SMH...

[sam_gordon]

My dad and mom flew up to sit with DD while DW & I take DS on a trip. Mom tells me over the weekend she had booked Delta's Basic Economy because they don't care where they sit.

They arrive yesterday and Mom complains to me that they were assigned seats 5 rows apart. Apparently they complained and got seated together.

She couldn't understand how two people on the same reservation number were assigned seats 5 ROWS APART! They also told me the flight was full.

I really wish the GA (assuming that's who) hadn't enabled them.

 

[chiisai]

I've flown many different lines and for whatever reason Delta is the worst for people seemingly unaware until in the plane or aware and still pissed about sitting apart.

The attendants get the wrath, and the planes are delayed. Everyone is annoyed.

I know other airlines have this fare seating, but it is a PITA at delta.

 

[FCDub]

My dad and mom flew up to sit with DD while DW & I take DS on a trip. Mom tells me over the weekend she had booked Delta's Basic Economy because they don't care where they sit.

They arrive yesterday and Mom complains to me that they were assigned seats 5 rows apart. Apparently they complained and got seated together.

She couldn't understand how two people on the same reservation number were assigned seats 5 ROWS APART! They also told me the flight was full.

I really wish the GA (assuming that's who) hadn't enabled them.

They need to be more explicit with the warnings, because clearly your mother thought "we don't care where WE sit" and not "we don't care if we're sitting apart from each other."

 

[goofy4tink]

Yep, mom made an assumption! Just because you're on the same reservation doesn't mean you won't be split up.
I have to agree though. If the airlines have that policy, they should enforce it! It shouldn't be the case that squeaky wheels get their way.
Ah well.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

I always assumed from reading all the warnings for the Delta Basic tickets if you book them through the website that seats were not guaranteed at the time of booking. To me, that means you'll have a seat, but there's no way to guarantee that it will be next to anyone else in your party. The Delta website even specifically says that passengers traveling together may not be seated together.

Having said that, I've misread plenty of things before now. It happens to all of us. I'm glad that your parents arrived safely!

 

[gwynne]

Delta makes it clear. It's not terribly nice to specifically select cheap no frills and then show up and request to have better seating for free.
It's hard on GA's and it's worse on other passengers on the same flight.