I flew United's basic economy. The fare is restrictive, but I'd book again if the price were right.

• United Airlines introduced basic economy in 2017 to compete with budget carriers.
• I booked the discounted fare from New York to Denver to experience the airline's most basic option.
• I loved the domestic cabin, but United's no carry-on rule is more restrictive than competitors.

United Airlines introduced a "basic economy" ticket in 2017 to compete with budget carriers like Frontier and Spirit Airlines.

The discount ticket comes with a random seat and a personal item when flying domestically. There's no option to pay extra for a carry-on — it has to be checked for a fee.