Dumb Delta need to get in the 21st Century!

[kristieuk]

I'm so cross! I just called Delta as I couldn't find anything online for checking in times. Our flight is at 9am, so I just wanted to confirm we could check in the night before.

No, says the man. You have to check in a minimum of 3 hours prior to departure, but you can't do this until the morning of the flight. So I say that's fine, I'll just check in online the day before and do fast bag drop - and he says no, you cannot check in online for international flights, only US domestic flights.

Man, it's back to the old days of me getting in a last minute panic. I can never seem to chill out until we have our seats confirmed and the cases are gone. I have gotten so used to checking in online or twilight check in, it seems like a real drag.

Sorry for moaning, but this is a real pain .

 

[disneyholic family]

can you reserve your seats ahead of time?
or only when you check in at the airport?

 

[kristieuk]

I have reserved seats, so that's not such a problem, save that there have been occasions in the past when for no apparent reason our prebooked seats have been reallocated, or no record could be found of our seat reservations. I keep checking online, and I think I'll take a printout of the page!

It's more just the hassle of getting up really early, I won't sleep well because I can't relax until we're checked in etc....

I haven't flown with Delta for a couple of years, and I had kind of expected that they would have kept up with everyone else!

 

[disneyholic family]

I have reserved seats, so that's not such a problem, save that there have been occasions in the past when for no apparent reason our prebooked seats have been reallocated, or no record could be found of our seat reservations. I keep checking online, and I think I'll take a printout of the page!

It's more just the hassle of getting up really early, I won't sleep well because I can't relax until we're checked in etc....

I haven't flown with Delta for a couple of years, and I had kind of expected that they would have kept up with everyone else!

printing out the seat assignment is a VERY good idea and you should definitely do that...
as for Delta, they're about as bad as all the US airlines...i can't figure out why, considering they're all in bankruptcy and really need people to like them...

 

[kristieuk]

We normally get the BA flight to Tampa, but this year, it was over £600 more expensive than the Delta flight. Delta offered a child price for our dd aged 6, which made it an easy decision in terms of price.

I did like Delta as an airline when we have flown with them before - I hope they haven't gone downhill too much!

 

[disneyholic family]

We normally get the BA flight to Tampa, but this year, it was over £600 more expensive than the Delta flight. Delta offered a child price for our dd aged 6, which made it an easy decision in terms of price.

I did like Delta as an airline when we have flown with them before - I hope they haven't gone downhill too much!

well at least the flight crew is still good (at least they were when we flew this summer)...but that was domestic...

 

[bicker]

Definitely print out all the electronic correspondance you get regarding your trip. However, keep in mind that seat assignments aren't guaranteed regardless of the print-outs you may have.

 

[patdavies]

With any airline, pre-booked seats are no more than a request.

There is no 'reservation' or 'confirmed booking' of seats until check-in, there is only an expression of preference.

 

[disneyholic family]

With any airline, pre-booked seats are no more than a request.

There is no 'reservation' or 'confirmed booking' of seats until check-in, there is only an expression of preference.

I don't know what airline you fly with, but the airlines i fly with, the seats are all confirmed in advance, in writing. Definitely not just an expression of preference.

 

[bicker]

I think patdavies was speaking metaphorically. The airlines do provide confirmed seat assignments, but only provide them under the condition that customers accept that they can be changed unilaterally by the airline, without notice and without reason. (And that applies to the flight times, as well as the seat assignments.) So, in effect, they're not really "confirmed" except to say that "unless the airline changes them, that seat will be the one you get to sit in."

 

[kristieuk]

I think patdavies was speaking metaphorically. The airlines do provide confirmed seat assignments, but only provide them under the condition that customers accept that they can be changed unilaterally by the airline, without notice and without reason. (And that applies to the flight times, as well as the seat assignments.) So, in effect, they're not really "confirmed" except to say that "unless the airline changes them, that seat will be the one you get to sit in."

Yes, that's my understanding too - just protects their position I suppose. I really don't like flying, and have to sit by the window, otherwise I get this terrible panic that the plane is going downwards (really daft, I know).

I know there would usually have to be some reason why they changed your allocation, but it does worry me that they would put me in the middle rows. I don't think I could do it!

 

[bicker]

It is actually a bit more than just protecting their position: It provides a layer of flexibility which represents value -- the airline can use that value it gains from the flexibility it gets to enhance their revenue situation, perhaps, for most of the major airlines, losing less money on the flight. That's how they can afford to charge us such insanely low fares without losing so much money that they cannot continue to operate.

 

[CHRIS F]

We are flying with delta from lgw next week, and yes it is a pain not to have twilight check in or the facility of checking in on line as our flight is at 9.15 [unless they change it again!] so we have to be there at 6.30am but that is why I suppose that is why Delta were considerably cheaper than Virgin or BA when I booked.

I have taken so many flights for work this year and the pre assigned seats even on-line check in with BA is no guarantee that you will actually get them, I would say of the 30 odd flights I have taken only 50% are as per my confirmation saet number!!

My only worry is not the seating so much but that the flight goes on time so we don't have to sprint for our connection in Atlanta, we have only done non direct flight twice and both times it was like a scene from Home Alone. Also what conerns me was that the Wednesday flight we are on was cancelled two weeks ago, I am checking on a daily basis.

I just cannot wait to go to Orlando, and I have always found American carriers to be better than Virgin or BA, but again luck of the draw!!

 

[disneyholic family]

well perhaps you all should change airlines....
the airline i fly does indeed guarantee the seats...

every now and then they ask if we're willing to switch - which we never are, since we fly particular flights depending on the seats that are available- if we say no, we stay put...
since i never agree to be switched from our confirmed seats, i've never been switched....
as i said, the seats are guaranteed.....

it's funny how you all generalize....have you flown on EVERY airline?....how do you know the policy on EVERY airline?.....funny....

 

[bicker]

well perhaps you all should change airlines....
the airline i fly does indeed guarantee the seats...

What airline is that?
.

 

[patdavies]

it's funny how you all generalize....have you flown on EVERY airline?....how do you know the policy on EVERY airline?.....funny....

It not a question of generalising; it is a question of regulation. CAA regs mean that seating has to be flexible up until the point of check-in.

 

[disneyholic family]

It not a question of generalising; it is a question of regulation. CAA regs mean that seating has to be flexible up until the point of check-in.

why would my airline have to comply with the British Civil Aviation Authority?

 

[bicker]

Why won't you reveal which is "your airline"? It might help folks looking for a better option to know which airlines provide such guarantees.

 

[disneyholic family]

Why won't you reveal which is "your airline"? It might help folks looking for a better option to know which airlines provide such guarantees.

unless you decide to move to a desert country it's highly unlikely you'll be flyign the airline i fly....

 

[bicker]

Okay, well I guess we can say that unless you live in a desert country your seat assignments aren't guaranteed.

Seriously, it is important to keep in mind that things like seat assignments are much more generally respected on inter-continental flights.