I recently booked a flight on Alaska Airlines that turned out to be their version of United's "basic economy". But somehow Alaska managed to avoid having an asterisk next to their flight listing in Google Flights (possibly because you can bring a carry-on bag, you just can't pick seats and are in the last boarding group — where you likely will be forced to gate-check your bag). United's "basic economy" flight had an asterisk, so I knew to avoid it.
After buying the ticket, I was offered the chance to actually be able to pick my seats, for $85 or so. I decided to do so, and was then taken to the seat map, which showed 3 middle seats available. What's the point of picking your seats if you have to pick between the 3 worst seats on the plane? And how did Alaska thread the needle so their ticket prices don't get flagged as being not-real-economy-tickets?
After buying the ticket, I was offered the chance to actually be able to pick my seats, for $85 or so. I decided to do so, and was then taken to the seat map, which showed 3 middle seats available. What's the point of picking your seats if you have to pick between the 3 worst seats on the plane? And how did Alaska thread the needle so their ticket prices don't get flagged as being not-real-economy-tickets?