Delta launches ‘basic business’ without lounge access, seat selection

Delta Airlines It splits the front of the plane into even smaller groups, offering a new “base” fare for business and first class that doesn’t come with perks like free seat selection and airport lounge access.

Carrier is tracking United AirlinesPolaris made a similar change to its long-haul business class and other higher-end cabins earlier this year. Carriers are trying to maximize what they can get from high-spending customers whose demand for flexible travel is helping power the industry.

Basic tickets in the Delta One flat, long-haul cabin will be issued under the new name Basic Business, the airline said Wednesday. There is a similar basic product for first class, which is more common on shorter-haul routes and premium economy.

This means customers on these tickets will have assigned seats at check-in, will earn fewer miles than more expensive options, will only be allowed to make changes or cancellations for a fee, and won’t have the option of waiting or confirmed flight changes on the same day.

Seats go on sale Wednesday for flights starting in September and are only available in select markets. Delta did not immediately say which ones would have the base offering.

Delta, the country’s most profitable airline, has been working on these changes for more than a year. Delta’s former President, Glen Hauenstein, said on an earnings call last July that “the segmentation we did in the main cabin is kind of a template that we’ll bring to all of our premium cabins over time because different people have different needs.”

The Atlanta-based carrier will report second-quarter results on Friday.