Seeing Sky-High Prices with Delta? Why & What You Can Do

Trust me: It's not just you.
Delta flyers around the country are seemingly hitting a breaking point in unison with high prices on their go-to airline. Questions like “Why is Delta so much more expensive?” and “What’s going on with Delta’s prices?” dominate Reddit, other forums, and social media. It's become a frequent topic around proverbial workplace water coolers, cab rides to the airport, and even inside Delta's own Sky Club lounges and planes.
Let's be real: Everyone loves to gripe about flight prices … even if they're actually going down . But the chorus surrounding Delta's at-times absurd pricing has grown louder than ever. Flying to or from its biggest hubs like Atlanta (ATL) or Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), you don't have to look long or hard to find a Delta fare that's $200, $300, or more above every other airline.
 

 
Sure, examples like this are easy to cherry-pick… but they're also telling, part of an undeniable trend. Delta hubs dominated USA Today’s recent analysis of airports that have seen the biggest airfare increases in recent years, too: Among the nation’s 30 largest airports, five of the top 10 offenders were major Delta hubs, with Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) topping the list.
So what gives with pricing on the Atlanta-based airline? Why do fares seem higher than ever – and is there any solution? We've got some answers.
 
What's Driving Delta's Prices?
In short? Delta charges more for airfare because they want to … and they can.
It's really that simple. Delta knows the majority of its best customers simply don't have a realistic alternative in the heavily consolidated U.S. airline industry, where carriers have carved out near monopolies at their biggest and most important hubs. Swear you'll constantly take one-stop flights with American, United, or Southwest? Delta will gladly call your bluff.
Delta controls close to 70% or more of the market at its hubs in Atlanta (ATL), Detroit (DTW), Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), and Salt Lake City (SLC). Even in New York City (JFK) and Boston (BOS), your best alternative is JetBlue: an airline that's now on unsure financial footing, recently replaced its CEO, and has a poor track record for running flights on time.
With a stranglehold on many of its biggest airports, Delta can get away with charging higher airfare because that's what passengers will pay. While it might make everyday flyers happy, there's no financial incentive to slash fares. We call it the Delta hub penalty , and it's alive and well.
 

 
Now, Delta's not the only airline that crowds out competitors – not even close. But pricing goes beyond market share and into the company's overarching strategy: Delta fancies itself America's best, premium airline … and the entire point of being a “premium” airline is charging your passengers a premium.
If they can convince consumers they're the best option out there, surely Delta can convince travelers to pay a bit (or a lot) more for a seat on those planes. And few can argue that Delta hasn't set itself apart from competitors.
There's now complimentary Wi-Fi on most Delta flights for anyone with a free SkyMiles account and seatback screens on almost every plane, too – even as competitors like American and United ripped those TVs out. While many of its planes are actually decades old, they look fresh and modern – aside from its many woefully outdated business class cabins on long-haul flights, ironically.
Delta has made reliability part of its brand, dominating the rest of the industry with on-time performance for years. Nearly 84% of Delta flights arrived on time last year compared to about 79% or less at both American and United, according to federal statistics . And while Delta flyers might grumble about service onboard slipping since the pandemic, the airline is still widely regarded as having friendlier flight attendants than its competitors.
 

 
The slow but steady return of business travelers might be another factor.
Once the heart of every major airline's strategy, business travel disappeared in early 2020 and was much slower to bounce back, forcing airlines to pivot and cater toward everyday vacationers instead. But Delta has repeatedly said that corporate travel is coming back strong.
Airline president Glen Hauenstein told investors in January that they entered 2024 expecting business travel at 90% of pre-pandemic levels. Maybe they just don't need us cost-conscious vacationers as much as they did even a year ago?
 

 
Is all that enough to warrant the prices you see for your next Delta flight? You might not think so, but there's little reason for Delta to change course … because it's working. Last year was a record-setter for Delta, pulling in 23% more in revenue than in 2019, despite still flying slightly less compared to pre-pandemic levels.
So sure, some travelers may swear they're calling it quits with Delta and finally flying other carriers. But by the numbers, we're not seeing it – at least not yet.
And Delta is betting people will continue paying more to fly with them. It's the airline's entire strategy. 
“People come to us because of the experience they get on Delta as compared to others. And it's that differentiation, that distinction, is what the definition of being a loved brand is: That people have a relationship, they have an irrational commitment towards,” CEO Ed Bastian said during the company's big investor day presentation last summer. “They'll invest a premium with and they spend their loyalty on Delta. And we continue to grow that.”
To some travelers, though, the higher prices smack of hubris – just another slap in the face after last year's botched overhaul of the Medallion Status program and the recent hike to annual fees on SkyMiles credit cards. After years of brand loyalty, it's personal now.
And it's particularly painful in Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), where flight prices can seem exorbitantly high thanks to a quirk in how Delta is trying to fend off upstart low-cost carrier Sun Country.
On dozens of routes where the carriers fly head to head, you can book a stingy Delta basic economy fare for the same price as Sun Country. But if you want a better, main cabin fare – the kind that lets you pick your seat, change or cancel flights for free, earn SkyMiles, and get into Delta Sky Clubs – Delta regularly charges an additional $200 or even $300 more per ticket.
 

 
In the end, Delta may be simply targeting a different customer than just a few years ago: more wealthy vacationers who'll gladly pay more for a Delta nonstop and returning corporate road warriors whose employers don't care.
 
Where You Can Still Find Delta Deals
Airfare is not a monolith – not even on Delta.
The trend may seem obvious that Delta airfare is rising, but that doesn't mean it's going up everywhere. Take it from us: We search for and find Delta flight deals every day for our Thrifty Traveler Premium   members. So while you might see eye-popping fares of $500 or more, I promise that Delta deals are still out there.
A little tip: Competition is the x-factor when it comes to flight prices. So if you're hoping to find a better deal flying Delta, focus on destinations where you've got multiple carriers to pick from.
Here are some places to look.
 
New York, Denver, Phoenix & Miami
Within the U.S., a handful of cities stick out as safer bets for cheaper Delta fares. They've all got one thing in common: They're big hubs for competing airlines, too.
We're still routinely finding cheap prices flying into New York and all three airports: New York City (JFK), New York City-LaGuardia (LGA), and Newark (EWR). That includes some recent Delta fares this spring, summer, and fall as low as $99 roundtrip.
 

 
Competition is fierce flying in and out of Phoenix (PHX) – and there are tons of flights to pick from, especially during the winter and spring.
 

 
The same goes for Miami (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL). 
Denver (DEN) is another frequent source of cheap Delta flight deals, thanks largely to huge presences from both United and Southwest and low-cost Frontier Airlines that keep prices down. That includes low prices paying cash and dirt-cheap Delta SkyMiles rates, too – with fares as low as 7,000 miles roundtrip!
 

 
Hawaii
Hawaii has been a hotbed of flight deals lately, including flying Delta.
You'll almost always find the lowest fares from Delta's West Coast hubs with nonstops to the islands: Los Angeles (LAX) and Seattle (SEA). Just as with other carriers, we regularly see Delta selling flights for under $200 roundtrip.
 

 
 
Cancún
Cancún (CUN), we have a problem: After years of bottomless travel demand, attention seems to have shifted away from the Riviera Maya. But airlines still have plenty of flights and seats to fill.
The result is some of the cheapest roundtrip fares we've ever seen to Cancún, including Delta fares like:

Atlanta (ATL) to Cancún for just $293 total
Boston (BOS) and Los Angeles (LAX) nonstop from $299 roundtrip
Detroit (DTW) nonstop as low as $374
Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) from $353 roundtrip
And New York City (JFK) to Cancùn and back for just $275 total

 

 
Iceland
If you're looking to make it to Iceland this year, you're in luck.
Delta goes head to head against budget-friendly airline Icelandair with nonstop flights to Reykjavik (KEF) from many of its hubs. So whenever we see Icelandair slash prices – and it happens regularly – Delta almost always responds in kind with fares under $500 roundtrip … and sometimes under $400!
 
 
Dublin
You could be even luckier if Ireland is on your mind.
On flights from Boston (BOS), New York City (JFK), and even the upcoming new route from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) , Delta has repeatedly slashed roundtrip fares to under $500 – and occasionally even under $400!
 
Tips to Avoid Overpaying for Delta
If you're set on flying Delta but still hoping to save, some easy tips can help you save a bit (or a lot) of money.
 
Use Delta's Price Calendar
Shifting your travel dates by just a week – or even a day or two – can help you save hundreds of dollars per ticket. Fortunately, Delta has an easy tool to help you find those savings.
No matter where you're departing from or flying to, you should always select the “My dates are flexible” option when searching at Delta.com .
 

 
Thrifty Tip:  While you can also search for and book Delta fares with its smartphone app, you won't have this same flexibility – search from a desktop or laptop instead.
Do that, and the airline will pull up a full week of fares with the best deals highlighted in green.
 

 
You can take it even further and get a full, five-week view by clicking “Price Calendar.”
 

 
This is why we preach the Flight First Rule : Searching and booking for flights before you request time off, book hotels, pay for rental cars, or any part of the trip planning process, really. The key to saving on flights is giving yourself the flexibility to fly when it's cheapest.
And Delta's website makes it relatively easy to find those savings.
 
Or Google Flights Explore
No matter what airline you're flying, Google Flights is the best search engine to find cheap flights, period. And one of its most powerful tools is tailor-made to help you find the cheapest Delta fares – especially when you aren't sure where you want to go.
The Google Flights Explore map is second to none. Type in your home airport, enter a city, country, or even an entire continent, and Google Flights will pull up a map that shows you the cheapest places you can fly.
While you can't filter these results for only Delta fares – at least not directly – you can filter to only show flights on SkyTeam airlines … and that's the same thing.  This makes the Explore Map an easy way to find cheap Delta fares from your home airport.
 

 
Read our full guide to using Google Flights Explore !
 
Pay More for a Main Cabin Fare
I know, I know. It sounds counterintuitive.
But again and again  and again over the last few years, travelers have rebooked their Delta tickets after prices suddenly drop , pocketing a Delta eCredit for the difference. And not just by $10 or $15, but prices often fall by $100 or more roundtrip.
And the key is paying more for a main cabin fare that gives you that option. The cheapest basic economy fares can't be changed or canceled without forfeiting hefty fees : $99 roundtrip on most of them and $199 for long-haul international tickets.
That's why it could easily make sense to pay the extra $70 or $80 Delta typically charges for a main cabin economy fare. Not only will you get free seat selection and other perks that basic economy lacks, but you leave the door open to greater savings.
The process works like this:

Book at least a Delta main cabin economy fare
Even after booking, set (or keep) a Google Flights price alert on those flights and wait for an email
Once that happens, cancel your existing flight, then rebook it using your credit at the lower price
Pocket an eCredit to use toward your next trip with Delta!

It may seem too good to be true, but it works like a charm. We regularly see Delta drop prices on flights just a month or two ahead of departure.
I've done it myself to get at least $1,000 or more in Delta credits over the years. And I'm not alone.
 
 
Vote With Your Wallet: Try Another Airline
For years, we've had a mantra meant to encourage travelers to go free agent: Your loyalty is costing you money. With Delta, it might be costing you more than ever.
If you've exhausted all the options above and are still coming up short, seeing high Delta fares, it might be time to vote with your wallet and try another airline.  Maybe the grass is, in fact, greener on another airline – especially if it's saving you $100 or more per ticket.
Now as ever, being an airline free agent is far and away the best path toward traveling on the cheap. Instead of focusing only on Delta, search Google Flights and pick the cheapest fare that fits your travel plans.
Maybe you've focused on flying Delta over the years in the name of earning SkyMiles and status. But those SkyMiles won't get you nearly as far as they did just a few years ago. And after increasing annual spending requirements and eliminating workarounds, status is further out of reach than ever – with questionable benefits even for those select few who reach it.
Read more:  Is Earning Delta Medallion Status Worth it Anymore?
Unless your employer is footing the bill, save your money and try something else – at least once.
 
Bottom Line
High prices on Delta flights just seem to keep getting higher, and once-loyal Delta flyers are hitting a breaking point.
It's all by design. Delta is hoping its “premium” brand convinces customers it's, in fact, worth paying more. And for many of us held captive at major Delta hubs who treasure nonstop flights, we simply don't have a realistic alternative. Delta is the only game in town, and they know it.
But while the trend seems undeniable, it's not universal. There are still good deals out there and ways to save on Delta flights.