Basic economy is not for everyone. Though it may be worth it for those folks trying to get the cheapest price.
If the ultimate goal is getting the biggest bang for buck (and getting a bag), paying extra for economy class while flying United may not actually be worth it. It can still be cheaper to fly basic economy and pay for bags a la carte.
In a few of our search tests from Newark to Los Angeles, we found that the difference between Basic Economy and Economy was $100 the majority of the time. In some cases, it was $120.
Here is quick screenshot displaying the biggest differences:
However, the price to bring a carry on or to check a bag round trip is $70 prepaid or $80 otherwise. Even if you're paying for baggage, basic economy still may make the most sense, unless you also want to buy a seat (which I never do).
United is the only major U.S. airline flying these days that still don't allow a carry-on bag with basic economy fares. In the early days, JetBlue, Delta and other airlines started off with the hideous policy, but eventually reversed course as they realized, well, it was super douchey and most travelers hated it.
Obviously, it's not always possible to avoid United. I've been a United girl since the beginning, mostly for its hubs, and unfortunately Star Alliance is the name of my game. There's not really a whole lot of choice for me.
We did notice that we could find a place to purchase the baggage before booking the flight, so it actually was a separate purchase especially if you want to use a travel certificate or alternative method of payment.
