Help from Delta fliers, please

[hinodis]

I bought tickets today from Delta(first time flying Delta). I was asked at check out to choose my seats. I am not at all happy about the seats I got. If I go in at the 24 hour mark and change my seats what are the chances that the good seats will open up? I know they are reserved for frequent fliers, but do they always fill up?

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Yes some seats do open up at the 24 hour mark as upgrades for elite members are usually processed a day or so before the flight. However, saying that, some seats are held back for booking at the airport. Unfortunately the closer you get to your flight departing, and the more seats that are sold, there is less chance for better seats. I also believe Delta has preferred seating for their elite members which they can select up to 2 hours before departure, which means those prime window and aisle seats at the front of economy will never be open to other flyers such as us.

As an example, this is a flight I'm looking at for our May trip ... the seats in blue are the "preferred" seats which are not available to us:

The preferred seats also include the exit row seats:

 

[Disneybuckeye]

Not sure how far out your flight is, but I would go in and check pretty frequently. Last trip Delta moved our seats 4 times and each time was further back. When I called to complain they said it was because they changed planes. My comeback was the seat configuration did not change from 2 & 3, so why should my row change. By constantly checking I was able to move up a few rows even with 5 across. There is hope.

 

[sam_gordon]

You can change your seat now on Delta. There should be somewhere on your itinerary page showing seat selection and that brings up a chart of the aircraft. Click on the seat you want, and for each of your travelling companions. You don't need dto wait until checkin.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

You can change your seat now on Delta. There should be somewhere on your itinerary page showing seat selection and that brings up a chart of the aircraft. Click on the seat you want, and for each of your travelling companions. You don't need dto wait until checkin.

I think he already has seats, he's just looking for better seats

 

[Big Kid]

Last January a number of seats were released at exactly the 24-hour mark for our flight. I was trying to get three seats together in a row and it took several attempts because people were snagging seat "C" while I was grabbing "A" and "B". The musical chairs game worked out in the end for us, but the desireable seats went very quickly, all gone within 5 minutes I would guess.

Good luck!

 

[DebbieB]

I fly them alot on business. Last year I did not have elite status and booked alot of trips within a month. There were times that I did not have a seat assignment at all when I booked it. I kept checking the seat map to get an open seat, frequently in the back and then kept watching to see if I could move up. I was usually able to do it but that was easier with a single seat. If you are looking for seats together, it will be more difficult.

My experience is most flights do end up full. There are rarely many seats open at the 24 hour mark. I think the priority goes to people who don't have any seat assignment rather than people trying to move.

 

[hinodis]

Thanks, I will keep going in and checking. I have only flown with Spirit and Air tran. I have seen a few negative comments on here about Delta. Only slightly worried.

 

[seashoreCM]

Normally you can change your seats at any time subject to the seat map not showing full.

If you have difficulty, call Delta. If a flight change happens, sometimes so minor you don't notice, your ability to select/change seats online is cut off and when you call to select seats, they will re-enable the online seat selection and also acknowledge that you accepted the flight change.

 

[Disneyforus]

I think he already has seats, he's just looking for better seats

You can also change seats at anytime once you have your seats. Just log in to your itinerary and change them.

 

[sam_gordon]

You can also change seats at anytime once you have your seats. Just log in to your itinerary and change them.

That's what I was trying to say.