item”.

I pointed to the sign: “So that’s a lie?”

“That’s for economy. Not Basic Economy bitches like you. You only get a travel item”.

Infuriating. And - intellectually I recognize this is a voluntary market interaction and my anger stems from folk economic fallacies like the endowment effect, personalizing market interactions, etc. And - I’m still infuriated.

In retrospect, what got me was that it was all a surprise. If I had been clearly warned at booking time “Hey we are offering a cheap ticket without standard amenities”, I would not have been bothered at all.