Delta Air Lines Offering $26 Upgrade for 1st Class Tickets

(KMDL-FM) When it comes to travel, most of us fit into this bucket. We love going places, but we hate getting there. I know, it's supposed to be about the journey, but when the journey is 12 hours in a cramped seat in economy class, being there seems to be a better option than getting there. And now, for a little as $26 on Delta Air Lines, you can enjoy the destination and the journey because Delta is bumping passengers to first class for as little as $26.

In my frequent travels, I have very infrequently flown in the First Class cabin of any aircraft. Some aircraft, such as the ones that fly out of Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, and Shreveport, don't really have a "First Class," do they? It seems as if people, or companies, are paying a lot of extra money so folks can sit at the pointy end of the plane.

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If you've never flown First Class, it is something special. Is it worth it? I guess that would depend on your system of values. Yes, the seats are larger and more comfortable. The food and beverage service is a bit faster, and the choices are a little, okay, a lot better.

What's the Difference Between Flying First Class and Economy?

The headphones they give you to use in First Class while on board are much nicer. Oh, and you get to get on and off the plane first, and you never fight for space in the overhead compartments. What's a dollar amount you would put on that for a flight of any distance?

In a lot of cases, that bigger seat and extra leg room will cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars more. But they won't under Delta's new strategy to lure customers to their planes. In the past, the upgrade to First Class was the singular domain of the frequent flyer. People who travel frequently would and could use their points to score those nicer seats. That attitude among all air carriers is changing.

How Do You Get an Upgrade to First Class From Delta?

Delta's decision to make upgrades "affordable" will appeal to more travelers who don't travel as often but still are willing to pay for the "extra". The $26 upgrade option is available on select flights; you'll have to ask your Delta representative.

Look for more and more air carriers to slide in the direction of this pricing model as the airline industry slowly but surely revamps loyalty programs across the board. Don't be surprised if those "frequent flier miles" and "points" go by the wayside; that certainly seems to be the direction the airline industry is heading.