Delta Air Lines is tired of using the word economy.
The airline industry simply can’t seem to settle on the name for its most common airfare seat class. Just like most carriers ditched the word coach from their common parlance decades ago, Delta has now decided to jettison economy from its vocabulary, too.
Along with the name change, the carrier is reorganizing fare classes into a system Delta hopes is simpler to grasp.
But don’t worry: The new Basic Economy is just as limited as the old one.
Starting on flights departing Oct. 1 or later, Delta’s Basic Economy will be called Main Basic.
All of the airline’s fare classes are being standardized to emphasize passengers’ ability to augment ticket purchases with various options.
Delta’s new fare categories as of Oct. 1
Main Cabin is becoming Delta Main.
Delta Comfort+ will be just Delta Comfort.
First Class will be called Delta First.
The premium-level Delta Premium Select and Delta One categories are keeping their names.
At every fare class, all ticket purchases come in two flavors, depending on how much you pay.
In Main, Classic will allow passengers to select seats during booking, board in Zones 6 or 7, make changes to reservations, cancel for free for a travel credit, and grant the potential for Medallion members to upgrade. If you’re a miles collector, Classic earns five times miles and Medallion Qualification Dollars.
Pay an additional amount that varies per booking, and Extra will get you Classic, full refund privileges, the ability to select seats right away, higher priority for upgrades, plus new benefits: earlier boarding in Zone 5 and, for miles mavens, earning seven times the miles per dollar spent.
“In some markets, customers may be offered ‘Refundable’ options in place of ‘Extra,’ which will allow flexibility and trip cancellation for a refund at any time prior to departure,” the airline said.
Delta’s straight-talking vocabulary cleanup has its limits, though: The airline won’t be calling these airfare categories.
Now, irritatingly, they’re “experiences,” an overused buzzword that in today’s travel world can mean anything from a guided tour to an outdoor adventure to a theme park ride.
Below, check out Delta’s table of the Main cabin ticket type inclusions.
The carrier warns that you’d better settle on which “experience” you want when you buy, because you can’t upgrade into Classic or Extra without red tape and expense.
“Experiences are not able to be modified post purchase,” Delta said in a statement. “However, if you would like a different experience, you are able to cancel your itinerary and book a new one (subject to applicable fees and/or fare differences).”
Delta’s cheapest possible ticket is now Delta Main Basic
Only the lowest cabin tier, Delta Main, will also come with the ability to save the maximum amount of money by making your ticket Main Basic.
Main Basic will be essentially what Basic Economy used to be.
In Main Basic, you still can’t get a seat assignment until check-in or even when you board. You still can’t change your flight, and if you cancel you’ll only get a partial e-credit. You won’t be eligible for upgrades, and you won’t earn miles.
Essentially, your checked luggage will have about as many consumer rights as you do.