delta basic vs main cabin

[madmar]

traveling with two adults and two school age children. would like to go delta basic and save 120 bucks. could we all be separated or do they try and put adults and kids together

 

[SirDuff]

You'll likely be separated - Delta Basic (and the equivalent on other airlines) often end up in the middle seats.

 

[FCDub]

You will get whatever scattered seats are left. You can, and most likely will, be separated. It sounds like basic economy is not for you.

 

[EACarlson]

I really wish that Delta would just put a restriction on Basic that if you're child is younger than the age to fly alone on that route that you can't purchase them a BE seat. I know the price looks better, but it's not a better option for families.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

I really wish that Delta would just put a restriction on Basic that if you're child is younger than the age to fly alone on that route that you can't purchase them a BE seat. I know the price looks better, but it's not a better option for families.

That’s true but there is a pop up that states all the restrictions of BE when you purchase the tickets. People don’t read or think they would never separate us from our children (which does happen).

 

[kaytieeldr]

All due respect, they do indicate it by offering other options that do allow preselecting seats. Also, your child flying in the same cabin as you is not equivalent to an unaccompanied minor. Would you rather pay the few dollars extra to be seated together? Or the $150 each UM fee?

I really wish that Delta would just put a restriction on Basic that if you're child is younger than the age to fly alone on that route that you can't purchase them a BE seat. I know the price looks better, but it's not a better option for families.

 

[maxiesmom]

traveling with two adults and two school age children. would like to go delta basic and save 120 bucks. could we all be separated or do they try and put adults and kids together

The basic fare gets whatever seats are left at the time of boarding. If you need to sit next to someone, it is not the fare to use.

 

[ClapYourHands]

I really wish that Delta would just put a restriction on Basic that if you're child is younger than the age to fly alone on that route that you can't purchase them a BE seat. I know the price looks better, but it's not a better option for families.

I think this depends on the family. I could see my 9- and 11-year-olds sitting separately from me. As long as we're in the same cabin, and they've got their tablets, they'd be okay for the 3 hours to MCO. They're not old enough to fly independently, but I'd hate for an airline to decide they're not old enough to sit separately from me. On the other hand, I'd never risk it with my 4-year-old - she still needs an adult next to her.

 

[tnolan]

As has been said in this thread, if you don't want to risk any member of your party sitting apart from you or another adult, do not get Basic Economy.

 

[TheLadyRohn]

Our family did Delta basic last year from Oregon to Washington DC, including a red eye leg. It worked out well for us but I won't do it again.

Last year my kids were 6 and 11. If it had to happen my 11 year old would be fine separated on the plane but I didn't want my 6 year old alone. We had layovers both directions so we had no assigned seats for 4 flights until about 20 minutes before the flights. This hit my anxiety button a bit too hard.

On 3 of the 4 legs I talked to the gate agent and asked if they could try to get us at least 2 x 2 seats and they all said they would see what they could do. (The 4th leg actually had us assigned before we even got to the gate.) We ended up 3x1 on the flights and it worked out well. Our red eye even got us assigned in the premium seats that no one wanted to pay for. I sat with the kids and my poor football player sized husband got a middle seat with a guy that seemed like a cuddler. On the way back my daughter got a window seat but in the same row.

Overall it actually worked out well and the price was amazing ($1200 for 4 roundtrip cross country) but we booked Delta for our WDW trip and I paid about $200 more to have our seats assigned this time.

 

[FCDub]

As the old saying goes, you’ll never know if you don’t ask. I, personally, wouldn’t put the gate agent in that position, but everyone’s tolerance for this sort of thing is different.

 

[Redarrow5150]

Also believe Main Cabin comes with a possible refund unlike Basic Economy?

 

[sam_gordon]

Also believe Main Cabin comes with a possible refund unlike Basic Economy?

NO! Unless you book a refundable fare, there's not going to be a refund. Doesn't matter what class of seating you do.

 

[Darcy03231]

We fly Delta a lot. If you buy Basic Economy you're going to get the seats that are left-over, which is usually the middle seats scattered all of the plane that no one wants. You might get lucky and get 2 seats together, but I wouldn't count on it. I also wouldn't count on someone agreeing to change seats with you. I've been asked multiple times now and always refuse. I book and pay for my seat and am not going to take a less desirable seat because someone wanted to save money and take a chance.

 

[DebbieB]

Also believe Main Cabin comes with a possible refund unlike Basic Economy?

No refund on either but Main Cabin you can make changes. Basic Economy is no changes, no advance seats, last to board.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

We fly Delta a lot. If you buy Basic Economy you're going to get the seats that are left-over, which is usually the middle seats scattered all of the plane that no one wants. You might get lucky and get 2 seats together, but I wouldn't count on it. I also wouldn't count on someone agreeing to change seats with you. I've been asked multiple times now and always refuse. I book and pay for my seat and am not going to take a less desirable seat because someone wanted to save money and take a chance.

I agree with you! I will NOT move for someone who knowingly purchased an inexpensive fare and expects someone to move for them to an undesirable seat. I pay for my seat for a reason and also EBCI on SW.

Hate seeing the posts where people say oh someone will move for you and they won’t separate families. The newest entitlement thing I’ve seen on a cruise message board is people actually asking others to switch cabins with someone so they can be next to family! One person said if the person in cabin in between the separated groups wouldn’t move they would just have their child yell across balcony in morning.

 

[Darcy03231]

I agree with you! I will NOT move for someone who knowingly purchased an inexpensive fare and expects someone to move for them to an undesirable seat. I pay for my seat for a reason and also EBCI on SW.

Hate seeing the posts where people say oh someone will move for you and they won’t separate families. The newest entitlement thing I’ve seen on a cruise message board is people actually asking others to switch cabins with someone so they can be next to family! One person said if the person in cabin in between the separated groups wouldn’t move they would just have their child yell across balcony in morning.

We book Delta Comfort. My husband is 6'4". I typically book him in the window seat and me in the aisle seat. Sometimes we've been really lucky and no one takes the middle seat. Last flight the middle seat was assigned to a child - -I'd say about 9-10. Mom wanted me to give up my seat and take her middle seat back in the main cabin area. She was sure that I wouldn't want to sit next to a child. She was really upset when I wouldn't do it. Sorry lady, I'm not giving up my paid for Comfort aisle seat to take your middle seat in the main cabin. Her child ended up being a very bright, engaging and polite young man that I was happy to sit next to. We had a very enjoyable conversation throughout most of the flight.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The newest entitlement thing I’ve seen on a cruise message board is people actually asking others to switch cabins with someone so they can be next to family!

I actually thought about that once. Just thought about it. My brother was two doors down instead of next door. But I figured that person specifically booked that cabin.

Her child ended up being a very bright, engaging and polite young man that I was happy to sit next to. We had a very enjoyable conversation throughout most of the flight.

I do think it's funny when parents make threats like that. Typically, kids on planes are engaging - and if they're not, you could always involve a Flight Attendant.

Interesting but not surprising that the mother didn't try to convince one of her actual estimates to swap seats with her son. Never know. One of them might have been willing to suffer through a free upgraded middle seat.

 

[Darcy03231]

I actually thought about that once. Just thought about it. My brother was two doors down instead of next door. But I figured that person specifically booked that cabin.

I do think it's funny when parents make threats like that. Typically, kids on planes are engaging - and if they're not, you could always involve a Flight Attendant.

Interesting but not surprising that the mother didn't try to convince one of her actual estimates to swap seats with her son. Never know. One of them might have been willing to suffer through a free upgraded middle seat.

It's been a head scratcher for me. Heck, I'd rather sit next to a kid than some adults. We raised 6 kids (4 of our own and 2 fosters), so it's a pretty safe bet that I don't have any problems sitting next to one for a 3.5 hour flight.

 

[shoreward]

It's been a head scratcher for me. Heck, I'd rather sit next to a kid than some adults. We raised 6 kids (4 of our own and 2 fosters), so it's a pretty safe bet that I don't have any problems sitting next to one for a 3.5 hour flight.

Some of my most memorable flights have been those sitting next to UMs.

My seatmate on one flight was a girl about five years old, who was returning home from MCO, after visiting her grandmother in FL. She was well-behaved and engaging and couldn't wait to show me her tea set, so we could have a tea party on the flight; and, we did.