Something else travelers do not always get with the basic economy fare: an actual price discount.

While airlines are loath to discuss pricing, the new basic economy class seats are expected to be in many cases the same price as the standard economy fare, meaning travelers will get less for the same price.

Instead, the old-fashioned economy ticket — the one with the niceties — is expected to cost more.

“Yeah, the same product is going to be more expensive,” said George Hobica, the president of Airfarewatchdog.com. “It’s like they were saying you were getting an introductory offer and that they were giving it away, but no longer.”

The one upside? Basic economy travelers will still get soda and mini pretzels — for now.

For United, which began offering basic economy fares this week from the Minneapolis-St. Paul region to its seven hubs, a round-trip flight on May 9 from Minneapolis to Denver under the standard economy fare will cost $176. The new basic economy fare for the same flight will be $136.

Basic economy travelers will not be allowed to choose their seats or carry on a bag, so they would have to pay $25 each way to check their bags, raising the price of the basic economy fare round trip to $186. And basic economy fare passengers who try to sneak bags on board will be charged the $25 bag check-in fee plus a $25 gate-handling charge.

In other words, the standard economy ticket, the one expected to rise in price, may end up being a better deal in some cases than the new basic economy ticket.