This was posted today on the Delta Pro site. See the last section for the new terms around Basic Economy fares from January 1, 2022.
Delta’s Basic Economy Fares No Longer Earn Skymiles or MQMs; New Cancellation Fees Will Apply
Beginning December 9, 2021, Delta will introduce an added flexibility option for customers who purchase Basic Economy fares and Award tickets for travel on or after Jan. 1, 2022. Customers will be able to cancel their travel plans with a cancellation charge and apply the remaining value of their ticket toward future travel. As part of this policy change, SkyMiles Members will no longer earn miles or earn towards Medallion Status for their Basic Economy trips. This update follows the expiration of the Basic Economy changeability waiver.
To retain partial value of their ticket, customers will need to notify their Travel Agent or Delta that they will not be traveling as scheduled and cancel their reservation prior to departure. Customers can then use the remaining value of the ticket, less the cancellation charge, toward the purchase of a new ticket for future travel.
Effective December 9, 2021:
- Basic Economy fares and Award Travel will be cancelable and result in a partial credit, equal to the ticket value less a cancellation charge. If the customer’s plans change, they will now be able to cancel their reservation for a charge and apply the remaining value toward the purchase of a new ticket.
- The remaining value must be used within the validity of the original ticket.
- Before this new policy, Basic Economy tickets could not be changed or canceled.
- The following cancellation charges will apply:
- $99 deduction for U.S. domestic, Canada, and short haul travel to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean
- $199 deduction for long-haul international travel
- For Award tickets, cancellation charges will be in miles: 9,900 for U.S. domestic, Canada, and short haul travel to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean or 19,900 for long haul international travel.
- For tickets purchased outside the United States and Canada, the cancellation charge may vary—check the fare rules.
- If the cancellation charge exceeds the ticket price, no value remains on the ticket; the customer will not be asked to pay the remaining amount of the cancellation charge.
- Basic Economy Eligibility:
- Applies via a waiver to existing tickets issued between May 1, 2021, and December 8, 2021, with a Basic Economy fare on DL 006 ticket stock, booked for travel on or after January 1, 2022 – these tickets previously could not be canceled or changed.
- Applies to new tickets issued on/after December 9, 2021, with a Basic Economy fare on DL 006 ticket stock, booked for travel on/after January 1, 2022
- Some exceptions apply based on point of sale (i.e., Mexico)
- Basic Economy tickets purchased in certain transatlantic markets will have extended flexibility through 1/31/2022.
- Cancellations are available anytime post-purchase up to departure. No Show forfeiture policy is in effect, resulting in no remaining value if the reservation is not canceled prior to departure.
- SkyMiles Members will no longer earn miles or earn toward Status for their Basic Economy trip.
- Includes all Delta-Marketed and Delta Codeshare flights.
- Exception: SkyMiles Members who booked a 2022 Basic Economy trip prior to Dec. 9, 2021, will continue to earn mileage or Status on those trips.
- Other Basic Economy attributes remain the same, including seat assignments after check-in, no paid access to Priority Boarding and ineligibility for complimentary upgrades to premium seats.
Remember when Basic Economy fares rolled out and the selling point was cheaper fares? Well, we all know that the old fare that included everything became the Basic Economy fare. The prices for everyone went up because BE fares give less and the previous fare was now higher.
At this point, it’s tough to justify the savings on a Basic Economy ticket, given that you can’t change them with out a hefty fee, you can’t pick seats, and you won’t earn any miles or status MQMs. The miles alone work as a rebate on the ‘regular’ fare.
Personally, I think this is too punitive for casual flyers, but then that is specifically who Delta is not targeting these days in general.
Thoughts?
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