Basic Economy for family
Jun 22, 2019, 2:33 pm
#61
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
One can't compare what DL (or any other carrier) offered in the past to what it offers today. Way too many variables. There was, after all, a time when Y denoted a seat which reclined further and included a full hot meal on domestic flights of appropriate length.
Today, people pay a premium to sit in C+ which gives them a bit more pitch than steerage, but still less than Y back in the day.
All a big, so what?
Today, people pay a premium to sit in C+ which gives them a bit more pitch than steerage, but still less than Y back in the day.
All a big, so what?
Jun 22, 2019, 2:33 pm
#62
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,309
The problem I have with your statement is the word “lower.” Lower than what? Before, legacy carriers like Delta matched the fares of low-cost carriers like Spirit. When they introduced Basic Economy fares, those became the old fares and the Main Cabin fares increased. So, the narrative that airlines are providing lower fares is not really true.
Jun 22, 2019, 2:38 pm
#63
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Right, including the "service" of seating a parent next to their four year old.
Jun 22, 2019, 3:00 pm
#64
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 258
Short answer is Delta can run their airline how they want.
if you don’t like Delta because of BE terms yet insist on buying BE than fly someone else. If delta became known as the airline that hates families with small children works for me. I am sure delta would be very sad they didn’t sell any BE tickets for a flight.
I personally will not voluntarily swap to a lesser seat to accommodate anyone. It is Delta’s plane so if they say I have to or get off then off I go.
I find it odd in one paragraph someone can say sitting with my family is very valuable to me AND I have no idea why an airline would use it as a differentiator between two different fares. They do because it is very valuable to some people and no concern at all for others. Seems pretty hypocritical to say you want to take the advantages (lower price) and refuse the consequences (no assigned seat).
if you don’t like Delta because of BE terms yet insist on buying BE than fly someone else. If delta became known as the airline that hates families with small children works for me. I am sure delta would be very sad they didn’t sell any BE tickets for a flight.
I personally will not voluntarily swap to a lesser seat to accommodate anyone. It is Delta’s plane so if they say I have to or get off then off I go.
I find it odd in one paragraph someone can say sitting with my family is very valuable to me AND I have no idea why an airline would use it as a differentiator between two different fares. They do because it is very valuable to some people and no concern at all for others. Seems pretty hypocritical to say you want to take the advantages (lower price) and refuse the consequences (no assigned seat).
Jun 22, 2019, 3:14 pm
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,348
Jun 22, 2019, 3:28 pm
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,348
I find it odd in one paragraph someone can say sitting with my family is very valuable to me AND I have no idea why an airline would use it as a differentiator between two different fares. They do because it is very valuable to some people and no concern at all for others. Seems pretty hypocritical to say you want to take the advantages (lower price) and refuse the consequences (no assigned seat).
Last edited by ATOBTTR; Jun 22, 2019 at 4:03 pm
Jun 22, 2019, 4:03 pm
#67
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,880
Regarding the issue of separating families– you don’t see how it feels exploitative to some people to have to pay more to sit next to their young child? You don’t have to agree– it’s a question of fairness, which is subjective.
Jun 22, 2019, 5:10 pm
#68
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
Jun 22, 2019, 5:30 pm
#69
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,880
It know it feels exploitative when a family with a young child boards early, sits in my preselected seat, and then refuses to move to their assigned middle seat. Especially when they insist both parents must sit with the child. The airline facilitated it by allowing the young child to be on a BE, permitted them to them board early, and then didn’t require the FA to demand they move to their assigned seats or disembark. Instead the airline expects me to move to their middle seat without compensation. And the airline didn’t require the family to buy up to the seats they squatted. Yes, I feel exploited.
Jun 22, 2019, 5:35 pm
#70
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 258
If Delta wants to change and become THE family friendly airlines they can. It would be a business decision. Shoot my home Airport is Orlando. i would love families to boycott delta....
Jun 22, 2019, 5:39 pm
#71
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 1,982
This spring I took a four segment trip. On each leg of the journey there were families, spouses, etc. trying to sit in seats they were not assigned which always resulted in my assigned seat being taken. It was truly maddening. This has not happened to me before, but I suspect it was because I fly a lot through Florida (touristy area) which lends itself to a lot of price-sensitive passengers.
I pay extra for my tickets to choose my specific seat, and almost always pay to fly in a premium cabin like C+, F, or at least a premium seat like an exit row. My timeliness and willingness to pay extra for this seat means I want to sit in my exact seat. It is why I refuse to fly SouthWest airlines, I do not like the uncertainty of knowing where I will be sitting. I want the exact seat I paid for, and I will 99% of the time refuse to give up that seat to someone else.
I do not mean to be insensitive to families. I know that traveling as a group of 2 or 5 can be expensive. When my family travels it is expensive and we often choose less expensive tickets as a part of that. But no one said that you could be guaranteed all the benefits of life with none of the costs.
I pay extra for my tickets to choose my specific seat, and almost always pay to fly in a premium cabin like C+, F, or at least a premium seat like an exit row. My timeliness and willingness to pay extra for this seat means I want to sit in my exact seat. It is why I refuse to fly SouthWest airlines, I do not like the uncertainty of knowing where I will be sitting. I want the exact seat I paid for, and I will 99% of the time refuse to give up that seat to someone else.
I do not mean to be insensitive to families. I know that traveling as a group of 2 or 5 can be expensive. When my family travels it is expensive and we often choose less expensive tickets as a part of that. But no one said that you could be guaranteed all the benefits of life with none of the costs.
Jun 22, 2019, 5:46 pm
#72
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
Is this for the protection of the other passengers, or for the kids? I assume it is for protection of the other passengers. Because believe it or not, a 9 year old kid is going to be perfectly fine sitting by themselves. A 4 year old I'm willing to buy. And there is a cutoff somewhere. But a 9-year old? Really? A 9-year old can sit by themselves for a couple of hours and be just fine. If they can't (and don't otherwise have some sort of disability of developmental disorder), you've probably failed as a parent.
And before someone says "but what about kiddie diddlers?!" - the probability of randomly sitting next to a pedophile who would is going to act on those urges in a public place may not be zero, but it is so close to zero as to not need to factor into someone's decision calculus. Your kid has about a million other higher probability events for you to worry about.
This overprotection of children is insane and has measurable psychologically negative impacts. I can't believe anyone is worried about a 9 year old kid sitting by themselves for a couple of hours in a totally safe environment.
Jun 22, 2019, 5:53 pm
#73
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,226
The problem I have with your statement is the word “lower.” Lower than what? Before, legacy carriers like Delta matched the fares of low-cost carriers like Spirit. When they introduced Basic Economy fares, those became the old fares and the Main Cabin fares increased. So, the narrative that airlines are providing lower fares is not really true.
So what if fares increased? It’s a business, and back in reality land, airfares are about as low as they’ve ever been (adj for inflation). DL et al are free to sell what they want, at the price they want. If pax want to fly G4 or F9 they’re free to do so. Welcome to a free market economy. Don’t like it, perhaps you’d be happy somewhere else.
Jun 22, 2019, 5:56 pm
#74
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
Should pax with a lap infant be given seats in F after paying for BE because they need more space, especially if the seat in front of them reclines? Where does it stop??? COS buys BE sits in F?
Like it or not, airline pricing is dependent on what benefits/ amenities you want. WFBF, want seats together, buy seats together.
Like it or not, airline pricing is dependent on what benefits/ amenities you want. WFBF, want seats together, buy seats together.
Jun 22, 2019, 7:01 pm
#75
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,880
To answer your question, lower than non-BE fares. I thought that was inherently obvious...
So what if fares increased? It’s a business, and back in reality land, airfares are about as low as they’ve ever been (adj for inflation). DL et al are free to sell what they want, at the price they want. If pax want to fly G4 or F9 they’re free to do so. Welcome to a free market economy. Don’t like it, perhaps you’d be happy somewhere else.
So what if fares increased? It’s a business, and back in reality land, airfares are about as low as they’ve ever been (adj for inflation). DL et al are free to sell what they want, at the price they want. If pax want to fly G4 or F9 they’re free to do so. Welcome to a free market economy. Don’t like it, perhaps you’d be happy somewhere else.