Delta was the first of the major U.S. airlines to introduce basic economy tickets, competing with budget airlines like Spirit and Frontier by selling no-frills fares. Yet for years, Delta's spin on basic economy stood out as more generous than its competitors.

No more. Delta has gutted its basic economy fares: You no longer earn any SkyMiles nor credits toward Medallion status – the first (and only) major U.S. carrier to make such a brutal move. As of earlier this year, you can't get into a Delta Sky Club with a basic economy ticket.

Plus, these basic fares are almost unavoidable nowadays. You'll see them whether flying domestically, heading to the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, and even on most award tickets booked with SkyMiles.

But it's not all bad news. Most importantly, Delta basic economy fares still allow you to bring a carry-on bag onboard .. and there's even a sneaky way to pick a seat for free when flying Delta basic economy.

Let's take a deeper dive into everything you need to know before buying a Delta basic economy fare.

 

 

What's Included with Delta Basic Economy?

While there’s no question Delta basic economy has some tough restrictions, it’s still more generous than what other airlines offer in many respects.

Oh, and keep in mind: While your fare has a different name with some limitations, once you're on board it's the same Delta economy experience as everyone else. Same seat, same service, same in-flight entertainment options.

 

delta's breakdown of basic vs main cabin economy fares
Delta clearly lays out the cons of booking one of its basic economy tickets

 

What's the Baggage Policy?

Your baggage allowance is almost identical to any standard economy fare.

You can stow a carry-on bag overhead and put a personal item under the seat in front of you for free. Flying domestically, you'll now pay $35 each way to check a bag – the same as with a main cabin economy ticket.

But things change if you're heading far abroad.

While most Delta main cabin economy fares to Europe, South America, and beyond include a free checked bag, the airline charges basic economy passengers to check a bag on most long-haul flights. On a trip to Europe, that'll cost you $75 … each way.

 

Can You Bring a Carry-On?

Unlike several other airlines, flying basic economy with Delta allows you to bring both a full-size carry-on bag and a personal item for free.

 

Selecting Seats

You can't pick a seat for free with Delta's cheapest fare.

Seats are typically assigned at check-in or at the gate, which means you might get stuck between two strangers. 

Butyou can also pay for seat selection on many flights starting seven days before departure. Otherwise, you can often pick your seat for free after check-in opens, grabbing the best of what's still open.

 

Boarding

You board last in Delta’s boarding order, which means you may struggle to find a spot to stow your carry-on bag.

 

Earning Delta SkyMiles?

Not anymore. As of December 2021, you no longer earn SkyMiles on a Delta Basic Economy ticket.

Flying isn't the best way to earn Delta SkyMiles anymore – it hasn't been for years. Still, this stings.

 

Earning Delta Medallion Status?

Delta's basic economy fares also no longer earn and Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) – the sole building block for earning Delta Medallion status after a big (and unpopular) revamp to the airline's status program last year.

 

Can You Upgrade Seats?

Basic Economy is not eligible for complimentary upgrades if you have Delta Medallion Status. You can't even pay to upgrade basic fares to Delta Comfort Plus or First Class seats, either.

 

Canceling or Changing Your Ticket

Just as with almost any ticket, you can cancel a basic economy fare with delta for free … but only within 24 hours of booking. So if you get buyers' remorse, you can get a refund.

After that, you can pay $99 to cancel a flight within the U.S. or to the Caribbean, Mexico, or Central America. Long-haul international flights cost $199 to cancel for a Delta eCredit.

Basic economy tickets cannot be changed, period.

 

Delta Main Cabin vs. Basic Economy

Let's get straight to it. The biggest difference is in price – and that's the point.

Like most airlines, Delta practically begs you not to book basic economy: You have to specifically opt-in by checking “Accept Restrictions” and proceed with your basic economy fare. In fact, a top Delta official once wondered aloud: “What are people willing to pay” to avoid basic economy?”

And that shows. While it varies by route, Delta now regularly charges an additional $70 to $80 roundtrip to avoid basic economy and move to a more-inclusive main cabin fare on a simple domestic flight. We've even seen that swell closer to $200 or more recently – particularly for flights to and from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP).

Traveling internationally? Expect to pay $200 to $240 or more roundtrip to avoid these restrictions.

The entire point of basic economy is to lure you in with a cheap price, then convince you to pay more to avoid additional restrictions. And that basic economy vs. main cabin upsell is only getting stronger as Delta loads up these fares with additional restrictions.

 

What Routes Have Basic Economy?

You can now find Delta basic economy fares on all routes heading to the following locations:

  • U.S. domestic flights, including Alaska and Hawaii
  • Mexico and Central America
  • The Caribbean
  • South America
  • Europe
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Australia

That's right: Almost every route in Delta's vast international network now features basic economy. That doesn't mean you'll always see basic economy fares on every single flight – Delta and other airlines sometimes decide not to sell these fares. But it's a strong possibility.

On the plus side, Delta gives basic economy fares one free checked bag on some of its longest routes to Asia and Australia. That's not the case if you buy a basic economy fare flying Delta to Europe or South America, for example.

Finally, Delta is an oddity in one way: Delta is still the only major carrier currently selling basic economy award tickets to passengers redeeming miles. Delta basic economy awards first cropped up many years ago and have expanded to many long-haul international routes in Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and even Australia and New Zealand.

 

basic economy price when redeeming delta skymiles

 

That stands out compared to every other airline in the world: You'll always get a main cabin fare when redeeming miles.

 

Tips to Beat Delta Basic Economy

Even the most restrictive basic economy fares don't have to be so painful. 

 

Carry a Delta Credit Card

Carrying one of the co-branded Delta credit cards from American Express is the key to making these fares less painful.

As a benefit of holding one of the Delta American Express cards (with the exception of the *delta blue*), you get a free checked bag and priority boarding. You get these benefits even when flying on a basic economy ticket … even if you didn't pay for your Delta ticket with that card!

So while flying on a Delta basic economy ticket would normally mean you board last, holding one of these cards allows you to board in Zone 5 – early enough to find a spot in an overhead bin for your bag. 

 

Delta numbered boarding

 

Additionally, all of the cards also offer a free checked bag – at least a $35 value each way, every flight. That means you could check a bag for free and not worry about stowing it overhead at all. You also don't even need to pay for your ticket with the card to receive these benefits.

For example, the *delta skymiles gold card* has an introductory annual fee of $0, and then $150 each year after that (see rates & fees). Even in your second year with the card, it takes just three roundtrip flights with a checked bag each year to come out ahead.

 

Pay or Pick a Seat Assignment for Free

Dreading the thought of getting stuck in a middle seat? Delta gives you a few ways to pick a seat.

Like most airlines, Delta allows you to pay an extra fee to pick a seat. Those seat assignments typically cost as low as $19 each way … or as much as $59. And that's just for a quick domestic flight.

But there's another, little-known way to potentially get a seat for free with Delta Basic Economy. 

Starting when the check-in window opens 24 hours before your flight, Delta allows you to move about the cabin to any open seats … at no cost. That's your chance to check the seat map and pick the best of whatever seats are left.

 

delta airlines seat map with open seats

 

This isn't a slam dunk by any means. If your flight is full, you'll be stuck with whatever seat Delta assigns you. But it's worth checking, double-checking, triple-checking, and quadruple-checking after the check-in window opens to see if you can snag a better seat as your flight draws closer. You can change your seat selection up until boarding begins.

Read our guide to picking your seat when flying Delta basic economy!

 

Bottom Line

Basic economy has transformed the airfare world. By offering these bare-bones fares, Delta can compete with budget carriers on price while pitting flyers with new restrictions – largely in hopes that they’ll pay up to upgrade.

Basic economy isn't going away. And as we've seen recently from Delta, it's going to continue to expand … and likely get worse.