Delta changed my seats!

[mom of 3G's]

I just checked my Delta itinerary and I see that our seat assignment on the way from Mnpls to MCO has changed. I booked back in May for our Dec. flights and I had it figured so that all 5 of us would be together. Now they have my DH and I in row 25 and the 3 kids in row 35!!! I called and he said it was because of a schedule change and the system automatically changed us. How can you put 3 little kids by themselves??? Does the system not check ages?? The plane is full so he couldn't change us around other than put an adult back with 2 kids and 1 kid up front. He said that when we check in they may be able to accomodate us. I asked to speak to a supervisor but he claimed that they would not be able to do anything. How can they switch our seats and not be able to change it on their end? If they were able to switch us around, then they should be able to switch somebody else around.

Another question I have is can a 9 y/o be in an aisle seat? I thought I read somewhere that they couldn't because it would impede the exit of the other seats in an emergency.

 

[goofy4tink]

This is a big reason I don't fly Delta more often. They've changed my seats more often than I can count. I've been able to get seats that worked for my group finally but it was a lot of work.
The computer doesn't 'see' ages, so the kids are just put wherever. There aren't any stipulations, that I know of, that prevent a child from sitting in an aisle seat....only exit row seats.

They should be able to accomodate you when you get to the gate...they will try to get some people to move around so you can sit with your kids.

 

[tjmw2727]

Delta and most of the legacy airlines change seats all the time. No airline guarantees seat assignments and unfortunately when equipment changes the computer randomly assigns seats.

There is no way for the computer to know the ages of the passengers and if you booked a web fare you booked adult fares even though the passengers are children.

There is no restriction as to where children can sit except for the exit row.

Depending on when your trip is there may be more changes so keep checking online for open seats and more changes.

Now - those are the facts and understanding that may help you deal with the situation more effectively.

You didn't say the ages of your children but the airline will have no problem with a school age child sitting apart from an adult. They will work harder for a baby/toddler/preschooler so you may want to prepare for the fact that one or more of the kids, depending on ages may be sitting alone.

I see nothing wrong with the solution offered, at least you have one adult with each of your children.

I am sorry your seats got messed up - truly I am but IMHO understanding the way things work is going to help you in the long run.

If you want to get to the airport very early and ask for help you may be able to get better seating. However, remember that the counter agent and the gate agent didn't cause this, the computer did. So the more willing you are to work with the the folks at Delta the more likely they will be willing to help you.

 

[DebbieB]

I just checked my Delta itinerary and I see that our seat assignment on the way from Mnpls to MCO has changed. I booked back in May for our Dec. flights and I had it figured so that all 5 of us would be together. Now they have my DH and I in row 25 and the 3 kids in row 35!!! I called and he said it was because of a schedule change and the system automatically changed us. How can you put 3 little kids by themselves??? Does the system not check ages?? The plane is full so he couldn't change us around other than put an adult back with 2 kids and 1 kid up front. He said that when we check in they may be able to accomodate us. I asked to speak to a supervisor but he claimed that they would not be able to do anything. How can they switch our seats and not be able to change it on their end? If they were able to switch us around, then they should be able to switch somebody else around.

Another question I have is can a 9 y/o be in an aisle seat? I thought I read somewhere that they couldn't because it would impede the exit of the other seats in an emergency.

You really have to watch them. I have a flight next month. We had seats in the 3rd row of coach. They changed the plane model and moved us to the last row! Good thing I caught it, there were still plenty of seats up front to move back to. Especially considering it was PIT/ATL and we are connecting. It would have been a long way out from row 42! Situations like this make me wonder why people object to flying SW because they don't have assigned seats. Seems like this is worse. It not only happens with Delta but also with other airlines with assigned seats.

There's no problem with a 9 yo in an aisle seat (except exit row). The only rule I've heard of like that is a car seat must be in the window seat so not to block people exiting.

 

[mom of 3G's]

I guess what makes me upset is the fact that I booked this trip back in May and had my choice of seats. I chose where I thought it would be most convenient for our family -- kids are ages 8, 6 and 2. If I had booked last week, then it would be a different scenario for me, but my peace of mind came from booking early and having a choice in my seats. I understand that things happen and the computer doesn't understand this, but gosh darnit, I want a human to listen to me and to try and fix it for me.

 

[Brit_Jude]

I agree that this does happen and even though you got to choose your seats at the time of booking there is no guarantee that they will stay the same. Especially if you book the seats quite far in advance. What has most likely happened is that the type of plane has changed for your flight, what they call an equipment change. This may to due to another flight being cancelled and the other passengers being consolidated on to one flight. Or something similar at where your plane comes from. It's cheaper to fly one larger plane than two smaller planes. Shedules and planes change a lot more than you would imagine based on the number of seats sold and matching up incoming equipment with outgoing flights. It is all about saving costs and we all want cheaper tickets. As a previous poster says its done by computer and it is obviously not perfect or does not have the parameters to work out how to seat families together.

So keep checking to see if you can swap some of your family members around to get closer to each other, however trying to get 5 people together is going to prove difficult. My other advice is to arrive at the airport a little early and do not do self check-in go to the counter to see if they can put you together. If not then the gate agent may be able to help you or ask for volunteers to move. Understand though that they can only do so much and getting frustrated or demanding with them will not help.

I too don't really see anything wrong with the solution offered, at least you have one adult with each of your children. It won't be long until you are at the world and being apart for a little while has got to be worth it

 

[mom of 3G's]

MNPLS is our connecting flight so I don't know how early I'll be at the gate. Currently we have an hour and a half to get from the puddle jumper outside the airport, into the airport, and across the concourse from one end to another. I'm just going to have to accept that it is what it is. Hopefully the kids will be so tired from getting up at 4 a.m. to catch the flight that they will fall asleep and not notice where the others are sitting. Who knows...it may be a blessing in disguise!

 

[tjmw2727]

I guess what makes me upset is the fact that I booked this trip back in May and had my choice of seats. I chose where I thought it would be most convenient for our family -- kids are ages 8, 6 and 2. If I had booked last week, then it would be a different scenario for me, but my peace of mind came from booking early and having a choice in my seats. I understand that things happen and the computer doesn't understand this, but gosh darnit, I want a human to listen to me and to try and fix it for me.

I hear you and I understand- I have been separated from my kids a few times and flying these days is just generally stressful.

Unfortunately the fact that you book in advance makes it more likely that things wil change. Schedules change and aircraft changes for various reasons and the computer just randomly changes the seats. As I said before it may change again

Your best bet now is just to watch online and see if seats open up and you can switch them yourself. Getting to the airport early can help as well since they can upgrade elite passengers and seat adults in the exit row to free up seats for your family.

 

[DonnaL]

This is exactly why I dislike every airline with "assigned" seats. True.....you do choose your seats when you book, but, a very large percentage of the time something about the flight changes and the seat "you chose" is changed by the airline......so I've never understood why people have such a problem with Southwest and no assigned seating. Personally, I much prefer SWA because I do get to choose my own seat and keep it......the only difference.......I choose it as I walk the aisle.......when our kids and grandson were younger I would make sure I was online to get A boarding passes at the exact 24 hour mark.....with the new system that's not a guarantee anymore, however, we also don't need to be 100% sure we all sit together anymore, either. I would much prefer to choose my seat as I'm walking thru the plane, however......because I can be absolutely sure I'm not sitting next to, in front of or behind the family with the several children who were running all over the terminal before boarding, or the baby who obviously is overtired or maybe even not feeling well and there's a good possibility will cry during the whole flight. Please don't think I'm a nasty old woman by stating these facts........I've been in both situations myself when my own children and grandson were younger.....and felt bad for others around us who had to tolerate crying or misbehavior from tired kids......so I'm glad we do have an airline that allows flyers to choose their own seats as they walk thru the plane and not months before .......and then change those seats on them anyway!!

 

[Kae]

Just split the adults. 1 adult 2 kids & 1 adult 1 kid.

Kae

 

[safetymom]

The airline guarantees that it will fly you from one place to another. It doesn't guarantee the seat you will have.

The best thing to do is once a week check your flights and seat assignments. If there are changes call! Don't wait for the airline to contact you.

 

[winterman]

The plane is full so he couldn't change us around other than put an adult back with 2 kids and 1 kid up front.

Sorry, you are frustrated but that just doesn't sound so terrible to me.

 

[mom of 3G's]

Sorry, you are frustrated but that just doesn't sound so terrible to me.

And if you had paid $2475 for the airline tickets, you wouldn't be just a little upset?

 

[bumbershoot]

I guess what makes me upset is the fact that I booked this trip back in May and had my choice of seats. I chose where I thought it would be most convenient for our family...

This is exactly why I stopped flying the "big guys" and started going with Southwest (though I do branch out to Alaska and Virgin America now). I would rather *literally* choose my seats as I'm standing there on the plane, rather than waste my time choosing seats on a picture, then have them changed. It bugged me enough when I was single, because I put time into choosing the seat when I booked...let alone having it happen while traveling with others and actually *caring* where I and the others are sitting.

 

[ancestry]

And if you had paid $2475 for the airline tickets, you wouldn't be just a little upset?

Well since you asked, I would have never paid $2475 for the tickets to begin with, but that is me.

I'm sorry this happened to you. Yes it is frustrating and yes I can certainly understand why you are upset but this unfortunately is common practice with many of the legacy carriers.

 

[mom of 3G's]

Well since you asked, I would have never paid $2475 for the tickets to begin with, but that is me.

I wish I didn't have to pay that much, but when living in North Dakota, Delta is the monopoly and sets the price.

 

[Sukina]

You should sign up for email notification if your flight is changed. I book my flight for November in late July. One morning last month, I woke up with an email notification that my flight has changed. Immediately, I log in to Delta and got my seats re-assigned. Ever since I booked, I check the website every 2-3 days to see if any seats in the front are available. And two weeks ago, I caught a row opened up two rows in front of my assigned seat, and I grabbed it. Now, I'm on row 5 heading to Orlando, and row 8 coming back.

I love Delta for the self assigning seats. Even if they change the flight, you're notified immediately. If you don't like the available seats, they give you a choice to change the flight. All my experiences with Delta have been awesome.

 

[DebbieB]

They generally make flight changes over the weekend. I always check my reservations on Sunday.

 

[mom of 3G's]

Ever since I booked, I check the website every 2-3 days to see if any seats in the front are available. And two weeks ago, I caught a row opened up two rows in front of my assigned seat, and I grabbed it. Now, I'm on row 5 heading to Orlando, and row 8 coming back.

:

If it shows that the flight is currently full, is there a chance that some seats will open up?

 

[Sukina]

If it shows that the flight is currently full, is there a chance that some seats will open up?

Keep checking. When you book from Delta.com directly, and if a flight is change. You can change your flight till the last day. So, some people might decide to cancel or change to a different flight. I mean, I caught a row open up two weeks ago. It at the front of the plane, and I don't think these people moved to the back. So, my guess is they cancel. So, keep checking and set up email alert to be notified if Delta change again.