Still will not - no mileage accrual for MQMs etc I believe. I think you still get MQDs :) . Also I think as a DM I would still get good IROPS handling- I think?

Incorrect. You get full points just like any other discounted coach fare.

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...ith-delta.html

Economy, Discounted and Deeply Discounted Economy: M, S, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X, V, E earn 100% MQMs

Wow - I have obviously been under a miss-apprehension. :o

I still will not - I just could not bring myself to purchase one. I have no rationale reason left - but just could not do it. :)

At least with Delta, you get the free carry-on. I work for an airline, so most of the time I'll non-rev, but I'll buy a ticket if I know I absolutely have to be somewhere at a certain time. In my case, basic economy makes perfect sense. $218 roundtrip between ATL-LAS in E is on par with NK and F9 when you include the carry-on fee for instance, and Delta's change fees would completely eat the ticket price anyway if I needed to change it. Only benefit loss is the seat assignment for someone with no status, and on something like 4/6 trips, I got economy comfort because that was the only seat available. I always check the seat map at T-24 before checking in with Basic Economy, because if there's only middle seats available, it sometimes makes more sense to check in at the airport and try my luck with the gate agent.

The difference between Basic Economy and Main Cabin isn't always minimal.

For example, the lowest round-trip E fare between ATL and LAX is $251, while the lowest Main Cabin fare for the same routing is $311. I personally wouldn't book Basic Economy, but I can certainly understand why someone with no elite status would in order to save $60: they're probably going to get a undesirable/middle seat anyway, are very unlikely to change their flight, and aren't eligible for upgrades.

I would probably book Basic Economy in that situation. However, I'm savvy enough to check-in immediately 24 hours before departure, and I would snag the best available seat. Even if there were no good seats, checkin in as early as possible would put me ahead of every other Basic Economy customer on the airport standby list. I think the people who wait to check-in one hour before departure at the airport are the ones who get very bad seats.

I agree. As you know, there's a decent amount of movement in seat assignments within 24 hours (due to SDCs, upgrades, etc.), so if one's motivated and hawks the seat map (or has an EF account), they could probably snag a non-middle/fairly desirable seat after check-in, especially on flights with lower load factors where E is likely to be offered. As you pointed out, though, most fliers either intentionally or unintentionally booking an E fare are probably not this savvy.

So, with Basic E, you CAN choose a seat at T-24? I thought a seat was assigned to you with no changes allowed?!?

You can choose a seat during the check-in window.

Or the better ones... If EC is all that's available, guess what E fare guy is getting? Sure middle seat in the back by the lav sucks, but sometimes you can get lucky with something much better. I've gotten EC and the exit row the few times I've booked E.

Any seat? Just "regular" Y, I guess - - not C+?!?

I have to book all work travel through our AMEX corporate travel web site and it really isn't clear (I made the mistake once of booking an E fare). Now I click on the fare rules for each flight leg.

i am just saying that there are certain web sites where I can see making this error, at least once.

Preferred seats are not allowed.

So, just to be clear, E fare pax can change to other non-preferred Y seats, but NOT Y+, right?

Yes.