Deceptive Patterns
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Delta Airlines: Misleading flight option presentation

Author
Dark Patterns Tip Line
Date
2 Jun 2021

“When selecting a Basic Economy flight, Delta (unnecessarily) asks you to “Review Your Choice.” However, the confirmation of the choice is very misleading. The upgrade option, “Main Cabin,” does not have an upgrade-sounding name. Furthermore, it is presented as the default option alongside a big red button. Conversely, the option to maintain Basic Economy is confusingly presented as “Accept Restrictions,” and appears underneath in much smaller letters next to a checkbox. The words “Continue with Basic Economy,” which is ostensibly intended to clarify what “Accept Restrictions” means, appear next to “Accept Restrictions” in a light-gray text (lighter than “Accept Restrictions”) that is difficult to notice. In the past, because of the presentation, I have accidentally upgraded to Main Cabin when I intended to remain in Basic Economy.”

Delta Airlines was reported to the Deceptive Design Tip Line over how it presents fare options. According to the report, selecting a Basic Economy flight triggers a “Review Your Choice” step where the upgrade to “Main Cabin” is presented as the default option beside a large red button, while keeping Basic Economy is labelled “Accept Restrictions” in much smaller text next to a checkbox. The clarifying phrase “Continue with Basic Economy” appears in light-grey text that is hard to notice, and the reporter says this presentation led them to accidentally upgrade to Main Cabin when they intended to remain in Basic Economy.