Delta To Launch Unbundled Fares, Branded As “Experiences,” Starting October 1

Delta Air Lines will introduce unbundled fares beginning on October 1, becoming the first mainline U.S. carrier to sell segmented experiences according to a model often seen on low-cost airlines.

For passengers, this adds another tier of options to choose from when booking.

Let’s look at what will change at Delta, and how it will affect you.

Key Details on Delta’s New Fare Structure and Rollout Date

Delta Air Lines has emailed SkyMiles members with news of a major change in how you purchase tickets. This shift is likely the first step in a strategy that Delta president Glen Hauenstein had summed up as “I know if I pay more, I get more” during a presentation to investors in November 2024.

The airline is introducing unbundled fares, meaning that airfare for a given class of service will be segmented into levels, each offering different options. Delta calls those levels “experiences.”

Each new fare type will earn different amounts of miles and affect upgrade priority. These changes are in addition to the existing benefits and upgrade rules for Medallion elite members, which will stay the same.

These new fare experiences take effect on May 15 for flights departing on or after October 1 from the U.S. and Canada.

That means if you have an existing reservation or buy a ticket to fly between now and September 30, nothing will change. The new experiences will appear on the Delta site or in the app only if you are buying a ticket to fly on or after October 1.

News of the changes also appeared on Thursday on a page on the Delta site.

A Closer Look at Delta’s New Fare Experiences

Delta’s cabin configurations will remain unchanged, with seating continuing to be categorized as follows:

• Delta Main (formerly Main Cabin)
• Delta Comfort (formerly Delta Comfort+)
• Delta First (formerly First Class)
• Delta Premium Select
• Delta One

While Basic Economy is technically being phased out as a standalone fare, it will continue to exist as the most restrictive option within Delta Main — the airline’s term for economy class. Starting October 1, Delta Main will be divided into 3 distinct “Experiences”: Basic, Classic, and Extra, each offering varying levels of flexibility and benefits.

The other classes — Comfort (extra-legroom economy), First, Premium Select (premium economy), and Delta One (business class) — will be segmented into Classic and Extra.

That means you will have 11 fare levels, or “experiences,” to choose from: 3 in Main Cabin and 2 each in Comfort, Premium Select, First, and Delta One.

When booking flights on or after October 1, the new offerings will appear as options that must be selected to continue:

An important change is that Classic experiences, in all classes, will offer refunds in the form of flight credits, while Extra experiences will be refundable in full to the original form of payment. Delta notes that in some markets, customers may be offered a Refundable option in place of Extra. This still allows flexibility and trip cancellation for a refund at any time prior to departure.

Extra experiences also offer free same-day confirmed flight changes, as opposed to free same-day standby. And, Extra also earns more SkyMiles, on top of current earnings levels based on Medallion status.

There’s also a new upgrade tie-breaker for Medallion passengers: Extra experiences will act as the deciding factor when all else is equal.

Medallion Status and fare purchased will still be the most significant factors when determining upgrade eligibility. But when multiple Medallion Members have equivalent status (Medallion and Million Miler) and purchased the same product, people who bought an Extra experience will be upgraded first.

Anticipating that some customers may be confused by the changes, Delta has published a FAQ page dedicated to explaining the new Delta experiences.

The table below details how the type of experience purchased affects mileage earnings, type of same-day flight change available, and upgrade priorities:

Delta notes that Basic and Classic experiences will exist across the Delta system, with Basic subject to availability. The Extra experience will be limited to itineraries originating in the U.S. and Canada, as well as select international markets. If Extra is not available in a given market, customers will see the legacy Refundable product in its place.

Final Thoughts

Delta is framing its new fare structure with plenty of marketing language: Travelers will be able to “curate” their journey, opt for “elevated” experiences, and enjoy “more freedom and flexibility.”

While there’s some truth to those claims, the shift also signals a growing trend toward fare-based segmentation — where the experience you have, both in the air and on the ground, depends more on the type of ticket you buy than on your frequent flyer status.

On the bright side, with 11 different experience levels to choose from, it’s likely that you’ll find an airfare suiting your needs. And, even better, at least for now: Unlike its partners at Air France and KLM, Delta won’t begin charging to select seats in premium classes. Even if you bought a Classic experience instead of full-blown Extra, you can still choose your favorite seat for free.