Delta Main Basic Question: A Newcomer
 

Howdy y'all. I'm new to the Delta family (despite being a SkyMiles member: I used it just to link it with Lyft back then) after years of exclusively flying WN, AA, and HA, so bear with me:

I booked DL Main Basic on the earliest flight from DFW to SEA. It says the flight will be on an A220. Now, I understand that with main basic I cannot select a seat unless I pay extra to upgrade to Main Cabin. Here are a few questions.

1. Has anybody flown DL DFW-SEA early in the morning? Was the flight full?
2. Any chance of me getting a window when I hit "check-in" at T-24 hours or T-3 at the airport? I know since this is an A220 with a 2-3 seating, I'm sure my chance of getting a middle should be less, at least compared to a 320, 321, or 737. Do they let you pick whatever is available, or do they auto-assign you?
3. How's DFW TSA at 4am? I plan to check-in for my DL flight at around that time frame - and P.S., yes, I do have PreCheck.

The reason I ask question no. 2 is just to familiarize myself just in case the system differs from AA, HA, AS, and WN. I can't say for AA since I usually pay considering their flights out of DFW is very crowded and WN for obvious reasons, but for HA and AS, I've always check in at the airport at T-3 and managed to get windows on their lowest subclass. I understand the risks, so no need for the "if you really want the window seat, pay. Don't ask people to move" comment - despite me loving to take pics outside the window, I'm never a guy who asks people to move just for it. Help me take pictures outside the window only during takeoff and landing, yes, but move, absolutely not.

To answer question 1, just do a dummy booking for the flight you want to take and see what the seat map shows, bearing in mind of course that not all passengers may have selected their seats yet, particularly the BE ones who won’t get that opportunity until T-24.

And a slight variation of the above advice, do a dummy booking for your flight for tomorrow and see how full it is within T-24

IIRC I can view via website by selecting "upgrade to main" when selecting seats...but not pay and just go back from there. I gotta check again though. Idk if paying for a seat at cheaper rate at D-7 still works on DL.

The last time I checked it is possible for a Basic passenger to pick and pay for a seat assignment 7 days prior to departure, without having to upgrade first to main cabin.
Now whether that is cheaper than upgrading to main cabin first and then picking a seat for free, I don't know.
But if upgrading to main cabin first, one could do that now and not have to wait for T-7 days.

Current fare differentials between BE and Main fares on DFW-SEA are $45. I suspect the seat selection fee on a BE fare will be less, but haven't actually checked. You can't pay for a Preferred seat on BE fares according to DL website, but it looks like the A220 does not have a significant number of Preferred seats and there are many non-Preferred aisle/window seats available.

If you cancel a basic ticket using miles do you get the miles credited back?

We'll probably see. My flight is during one of the busy holiday periods so...I kinda expect some variations to happen, but I have set a reminder to do check-in.

That's the reason why I've been holding off buying a seat. Chances of me ending in a window or aisle is higher than middle in an A220, plus the Preferred seats are only a few, so few that it was pretty much negligible as to where I want to sit.

Oh, and another question just out of curiosity, and I apologize for straying a bit: for DFW-SEA's earliest morning flight, will the crews be DFW, SEA, or LGA based?

If you really don't care where you end up sitting, I say go for the gamble. But, if you care, I just want to pass a thought: I fly often and have never seen so many seats disappear the day before a flight. I don't know where these people come from or where or how they have booked, but I have never had an empty seat next to me, or in the plane even, in I can't remember how many years when flying Delta.

If the seats disappear shortly before T-24, it's probably passengers who have connecting flights (into your departure airport) doing OLCI shortly after T-24 for their first segment.

I'd say last-minute business travelers fall into this category.

And this as well - usually if I do connecting flights, my chance of getting a seat I want on the second segment is higher since not everyone has done their check-in procedures. I would expect this if I'm doing DFW-SEA on AA or ATL-SEA on DL, but I think since I'm flying Delta's first flight out of DFW to SEA, chances are this would be unlikely unless if they connect from a fellow South American/European Skyteam partner to Seattle.

I see the same thing with seats being assigned from what would otherwise look like a fairly empty flight, and its because a lot of basic seats are assigned by the system the day before departure. Then other people with basic tickets check in and select seats.

I think the only airline that, at least from the flights I have taken, did this to me was Scoot (TR), but that was because we were in a group booking. They let us block the entire row. Glad to hear that DL has the same pre-assigned-but-can-move method like what JL and NH have. I tbh don't feel too worried as I'm flying on an A220, which has more aisles and windows than middles.

Anyway, I still look forward to my first DL flight in a long while. Surely they can't be worse than AA.

Now it's 30 days, and it seemed like a new policy, but now in the fare condition, they said "seats will be autoassigned and cannot be changed" (like United). It was $44 for me DFW-SEA, but I decided to bite the bullet, pay for it, and seat myself just a row behind the last row of Delta Comfort; there were around 13 window seats left.

Maybe a bit too early since I know the price can drop, but 14E has 1" extra legroom and I'm willing to trade my recline (since I rarely do anyway) and slightly bending forward to see the window for a 1" extra legroom and an empty middle next to me, as of now. That was the only window at the front of the plane; the rest were on rows 19 and back.

With this new language of "seats will be autoassigned and cannot be changed", Are main basic seats no longer changeable after assignment at T-24 ?

If somebody can check this for us, that will be great, but my speculation is no, unless you plead to the check in agent.

I flew Basic a few days ago as FB sky team elite plus. Was surprised that no option to change seat after check in, even for payment (was allowed to pay for seat assignment prior to check in for USD 34). At check-in sky priority agent would not change seat and told me the gate agent would say the same so did not bother. All other elite plus benefits (free bag, lounge, and priority boarding group 4) provided. Always last in line for upgrades no matter what ticket, so no upgrade option is no big deal. A bit disappointed about seat assignment so may consider this in future when selecting fare.

Which lounge were you accessing? If a SkyClub, that would resolve the ambiguity in the published access rules...

Basic fares aren’t allowed SC access.

I had access to the lounge on a stopover in SEA as flying blue sky team elite plus. No lounge at initial airport (SMF) so I’m not sure how that would clarify any ambiguity.

They do if you are STE+ in a program other than DL's (as long as you are flying Skyteam international excluding the Caribbean). DL tried to enforce that rule on all STE+ members, but later backtracked.

Very quietly, they removed the BE exclusion from the verbiage for non-DL STE+ but kept a general exclusion (I don't specifically recall whether life membership's exemption from BE prohibition is explicitly called out). So I've been curious since then (not that this FB Platinum buys BE to test) which rule holds. It would be good to know if this was a kiosk giving access or if a BP was shown (I'd be more confident in the kiosk being coded with the exception than I'd be in a dragon not just immediately denying based on BE).

I'm pretty sure they have reached an agreement with skyteam that delta will only abuse its own elites and not the skyteam elite plus members from other airlines. in every other case when they've restricted skyteam elite plus benefits they've only applied that restriction to their own program members.

Seems like I made the right decision by paying $44. That being said, I think you just got a lazy agent or an agent who does not want any kind of conflict/service. I booked United's basic economy (but in all honesty, the flight was operated by ANA), and they let me select any seat for free, and when I got auto-assigned due to the flight being full, they let me change my middle seats and upgraded me to a bulkhead row.

Now, back to my story with Delta, I bought my basic ticket before Delta added that verbiage, so I was not sure whether Delta would retroactively apply that rule to my ticket. But once I spotted that rule, I paid for my desired window seat, and I was allowed to change to a similarly-priced seat.

Different alliances and airlines have different rules and it's not due to a "lazy agent". There's no obligation for free seat assignments with DL Basic fares no matter what you status level or with which airline. About the only status benefit you get on DL Basic fares is the checked luggage benefit. For non-DL STE+ elites, you also still get Sky Club access on international itins (excepting the Caribbean).

Valid, and yes, I do understand the basic economy rules. I said so because maybe...you can try your luck and ask for a specific seat? Idk though - my flight was before Delta added the "can't be changed" clause to Main Basic.

Thanks for the DP.

Delta Main Basic (basic economy) is killing any loyalty. Many will not pay $45 for Skypesos, a little earlier boarding, and no seat choice. It will be simply fare and schedule. If they gave a few Skypesos, that could generate loyalty. There are some people who travel several times a year and are willing to have loyalty.

For me, I am trying very hard to burn miles in all the major airlines, 2 burned up, 2 left, and Delta, which I cannot seem to burn off completely due to adding some earnings. After I get finished, which might not be until 2028, I have to decide if I am to have loyalty.

I suppose that I should not post and give the airlines ways to make it worthwhile not to buy basic economy..... Lavatory use banned unless $10 fee paid to go once, $20 deplaning fee (must deplane last), $50 late check in fee if don't check in 5 hours before flight, etc.

Simultaneously griping about basic not earning miles and that continuing to earn drips and drabs of miles is keeping one from burning down the SkyMiles balance is not something I had on my bingo card for today.

The customer buying Main Basic is not into it for loyalty. And Delta has no loyalty, particularly to bargain basement travelers.

It’s probably strange for a mod on a frequentl flyer forum to be saying this, but y’all are too worried about “loyalty.” I’m 110% certain Delta has the relationship it wishes to have with the majority of customers. We generally pay higher fares, use affiliated credit cards, are less price sensitive, and still do stupid stuff (like pay $3/mqd) to maintain status that is arguably not particularly valuable for Silver or Gold.

That is true but Delta still sells Main Basic fares. If it didn't care or want to sell them, they wouldn't. The government doesn't require that they sell it. That means that Main Basic fares are of some importance to Delta. Certainly it's not as much as the big spender.

Main Basic fares are no longer bargain basement. They are the old regular economy fares. Furthermore, Delta seems to encourage the non-Comfort, non-First class passenger to buy Main Basic because a higher fare offers very little besides some SkyPesos, seat assignment in advance, and slightly earlier boarding.

The only importance these fares have for DL is: 1) FIll seats that would otherwise go unsold, and 2) Act as a hook to get referrals from Google Flights for passengers to then say "nah... I want main" and then pay the additional fee. Re the "very little" that Main offers over Main... I won't fly without the seat assignment and guarantee I can travel with my cabin luggage. I won't fly middle seat for a flight that's more than an hour.

But your argument is missing the point: Delta doesn't really care if the passenger who buys Main Basic selects them over Spirit. They know that that passenger is flying the cheapest fare they can find. They'd rather take the passenger who will pay a little more... and they also really only want to "reciprocate" loyalty to someone who does this consistently. From Delta's perspective, the passenger that won't even pay for a seat assignment is a bargain basement flyer. It doesn't matter what you think about the fares.

That might very well be true but that is not who I am. I'll fly Delta and United, maybe Alaska, but not Spirit. I have my secret formula about how much I am willing to pay for certain things. In the past, there was some loyalty and there's still a desire to have loyalty if it is reciprocated by the airline.

You’ve described yourself as a price sensitive shopper who is willing to select between several airlines. You’re not the customer Delta “wants” to have a loyalty relationship with. They believe your purchase patterns demonstrate that your business is interchangeable with millions of other people who are also shopping for the lowest fare among multiple carriers.

Let’s also acknowledge that Delta is a company, and companies have no feelings. Consumers feel loyalty. Companies take advantage of our feelings and get us to engage in behaviors that go against our self interest (pay more, fly undesirable routes or times, etc). You’re saying that you’re not willing to pay “a little extra” for the sake of a “relationship” with Delta. That’s totally reasonable. But that decision also comes with the intentional cost of Delta saying they don’t want to spend anything extra for the sake of having a relationship with you.

Sometimes I go on a date with Dawn Lewis, sometimes I go on a date with Ann Smith, sometimes I go on a date with Una Allen (but that Nadine Knight is a skank!). Every date I just bring the cheapest drugstore box of chocolate and a plastic rose. Why won't these girls (especially Dawn) show any loyalty?

I ain't saying Dawn's a gold digger...

Are there any data points of Delta charging the 9,900 skymiles to cancel a basic ticket? Last I had seen they were not, but don't recall seeing anything recently.

That statement in bold right there...is the reason why I still earned miles from my DFW-SEA trip last Christmas. I did not earn miles from the trip, but IIRC Delta awarded me miles for paying to choose a seat. Not sure if they also awarded me miles for paying to check a bag (I'm pretty sure not).

I took Alaska on the way back, and I didn't earn any miles whatsoever whether from checking a bag or paying for a preferred seat.

I think this is the essence of a "frequent flyer" program. In order to earn more benefits, you'll basically have to "pledge your allegiance" to an airline and fly with them or their partners, or shop using their/their partner's credit card. This is how I rack up miles very fast on United but didn't earn any PQP/PFP.

In my case, I let go of all non-US frequent flyer programs (including Krisflyer, ANA Mileage Club, etc.) and consolidate it to US-based programs. When the time comes and I want to rack PQP/miles/qualifying flights, I would just fly on their partner airline and maybe that specific airline on the domestic leg, so technically I'm trying to be loyal to an airline...without actually flying that airline too many times. If I merely only want to rack miles without PQP, I can just shop using a card or buy something from their partner, e.g. Delta SkyMiles with Lyft back then.

For instance: most of my Delta SkyMiles points were from Lyft and previous SkyTeam partner flights (KE, GA), 100% of my Atmos Rewards points were from Starlux, most of my MileagePlus points were from Chase and Star Alliance partner flights (ANA, TG), and most of my AAdvantage miles were from JAL and other OneWorld partner flights.

Every seat on a CS100 (Airbus A220-100) is decent, particularly if one is flying alone.

That is not true for an Airbus A350, which is also almost certainly a much longer flight.

I disagree. As a DM, a main seat gets me C+. I also prefer to be towards the front. You feel differently, and that’s fine. It’s not worth it to you… it is for me. And my willingness to pay extra is why DL would “rather” build its “relationship” with me.