Basic Experiences Updated November 19, 2025
The following information and guidelines are provided to help our travel partners understand and identify fares with a Basic Experience. Topics include:
- Basic Experiences - Overview
- How to Identify Basic Experiences
- Fare Shopping, Low Fare Finders, and GDS or Self- Booking Tools
- Voluntary Changes and Refunds
- Seat Selection
- Upgrades
- Baggage
- Boarding
- Basic Experience Overview Chart
- Additional Key Points
Basic Experiences - Overview
Basic Experiences are Delta’s value-fare products for price-driven customers offering limited flexibility. Customers who purchase a Basic Experience enjoy the same on board experience including Delta’s world-class service, complimentary snacks, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages (depending on flight distance), Wi-Fi for SkyMiles members and free access to thousands of hours of movies, shows and more on Delta Studio, but with restrictions related to the ticket transaction.
Basic Experience Restrictions:
Seat assignments are available for purchase starting thirty days from departure until 24 hours prior to departure
Pricing will vary per trip and may be purchased segment by segment ;otherwise, seats will be assigned after check-in or at the gate for no fee
Passengers traveling together may not be seated together
Not being eligible for same-day changes or ticket refunds
Boarding in Zone 8 for Delta Main Basic; and Zone 3 for Delta Comfort Basic
Overhead bin space may be limited when boarding in Zone 8 (checked luggage fees do not apply for gate-checked carry-ons)
Changeable for a fee based on fare rules
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 Experience ticket must be canceled prior to departure or the full value of the ticket is forfeited
Check the fare rules to confirm the applicable cancellation fee and eligibility
Not eligible for paid or complimentary or paid upgrades or preferred seats, even with SkyMiles® Medallion® Status
Please note, no mileage or credit towards Medallion Status is earned with the purchase of a Delta Main Basic fare
Reduced mileage is earned with the purchase of a Delta Comfort Basic fare
Not eligible to combine with other Delta fares
No entry into a Delta Sky Club is permitted for Delta Main Basic fares, regardless of access method
Delta Comfort Basic fares are allowed entry to a Delta Sky Club with Delta Sky Club credentials such as membership or an eligible credit card
Additional information can also be found here on delta.com.
How to Identify Basic Experience Fares
The below information outlines how you can identify Basic Experience fares:
View complete information regarding Delta’s Fare Basis Code structure used to identify Basic Experience fares.
Additional Information
Agencies or corporate accounts may elect to suppress or inhibit Basic Experience fares from their customer booking tools. Corporate customers desiring to suppress or inhibit Basic Experience 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 Experience fare and ends the PNR, then decides they want to use a higher fare (not a Basic Experience 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.
Fare Shopping, Low Fare Finders, and GDS or Self- Booking Tools
If Basic Experiences are not suppressed, when using certain self-booking tools or low-fare finder functionalities that search for the lowest fares, it is important to note the following:
Delta Main Basic will likely be returned in markets with availability, as it is typically the lowest fare
To shop for Delta products beyond Basic Experiences 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 Experience 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 Experience segments is not permitted
Like other fares and based on competitive needs, Basic Experience fare rules may include advance purchase requirements, minimum or maximum stays, and in some cases, Saturday night stays
Markets with a Basic Experience fare offering are subject to change without notice
Voluntary Changes and Refunds
Basic Experience fares are not eligible to make same-day confirmed or same-day standby travel changes, regardless of Medallion or other elite status
Non-refundable unless noted in the fare rule or required by law
- Changeable with a fee unless noted in the fare rule
- Basic Experience fares and Award Travel will be cancelable and result in a partial credit if noted in the fare rule, 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 change and 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 and Central America, there is a $99 cancellation charge. Check the fare rules to confirm the applicable cancellation charge and eligibility
- For most long haul U.S. Point of Origin 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 the applicable cancellation charge and eligibility
- Or the equivalent in miles if the ticket was purchased with miles
To qualify, the reservation associated with the original Basic Experience ticket must be canceled prior to departure
Cancellations are available anytime post-purchase up to departure
Delta has a "No Show" forfeiture policy in effect, resulting in no remaining value if the reservation is not canceled prior to departure unless otherwise required by law
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
Seat Selection
Seat assignments are available for purchase starting 30 days from departure until 24 hours prior to departure; pricing will vary per trip and may be purchased segment by segment
- Otherwise, seats will be assigned after check-in or at the gate for no fee
- The fee is nonrefundable; however, purchased seat assignments may be changed within the same product
- If the ticket is canceled or changed, seat fees will be returned in the form of an eCredit that can be used toward a future Delta ticket purchase
- Seat assignment purchases may be made on delta.com or via Global Sales Solutions or through Delta Reservations
- All other Basic Experience fare restrictions still apply
- The fee is subject to change without notice
For customers who do not wish to purchase a seat assignment, a seat will be assigned in their purchased product after check-in
For Delta Main Basic fares, Delta Comfort and Preferred Seats are not available for purchase
Baggage
Baggage fees are assessed for Basic Experience fares. Exceptions apply, click here for details.
Boarding
Delta Main Basic 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 Delta Main Basic fares
Delta Comfort Basic customers will continue to board in Zone 3
Medallion Members, others with elite status, and Delta SkyMiles American Express credit card holders continue to enjoy their boarding benefits
Basic Experience FAQs
For additional details, or to compare seat options, please visit delta.com.
Basic Experiences Overview Chart
| Attribute | Delta Main Basic | Delta Comfort Basic |
| Advance Seat Assignments | More than 30 days prior to departure - No. Within 30 days and up to 24 hours prior to departure - Yes, for a fee. Within and after the check-in window - seats will be assigned at no fee. |
More than 30 days prior to departure - No. Within thirty 30 days and up to 24 hours prior to departure - Yes, for a fee. Within and after the check-in window - seats will be assigned at no fee. |
| Paid upgrade to Delta One, Delta First, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort or Preferred seat | No | No |
| Complimentary Upgrade to Delta One, Delta First, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort or Preferred seat | No | No |
| Refundable | No, except where required by law. | No, except where required by law. |
| Changeable | Changeable for a fee. Check the fare rules for more details. | Changeable for a fee. Check the fare rules for more details. |
| Cancelable | Fares will be cancelable and result in a partial credit equal to the ticket value less a cancellation charge. Customers may apply the remaining value toward the purchase of a new ticket. Check the fare rules to confirm the cancellation charge and eligibility. Waiver may be required; full details can be found in the Policy Library under Self-Service Exceptions. | Fares will be cancelable and result in a partial credit equal to the ticket value less a cancellation charge. Customers may apply the remaining value toward the purchase of a new ticket. Check the fare rules to confirm the cancellation charge and eligibility. https://pro.delta.com/content/agency/us/en/policy-library/self-service-exceptions/basic-economy--be--cancellation-charge-exception-.html |
| Same Day Confirmed | No | No |
| Same Day Standby | No | No |
| Priority Boarding for purchase - Trip Extra | No | N/A |
| Priority Boarding for Medallion Members | Yes | Yes |
| Option to Upsell in MyTrips | No | No |
| Mileage Accrual (Includes MQDs) | No | Yes, at reduced earn rate for miles (MQDs are at the same rate as Classic experience tickets) |
Medallion Members
When flying on a Basic Experience 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 Experience fare.
For more details, please visit delta.com.
Additional Key Points
If a GDS, agency or corporate account has elected to suppress or inhibit the Delta Main Basic or Delta Comfort Basic fares from their customer booking tool, these updated Basic Experience fares will be suppressed
Customers that purchase a Delta Main Basic fare will travel in Delta’s Main Cabin and experience the same superior on-board experience as customers that purchase a Delta Main Classic or Extra fare. To view complete details, terms and conditions of Delta Main Basic product, visit delta.com
Customers that purchase a Delta Comfort Basic fare will travel in Delta’s Comfort Cabin and experience the same superior on-board experience as customers that purchase a Delta Comfort Classic or Extra fare. To view complete details, terms and conditions of Delta Comfort Basic product, visit delta.com
Partner Basic Fare Products
Delta's partner airlines may offer their own basic fare products similar to Delta Main Basic fares. For additional details, please visit their respective websites.
Air France and KLM - Business Solutions
