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
  

• Basic Economy Waiver Assistance

• 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 if Delta-marketed ticket (Excludes fares for Africa Point of Sale)
• Not being eligible for paid or complimentary upgrades or preferred seats, even with SkyMiles® Medallion® Status. However, Medallion Members still earn miles, Medallion Qualification Miles(MQMs), Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs)  and Medallion Qualification Dollars(MQDs – U.S.-based Members only).
• Not being eligible to combine with other Delta fares.

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

BACK TO TOP

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.

BACK TO TOP

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.

BACK TO TOP

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 if Delta-marketed ticket (Excludes fares for Africa Point of Sale).

BACK TO TOP

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.

BACK TO TOP

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.

BACK TO TOP

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 Africa and Middle East Points of Sale will offer a first checked bag for free and a second checked bag for a fee of USD $70.00.
• The Basic Economy fare for Australia Point of Sale will offer a first checked bag for free and a second checked bag for a fee of USD $100.00

BACK TO TOP

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.

BACK TO TOP

Basic Economy FAQs

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

BACK TO TOP

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, Priority Boarding and Medallion mileage bonuses. 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. 

BACK TO TOP

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.
  

BACK TO TOP

Basic Economy Markets                   

Basic Economy fares are broadly available in U.S. Domestic markets, markets between the U.S. and Latin America,  between the U.S. and Europe, from Australia to North America (US/CA/MX) for Australia Point of Sale and from certain countries in Africa and the Middle East to the U.S. for Africa and Middle East Points of Sale. Basic Economy is also selectively available in other markets. All Delta fares are available real-time with the Airline Tariff Publishing Company (ATPCO) and visible in the GDS.

Partner Basic Fare Products

Joint venture partners Air France-KLM, Alitalia, Aeromexico and Virgin Atlantic offer basic fares products that are similar to Delta’s Basic Economy.  For details on their fare products, please visit their respective websites. 

BACK TO TOP