Google Flights hasn't been programmed yet to add an option exclude all Basic fares (that's why it only says Exclude Basic for Economy fares). In some cases, Comfort Basic can be more than $10 less than Main Classic. In other cases, Comfort Basic can be more than Main Classic. There's no fixed differentials as it varies with markets.

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Note that Comfort fares have two different fares classes -- S and W. So differentials can also vary by S and W fare class inventory availability on flights. DL uses '1' and '2' in fare basis codes to distinguish between S and W class Comfort Basic fares as noted here -- https://pro.delta.com/content/agency...structure.html


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not really interested in booking comfort classic although I guess having skyclub access would be nice if it is a short flight and ok in the middle seat. just pointing it out to note it is annoying that the desired main classic price disappears and have to make more clicks to find it

PM & DM can book into C+ at time of purchase, so if you book your trip in advance this isnt a actual issue or problem, for GM and SM C+ may be unavailable at the time the automatic availability opens up.

RC

The post you are responding to was correct in that you don't actually clear into C+ seats until after ticketing. PM and DM don't actually "book" directly into C+ at time of purchase, they book into Main and then clear into SU C+ upgrade bucket. Usually this is automatic and DL doesn't seem to hold back C+ seat inventory from SU bucket, but there have been a few reported cases where it looks like they may hold back seats at times (similar to how they generally hold back FC seats from OU comp upgrade bucket).

The main point of poster is that many C+ are probably being provided as comp upgrades and providing a lower price point with fewer benefits may goose the C+ sales somewhat (from the general public and lower Medallion tiers).

Changes coming
 

Was part of a Delta focus group north of Atlanta today. One suggestion was to resort back to the good ol’ days. If you cancel a purchased ticket for any reason, you’ll only be entitled to 1/2 of the price of the ticket price paid in ALL classes of service regardless of Medallion level. They’re squeezing every penny to raise that share price.

Interesting. Care to share any other details about this focus group session? Would love to hear what was discussed.

For the record, change fees on domestic non-refundable fares were $200 pre-Covid (they varied on international fares and were as high as $500 on some routes). They were not based on the fare price. While they walked back no change fees on Mexico origin non-refundable fares (after saying no more change fees on North America origin non-BE fares), I think it would be a lot more challenging to get away with that on US origin fares. Without seeing the specific question, there's not much to go on here.

xliioper thank you for your clarification.
Indeed, my point is that by persuading tall people to pay for C+ basic, more C+ seats will be sold and fewer will be available for Platinums and Diamonds at ticketing.
If one buys a ticket close to departure date chances are that all C+ seats will be gone

Understood. I was responding to the focus group post. Change fees were never "1/2 the price of a ticket". They were fixed amounts. Not clear if this "1/2 price" thing was proposed for Basic fares only or all non-refundable fares. The big 3 legacies have fairly firmly said they don't intend to bring back the pre-Covid change fees on standard non-refundable fares with US origins. Basic fares were noted to be an exception to this pledge.