Basic Economy Fares Don't Lower Ticket Prices, They Increase Ticket Prices
Air travel has become the least dignified means of transportation. Almost everything about it is terrible. Shopping for tickets. Checking in. Security. Waiting. Boarding the plane and fighting for overhead bin space. Seat dimensions. Lavatories. Literally everything is terrible. The only thing it has going for it is that it makes long distance and overseas travel logistically possible on an acceptable timescale. Given the choice to drive for 8 hours or fly for 2 I always chose to drive. At some point I think concerns for health, safety, and the basic human dignity of having personal space have to come in to play.