If you’ve been booking flights recently, you may have seen the term “Economy Light.” It’s one of the most common fare types offered by major airlines today — but what exactly does it mean, and is it worth it? Here’s everything you need to know before booking an Economy Light ticket.
What is Economy Light? Continue reading to find out.
Check your compensation online.
What Is Economy Light: The Basics
What is Economy Light? Economy Light is the most basic fare class offered by many full-service airlines.
It’s designed for travelers who want the lowest possible price but are willing to give up certain conveniences — especially when it comes to baggage, miles and flexibility.
In short, it’s a “no-frills” version of economy class, similar in spirit to low-cost airline tickets, but on a traditional carrier.
What’s Included in Economy Light
While details vary between airlines, most Economy Light fares include:
- A seat in the Economy cabin
- One carry-on bag (and sometimes a personal item like a handbag or laptop bag)
- In-flight service such as meals and entertainment (on long-haul flights)
- Standard customer support and check-in options
You still get the same seat, safety, and onboard experience as other economy passengers — the main differences are in what’s not included.
What’s Not Included in Economy Light
Economy Light fares are cheaper because they remove many extras that used to be standard.
Usually, these fares:
- Do not include checked baggage (you must pay extra if you need one)
- Do not allow flight changes or refunds
- Offer limited seat selection — or charge for choosing your seat in advance
- Earn fewer frequent flyer miles or points
If you want more flexibility or baggage allowance, you’ll need to upgrade to a higher fare, such as Economy Standard or Economy Flex (the names of these ticket types depend on the airline).
What is Economy Light? It’s the cheapest fare type offered by many airlines. However, booking the lowest fare doesn’t mean you lose your passenger rights — you’re still fully protected under UK261 (or EU261) regulations.
Can I Add Baggage to an Economy Light Ticket?
Yes, but you’ll usually need to pay extra for checked baggage — either during booking or later through the airline’s website.
Is Economy Light Called the Same in All Airlines?
No — not all airlines use the term “Economy Light.”
While the idea is similar across carriers, each airline gives this basic fare its own name and rules.
For example:
- Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines call it Economy Light.
- British Airways refers to it as Basic Economy or Hand Baggage Only.
- Air France and KLM use Light Fare.
- Finnair calls it Economy Light, but sometimes groups it under Superlight on short-haul routes.
- American Airlines, Delta, and United all use Basic Economy in the U.S.
Despite the different names, these fares generally mean the same thing — a lower price with fewer perks, often no checked baggage and limited flexibility. Some airlines go even further and restrict cabin luggage, allowing only a small personal item instead of a standard carry-on bag.
Always check each airline’s specific fare conditions before booking, as rules can vary between carriers and routes. Usually, the fare conditions are clearly stated when booking a flight.
Is Economy Light the same as Basic Economy?
Not always — the meaning can vary depending on the airline.
Some carriers actually offer both Economy Light and Basic Economy as separate fare types. For example, TAP Air Portugal has an Economy Discount (their version of Economy Light) that doesn’t include checked baggage, while their Basic fare does.
On the other hand, airlines like British Airways use the term Basic Economy to refer to what’s essentially their Economy Light fare.
In short, the difference — or lack of one — depends on the airline. Always check the fare details before booking to see what’s included. Usually, the fare details are clearly stated when booking a flight.
Do I Earn Frequent Flyer Miles With Economy Light?
Yes, but you may earn fewer miles or points compared to higher fare classes.
As you can see in the image above, with TAP Discount (it’s their Economy Light fare), you earn much less points than with other types of fares.
Can I Select My Seat in Economy Light?
Usually, you can — but you may have to pay a seat selection fee, or the airline will assign a seat for free at check-in.
Do I Still Get Food and Drinks With Economy Light?
Yes, on full-service airlines, you’ll typically get the same in-flight meal or snack as regular economy passengers. Budget carriers, however, may charge for food and drinks.
Read more: Low Cost Airline vs Full Service Airline: Are You Entitled to Compensation?
Who Is Economy Light For?
Economy Light is ideal for:
- Travelers with only hand luggage
- Weekend trips or short business travel
- People confident in their travel plans (since changes are often not allowed)
- Budget-conscious passengers flying with full-service airlines
It’s a good middle ground if you want the comfort and reliability of a major carrier but don’t need the extras.
Check your compensation online.
Economy Light: Can You get Compensation?
Yes — even if you booked the cheapest Economy Light fare, you still have the same passenger rights as anyone else on the flight.
Your ticket type or price doesn’t affect your eligibility for flight compensation. What matters is the flight itself — where it departs from, which airline operates it, and the length of the delay or reason for the disruption.
For example, under EU261 or UK261 regulations, you may be entitled to €250–€600 if your flight is delayed by more than three hours, cancelled at short notice, or if you’re denied boarding. These rules apply to all passengers, regardless of whether you bought an Economy Light, Economy Flex, or Business Class ticket.
So, even with a low-cost fare, your rights to care and compensation remain the same — the only difference is in the level of service and flexibility your ticket includes, not your legal entitlements.
Read more:
Economy Light: Are You Entitled to Care From the Airline?
Yes — even if you’re flying on an Economy Light ticket, you’re still entitled to care and assistance from the airline in case of long delays, cancellations, or missed connections (when you miss a connecting flight booked on a single ticket).
This means the airline must provide meals, drinks, and accommodation if you’re stranded for several hours or overnight, as well as help with rebooking or refunds when applicable. Your fare type doesn’t affect these rights — all passengers are protected equally.
The only differences are in comfort and flexibility, not in your basic passenger entitlements.
Read more:
- Right to Care
- How Connecting Flights Work?
- Flight Cancellation Compensation vs Refund for a Cancelled Flight: The Difference
What is Economy Light? It’s the cheapest fare type offered by many airlines. However, booking the lowest fare doesn’t mean you lose your passenger rights — you’re still fully protected under UK261 (or EU261) regulations.
Featured photo by Erik Mclean from Pexels