Delta announced that for basic economy tickets booked as of today for travel starting in 2022, you will no longer earn any redeemable miles or Medallion qualifying miles. Delta doesn’t allow advance seat assignments, upgrades, standby, or free changes on basic economy tickets as well.
This comes after American has flip-flopped on the elite mileage earning issue. They eliminated elite qualifying mileage earning from basic economy tickets last year after they removed most basic economy restrictions. That means that standby was allowed on basic economy, as were upgrades and elite benefits like preferred seat selection.
But then American announced that they would be changing their entire elite qualifying structure and would award full elite qualifying loyalty points on basic economy fares. That means that American’s basic economy fares mainly just restrict seat selection for non-elites and free changes.
United awards full miles and Premier qualifying points, but doesn’t award Premier qualifying flights on basic economy fares. They also don’t allow early boarding, carry-ons, or online checkin with basic economy, though that’s allowed for United cardholders or elite members. United doesn’t allow elite members to select seats or get upgraded. There are no free changes, but standby is allowed.
JetBlue has some of the most punitive basic economy rules, not allowing carry-ons or early boarding even if you have their credit card. They charge $100 for changes to flights within the US, Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America or $200 for other flights, even if you have Mosaic status. Basic economy fares earn just 1-2 points per dollar spent instead of 3-6 points per dollar spent.
In other news, starting for travel in 2022 Delta will allow you to pay for changes on basic economy tickets. They will undercut JetBlue by a buck, charging $99 for changes to flights within the US, Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America or $199 for other flights.
American and United don’t allow changes on basic economy fares as of yet.
Delta has been making several elite unfriendly moves of late, such as devaluing their systemwide upgrades.
What do you think of Delta’s latest changes?
HT: Davidthebest
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13 Comments On "After American Adds Elite Mileage Earning To Basic Economy Tickets, Delta Will Remove All Mileage Earning From Basic Economy Tickets"
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Latest in the very successful strategy of segmenting the market.
Agree . The basic economy customer wants lowest price above all and is willing to sacrifice as many benefits as possible to get the lowest price . The basic economy customer is probably less focused on loyalty and more focused on price …
Except that the “lowest price” is what used to be the regular economy price but with al lot of restrictions. Just a race to the bottom, and all of them seem to be there already as there’s not much distinction between these airlines and Spirit/Frontier
Serious question: how does eliminating the awarding of a couple of SkyPesos save Delta money or push people over to regular Economy?
Why is this worth it for them?
I guess they figure it’s worth trying and seeing if:
-It makes no difference (saves Delta a few shekels).
-It does indeed push people to buy standard economy (makes big money for Delta).
-It pushes people to other airlines (costs money for Delta, but other airlines may match as they did with the original basic economy launch so that it won’t cost money in the long-term).
In pretty much every market, Delta’s lowest fares are Basic Economy whereas this is not the case for the others. If you want to fly Delta, be prepared to pay a premium.
can you give us a link to one of your articles with regards to credit card spending earning elite statues you wrote about that once
On JetBlue basic economy if you American elite status can you brining carry on for free and get priority boarding ??
Amazing how everyone wants to be like spirit.
Will you still get segments? UA only gives .5 segment for basic.
***Not eligible for MQM, MQS or MQD earn, paid or complimentary access or upgrades to premium seats, including to Delta Comfort+® or Preferred Seats; and no paid access to Priority Boarding.
“JetBlue has some of the most punitive basic economy rules, not allowing carry-ons or early boarding even if you have their credit card. ”
But if you are a Mosaic you do get a carry-on bag allowance even with basic, but looks like they won’t guaranteed overhead bin…per JetBlue baggage term’s.
JetBlue baggage term’s:
The only exceptions are:
1. Mosaic members (who get a carry-on bag and early boarding with all fares)
2. Travelers to/from London (including connecting flights)
3. Travelers that are combining a Blue Basic fare with an Even More® Space seat (on all legs, if connecting)
4. Active U.S. military
5. Unaccompanied minors
Note, of the above exceptions, only Blue Basic customers who purchase an Even More® Space seat (on all legs, if connecting) are guaranteed to get their carry-on bag on board.
Can you still get Flying Blue miles for flying Delta Basic Economy?