What is Fare Class Z on Delta Air Lines?

Fare class Z or is a revenue fare/booking class of service that is marketed as First Class / Delta One on Delta Air Lines. The fare class is considered a deeply discounted First Class / Delta One class that must be available to immediately clear into Delta One using a GUC or RUC.

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

Fare class Z is marketed as a deeply discounted First Class / Delta One fare class, which is strictly controlled by the revenue management department. Revenue management is known for limiting the number of Z fare class seats available on transcontinental and long-haul routes to control how many GUCs or RUCs or non-rev employee upgrades can clear. Tickets in this fare class will be least expensive Delta One tickets available to purchase. If you’re looking for a cheaper fare class, you can book Main Cabin or adjust your routing or dates.

If you don’t know, now you know…

In years past, searching for flights months out yielded Z-fare class inventory because there were no customers booked in Delta One. Sometime in 2021-2022’ish, Revenue management blocked Z-fare inventory for lowest fare sale until they explicitly released that inventory. This move effectively allows Delta is control how many seats and when the seats this fare class is available for sale. Additionally, it eliminates savvy flyings seeking Z fare class routes, instead making fare class I the lowest published fare class automatically shown.

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

Delta Fare class Z

Fare class Z booking information

Important information to know when booking Fare class Z on Delta Air Lines.

  • Ability to select seats at time of booking
  • Ability to select preferred seats
  • Carry on luggage FREE
  • Checked baggage included
Delta Fare class Z

How to book Fare class Z

Important information on how to book Fare class Z on Delta Air Lines.

  • Searching for Fare Class Z is nearly impossible through Delta.com and they have deprecated the advanced search feature which used to allow passengers to search by Fare Class.
  • It is advised to call into reservations and get a knowledgeable ticketing agent to search your destination for Fare Class Z availability. Unfortunately, getting a knowledgeable ticket agent is very hard post-COVID as the newer agents have not been trained on DL Term or any other system than their point-and-click reservations system. You will have to hang up and call again (HUCA).
  • Many frequent flyers are reporting no Z fare availability months in advance, which supports to theory of Revenue management controlling the release of these seats.
  • People who manage to book Z fares have reported that the fare class came available a few weeks to month out. The theory behind this is that the Delta One seat sales were lagging behind the forecasted load and thus Revenue Management released a seat or two into the Z fare bucket for sale.

If you are a frequent flyer with additional insight or are with Delta seeking to clarify the information provided, please contact me.

Delta Fare class Z

Fare class Z upgrade eligibility

Important upgrade eligibility and upgrade order information with a Fare class Z ticket on Delta Air Lines.

Complimentary upgrades

If you’re booked into fare class Z, there are no higher cabins of service available.

Delta Fare class Z

SkyMiles Medallion frequent flyer earnings

Important Medallion earning information on a Fare class Z 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)
This fare class has a 50% MQM bonus
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)
This fare class has a 50% MQM bonus
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)
This fare class has a 50% MQM bonus
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)
This fare class has a 50% MQM bonus
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)
This fare class has a 50% MQM bonus
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.

Categories: Fare Classes
Tags: Delta One

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