Delta Raised Change Fees to as Much as $500 on Some Tickets — Here’s What Changed

Updated: July 29, 2026, 9:22am CDT

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Table of Contents

The New Fees vs. Delta’s Old Fees
Can You Avoid These Fees?
Final Thoughts

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Delta finished rolling its unbundled fare structure into premium cabins this month, and buried in that update was a change to the fees page.

If you book a Basic ticket and your plans shift, the cost to change or cancel is no longer the flat rate it used to be. For premium cabins, it’s a lot higher.

Here’s what changed — and how to keep from paying it.

The New Fees vs. Delta’s Old Fees

Until recently, Delta kept things simple for tickets originating in the U.S. and Canada: A Basic ticket cost $99 to change or cancel, no matter which cabin you booked. That single number for change and cancellation fees is now gone.

Delta now scales the fee by cabin, as first reported by AwardWallet, and the jump at the top end is steep.

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Fare Type	Old Fee	New Fee	% Change
Main Basic	$99	$99	None
Comfort Basic	$99	$99	None
First Basic	$99	$300	203%
Premium Select Basic	$99	$400	304%
Basic Business	$99	$500	405%

Main Basic and Comfort Basic didn’t budge; they’re still $99, so most travelers won’t notice a thing. The pain comes in the premium cabins, as the fee for Basic Business now runs up to $500.

Delta’s fee page actually lists these as ranges, not fixed numbers. The change fee tops out at $400, while the cancellation charge reaches $500, so that $500 figure applies to cancellations. A change caps at $400. Travelers departing from Europe face a nearly identical setup, with fees of €400 ($456) to €500 ($570) on the same premium Basic fares.

Hot Tip:

Learn more about Delta’s new Comfort Basic and Basic Business fares to see what’s included — and what isn’t.

Can You Avoid These Fees?

Let’s start with the bad news: Elite status won’t help you here. Delta doesn’t waive Basic fare change or cancellation fees for Medallion elite members, so even Diamonds are on the hook for these elevated costs.

The simplest way around the fee is to skip Basic fares in the first place. Step up to an Extra or refundable fare and changes are free, with cancellations fully refundable. Classic sits in the middle of the fare options. It’s cheaper than Extra but still carries a change fee, so it’s not a real answer if you’re looking to avoid fees when plans change.

Delta 757 200 Transcon LAX — Basic changes have gotten less basic. Image Credit: Alberto Riva

There are 2 more options worth knowing. If you book directly with Delta for flights departing the U.S., you get a 24-hour risk-free window. Cancel within a day of purchase and you’ll get a full refund, fees included. And for a trip you’ve already booked, trip protection can cover a change you can’t dodge.

One thing that won’t help is a same-day flight switch. Basic fares are shut out of same-day standby and same-day confirmed flight changes.

Final Thoughts

Basic fares have always asked you to trade flexibility for a lower price. That trade just got more lopsided in Delta’s premium cabins, where one change can cost as much as a nice hotel stay.

If there’s any chance your plans could move, the few dollars you save on a Basic Business ticket probably aren’t worth a possible $500 headache later on. Either book the fare that lets you change your mind or be very sure you won’t need to.