What is Delta Fare Class J?
Delta Fare class J is a revenue fare/booking class of service that is marketed as Full Fare First Class / Delta One on Delta Air Lines. The fare class is considered a Full Fare First Class / Delta One.
Below is a human-readable explanation of this fare class and the expectations passengers should have when flying with a J fare class.
Fare Class J booking information
Important information about Fare Class J on Delta Air Lines.
How expensive is Fare Class J?
Fare Class J is marketed as a full fare first class / Delta One ticket, and is the most expensive revenue fare class in the cabin. If you’re looking for flights and see Fare Class J showing as the lowest fare class available, it means the cabin for the flight/route you are booking is almost full (likely only 1-2 seats left) for one or more segments of the itinerary.
How to find J fare inventory on Delta Air Lines
Tickets purchased in Fare Class J will be stupidly expensive. To book a cheaper fare class, you’ll need to select a lower cabin or adjust your routing or dates.
Fare Class J has been used to rebook passengers during IROPS situations. IROPS passengers (rebooked, but not reissued) will be prioritized higher on the upgrade list, however, they will earn MQM and SkyMiles based on their originally ticketed fare class. On the rare occasion that an agent reissues your original ticket into J fare class, only then would you earn MQM and SkyMiles the the Fare Class J earnings.
If you are a frequent flyer with additional insight or are with Delta seeking to clarify the information provided, please contact me.
SkyMiles frequent flyer earnings
Explore what you'll earn as a SkyMiles member flying on Delta Air Lines with a ticket in Fare Class J.
SkyMiles Member
Silver Medallion
Gold Medallion
Platinum Medallion
Diamond Medallion
1 Distance calculations are at the sole discretion of Delta Air Lines; however, calculations generally follow the great circle distance between airports.
SkyMiles upgrades with Fare Class J ticket
Important upgrade eligibility and upgrade order information with a Fare Class J ticket on Delta Air Lines.
Complimentary upgrades on Delta Air Lines
Upgrading to Premium Cabins (Delta Premium Select / Delta One)
- There are no cabins of service higher than Delta One.
Official upgrade rules found on Delta.com.
Mileage Upgrade Awards (MUA) changes (as of 08/22/2023)
- It is unlikely to see buy up offers or MUAs because the ticketed fare class is the highest cabin of service available, but Delta's IT has been know to do shady, illogical things like sell you a buy-up to a refundable fare in the same cabin.