Seat Selection with Delta

Fabio

I've already mentioned this on a previous thread but I think this is far enough off the ball to merit a new thread. It's about seat selection!

I've read a number of articles that say that American carriers, on their domestic routes at least, tend to "hide" window and aisle seats when passengers go to select seats when they buy their ticket. They do so in the hope that passengers will instead go and buy a Premium Economy seat and when it becomes close to departure suddenly a few window and aisle seats open up.

No one knows for sure if this is true but I am flying with Delta from AMS to BOS in just under a fortnight and the A333 seat map on the Delta site indicates that all window seats are gone but that there are quite a few in premium economy. Interesting. I've not selected a seat, hoping that the theory that seats are released later is true as I would dearly love a window seat with my girlfriend instead of being squeezed in the middle!

Anyone know about this or have a strategy to deal with it? I suppose I could call Delta and see...

steve-o

Delta doesn't charge for window or exit seats (unless they are in the Economy Comfort section). All of the good seats are kept for frequent flyer members or people on expensive fares, but become available to anyone at check-in. If you try and do a new booking search on delta.com for the same flight you'll see the real seat allocations, not just what's available to you. HTH.

Fabio

Ah thanks Steve-O, I just checked there without logging in with my flight details and a lot of seats on the aisles and windows are marked as "preferred". When I check with my own flight details, i.e. I am logged in, those seats are simply "unavailable".

Best thing to do is just to wait until check-in then? Get there early and try snag a seat (two!)?

Bouileb

I made that mistake recently when flying from Bogota to NYC - I booked an Emergency Exit Seat ($60 I think it cost) and then the plane was almost empty - I ended up having a full row of emergeny exit seats to myself and my mate also got the same, albeit without having to pay $60.

Fabio

Best to wait then and hope for the best? Wonder what the load factors are like on the AMS to BOS route for them...

Thanks for the reply dude, I am hoping that something like will happen with our flights! (but without the money!)

Fabio

Ended up getting an Economy Comfort seat...I didn't ask for one nor did I pay extra for it but somehow that was what I was assigned!

It was nice, lots of room as I was at the middle bulkhead and the Delta crew were great. Not as great coming home but still ok. I'd fly with them again.

Thanks to everyone for the help.

Bouileb

Glad to hear you didn't have to pay. Personally I don't find Delta Crew to be the warmest of people. Often get the feeling that their job is a chore for them! Giving the poor Social Security System in the US, cabin crew on the US airlines tend to be a lot older than most other airlines as they have to work closer to retirement age to accrue their social welfare entitlements.

Fabio

Yeah they were a bit older actually...

Rocky Bay

Bouileb wrote: »

Glad to hear you didn't have to pay. Personally I don't find Delta Crew to be the warmest of people. Often get the feeling that their job is a chore for them! Giving the poor Social Security System in the US, cabin crew on the US airlines tend to be a lot older than most other airlines as they have to work closer to retirement age to accrue their social welfare entitlements.

What a sharp, stinging and smart remark! And sadly, so true. Most poor souls in America have to drag themselves to age 65 to retire with all benefits. God have mercy on your wallet if you don't have a minimun of 30 years on the job along with age 65. ( And yet they recoil in horror at Europes' "socialized medicine"!) Am also glad you did not have to pay extra.

Fabio

I'm not sure is Economy Comfort worth the extra money that you would normally pay however. Perhaps if selecting bulkhead seats like I ended up in...then it might be and certainly so if 6"4!!!

I forgot to mention that the Captain actually came down the flickdeck before pushback and taxi in order to wish us all a pleasant flight. Nice touch I thought.

McSween

Fabio wrote: »

I'm not sure is Economy Comfort worth the extra money that you would normally pay however. Perhaps if selecting bulkhead seats like I ended up in...then it might be and certainly so if 6"4!!!

I forgot to mention that the Captain actually came down the flickdeck before pushback and taxi in order to wish us all a pleasant flight. Nice touch I thought.

That is the thing about American airlines. When i flew jet blue boston to mco lax last year he was talking to an electrician fixing wires in kitchen area and said 'folks we should be on the way in 20 mins'. He was like Macgyver :-)