No advance seat assignments. No upgrades. No same-day ticket changes. A lot of passengers don't like basic economy, airlines' no-frills product. That's exactly why Delta Air Lines is taking it global next year.

Given the choice, half of Delta passengers who are considering basic economy pay for the regular main cabin fare, the No. 2 U.S. airline's CEO, Ed Bastian, told CNBC. Regular economy tickets on the carrier cost about $30 to $40 more than basic economy.

Bastian's estimate on passengers' opting for the more expensive main cabin fare echoed what American Airlines revealed last month.

Delta launched basic economy in 2012. Competitors United and American launched their own versions this year, taking it a step further by prohibiting basic economy passengers from using overhead bins.