Key Takeaways
- Delta Air Lines will offer a rebranded group of ticket tiers this fall, along with new "classic" and "extra" versions of its tickets.
- The new tiers will be: Delta Main, Delta Comfort, Delta First, Delta Premium Select, and Delta One. The airline's basic economy ticket option will be folded into the Delta Main tier.
- The rebranding could be more than cosmetic, according to aviation experts.
Delta Air Lines (DAL) on Thursday announced plans to update its fare structure, launching new branding for its tiers of tickets for flights scheduled for Oct. 1 and later.
The rebranding could be more than co♑smetic, according to aviation experts, who say the new tiers might help upsell travelers seeking upgrades—and could presage the launch of still more tiers that further high൲light differences in things like boarding priority and other features.
The airline's five tiers will be Delta Main, which was previously Main Cabin; Delta Comfort rather than Comfort+; Delta First instead of First Class; and Delta Premium Select and Delta One, which remain unchanged.
Within those categories, Delta will offer "classic" and "extra" versions of its tickets. Classic tickets will replace the current version of each tier, while the "extra" version takes the place of tickets that are currently fully refundable. The airline said those versions will provide "greater choice and more customization."
The lowest category, Delta Main, will have a third tier called Delta Main Basic, which will replace Delta's basic economy package. Within the three tiers for Delta Main, the airline said, differences could also include boarding and upgrade priority and in how rewards miles are earned.
“As we listen and learn 🧜about what our customers want when it comes to 🍸their travel, we know that clarity and choice are paramount,” Chief Digital Officer Eric Phillips said.
The new products can be seen as of Thursday when looking at flights for Oct. 1 and later. Delta said the rebranded tiers will be launched for flights departing from the U.S. and Cana💟da first.