The Thrifty Traveler Podcast · Thursday, October 29, 2026
Kyle Potter and Gunnar Olsen discussed how the price difference to upgrade from basic economy to main cabin tickets has risen from $60 or $70 round trip to $100 or more on U.S. carriers, and up to $240 or more for international flights. They noted that airlines are using these higher premiums and renewed change fees as hidden fare increases.
“Travelers may have noticed by now that it used to only cost like 60 or 70 dollars round trip to book a main cabin ticket over the cost of a basic ticket. Now it routinely costs one hundred dollars or more on most U.S. carriers.”
“Today, we know based upon what airlines say that somewhere in the neighborhood of 85% or more of their travelers don't book basic economy. They book main cabin or higher, which means that... It's not just that 10% of us are paying change fees now. It means that 85% of us are paying it.”