Delta Air Lines Announces Change for Passengers Starting Nov. 19
Delta Air Lines has long offered customers several comfort options when booking flights, and the prominent airline has just added another one, introducing the "comfort basic" option to its customers.
Beginning on Nov. 19, customers will be able to book the "comfort basic" option on select flights, allowing customers to access seats with extra legroom at a more accessible price point, as long as those travelers are willing to sacrafice a bit of flexibility.
What is Comfort Basic?
This new fare category is positioned below the established Comfort+ tier in terms of its offering while still delivering noticeable improvements over standard main cabin seating.
The new Comfort Basic option will offer 3 to 4 inches of additional legroom compared to regular economy seats as well as dedicated Comfort Basic zones at the front of the cabin for swift boarding and deplaning.
Travelers opting for Comfort Basic will also enjoy complimentary overhead bin storage for their carry-on luggage as well as complimentary wine, beer and spirits on most flights.
Here's a rundown of the perk of Comfort Basic compared to Main Basic:
- More legroom
- Zone 3 boarding (vs. Zone 8 for Main Basic)
- Eligibility for Delta Sky Club access (with valid entry credentials such as a Delta Sky Club membership or a qualifying credit card)
- Ability to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) and miles with SkyMiles (2 miles per dollar spent, excluding taxes and fees)
- Complimentary wine, beer and spirits on most flights
- Dedicated overhead bin space
All in all, Comfort Basic is a way to upgrade your experience while not breaking the bank.
“Comfort Basic provides customers with a new, affordable way to access extra legroom while maintaining the high-quality service Delta is known for,” Delta President Glen Hauenstein said in the the announcement.
Limitations to Comfort Basic
While the Comfort Basic option might appeal to some customers, it's worth noting that there are some limitations to the new fare class. Most notably, the new fare option lacks the flexibility found in most of the other Comfort classes.
In the Comfort Basic class, seats are assigned after check-in, are likely to be a middle seat, and cannot be chosen beforehand. So if selecting a seat is a priority, or if you need more flexibility or refundability, then the Classic or Extra. Additionally, the Comfort Basic fare is not eligible for upgrades.
Additionally, the Comfort Basic fare class wll not be available on every Delta flight. The airline states that the class will only be availavle on "very select Delta-marketed and operated domestic itineraries."
"If you don’t see Delta Comfort Basic as an option during booking, it means it’s not currently available for that flight or route," the airline states.