Delta expands bare-bones ticket option

ATLANTA – Want the cheapest airfare for your next beach vacation? If you're flying Delta Air Lines, it might mean giving up some benefits like choosing your seat in advance.

Delta is expanding a new variety of stripped-down, bare-bones fares.

The "basic economy" fare gets you a confirmed seat on the plane but does not allow you to pick the seat in advance and does not allow any flight changes, even if you're willing to pay a change fee. You may also end up literally at the back of the line, as the last to board the plane.

Delta tested the concept on flights from Detroit starting in 2012. Now it has added the basic economy fare option on just over a dozen routes between Atlanta and places including Daytona Beach, Fla., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., New Orleans, West Palm Beach, Fla., and San Antonio, along with several routes from other hubs.

The pitch on Delta's website: "If you're looking for a low fare, your travel plans aren't likely to change, and you don't mind where you sit, Basic Economy just may be your ticket."

A recent fare search between Atlanta and two Florida cities showed basic economy would save you about $20 from the next-lowest fare level, but Delta declined to give an average difference.

Come Feb. 1, more restrictions will be added to basic economy, including no standing by for a different flight on the same day and no ability to upgrade to economy comfort, preferred seats, first class or business class, even for a fee.