Then the rest of the industry feels pressure to do the same thing to remain competitive. It's a race to the bottom and I think it's how we wound up in the present situation of frequently paying for checked bags and not getting meals included.
This is going too far though -- who travels for even a few days without an overhead bag? And have you noticed how much smaller the size restrictions on the overhead bags are now?
I don't have a problem with airlines creating cheaper seats that they can market to a segment of customers.
What I do have a problem with is the lack of transparency of what you're getting when you attempt to research and compare fares. In my opinion, this is what the government should focus on.
> But those who choose the cheapest fare are unlikely to be making any savings. According to Reuters, basic economy fares “will be comparable to low fares it now charges for the economy cabin, but with more restrictions”.
> United expects the changes to raise around $1bn by 2020. Those choosing a standard economy fare, it is therefore reasonable to assume, will be expected to pay significantly more than they do now.