AwardWallet may receive compensation from advertising partners when you visit our site, click on a link, when you are approved for a credit card, or when an account is opened. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here’s our complete list of Advertisers.
Earlier this month, Delta extended its new unbundled fare structure to premium cabins. You might have already flown on a Delta First Basic ticket throughout the U.S. or in select Latin American markets. Meanwhile, Premium Select Basic and Basic Business are both available for booking on flights departing in September.
This was a move that virtually no one asked for, but at the time, it didn't seem too terrible. Sure, you accept some restrictions, but Delta promised it was a way to keep fares competitive.
As basic fares continue to roll out, Delta quietly made a crucial update on its fees page. Change and cancellation fees have skyrocketed by more than 400% with no warning. Here's what to know about these changes.
Delta's New Basic Fares
Delta offers 15 different unbundled experiences to choose from when booking your next flight. First, you need to choose between Delta Main, Delta Comfort, Delta First, Delta Premium Select, and Delta One. Then, within each category, you will choose between Basic, Classic, and Extra experiences.
Premium cabin Basic tickets come with the following restrictions:
- Seats assigned after check-in
- Reduced checked bag allowance
- Lower mileage earn
- No complimentary or paid upgrades
- No same-day confirmed or same-day standby travel changes
- Changes or cancellations for a fee
- No lounge access after January 19, 2027
Main Basic is far worse — you won't earn any miles and will board in Zone 8.
Delta Increases Change and Cancellation Fees by 400%
Until now, Delta charged a set rate for changes and cancellations on travel originating in the U.S. and Canada. If you booked a Basic ticket, you'd pay a $99 fee, regardless of the fare class:
Now, Delta has implemented a tiered structure. If you book a Delta Main Basic or Delta Comfort Basic, you'll still pay a $99 fee.
However, Delta has now skyrocketed that fee for premium cabins. Delta First Basic will pay a $300 change or cancellation fee, Delta Premium Select Basic charges $400, while Basic Business will charge $500 in the event of a change or cancellation.
Delta offers nine different change and cancellation fee charts based on where travel originates. Here is the old fee chart for travel originating in Europe, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria:
Here is the recently updated chart, featuring change and cancellation fees of €400 to €500 for Premium Select Basic and Basic Business, respectively.
Although Basic Business and Premium Select Basic flights are supposedly on sale for travel departing in September or later, we haven't been able to find any Basic fares to compare prices. Regardless, change and cancellation fees of $500+ are wholly unnecessary. You can view all of the charts on Delta's baggage policy and fees page.
Bottom Line
At some point, enough is enough. The introduction of Business Basic fares was unnecessary to begin with, but adding on change and cancellation fees of up to $500 is ridiculous. To put that into perspective, the $200 airline incidental fee waiver available to American Express Platinum Card® holders wouldn't even cover half of your change fee on a ticket that likely cost several thousand dollars to begin with.
If you ever needed a reason to avoid basic tickets, this is it. If your plans change, you could be out several hundred dollars. Marginal savings on the initial purchase are likely not worth the risk.
