So, you’re thinking about flying with Delta Air Lines. Looking at cheap fares online, you may have run across Delta’s Basic Economy.
With a Basic Economy ticket, you should have firm travel dates and don’t expect a lot of extras, because these fares are no-frills flights.
In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about Delta’s Basic Economy seats.
Delta Basic Economy Fares: Everything You Need To Know
We’re not saying that these fares don’t come with restrictions, because they do — a lot of them. But you need to know exactly what they are so you can choose whether the flight is right for you.
Quick Links
Here’s everything you need to know about what you get with a Delta Basic Economy Fare:
What Is Delta Basic Economy?
Delta Basic Economy is a no-frills airfare designed to compete with the fares on low budget airlines like WestJet and Allegiant Air.
Basic Economy fares are hard to find on Delta.com, but they can be found pretty easily on the online booking sites like Booking.com, Expedia, Travelocity and Orbit.
As I alluded to earlier, Delta makes them visible there so that they can compete with other budget fares.
What’s The Difference Between Basic Economy And Main Cabin On Delta?
The difference between Basic Economy and Main Cabin on Delta is that you don’t get many of the features available to standard Main Cabin passenger.
That means you don’t get a seat assignment, ticket changes or other amenities.
Let’s talk about that a bit more in the next section on Basic Economy restrictions.
Restrictions
- Complimentary carry-on bag. Because you’ll likely board near the end, the overhead compartment space may be limited, but they may gate check your bags for free.
- Checked bag fee, depending on the route: Please visit Delta’s Baggage and Travel Fees page for details
- Seat assigned after check-in: Depending on the flight, you may be able to pay for a better seat.
- No ticket changes or upgrades: The exception is if you’ve booked your flight within the last 24 hours.
- No same-day confirmed or same-day standby travel changes
Delta Basic Economy Seating
Because Delta does branded boarding represented by colors, you’ll usually have to pay attention to which color is boarding, but not with Basic Economy.
With those low-cost tickets, you’re basically boarding last on all Delta flights. By the rare chance that the plane is not full and you can spread around, you may be able to move up into a better seat in the cabin.
If not, you’ll typically be seated in what was formerly known as the fifth zone of the plane. Again, you may be able to move up into the Cabin 3, Cabin 2 and Cabin 1 areas depending on availability.
Can I Bring A Carry-On?
All passengers boarding the main cabin in Basic Economy are allowed to bring a carry-on as well as a personal item.
The carry-on must be able to fit in the overhead bin. Meanwhile, the personal item must be able to fit underneath the seat in front of you.
Delta Basic Economy Food
While some of Delta’s more priciest seats come with better meals depending on the flight, Basic Economy food consists of Delta’s signature service.
Food: You will get complimentary snacks like Biscoff cookies and peanuts.
Drink: For beverages, you’ll be served non-alcoholic beverages i.e. Starbucks coffee, tea, juice, sodas or water.
If you want more robust food, then Delta’s Basic Economy is not for you.
How To Save With A Delta Basic Economy Fare
There is however one way you can get around the free checked bag fee. If you are a Skymiles credit card holder, you may — and up to eight people on your reservation — be eligible for a free checked bag.
That little perk saves you $30 each way.
Final Word
To sum it all up, Delta Basic Economy is for people who are OK with not as much legroom as other seats on the plane and last-second seating arrangements. But it’s still a Delta flight.
That means you’ll still get the quality and service you’ve come to know and love on Delta.
To Atlanta is one of the most convenient places to travel to and from. A large part of that is because Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is so accessible.
Not only is it the world’s busiest airport, but it’s state-of-the-art in every way. If you’re interesting in traveling around Atlanta via car or even on scooter, here’s what to know.
Want to learn more tips for your trip? Check out our Travel Page.
More Articles Like This:
Traveling Soon? Check Out Our International Checklist
- How not to get kicked off a Delta flight
- How to get a cheap flight out of Hartsfield Airport
- How To Save On Your Next Trip
