Delta, United warm to ‘unbundled business class’
Everything from seat selection to lounge access could no longer be included in your business class ticket.
By David Flynn, July 22 2025
The world’s largest airlines could soon be selling business class tickets which strip out some standard perks in exchange for a lower fare – and asking passengers to pay extra if they want to get some of those benefits back.
US airlines were early adopters of this approach in economy class, rolling out Basic Economy fares (sometimes known as Economy Light) which gave you a seat and nothing else: no seat selection, a limited carry-on allowance with no checked baggage, no points-based upgrades, and no refunds.
Now it seems that Delta Air Lines and United Airlines could bring the same ‘unbundling’ approach to business class with the launch of Business Light fares.
Delta Air Lines Business Basic
Delta Air Lines has been hinting at extending its Economy Light approach to business class since last year, where Delta president Glen Hauenstein said the unbundling of business class was being discussed.
“We’ve talked conceptually about that,” Hauenstein admitted, “but we’re not ready to talk about the details of those plans moving forward.”
Delta's Business Basic fares might not include access to the upscale Delta One lounges.
Speaking on an analyst call last week, Hauenstein put unbundled business class back on the table, saying the airline’s ‘main cabin’ of economy – which offers both standard and basic packages – would serve as a “template” for other travel classes.
“It's all about giving people more choice, more pricing options, and more products and services in every cabin,” Hauenstein said.
Other business class perks such as Delta One premium check-in could also be dropped.
United Airlines: a pared-back Polaris experience?
And it’s not only Delta dangling its toes in the water.
United Airlines is now also leaning into the unbundled business class concept, and same approach of this being all about the passenger – giving them more choices, including the choice of paying less for a stripped-down business class ticket.
“Not everybody wants the full experience,” United chief commercial officer Andrew Nocella said during the airline’s second-quarter earnings call last week.
"What I would say is, over time, over the last seven or eight years, we’ve leaned heavily into segmentation of our revenues – which is really an inarticulate way of saying ‘provide more and more choices to our customers so they can pick the experience they would like.’”
“We look forward to continuing to diversify our revenue base, and segment it in the appropriate way,” Nocella added, “(and) I’ll leave it at that.”
United's Polaris business class lounges: something you won't see on an unbundled ticket?
What might be removed from Delta, United basic business fares?
Should Delta and United press ahead with a business class version of their basic economy basic approach, we could see the following removed from the standard business class fare:
- advance seat selection is likely to be cut, with the option to choose or charge your seat only at check-in
- checked luggage might be reduced from two bags to one
- access to each airline’s Delta One and United Polaris premium lounges could be dropped, and possibly replaced with entry to the inferior and more crowded Delta Sky Club or United Clubs or simply have no lounge access at all
- this would also apply to the lounges of partner airlines across the SkyTeam (Delta) and United (Star Alliance)
- you can take it for granted there’d be far fewer frequent flyer miles and a lower serve of status credits (which US airlines express as qualifying dollars, and qualifying miles or points)
- likewise, there’d be reduced flexibility for changing or cancelling the flight
However, as we’ve seen with other airlines now offering unbundled business class, some of what Delta or United would strip out – such as baggage allowance and airport lounge access – could remain available depending on your frequent flyer status with the airline or its international alliance partners.
Of course, crucial to Delta or United’s launch of unbundled ‘business basic’ fares would be how much cheaper they are – and whether these moves are used to deflect from a stealthy increase in all other business class fares.
Also read: United’s new 787 Polaris Suites business class come with caviar service
12 Aug 2022
Total posts 15
Removing seat selection from a 10k round trip business class ticket to Europe just feels like price gouging, noticed it on a recent Etihad quote and couldn't believe I would need to fork out extra to ensure my wife and I could sit together.
QFF
19 Sep 2013
Total posts 225
If only travelling within the States, would be quite happy to forgo these extras to obtain a better seat. But long-distance international travel would be another matter.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Nov 2017
Total posts 16
I have no idea why airlines would be offering such a product. As It is, the airlines are now banking profits on their premium cabin offerings which have doubled in price since before the pandemic.
I will give 2 examples -
1. Flying PE with QF MEL-LAX-BOS-JFK-LAX-MEL was ~$3800 AUD in 2019, which increased to ~$5300 in 2022. In 2025, such a ticket will run you between $6000-7000 AUD depending on sale availability and time of year.
2. Flying Business class ex MEL or SYD to East Coast USA, or Europe used to cost ~$6000 - $8,000 AUD (return) depending on dates and sale availability. In 2025, you would be lucky to find a business fare for less than $12,000 (return).
In other words, the airlines switched their profit model from offering decent route, service, and price availability for all passengers, and focused solely on premium cabins to rake in the cash, while targeting a bigger mix of leisure travellers willing to fork out the dough.
Offering a trimmed down business class product, (especially for ULH flights), will do nothing but (perhaps) cut tiny pieces around the edges, while only reducing the fare by a few hundred dollars (if that).
They really don't have the incentive to do so. Thus, I don't see Qantas, or AA offering Business class flights from MEL/SYD - JFK (return), for much less than what they currently charge. If anything, such a move would push the price of 'full service business class' tickets to even more astronomical (unaffordable) prices...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Nov 2017
Total posts 16
Would only cut the cost by ~10% at most, while likely to push the cost of full business class fares even higher.
22 Jul 2025
Total posts 1
“In return for a lower fare” what nonsense. They’ll simply remove all the perks from the standard business price and charge more for lounge access, checked bags, etc
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Jun 2017
Total posts 100
Agree with what has been said previously. Seat selection is not a cost to the airline. Lounge access is a cost as is checked in luggage however the lounges are open and luggage services will be operating anyway so the savings of unbundling these is minimal.
I would suggest that it is unlikely that the unbundled ticket price will drop any more than a few percent if anything and the price of a full service ticket will go up. As ticket pricing varies so much even when you look at an individual airline, time of year, time of day, loadings, route etc it would be near impossible to absolutely confirm we are being gouged but I bet we are and the bean counters who are looking at revenue, minimising cost and maximising profit will make sure of that!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Nov 2018
Total posts 144
I think this is just an excuse for airlines to charge Extra for the perks that are currently part of the business experience.
US airlines don’t currently allow lounge access domestically if your flight isn’t same day, same itinerary regardless of your fare class or frequent flyer status. Disgusting. (Not that their domestic “Clubs” are worth a dime. Crowded, dirty, noisy and lacking hygiene amenities).
United: be warned, those of us who took up ff membership with you (due to Qantas’ failure to provide decent services to USA) will drop you faster that a hot potato if you think that this “choice” is acceptable. Keep in mind that many of us spend $$$,$$$ with you per year.
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