Traveling with a Child on Delta

[Vickie46]

Hi... Can someone tell me what Delta does about traveling with a child.. we just bought out plane tickets on Delta and chose our seats.. well.. it took our payment and said thank you.. and the seats you chose are not gtd and your seats will be chosen at checkin.. I called and they told me that they would be assigned once we got there.. that some seats on the plane are taken and the ones that are left will be assigned at checkin.. I am so worried sick.. I can't be without my little girl on the plane... I might sound silly.. but she won't handle this well at all.. she is only 4. Will they make sure we sit together? Someone please tell me.. I am so worried. thanks.

 

[tchrrx]

We flew with Delta last June. On our trip to Orlando, our family of 5 sat close together. On the return flight, however, we were scattered a bit, but still all in the general area (back of the plane). They did, however, have my DD6 with a family member. The problem was that she was seated in an emergency exit aisle. So, we informed the flight attendant of the situation. She had us remain in those seats until everyone had been seated. Then, she switched some people around. It caused my DD and I to be moved to the very front of the plane and, therefore, not near the rest of the family. However, it kept her with an adult. Generally, there will be someone who is willing to change seats in order to accomodate a child. Just be sure to inform the flight attendant if your seats are not together.

 

[bicker]

Generally speaking, you shouldn't have trouble finding someone to do a switch so that each child can be sitting with at least one parent. Something to keep in mind though: Don't expect someone to give up an aisle or window seat for a middle seat, and don't expect someone to give up a seat in the front of the cabin for one in the back of the cabin. Expect, rather, that you'll be giving up your "good" seat for the "bad" seat. (Of course, all the seats have pretty-much the same view, and get to the destination within moments of each other, so you won't be missing out on much...)

 

[marianas00]

It has been my experience that if you arrive early at check-in the attendants are more than glad to work out seating. Delta is especially customer service oriented! My 10 year old pilot wannabe son loves them so much he just ordered info about their pilot training program. Weird huh?!? Enjoy your tip!

 

[Vickie46]

thanks.. I don't care where we sit on the plane as long as one of us are with her.. Its stressing... I hope it doesn't ruin my whole week..

 

[cleo]

They aren't going to want your 4 year old to sit with strangers any more than you are, so don't worry. She'll be with an adult in your family (you, if you want to be that adult!). Don't stress about it.

Also, not to put a jinks on myself but my husband and I fly nearly every week and we have only once been separated even when we can't book seats together ahead of time. That was on a flight to Italy from England and someone was kind enough to switch seats so we were across the aisle from each other.

Think of it this way: Your daughter would probably cry if she isn't by someone she knows. Most passengers don't want to hear crying children on a long flight. SOMEONE will move, if it comes to that, but Delta will do everything they can to avoid it being an issue.

 

[Vickie46]

thank you again.. I guess I am just getting stressed.. its almost here .. Christmas.. my husband is graduating from school.. its all adding up on me.. yikes!

 

[JENNYMAY]

When did they change there seating policy? We have always flown Delta and we always able to book our assigned seats ahead of time??

 

[Vickie46]

I did choose my seats.. however as soon as I hit to pay for my tickets.. it said sorry the seats you were chosen can't be gtd to you.. you will have seats given to you at checkin.. I freaked out!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

When did they change there seating policy? We have always flown Delta and we always able to book our assigned seats ahead of time??

This could happen for many reasons - only seats left which can be reserved in advance are being reserved for elite frequent flyers, or OP chose exit row seats, etc.

 

[kaytieeldr]

A certain number or percentage of seats on each plane (in addition to certain seats, as indicated by lost*in*cyberspace, can be assigned only at the airport. It's entirely possible another person was selecting those same seats online at the same time as the OP, or that a telephone reservation got them - or just that the maximum pre-assignable seats all got booked in the time it took the OP to complete her transaction.

 

[JESW]

This happened to us when we flew Delta when our dd was young. Don't be surpised if they hustle you on the plane and want the flight attendants to solve your problem. I wanted it solved beforehand because I was so nervous and dd was afraid to get on the plane, but they kept assuring us that it would all be ok. And it was. We flew during spring break and the flight was full. NO-ONE wants your child separated from you. A very nice gentlman changed seats with us. Our older child, ds, was about 9 at the time, did get separated from us and ended up about 3 rows ahead of me with two boys his age. I could see him the entire time so I was ok with it. He had his gameboy as did the other boys so he was fine.

It will all work out.

Jill

 

[NotUrsula]

IME, when a carrier that normally assigns seats refuses to assign them for a party on a given flight, it is because there are no large enough groups of contiguous seats remaining, except for the exit rows and/or premium coach seats that are held back for last-minute full-fare purchases. If you had purchased the tickets as singles on separate itineraries, you would almost surely have found that the only ones available for claiming at this point are single middle seats.

They will release any unsold premium seats a few hours before departure, and what will usually happen is that they will be given to passengers with elite status who ask for better seats. Then parties like yours get the seats those passengers were originally in. If there is an issue of a child under 5 yrs. old being seated without a responsible adult, FA's do have the authority to move someone to get you a contiguous seat with one adult, though they really hate to use it, and will usually try to get some passenger to volunteer if at all possible.

 

[Bill From PA]

Try going to the Delta web site with your confirmation number handy. Check out your itinerary and click the link to view the seats. From there, if there are seats available together, you should be able to switch to them. If so, do it and print the modified comfirmation showing your seat assignmnets. Get to the gate early, comfirmation in hand and you should be ok.

Delta changed our flight to MCO in March and put us on a much less desireable one. I got it changed back to an earlier arrival flight but didn't like our seats, together but in the last row. I did as I said above and got us closer to the front, together.

Bill From PA

 

[Vickie46]

UPDATED

I called Delta again.. explained my situation.. told them I was stressing over this.. and my husband was as well.. told him we would worry about it all week.. they got someone on the phone and got me seats! They are 3 in the middle aisle.. but we don't care where they would be as long as we or atleast one of us and our little girl was sitting together! yea.. I can finally enjoy our trip. thanks for all the post!

 

[kaytieeldr]

By 'three in the middle aisle', you mean the seating is something like AB_CDE_FG (where the _ represents actual aisles between seats) right, and not three middle seats?