My basic economy journey started when I went to go book my flights to Copenhagen and was hit with this warning from American Airlines, almost as if saying "enter at your own risk."
All these factors would definitely affect my travel experience but I figured that the absolute worst thing that could happen was getting a middle seat on a few flights and I could deal with that. So I booked it.
My journey would involve four flights, flying from New York to Copenhagen via Helsinki on Finnair and back home to New York via London on British Airways.
My first step was to conquer the overnight flight from New York to Helsinki as it would be the most stressful of the journey.
The first flight of an international journey sets the stage for the entire trip and I needed a good seat to ensure I'd get some rest on the flight as I had a long day of sightseeing ahead.
Then, when it came time to pack, I only packed the essentials so I'd meet Finnair's carry-on bag limit. I also wore my heavy coat instead of packing it to keep the weight down.
When I got to the airport, I could've breezed right to the gate with my mobile boarding pass with a primo seat assignment in hand.
But then I remembered the old adage: "If you don't ask, you don't get." So I went to the counter to try and double my luck to get a seat with nobody next to me so I could stretch out.
To my surprise, not only did the check-in agent move to a semi-empty row, but also offered to block the seat next to me. At this point, I was ahead of the game and feeling good about the flight.
I was also offered the opportunity to check my bag for free, which was also expressly prohibited in the basic economy rules. All because I asked for a better seat.
My next flight was from Helsinki to Copenhagen, a flight quick enough that I wouldn't have cared much where I sat but I still tried to get the best seat. When I checked in for my first flight, I was assigned an aisle seat in the back for the second leg, which was fine by me.
However, it didn't stop me checking one last time before boarding if any seats opened up closer at the check-in kiosk at Helsinki Airport.
Lo and behold, an entire row in the front of the plane had opened and I was able to move there no problem via the machine.
The seat was in row four, meaning I'd be off the plane in no time once we landed and have first dibs on snacks and drinks. Not too shabby for basic economy.
After a whirlwind weekend in Copenhagen, it was time to run through the fire again for what would be a near 12-hour journey home via London on British Airways.
When I checked in, I was assigned aisle seats on both flights, which I couldn't change without paying a fee. I considered it a win.
At this point, I could relax knowing I wouldn't have to spend 8 hours in darkness in a middle seat while flying on an iconic aircraft such as the 747. That didn't mean I still wasn't going to try for better.
To my surprise, the agent offered me an exit row window seat with the middle seat open. I was now 3-0 in this basic economy racket.
The seat had extra legroom and gave me room to stretch out. It was a great flight to London but now, it was time for the last flight of the trip.
It was time to fly from London to New York on British Airways' Boeing 747, one of the airline's busiest routes on one of its most iconic aircraft.
I was assigned one of the last rows and near the toilets, but the flight was near sold out, so I knew my odds wouldn't be that good of getting anything better. That didn't stop me asking, though, so I brought my ticket to the gate and kindly asked: "Are there any closer seats available?"
The next thing I knew, I had a window seat in the third row of economy. Winner winner, chicken dinner.
I boarded the plane with a smile. After only paying $280, I had gotten some of the best seats on all the aircraft I flew on, defeating basic economy at its own game by simply asking questions.
While going 4-0 was a great achievement, the final seat upgrade also proved instrumental as it allowed me to get off of the plane in time to catch the early train home, saving me 30 minutes in travel.
I learned that even though airlines will try to scare you into paying more for a basic economy fare, all it takes is pre-planning, diligence, and asking simple questions to help beat the system.
I flew two airlines, each with their own style of basic economy, and was able to get more than I could've hoped for simply by checking in exactly 24 hours in advance and asking airport staff if there was anything better available.
I also learned that humans want to help other humans, regardless of what ticket they hold, and your best bet is to always ask.
