Delta Air Lines just made good on a promise it’s been teasing for more than a year: unbundling its premium cabins.

On Thursday, the Atlanta-based airline officially introduced Comfort Basic, a new stripped-down fare option for its extra-legroom economy seats. Travelers can now book this new fare class for flights departing on or after Nov. 19, 2025, though Delta says it’s only available in a few (undisclosed) domestic markets for now – and only on paid fares, not award tickets.

Comfort Basic marks the first visible step in Delta’s long-term plan to introduce tiered fare bundles across all cabins, from Delta Main to Delta One … and everything inbetween. It’s a move Delta has been laying the groundwork for since at least late 2024.

 

Delta comfort basic fare MSP-RSW
A Delta Comfort Basic fare from MSP-RSW

 

What Is Comfort Basic?

Delta describes Comfort Basic as “a new travel experience within the Delta Comfort product line, designed for customers who want the extra legroom and premium onboard experience of Delta Comfort – but at a lower price point, and with a few familiar restrictions.”

Here’s how Delta’s newly segmented Comfort lineup breaks down:

  • Comfort Basic
  • Comfort Classic
  • Comfort Extra

 

Delta comfort fare options
Image courtesy of Delta

 

All three include the same extra legroom, Zone 3 boarding, dedicated overhead bin space, and complimentary beer, wine, and spirits on most flights. But the Basic version comes with a long list of limitations:

  • No advance seat assignments (assigned at check-in)
  • No complimentary upgrades or same-day confirmed changes
  • No option to purchase upgrades
  • Partial flight credit only if canceled, with change fees
  • Reduced SkyMiles earning (2x per dollar instead of 5x or 7x with a Comfort Extra fare)

In other words, you’ll get the same seat – but far less flexibility. Compared to Main Basic (Delta’s basic economy), Comfort Basic travelers still get earlier boarding and free drinks, plus the ability to earn Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs). 

But for many travelers, not being able to pick a seat in advance will be a major drawback to booking these more restrictive Comfort Basic fares. Is more legroom worth potentially (or rather, likely) getting stuck in a middle seat … and paying more for the privilege? Maybe for some, but it definitely won't be for everyone. 

And that's exactly what Delta wants. This new fare class isn't designed to cut you a deal: It's an excuse to raise the cost of “Delta Comfort Classic” even higher. 

 

The First Test of Delta’s Bigger Strategy

Comfort Basic isn’t a one-off experiment – it’s the first real test of Delta’s broader plan to “segment” every cabin with good, better, and best fare types.

Back in November 2024, Delta executives told investors the airline would begin experimenting with new fare bundles in economy and Comfort cabins by 2025, calling it an effort to give travelers “more choice” and “more pricing options.”

By July 2025, Delta confirmed it was preparing to expand that model even further – including basic versions of business class. “The segmentation that we’ve done in the main cabin is kind of the template that we’re going to bring to all of our premium cabins over time,” Delta President Glen Hauenstein said at the time.

That means Comfort Basic is just the beginning. Premium Select Basic, First Basic, and even Delta One Basic are likely to follow soon, following the lead of international carriers like Lufthansa, Emirates, and Qatar Airways, which already offer pared-down business class fares that exclude seat selection, lounge access, or flexibility.

 

What It Means for Travelers

Make no mistake: the long-term goal isn’t cheaper fares – it’s charging more for what used to be included. In practice, Comfort Basic means:

  • You’ll still get extra legroom and free drinks
  • You’ll likely end up in a middle seat
  • You’ll earn fewer SkyMiles
  • You’ll pay extra to get the same flexibility you used to get with a standard Comfort fare

It’s the same playbook Delta pioneered with Basic Economy more than a decade ago – now just pushed up the cabin ladder.

 

Bottom Line

This has been in the works for more than a year, and now it’s finally here.

Delta Comfort Basic is the first unbundled premium fare to hit the U.S. airlines, and the clearest sign yet that “Basic Business Class” and “Basic Premium Select” fares aren’t far behind.

For now, Comfort Basic is just a test, available on limited routes. However, Delta has made its intentions clear: Soon, every cabin will feature multiple fare classes. That might mean more “choice” for travelers – or just more confusion … and more upselling.

 

Lead photo courtesy of Delta