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Google Flights: How to exclude Basic Economy or Economy Lite?

I don't want basic economy tickets yet see no way to exclude them from the search results.

I can demand a carry on and screen out some of the basic economy that way (like United) but would prefer to be able to screen for:

  1. carry on included
  2. checked bag included
  3. non-refundable, non-changeable excluded (so no need to buy insurance)
  4. seat selection included (but I suspect no European airlines provide this with any coach ticket).
Posted by
2380 posts

Hi Tom,

On Google flights, I click on “Economy”. Then when you choose a flight, you have an option to choose main cabin over basic economy. You are then directed to booking the airfare with the airline where you would be able to choose your seats, etc. We have been able to choose seats in economy for the main carrier but not the code share flights. Different airlines may have different policies as to charging for baggage, nonrefundable, etc.

Posted by
4495 posts

I Know that is possible but it is very, very clumsy to have to do that, by the time you have added on the checked bag and seat selection the price can jump 25%, and not all fares are offered though airline websites.

Trying out Kayak it is possible to exclude non-airline website fares which solves part of the problem, then on Kayak you can also select for checked bags but that is not perfect because all they do is add on the fee for a checked bag onto the basic economy ticket so you can still have a non-voucherable fare. At least on Kayak they print under the fare on the main list screen whether the ticket is basic economy or economy lite so you can skip those visually on the list.

Frankly giving up on Google/flights as not able to meet my needs, any other suggestions would be helpful. There's been a proliferation of sub-economy tickets and Google/flights has not been keeping up with this. Also Lufthansa, really, you offer 2 fares in sub-economy: basic economy and economy lite? Who benefits from that nonsense, and 50 points to whoever can name which of those 2 tickets is the higher class, just from the name?

I don't think an option to list ONLY full economy fares is unreasonable.

Edit: Skyscanner doesn't meet my needs, either.

Edit 2: Well, the name of the article was so promising, too bad it doesn't work
https://maphappy.org/heres-how-to-filter-out-basic-economy-fares-in-google-flights/

Posted by
2380 posts

I agree that it is more work. And initially the offer looks good until you do all the add ons.

Posted by
2267 posts

furthering the rant... It's become impossible to find fare codes anymore, especially for the variety of fare options now available. Booking the right fare code, at sometimes a marginal cost difference, can double or triple points earnings in the loyalty programs.

Posted by
4324 posts

this is the sort of thing Flyertalk lives for, I believe the general recommendation is skyscanner or a subscription service

Posted by
4495 posts

I really thought that there must be a free solution but coming up empty so far other than use Kayak and visually sort out the sub-economy fares.

I thought I had something with the Hopper app because at the top of the screen of listed airfares there's a filter button to just show one of the following:
-basic economy
-standard economy
-enhanced economy (I think they mean comfort or plus)
-premium economy
-luxury (business and first)

...BUT IT DOESN'T WORK! Choose standard economy and basic economy still filters through.

Posted by
1043 posts

With airlines frequently changing things, well, frequently since covid, I'm not sure how google flights can offer a filter for it all. For where I live, there's not that many options anyways, so I've gotten to the point where I've learned which airlines offer what and just keep that in the back of my mind when price shopping.

But then, I'm not looking for refundable, too expensive for me, but looking for vouchers, e-credits, etc. if I choose to cancel.

I don't worry so much about the basic economy showing, I just figure that to move to Main would be roughly $150 regardless of the airline. Close enough.

Posted by
4495 posts

vouchers, e-credits, etc. if I choose to cancel.

FYI: These options are NEVER available with a basic economy ticket, it's use as issued or lose the funds. There's no to way even pay a change fee to reuse or recovery any funds.

Posted by
1043 posts

Actually, they were available and I booked flights with those terms. Air Canada offered vouchers and KLM actually had a refundable voucher and later just a voucher, under their cheapest class of ticket (basic economy/economy light) Those terms aren't there now, but I got 3 flights out of those deals, one upcoming for Christmas. I'm sure all thanks to covid times.

Posted by
4495 posts

economy light

This is a European term but maybe AC uses it too. For Lufthansa it's the lowest option, then Basic, then Basic plus, then Flex (all coach), and Basic allow changes for a fee.

I don't know when the options to recover funds from basic economy tickets disappeared after Covid. I just bought a ticket from Virgin Atlantic that is economy/not changeable, but since it was with points it won't bother me (too much) if I forfeit the points.