I booked basic economy flights with Delta and Alaska Airlines. One was clearly better for coach passengers.

Business Insider

16-07-2025

First, I flew with Delta from Salt Lake City to New York City.
In January 2025, I took a 4 ½-hour Delta flight from Salt Lake City to NYC. My basic economy ticket cost $175, and it included one carry-on bag. The booking didn't accrue miles or include a seat reservation, so I got my seat assignment at the gate.
It's worth noting that I switched flights just before boarding. The flight I'd booked was full, so the airline asked for volunteers at the gate to take an emptier flight that left 10 minutes later. Since that one was headed to an airport closer to my NYC apartment — John F. Kennedy International Airport — I was happy to change my reservation.
Then, I took an Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to NYC.
In May 2025, I took a 5 ½-hour flight from Seattle to NYC with Alaska Airlines. For $240, I booked the saver fare — Alaska's basic economy ticket, which allows rewards members to earn miles, though fewer than in standard economy.
Like the Delta flight, my ticket included one carry-on bag and no seat assignment. But unlike the Delta flight I ended up on, this flight was full. And since I was in the last boarding group, all the overhead bin space was taken by the time I got to the front of the line, so I checked my carry-on luggage at the gate.
The Delta flight was on an Airbus A321neo with several empty seats.
The Alaska flight was on a full Boeing 737-900.
I made my way to the middle seat in the back row of Alaska's Boeing 737-900, which seats 178 travelers.
While Alaska retired its Airbus fleet in 2023, Delta has three Boeing 737-900 models similar to the Alaska plane I took. These models seat between 173 and 180 passengers, according to the airline.
The seats were larger on the Delta flight.
My seat on the Delta flight was larger and a bit cushier than the seat on my Alaska flight. The Delta Airbus A321neo economy seats are 18 inches wide with a 31-inch seat pitch.
Meanwhile, according to Seat Guru, Alaska's economy seats are 17 inches wide and have a seat pitch between 31 and 32 inches.
Delta had a better entertainment system.
Perhaps the biggest difference between my experiences on these two flights was the entertainment.
On the Delta flight, I had a seat-back touchscreen housing hundreds of movies and TV shows. On the Alaska flight, I had access to over 800 shows and movies from my personal device, but there was no seat-back screen.
When I fly, I prefer to have a seat-back entertainment system for viewing because it's much larger than my phone screen, and I don't have to hold it up in front of my face.
Both flights had power outlets, and at least two of Delta's similar Boeing 737-900 models also have seat-back screens.
Both flights had three bathrooms in the main cabin.
Ultimately, the Delta flight was a better ride.
The Delta flight was obviously more enjoyable since the flight had many empty seats. But if the roles were reversed, and I had to sit in the back middle seat of the Delta flight as I did on the Alaska flight, I still think I would have preferred the same airline.
With a larger, cozier seat and a 10-inch screen in front of me, I'd take any basic economy seat on a Delta flight.