Well this sucks....(airplane seats)

[daisyx3]

We booked our trip (leaving Saturday, on Delta) in March. Just a short Saturday-Tuesday trip. I got DH and I seats in the aisle and middle. I got us as close to the front of the plane as I could since we are just doing carry ons and I like to get to magical express ASAP.
Well I guess they have changed planes. Not only are we over the wing now, we have a middle and window! So DH, all 250 pounds of him, doesn't get his aisle seat. This has never happened before--we have had pre-picked seats switched (once to the next to last row--that sucked!) but never the position IN the row. And it is a 99% full plane so no room to ask for the emergency door row or to try to switch before Saturday. My only hope is perhaps there is a kid on the aisle who might want to look out the window and trade.
Daisyx3

 

[piccolopat]

DH and I are not small people. I prefer the window because it gives me a bit of extra space without constantly being hit by people in the aisles. Your husband might have the same reaction so I wouldn't worry so much. Enjoy your trip.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Don't panic. Just keep checking the seat map at least once a day (I recommend more often) to see if anything opens up. It's likely this will happen. You can also try calling; usually the airline has blocked off a number of seats which they won't open up until 24 hours before the flight.

Equipment swaps happen all the time. That's why you need to keep an eye on your flights, as you did.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I'd try giving the airline a call. They can sometimes move things where the internet reservation cannot. They've obviously swapped a bunch of people's seats around so they might be able to do something.

If they can't, get to the airport early if you can and ask at check-in as a pp said they often open a block of seats at 24hrs and may be able to help if you get there before everybody has checked in.

 

[lions1995]

This happened to me a month ago on usair. Luckily they kept all 10 of us together. But two years ago united took my family of 5 and scattered us thought the plane. It worked out ok, we were able to swap to a different flight with better times for us. I wish airlines would actually look at the assignments and put a few brain cells to the efforts. I book very early so I can get the seats I want. They have my money a long time before I fly, so I do expect some sort if priority for that fact.

 

[Minnesota!]

My big husband - over 300, and 6'6, has more room next to the window than in the aisle. Yours might find the same. No need to keep arms/legs, in from the aisle, and the curve of the plane gives him a bit more shoulder room.

 

[daisyx3]

Awesome! You guys are making the window sound so good, I might make him sit in the middle!
Daisyx3

 

[anonymousegirl]

I am a big girl and I HATE the aisle. Window is the only way to go. I also find that I have more room for my feet as many of the airplanes have squeezed that aisle seat in making for a smaller under seat area.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

ITA about calling the airline directly to express your dissatisfaction. You catch more flies with honey but there is nothing wrong with saying you are not happy.

 

[Yellowjj]

This is common. There was a aircraft switch and even though it may be the same aircraft type as before, seats will normally reset and the computer auto-selects.

A window is better for a bigger person due to the curvature of the plane. You have more space to lean on and shift weight IMO.

However keep checking the seat map. As elites get upgraded and delta releases blocked seats such as bulkheads, you may be able to snag something else.

 

[daisyx3]

As of yesterday there were 10 empty seats in the whole plane, and the only place there were two together was first class! Looks like a cattle car LOL.
Daisyx3

 

[Lyndarella]

This is common practice for Delta. I have always had luck at the gate in getting back into the type of seat I want, but it is usually WAY in the back of the plane....

 

[js]

My big husband - over 300, and 6'6, has more room next to the window than in the aisle. Yours might find the same. No need to keep arms/legs, in from the aisle, and the curve of the plane gives him a bit more shoulder room.

My dh is a big guy too and he never complains if he has he window and I guess this is he reason why. He usually will choose the window given the aisle or window and this never occurred to me.

 

[bumbershoot]

DH and I are not small people. I prefer the window because it gives me a bit of extra space without constantly being hit by people in the aisles. Your husband might have the same reaction so I wouldn't worry so much. Enjoy your trip.

My big husband - over 300, and 6'6, has more room next to the window than in the aisle. Yours might find the same. No need to keep arms/legs, in from the aisle, and the curve of the plane gives him a bit more shoulder room.

Yep to both of the above. DH is bigger than the OP's husband and is finally realizing that he has a love for the window. The ONLY issue is bathroom breaks, because he can't just slip out past the other passengers; they have to get up for him.

He has gotten an injured shoulder or elbow too many times in aisle seats by flight attendants who think they can be heard (when DH travels for work he always has headphones on and doesn't hear them until it's too late). I was on the aisle yesterday and could barely hear the flight attendants (withOUT headphones on) or make sense of what they are saying until they were *right there* about to hit my arm.

I am a big girl and I HATE the aisle. Window is the only way to go. I also find that I have more room for my feet as many of the airplanes have squeezed that aisle seat in making for a smaller under seat area.

Also a good point. Some of those aisle under-seat areas are tiny!