Which airlines sell 'basic' first and business-class fares? What to know before you book

1 day ago 8

We're talking about the growing number of U.S. carriers that now offer "unbundled" tickets even for passengers sitting at the front of the plane.Booking a United Airlines Polaris suite? The lowest price you see may be a "basic" business fare — and if you buy it, you can't enter the airline's swanky Polaris Lounge.Delta Air Lines has a similar policy for its lowest business fares: No Delta One Lounge access is included.SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYOn both airlines, passengers booking those skinny premium fares can't pick their seat or make itinerary changes.JetBlue plans to roll out similarly stripped-down fares when it launches its new domestic first-class cabin later this year.More choice or higher prices?Unbundled fares are nothing new.U.S. airlines have been selling basic economy fares widely for close to a decade.Historically, these tickets have offered customers a trade-off: Book the lowest price point but stomach some restrictions.Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletterJoin over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s expertsBy signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and ackn...

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