What is Fare Class M on Delta Air Lines?

Fare Class M or more commonly known as Main Cabin (M) is a revenue fare/booking class of service on Delta Air Lines. The M fare class is one the highest (most expensive) fare classes in the Main Cabin and tickets are considered full fare. This fare class is eligible for complimentary upgrades for SkyMiles members who hold Medallion status.

Is there a cheaper fare class than Fare Class M on Delta Air Lines?

Fare Class M is marketed as a Discount Main Cabin fare class, but is considered an upper-tier fare class with 8 lower fare classes and 2 higher fare classes, which means the flight you are booking is nearly capacity and few seats remain unsold. Tickets in this fare class will be expensive. To book a cheaper fare class, adjust your routing or dates.

Below is a human-readable description of this fare class and the expectations passengers should have when flying with a M fare class.

Delta Fare Class M

Fare Class M booking information

Important information to know when booking Fare Class M on Delta Air Lines.

  • Ability to select seats at time of booking
  • Ability to select preferred seats
  • Carry on luggage FREE
  • Checked baggage for a fee
Delta Fare Class M

Fare Class M upgrade eligibility

Important upgrade eligibility and upgrade order information with a Fare Class M ticket on Delta Air Lines.

Complimentary upgrades

Fare class M is a top-tier fare class (2 higher fare classes out of 11 total Main Cabin fare classes), which puts you close to the beginning of the upgrade list for your Medallion tier. Higher medallion tiers, higher fare classes and PM/DM’s who have applied a RUC and GUC will be higher on the upgrade list than this fare class.

Complimentary upgrades are available for SkyMiles Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond Medallion members. Complimentary upgrades clear based on the official upgrade priority list here.

If you don’t know, now you know…

Complimentary upgrades are based upon availability and are affected by Irregular Operations (IROPS) and gate agents not following operational guidelines to upgrade SkyMiles Medallion members with seats available. Your mileage may vary.

Passengers with a Delta Air Lines Main Cabin ticket booked in Fare Class M are eligible for complimentary upgrades to Comfort+. The following are estimated upgrade chances to score an upgrade to Comfort+. Your mileage may vary.

Silver Medallion

20%

Gold Medallion

45%

Platinum Medallion

70%

Diamond Medallion

95%

Passengers with a Delta Air Lines Main Cabin ticket booked in Fare Class M are eligible for complimentary upgrades to First Class. The following are estimated upgrade chances to score an upgrade to First Class. Your mileage may vary.

Silver Medallion

20%

Gold Medallion

45%

Platinum Medallion

70%

Diamond Medallion

95%

Passengers with a Delta Air Lines Main Cabin ticket booked in Fare Class M are not eligible for complimentary upgrades to Delta Premium Select; however, Platinum and Diamond Medallion members can apply a Regional or Global Upgrade Certificate (RUC and GUC) at booking or >3 hours from departure to waitlist for Delta Premium Select.

On rare occasions, Main Cabin may be overbooked. In this scenario, gate agents may perform an operational upgrade and move Medallion members (by status) to a higher cabin of service to alleviate the oversold situation in the lower cabin of service.

Passengers with a Delta Air Lines Main Cabin ticket booked in Fare Class M are not eligible for complimentary upgrades to Delta One; however, Platinum and Diamond Medallion members can apply a Regional or Global Upgrade Certificate (RUC and GUC) at booking or >3 hours from departure to waitlist for Delta One.

On rare occasions, Main Cabin may be overbooked. In this scenario, gate agents may perform an operational upgrade and move Medallion members (by status) to a higher cabin of service to alleviate the oversold situation in the lower cabin of service.

Delta Fare Class M

SkyMiles Medallion frequent flyer earnings

Important Medallion earning information on a Fare Class M ticket on Delta Air Lines.

SkyMiles members will earn towards status and free flights as long as they have an active SkyMiles account linked to their ticket.

Earning categoryEarning rateEarns towards
MQM1:1 (Calculated by great circle distance flown)Status
MQS1:1 (Calculated on the segments/flights flown)Status
MQDBased on the ticket priceStatus
SkyMiles/RDM5 miles per $1 MQD spentFree flights

* SkyMiles/RDM earnings never expire. Earnings towards status reset each calendar year.

Silver Medallion members will earn towards status and free flights

Earning categoryEarning rateEarns towards
MQM1:1 (Calculated by great circle distance flown)Status
MQS1:1 (Calculated on the segments/flights flown)Status
MQDBased on the ticket priceStatus
SkyMiles/RDM7 miles per $1 MQD spentFree flights

* SkyMiles/RDM earnings never expire. Earnings towards status reset each calendar year.

Gold Medallion members will earn towards status and free flights

Earning categoryEarning rateEarns towards
MQM1:1 (Calculated by great circle distance flown)Status
MQS1:1 (Calculated on the segments/flights flown)Status
MQDBased on the ticket priceStatus
SkyMiles/RDM8 miles per $1 MQD spentFree flights

* SkyMiles/RDM earnings never expire. Earnings towards status reset each calendar year.

Platinum Medallion members will earn towards status and free flights

Earning categoryEarning rateEarns towards
MQM1:1 (Calculated by great circle distance flown)Status
MQS1:1 (Calculated on the segments/flights flown)Status
MQDBased on the ticket priceStatus
SkyMiles/RDM9 miles per $1 MQD spentFree flights

* SkyMiles/RDM earnings never expire. Earnings towards status reset each calendar year.

Diamond Medallion members will earn towards status and free flights

Earning categoryEarning rateEarns towards
MQM1:1 (Calculated by great circle distance flown)Status
MQS1:1 (Calculated on the segments/flights flown)Status
MQDBased on the ticket priceStatus
SkyMiles/RDM11 miles per $1 MQD spentFree flights

* SkyMiles/RDM earnings never expire. Earnings towards status reset each calendar year.

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