The following information and guidelines are provided to help our travel partners understand and identify Basic Economy fares.   Topics include:

• Basic Economy - Overview
  
  
• How to Identify Basic Economy Fares
  
  
• Fare Shopping, Low Fare Finders, and GDS or Self- Booking Tools
  

• Voluntary Changes and Refunds
  
  
• Seat Selection
  
  
• Upgrades
  
  
• Baggage
  
  
• Boarding
  
  
• Basic Economy Overview Chart
  
  
• Additional Key Points
  
  
• Basic Economy Market List

Basic Economy - Overview

Basic Economy (E booking class) is Delta’s value-fare product for price-driven customers offering limited flexibility. Customers who purchase a Basic Economy fare enjoy the same flight experience as Main Cabin customers, including Delta’s world-class service, a Main Cabin seat, complimentary snacks, meals, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages (depending on flight distance), Wi-Fi for purchase and free access to hours of movies, shows and more on Delta studio, but with restrictions related to the ticket transaction.

Basic Economy Restrictions:

• Seat assignments are available for purchase starting seven days from departure until 24 hours prior to departure; pricing will vary per trip and may be purchased segment by segment. Otherwise, seat assignments are only available after check-in or at the gate for no fee. 
• Passengers traveling together, including families, may not be seated together
• Not being eligible for same-day changes or ticket refunds
• Boarding in the last zone
• Overhead bin space may be limited (checked luggage fees do not apply for gate-checked carry-ons)
• Not changeable unless noted in the fare rule
  
• For tickets issued on/after Dec. 9, 2021, for travel on/after Jan. 1, 2022, customers may cancel their reservation for a cancellation charge and apply the remaining value toward the purchase of a new ticket. The reservation associated with the original Basic Economy ticket must be canceled prior to departure or the full value of the ticket is forfeited. Check the fare rules to confirm cancellation charge and eligibility. 
• Not eligible for paid or complimentary upgrades or preferred seats, even with SkyMiles® Medallion® Status. 
• Please note:
  • For tickets issued prior to Dec. 9, 2021, or for tickets issued on/after Dec. 9, 2021, for travel through Dec. 31, 2021, Medallion Members earn miles, Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs), Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs) and Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs – U.S.-based Members only).
  • For tickets issued on/after Dec. 9, 2021, for travel on/after Jan. 1, 2022, no mileage or Medallion status is earned.
• Not eligible to combine with other Delta fares.

Additional information can also be found here on delta.com.

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How to Identify Basic Economy Fares

The below information outlines how you can identify Basic Economy fares:

• The booking code for Basic Economy fares will be “E” class; however, the fare basis code may indicate X, V or other classes.
• Basic Economy fares will contain an identifier in the fare basis code:
  • Fares identified via a "B" in the 2^nd to last position of the Fare Basis Code for all markets, except Europe, but including UK point of origin fares
  • Europe point of origin fares will have “LR” in position 5&6 of the fare basis code, for tickets issued for travel before April 1, 2020
  • Effective for travel on/after April 1, 2020, Europe point of origin fares will have “L” in position 7 of the fare basis code
  • Effective for travel on/after April 1, 2020, Africa/Middle East point of origin will have “R” in position 7 of the fare basis code
     
• The Basic Economy fare will require both ‘E’ Class and the class of service of the fare basis code to be available (dual inventory check).
• Fare type codes EOU, ERU and PFD are used to identify Basic Economy.
• Fare type code PRU is used to identify Basic Economy for exit Europe to the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

View complete information regarding  Delta’s Fare Basis Code structure used to identify Basic Economy fares.

Additional Information 

Agencies or corporate accounts may elect to suppress or inhibit Basic Economy fares from their customer booking tools. Corporate customers desiring to suppress or inhibit Basic Economy Fares should contact their agency.  Agencies with questions on the latest suppression capabilities provided by a GDS should contact their GDS provider.

Important: If a travel agent makes a reservation using a Basic Economy fare and ends the PNR, then decides they want to use a higher fare (not a Basic Economy fare) so that their customer can get an advance seat assignment, they must cancel the original reservation and rebook the new itinerary for the higher fare in a new PNR, prior to ticketing the original reservation.

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Fare Shopping, Low Fare Finders, and GDS or Self- Booking Tools

If Basic Economy is not suppressed, when using certain self-booking tools or low-fare finder functionality that search for the lowest fares, it is important to note the following:

• Basic Economy will likely be returned in markets with availability, as it is typically the lowest fare.
• To shop for Delta products beyond Basic Economy that are eligible for advanced seat assignments and full Medallion benefits, travel agents should consult the GDS or self-booking tool provider to determine the most effective entries and processes.
• Basic Economy fare rules are published and available via the GDS.
• Interline combinations are only permitted with partner basic fare products. Additionally, combining Basic and non-Basic Economy segments is not permitted.
• Like other fares and based on competitive needs, Basic Economy fare rules may include advance purchase requirements, minimum or maximum stays, and in some cases, Saturday night stays.
• Markets with a Basic Economy fare offering are subject to change without notice.

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Voluntary Changes and Refunds

• Basic Economy fares are not eligible to make same-day confirmed or same-day standby travel changes, regardless of Medallion or other elite status.
• Non-refundable, except due to involuntary cases such as Irregular Operations (IROPS).
• Not changeable unless noted in the fare rule.
• Effective for tickets issued on/after December 9, 2021, for travel on/after January 1, 2022:
  • Basic Economy fares and Award Travel will be cancelable and result in a partial credit, equal to the ticket value less a cancellation charge. 
    • ​Customers may cancel their reservation for a charge and apply the remaining value toward the purchase of a new ticket.
  • The remaining value must be used within the validity of the original ticket
  • The following cancellation charges will apply:
    • For travel within the 50 United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands or for travel between the United States or Canada and Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico there is a $99 cancellation charge. Check the fare rules to confirm cancellation charge and eligibility.
    • For most long haul international travel there is a $199 cancellation charge; however, cancellation charge amount may vary internationally, and some exceptions apply for international points of sale. Check the fare rules to confirm cancellation charge and eligibility.
    • Or the equivalent in miles if ticket was purchased with miles.
  • To qualify, the reservation associated with the original Basic Economy ticket must be canceled prior to departure. Cancellations are available anytime post-purchase up to departure. No Show forfeiture policy is in effect, resulting in no remaining value if the reservation is not canceled prior to departure.
  • If the cancellation charge exceeds the ticket price, no value remains on the ticket; the customer will not be asked to pay the remaining amount of the cancellation charge.
  • Customers can work with their Travel Agency to apply the value towards new travel. Full details can be found in the Policy Library under Self-Service Exceptions . 
    
    

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Seat Selection

• Seat assignments are available for purchase starting seven days from departure until 24 hours prior to departure; pricing will vary per trip and may be purchased segment by segment. Otherwise, seat assignments are only available after check-in or at the gate for no fee.  
  • The fee is nonrefundable; however, seat assignments may be changed after purchase (i.e. from 30A to 25C).
  • Seat assignment purchases may be made on delta.com or via Global Sales Support or through Delta Reservations. 
  • Basic Economy seat assignment purchases are also available via Travelport (Worldspan, Apollo, Galileo) and Amadeus GDS
  • All other Basic Economy fare restrictions still apply.
  • Fee is subject to change without notice.  
• For customers who do not wish to purchase a seat assignment, a seat will be assigned in the Main Cabin after check-in.
• Delta Comfort+®and Preferred Seat purchase will not be made available to Basic Economy fares, for purchase or assignment.

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Upgrades

Basic Economy fares are not eligible for paid, complimentary or discounted upgrades Delta Comfort+® or paid or complimentary upgrade to Preferred Seats, regardless of Medallion or other elite status. However, Medallion Members can still receive these benefits when traveling on a Main Cabin fare.

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Baggage

Baggage fees are assessed in U.S. domestic markets, U.S.-Europe markets and U.S.-Latin America and the Caribbean markets for Basic Economy fares. Exceptions apply, click here for details.

Please note:

• The Basic Economy fare for travel between the U.S., Canada or Mexico and Africa (excluding North Africa*) and the Middle East will offer a first checked bag for free and a second checked bag for a fee of USD $100.00.
• The Basic Economy fare for travel between the U.S., Canada or Mexico and Europe (including Turkey and certain Eastern Europe (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia and Ukraine) will offer a first checked bag for a fee of USD $75.00 and a second checked bag for a fee of USD $100.00 
  
• The Basic Economy fare for travel between the U.S., Canada or Mexico and Australia will offer a first checked bag for free and a second checked bag for a fee of USD $100.00

*For the North Africa markets of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco:

• The Basic Economy fare for originating from the U.S. to North Africa will offer a first checked bag for a fee of USD $75.00 and a second checked bag for a fee of USD $100.00
• The Basic Economy fare for originating in North Africa to the U.S. will offer a first checked bag for free and a second checked bag for a fee of USD $100.00
• The Basic Economy fare for travel between CA/MX  and North Africa will offer a first checked bag for free and a second checked bag for a fee of USD $100.00

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Boarding

• Basic Economy customers will board last; access to overhead bins may be limited.
• Priority Boarding for purchase as a Trip Extra/Travel Extra will not be offered for Basic Economy fares.
• Medallion Members, others with elite status, and Delta SkyMiles American Express credit card holders continue to enjoy their boarding benefits.

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Basic Economy FAQs

For additional details, or to compare seat options, please visit delta.com.

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Basic Economy Overview Chart

Medallion Members

When flying on a Basic Economy fare, Medallion Members will continue to enjoy waived checked baggage fees, Priority Check-in, and Priority Boarding. However, please note Medallion Members will not receive paid or Complimentary Upgrades when flying on a Basic Economy fare.

For more details, please visit delta.com. 

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Additional Key Points

• If a GDS, agency or corporate account has elected to suppress or inhibit the Basic Economy fare from their customer booking tool, our updated Basic Economy product will be suppressed.
  
  
• Customers that purchase a Basic Economy fare will travel in Delta’s Main Cabin and experience the same superior on-board experience as customers that purchase a Main Cabin fare. To view complete details, terms and conditions of Delta’s Basic Economy product, visit delta.com.
  

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Partner Basic Fare Products

Delta's partner airlines may offer their own basic fare products similar to Delta’s Basic Economy fares. For additional details, please visit their respective websites. 

Air France and KLM - Business Solutions

Aeromexico - Aeromexico Business

Korean Air - KALMATE

Virgin Atlantic - Virgin Atlantic Partner Hub

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