Delta Brings Back Basic Economy Fare

Delta Air Lines’ Basic Economy fare – a bare-bones, highly restricted E-fare – is back after a hiatus of a few months.

The fare was tested in several markets beginning in March 2012.

Effective for travel on or after Feb. 1, the fare will have a few more restrictions than the current version, so travel agents will need to ensure that passengers know what they are getting before and after that date.

Basic Economy does not allow advance seat selection. Seats will be auto-assigned at check-in.

Tickets cannot be changed or refunded.  (Tickets purchased directly from are subject to 24-hour risk-free cancellation.

For travel on or after Feb. 1, Basic Economy passengers will not be eligible for paid or complimentary upgrades; paid, complimentary or discounted Economy Comfort seats, or paid or complimentary Preferred Seats, regardless of Medallion status or status on a partner airline.

No perks
The elimination of those perks is likely to make the fare, which already is not suited for business travelers, extremely unpalatable for frequent flyers.

Basic Economy passengers also will not be eligible for same-day confirmed or same-day standby travel changes, regardless of Medallion or other elite status, for travel on or after Feb. 1.

The only Medallion perks that will remain after Feb. 1 are priority boarding and the ability to earn Medallion Qualifying Miles, Dollars and Segments.

During Delta’s third-quarter earnings call with analysts, Glen Hauenstein, executive vice president of network planning and revenue management, said the Basic Economy fare will allow the carrier to compete with Spirit and other ultra-low-cost carriers.

“We want to be best-in-class in every sector we serve,” he said. Basic Economy allows Delta to create brands within the master brand, he said.

With Basic Economy, “you get the reliability of Delta, you get all the operational excellence of Delta, but you don’t get some of the amenities that you don’t need,” Hauenstein said. “And if you need those amenities, you can add them on later.”

Full inflight experience
Delta’s website also notes that Basic Economy passengers will otherwise have the full Delta inflight experience, including entertainment and snacks.

Basic Economy fares currently are available to and from:

•    Atlanta and Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Melbourne, West Palm Beach and Sarasota, Fla.; and New Orleans.

•    Detroit and Cancun; Erie, Pa.; and Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Fort Myers and Tampa, Fla.

•    Minneapolis/St. Paul and Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Fort Myers and Tampa, Fla., and Las Vegas.

•    Salt Lake City and Ontario, Calif., and Reno, Nev.