Flying Delta basic economy: Details on baggage fees, seats and boarding

If you’re preparing for a trip and notice you’ve booked a Delta basic economy fare, you may have questions about what this fare allows and how your experience may be different from previous trips you’ve taken with Delta Air Lines. This guide aims to answer all of your questions.

What is Delta basic economy?

Delta basic economy fares often cost less than the airline’s other economy fares (Main Cabin and Comfort Plus). However, Delta basic economy fares place restrictions or fees on seat assignment, boarding order, upgrades, changes, cancellations, lounge access, mileage earning, credit toward Delta elite status and — for select markets — checked baggage.

Some basic economy restrictions are waived for members with Delta Medallion status or select Delta credit cards. So, check the relevant sections near the end of this guide if you fall into either (or both) of these groups.

Related: 4 things I think about when booking basic economy

Delta basic economy baggage

If you have carry-on luggage or plan to check a bag, here’s what you should know about Delta basic economy baggage policies.

Does Delta basic economy include carry-on baggage?

When flying on a Delta basic economy ticket, you can bring one carry-on bag and one personal item. Your carry-on bag must be no larger than 22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches, and your personal item must fit under the seat in front of you. A purse, briefcase, small backpack, camera bag, diaper bag or laptop bag could be your personal item.

In addition to your carry-on and personal items, you can also bring a jacket, an umbrella, food or drink that you purchased after clearing the security checkpoint, duty-free merchandise, strollers, wheelchairs, child safety seats and assistive devices (like crutches). You may be eligible to carry additional complimentary items if you travel with an infant-in-arms or an in-cabin pet.

However, since Delta basic economy passengers board last (more on that below), overhead bin space may be limited or unavailable when you board. As such, Delta may require you to gate-check your bag at no additional cost. Likewise, items such as strollers, wheelchairs and child safety seats may need to be gate-checked due to size.

Related: Delta baggage fees and how to avoid paying them

Delta checked bag fee for basic economy

You can check a bag when flying on a Delta basic economy fare, but you’ll need to pay a fee. The fee varies by route but is often the same regardless of whether you booked a ticket in basic economy, Main Cabin or Comfort Plus.

When traveling within the U.S. on a Delta-operated flight, you’ll usually need to pay $35 for your first standard checked bag and $45 for your second standard checked bag. By standard checked bag, Delta means a bag that weights less than 50 pounds and is no larger than 62 inches when you sum its length, width and height.

You’ll find many exceptions and limitations — such as the fact that all passengers on flights to or from Key West are limited to one checked bag — and a useful baggage fee calculator on Delta’s baggage policies page. I recommend checking Delta’s baggage fee calculator to get the most up-to-date information about the basic economy baggage fees for your specific route, booking date and travel date. You can even use the calculator before booking your flight.

Related: Is Delta about to eliminate the 20-minute bag guarantee?

Delta basic economy seat selection

You can pay to select a seat when flying on some Delta basic economy fares. On a space-available basis, you can pay to select a standard economy seat — but not a Preferred or Comfort Plus seat — ahead of wholly domestic flights for a per-seat, per-flight-segment fee.

If you don’t want to pay to select a seat or are flying basic economy on an international flight, you’ll be assigned a seat after check-in or at the gate. However, when you fly on a basic economy fare, you aren’t guaranteed a seat next to traveling companions — including family members or groups.

Related: Where is the best seat on an airplane? Here’s how to choose the place to sit whenever you fly

Delta boarding process for basic economy

Delta basic economy passengers board in Group 8, the last group to board.

Gate agents may require passengers to gate-check carry-on bags by the time the boarding process reaches Group 8. As such, you should consider the possibility of gate-checking your carry-on bag when flying on a Delta basic economy fare.

Related: Delta rolls out new boarding process, replaces groups with numbers

Changing a Delta basic economy ticket

You cannot change a Delta basic economy flight originating in the United States, Canada or the Caribbean. However, you may be able to pay a fee to change your Delta basic economy ticket if your travel originates in select regions (such as the United Kingdom) or if your travel is from select regions (such as Asia and the Pacific).

If you’re flying on a Delta basic economy fare, you can’t make same-day flight changes (including same-day confirmed and same-day standby).

Related: How to avoid airline change and cancellation fees

Canceling a Delta basic economy ticket

You can cancel a Delta basic economy ticket and get a full refund to your original method of payment in several situations:

• When you cancel within 24 hours of purchase
• A significant involuntary schedule change at least 72 hours before your departure
• Involuntary flight cancellation or significant delay of greater than 120 minutes within 72 hours of departure

If you decide to cancel a Delta basic economy ticket for other reasons, you can often receive a partial travel credit. Delta basic economy tickets originating in the U.S. or Canada for travel to the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, Central America or Mexico will be subject to a $99 cancellation fee deducted from the value of your ticket. Meanwhile, Delta basic economy tickets originating in the U.S. or Canada for travel to most other international destinations will be subject to a $199 cancellation fee.

However, you may face a different fee or not be able to get a partial travel credit if your Delta basic economy ticket is for travel originating elsewhere.

If you redeem Delta miles for a basic economy award ticket and then need to cancel, the cancellation fee is 9,900 miles for domestic travel within the United States and Canada and 19,900 miles for international travel. If you booked an award ticket originating outside the U.S. or Canada and then decide to cancel your ticket, you’ll need to pay a redeposit fee of $150 to get your miles back into your account.

Related: Ultimate guide to canceling a flight and getting a refund with major US airlines

Does Delta basic economy earn miles?

When flying on basic economy tickets, you won’t earn Delta SkyMiles or accrue Medallion Qualification Dollars. If you want to earn miles or work toward Delta Medallion status, you’ll want to purchase at least a Main Cabin ticket.

Delta credit card perks

Many of the perks Delta credit cards offer still apply even when you purchase basic economy fare for Delta-operated flights. For example, you can still enjoy the following perks on Delta basic economy fares if your card offers them:

• First checked bag free (for you and up to eight other passengers traveling with you on the same reservation)
• Zone 5 priority boarding
• 20% savings (given as a statement credit) on eligible prepurchased meals and inflight food and beverage purchases

Delta Reserve cardmembers can no longer access Delta Sky Club lounges when flying on a basic economy ticket. But Delta Reserve cardmembers can still access Centurion Lounges and Escape Lounges when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. However, for access to Centurion Lounges, Delta Reserve cardmembers must pay for their flight with a U.S.-issued American Express card.

Related: How to use credit cards to defeat basic economy

If you’re looking for a new consumer Delta credit card, here’s a look at some of your options:

Remember Amex’s one-bonus-per-lifetime restrictions when adding Delta cards to your wallet. After all, signing up for a higher annual fee Delta card with a bonus may prohibit you from earning a bonus on a lower annual fee Delta card in the future.

Related: Which credit card should you use for Delta Air Lines flights?

Elite benefits when flying Delta basic economy

When flying on a Delta basic economy fare, Delta Medallion status members and SkyTeam elite members receive many of the same benefits they’d get on Main Cabin fares. These benefits include:

• At least a first checked bag is complimentary (more for some itineraries and some elite tiers; sometimes includes up to eight companions on the same reservation)
• Priority check-in
• Priority boarding (group number varies by elite tier)

However, Medallion status members will not receive paid or complimentary upgrades (including Comfort Plus or Preferred seats) when flying on basic economy fares.

Related: How to earn Delta Medallion elite status without flying

Bottom line

Delta basic economy fares have restrictions on seat selection and boarding zone, and this type of ticket doesn’t allow for upgrades or mileage earning. But, Delta basic economy passengers can bring a personal item and carry-on bag, and you can often get a partial travel credit if you must cancel a Delta basic economy flight.

Travelers with Delta Medallion status, Sky Team status or an eligible Delta credit card can avoid some of the most annoying aspects of basic economy. For example, elite members and cardholders maintain the baggage allowance and boarding zone provided by their elite status or eligible credit card. So, having a Delta credit card could pay off even if you only travel on Delta in basic economy a few times yearly.