Originally Posted by
publicmsu
Basic economy is a way for Delta to fleece its otherwise loyal customers into paying $30 more to not have to fly Southwest.
That's a true, if cynical way of putting it. Another way is to say "Delta is worth $30 more than Southwest."
In terms of free seat assignments and better IRROP's handling/less IRROP's, it might be true even for some infrequent flyers.
Nothing prevents an infrequent traveler from looking deeper and comparing seat pitch, seat configuration, IFE or no IFE, and change fees. (I think Southwest doesn't have the last one.)