Delta full flight & $29 seat selection fee

[leebee]

I still think that charging for a seat assignment is ridiculous. They are going to have to give you a seat somewhere; why not let you pick the seats online when you purchase the ticket and be done with it. Bonus goes to those who book sooner rather than later; they are more likely to get seated together, and it's those middle seats that will be taken last regardless of if you are paying a fee or not. Now, if you want a bigger seat or more legroom, I can see that the airlines would consider this an upsell and charge for it, but just for a seat assignment? It's silly, and it's nickel-and-diming us and using a "scare tactic" to generate income... they have to seat us anyhow!

 

[PlutoPony]

I still think that charging for a seat assignment is ridiculous. They are going to have to give you a seat somewhere; why not let you pick the seats online when you purchase the ticket and be done with it. Bonus goes to those who book sooner rather than later; they are more likely to get seated together, and it's those middle seats that will be taken last regardless of if you are paying a fee or not.

Keep in mind though that the most desirable customer (i.e. the ones the airlines are catering to) are business travelers who typically book closer to departure and thus pay higher prices. Plus, some seats are better than others, especially if you fly a lot. From a business perspective it makes sense to charge more for those seats..... basic supply and demand.

 

[DebbieB]

I still think that charging for a seat assignment is ridiculous. They are going to have to give you a seat somewhere; why not let you pick the seats online when you purchase the ticket and be done with it. Bonus goes to those who book sooner rather than later; they are more likely to get seated together, and it's those middle seats that will be taken last regardless of if you are paying a fee or not. Now, if you want a bigger seat or more legroom, I can see that the airlines would consider this an upsell and charge for it, but just for a seat assignment? It's silly, and it's nickel-and-diming us and using a "scare tactic" to generate income... they have to seat us anyhow!

Delta does not have a seat assignment fee. The seat that the OP was referring to are the more legroom "economy comfort" seats.

I agree that they cater to business travelers, I used to be one of them. I did my own bookings and I favored the airline with the best benefits for elite flyers. I usually booked less than 1 month out. If all I could get was a middle seat, I wouldn't book it unless it was my only choice. I appreciated that they held window & aisle seats for their elite members because the fare I was paying was usually higher than someone who booked months ahead.

 

[Tara]

I still think that charging for a seat assignment is ridiculous. They are going to have to give you a seat somewhere; why not let you pick the seats online when you purchase the ticket and be done with it. Bonus goes to those who book sooner rather than later; they are more likely to get seated together, and it's those middle seats that will be taken last regardless of if you are paying a fee or not. Now, if you want a bigger seat or more legroom, I can see that the airlines would consider this an upsell and charge for it, but just for a seat assignment? It's silly, and it's nickel-and-diming us and using a "scare tactic" to generate income... they have to seat us anyhow!

They don't charge for seat assignments. This charge is exactly what you describe - the price a customer would pay for a bigger seat or one with more legroom.

 

[JEWLSVERN]

DH and DD5 just flew Delta a few weeks ago. On one of their legs there were no regular economy seats available and the $29 seats available were not together. The flight had plenty of seats just not available to choose. Even when I checked them in at 24 hours they were not given seats. I called the airline to ask how it worked and was told that they specifically hold back seats for certain reasons including cases like this where families need to be together and that they would be given seats together at the gate. DD5 was also using a car seat on board which required her by law to be with a parent or guardian.

They were given 2 seats together when the checked in at the gate.