xliioper

The fare difference on this route is $15, not $40. OP did not purchase this last minute as it would be way more than $80. $80 is a two-week advance purchase E with underlying X fare. A last minute fare would be a $268 K fare which does not have a corresponding E fare.

Nowhere does it say "Seats assigned at check-in". This is what is says when click the Basic Economy link and below is the text from FAQ's.

• Seat assigned at gate or after check-in

Can Medallion® Members Select A Seat Assignment If They Purchase A Basic Economy Fare?

All passengers who select a Basic Economy fare, including Medallion members, will not be able to select seats until after check-in, including Preferred Seats or Delta Comfort+ seats. If a Basic Economy seat is not available, a seat request card will be issued and can be used to clear security. Your seat will be automatically assigned at the gate.

rylan

With Basic Econ, you have a confirmed spot on the plane, just not a specific seat until it is assigned... which is why you show up on the standby list. Unfortunately any pax waiting for a seat assignment show up on the standby list, both those with a confirmed spot and those actually on standby waiting for availability. So, it can be confusing.

ethernal

It is $30 round trip which is how most people book tickets.

ethernal

Oddball in terms of a small difference or a big difference? $60 is standard for longer length routes. Even shorter routes like ATL->BWI have a $50 premium round trip. They keep creeping up (it used to be it was $10-20 or less for almost all routes).

MSPeconomist

Yes and moreover if OP and spouse have confirmed reservations and tickets for the flight, DL will pay someone else to get off if necessary: DL will do VDBs as necessary to get all confirmed passengers seats on the flight, including those who are confirmed (and appear/check in on time) wit BE tickets.

mills1090

I think he's saying oddball in terms of Main Cabin was cheaper than BE.

ethernal

Ahhh I see. That makes sense (and apologies that I can't read ). It's actually somewhat common on more complex routing because E fares have additional restrictions that can sometimes make them fall into higher underlying fare classes. So you may end up with a "V" main cabin fare but a "L" BE fare meaning that it prices higher.

xliioper

OP claimed it was an $80 BE fare which would be a one-way fare (not RT) with a 2 week advance purchase requirement and that MC was 50% more (which would be $40). Just pointing out that BE is nowhere near 50% more on this route.

Gig103

SERIOUSLY! AA is the same way, they should really update their terminology. "Awaiting seat assignment" would quell a lot of concern. Or even have two lists going forward, one for BE and one traditional standby.

ethernal

Fair point. We'll have to give it a few more years before Delta becomes as egregious as OP implied...

sevastras

Since this is solved through OP calling the PM line, I want to make a point. OP got lucky that they found someone that was willing to help on the other end, most likely because they are PM. BE are not eligible for C+ or F. I am guessing that since they were able to get seat assignments, that they reissued tickets in MC and will now be eligible for those upgrades. OP, are you now showing your names on the upgrade lists?
My wife refuses to pay an extra $50 a ticket on $160 RT tickets to see her family, so she books BE a lot more than I would. I have only been able to switch things up twice, once when something came up that we had to cancel our RT and book LAX>ORD then home where they were kind enough to reissue in MC to make the change the day before and another was in a SL when I was sitting in a middle seat in the back and they worked their magic to get me an aisle C+.
Point is, dont ever count on it.
And yes as others mentioned, you are on standby but there are seats blocked out for you and you are always at the top of the list with the others who have space blocked out as well.

Mr. Tickets

I missed something. Where does it say the OP's tickets were reissued? They just assigned seats.

sevastras

No one said they were reissued, I am just suggesting that they are from my experience. They "usually" wont issue a seat prior to the gate agent, from my understanding unless they were reissued into MC. If OP lets us know is they are on the upgrade list now, then we can be certain. If they are not, I am wrong on the MC thing and it would be good to know for certain.

justsawaufo

Fair point, but I don't see a reason to pay buck more for flights < 60 mins. JFK-ICN F with approx 14 hours in the air, is worth every penny imo. Especially since mine is an award booking. I had to re-position the starting point of my international leg to JFK.

My ticket was not re-issued, I'm still in BE (not in the upgrade list), I just have an assigned seat (exit row) without the ability to change it.

sevastras

Good to know!