Delta Basic with kids

[Disney102015]

Have any other parents of little ones booked a Basic fare on Delta? It doesn’t come with a seat assignment and last I checked, Delta doesn’t have a guaranteed policy regarding seating minors with their parents unless a Main fare is selected. For a family of 5, the difference between Basic and Main really adds up, to get guaranteed seats with the kids. That’s why we’ve been flying JetBlue more frequently - they automatically place you with your kids on the same itinerary even if you book the most basic fare. I recently read a trip report where the parents booked Basic on Delta and just asked for seat assignments with their kids at the gate - just curious to hear other’s experiences!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Read Delta’s official policy here. Of specific note, you can contract reservations about it BUT “The final decision resides with the ground staff and operating crew on the day of the flight” meaning you may or may not get seated together. Doesn’t matter what anyone else experienced- DL doesn’t guarantee it so you have no right to it. It’s just a gamble.

 

[SteveH]

Pay for what you want, don't gamble or try to plead your case later.

 

[Mirabell Rose]

Here’s the U.S. Dept of Transportation’s dashboard on this issue and which airlines guarantee seating children under 13 with parents
https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/airline-family-seating-dashboard
Delta shows as not guaranteed

 

[DebbieB]

Here’s the U.S. Dept of Transportation’s dashboard on this issue and which airlines guarantee seating children under 13 with parents
https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/airline-family-seating-dashboard
Delta shows as not guaranteed

Be sure to read the conditions underneath if it says guaranteed, especially #2.

 

[EACarlson]

Delta generally blocks the last couple rows on the plane for family seat assignments, however depending on your route, that may not be enough. There are plenty of people trying to save whatever money they can on a WDW trip that during a high or even medium demand time, I wouldn't risk it. Also remember that the DOT's definition of being seated next to a child could be the row in front or behind. I really wish that the airlines would just make basic fares not allowable for those under 13. Would make all of this discussion moot.

 

[kdonnel]

Friends don’t let friends book Delta Basic.

 

[EACarlson]

Friends don’t let friends book Delta Basic.

My wife begs me to book her Delta Basic places, says she doesn't care about her seat or if she has to gate check her carryon, as long as she isn't charged for it. I'll do it for her, but my shoulders are too big to be stuck in a middle seat for 3+ hours.

 

[kdonnel]

My wife begs me to book her Delta Basic places, says she doesn't care about her seat or if she has to gate check her carryon, as long as she isn't charged for it. I'll do it for her, but my shoulders are too big to be stuck in a middle seat for 3+ hours.

It’s all great until something happens and you need to make changes. Then you’re screwed.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

My wife begs me to book her Delta Basic places, says she doesn't care about her seat or if she has to gate check her carryon, as long as she isn't charged for it. I'll do it for her, but my shoulders are too big to be stuck in a middle seat for 3+ hours.

Your wife is the type of customer who Delta Basic is tailored for if she's flying solo. If someone genuinely doesn't care about being in a middle seat in the back and is confident in their travel plans it makes sense to book. I think the key is the spread between the basic and main needs to be wide enough in case you have to cancel or change the trip. But at the end of the day it's good to have more options than less as a consumer.

All that said I never book Basic Economy. I book probably 20 flights a year and modify a good percentage of them at some point before departing so I need more flexible fares. I also select the seat I want to fly in (extra leg room or first class aisle seat). While I 100% sympathize that it adds cost to a family like the OPs, if I'm asked to move out of my aisle seat so someone who booked basic can sit next to their child the answer will be no.

A perfect example of being asked to move just happened to my hubby and I coming back from Cancun a few days ago. We booked an aisle and window in the Main Cabin Extra section on AA (row 9). Those seats come with extra leg room and complimentary cocktails. During boarding a woman comes up and says her son is in the middle seat and would one of us switch with her as she's a few rows back. I ask where her seat is. 32E. I tell her we decline as these are extra leg room seats but she will probably have better luck asking 32D or 32F if they want to move to the extra leg room seat in row 9. You would have thought I suggested she fly on the wing by the look on her face. Her son ended up being in high school and somewhat relieved to get a break from his mom lol

That's my long winded rational for why I think the OP should pony up for main and secure the seats that allow them to sit next to each other as a family. Leaving it up to chance can lead to lots of day of departure complications and headaches.

 

[Mle8308]

Pay for the seats you need and don't expect people to move or Delta to seat everyone together if you don't book them. Especially to and from Orlando where half the flight is young children.