What does it mean when.........

[goofydad99]

there are no seats to pick for your flight? Trying to pick a seat, and for the two of us there is only 1 seat available!

The airline is Delta.

 

[1tufgt]

Sounds like time to find a new flight.

 

[Alexander]

It means that the seats available for booking in advance are all filled. The airline will hold a good number of seats back to release and assign them at the 24 hour check-in time.

You can do a couple of things: You can go ahead and book and select one seat and then call the airline to see if they will assign the other one (they may or may not). You can book now and at the 24 hour mark, check-in and select or move your seats.

In general, it means that your flight is getting pretty full. There is a small chance that if you don't have an assigned seat you may get bumped, however, if you check-in right at the 24 hour point, you should be able to secure seats.

 

[DebbieB]

there are no seats to pick for your flight? Trying to pick a seat, and for the two of us there is only 1 seat available!

The airline is Delta.

Delta holds most of the seats in front of the exit rows for Medallion members (people who fly more than 25,000 miles per year with them). That way if a business person buys a last minute ticket for big $$$, they will get a seat towards the front. Any of these seats not reserved at the 24 hour mark will be open to everyone.

Check your reservation frequently. If someone cancels their reservation, their seats will open up and you maybe able to grab them.

 

[Mich Mouse]

With Delta, if you don't have a seat assigned, the plane may be overbooked.

Last summer we flew a two leg Delta flight to Salt Lake/Jackson Hole Wyoming. All four flights were overbooked and people were left behind...not just one or two people but a dozen for each flight. Lots of unhappy summer travelers- I felt badly for them. The Delta rep. told these people that flights during peak travel time (summer) were consistently overbooked as their formula dictates that a certain percentage of people will book and not show up for travel. A guy sitting next to me at JFK was booked, paid in full and did not have a seat assigned- which is exactly what I thought of when I read your post.

I would never book with Delta if I didn't have a seat assignment based on that experience.

 

[Disflyer]

As PP have said most airlines limit booking into certain seats based on your status or fare code used. at 24 hours prior to departure the seats will be released. I would just make sure you check in on line as close to 24 hours as possible, if you still are unable to reserve a seat it means that your flight is over sold and you will likely need a volunteer to give up their seat for you to use.

 

[goofydad99]

That is what we were thinking it meant. We never fly. We found buying tickets for 2 of us this time around was cheaper than driving. It won't be a huge deal if we can't get on but it is going to be difficult.

My only concern is, I don't want to be left behind while goofydad goes on without me. Will they force me to do that?

 

[Disflyer]

They can force you if push comes to shove, when denying boarding to passengers I can tell you they will try to not spit groups but it is a remote possibility. I don't want you to worry, denied boarding is very rare and is nothing to really be afraid of, GL!

 

[NotUrsula]

There is still a fair chance that you will still get on even if you can't select a seat 24 hours out; at larger airports, Delta also usually holds a few seats back until the last minute for deadheading flight crews in case they are needed.

However, if it comes down to the wire, be prepared to sit in separate middle seats; usually that is all that that will be left at that point. (Not that flight crew sit in middles; they always get aisle seats. However, GA's will tend to offer any available aisles to passengers who have status if they ask, and they do ask.)

 

[Disney52303]

I have this same issue with Delta on my return flight - I can only book single seats... um, I have a 3 and 6 year old NOT happening.

I called CS and they said call right at the 24 hour window when the seats open up and they can book us together. They're just held as priority seats right now but we DO have spots on the plane. We've also been told that we will definitely be able to sit with the kids.

 

[goofydad99]

I looked at everything again and my flight leaving MCO and coming home is unavailable. Is this normal? Like I said before, we never fly, so I don't want to make a novice mistake.

 

[ls3015]

I looked at everything again and my flight leaving MCO and coming home is unavailable. Is this normal? Like I said before, we never fly, so I don't want to make a novice mistake.

This says that that flight is completely full, and no more tickets are being sold for it,
It would be to your best interest to call the airline or possibly book onto a differant flight.

 

[goofydad99]

Thanks for all your input. I appreciate it!

 

[silmarg]

I have this same issue with Delta on my return flight - I can only book single seats... um, I have a 3 and 6 year old NOT happening.

I called CS and they said call right at the 24 hour window when the seats open up and they can book us together. They're just held as priority seats right now but we DO have spots on the plane. We've also been told that we will definitely be able to sit with the kids.

I have the same issue. I bought 4 seats this past weekend on a Delta flight for out trip in late August. After purchasing it, I went to look for seats and there were only 5 single seats left (and I have DDs of 8 and 11).

Several hours after I bought my tickets I tried to buy 4 more tickets on the same flight. While I did not go all the way to the final payment screen, it was clearly allowing me to buy seats on the plane.... and there were no seats to pick from at that time.

So this seems like a trend w Delta.

I bought my return flight on Jet Blue (I prefer them over any other airline... but they were pricey for the southbound flight) and I got four seats together - no problem.

 

[pooch]

purchased my return flight (its just me) on Delta and was unable to select seats. I try every day but, since it is just me, I'm not going to worry about it. I'll check in with RAC in the morning & "wing" it. Worst case scenario, they bump me & DD (who will be moving to Orlando during the trip) has to put up with me one more night!! And last time DD and I were on an overbooked Delta flight, we got bumped... to First Class... can I say spoiled?

Editted to add - my flight has MANY preferred seats and all of First Class open and the price has almost doubled so I expect there'll be a seat for me somewhere.

 

[goofydad99]

purchased my return flight (its just me) on Delta and was unable to select seats. I try every day but, since it is just me, I'm not going to worry about it. I'll check in with RAC in the morning & "wing" it. Worst case scenario, tey bump me & DD (who will be moving to Orlando during the trip) has to put up with me one more night!! And last time DD and I were on an overbooked Delta flight, we got bumped... to First Class... can I say spoiled?

Editted to add - my flight has MANY preferred seats and all of First Class open and the price has almost doubled so I expect there'll be a seat for me somewhere.

Have you called Delta?

 

[dunbarfamily]

...
Check your reservation frequently. If someone cancels their reservation, their seats will open up and you maybe able to grab them.

We purchased and picked our seats already, but as many have mentioned, most of the seats are already taken, except for the ones in the rear.

If I keep checking and some seats open, can I change our seats even though we've already selected some? If nothing opens, can I change at the 24 hour mark?

Thank you!!

 

[DebbieB]

We purchased and picked our seats already, but as many have mentioned, most of the seats are already taken, except for the ones in the rear.

If I keep checking and some seats open, can I change our seats even though we've already selected some? If nothing opens, can I change at the 24 hour mark?

Thank you!!

Yes, you can change your seats as many times as you like. I had a flight last year where I did not have a seat. It was a business trip, I was by myself. I kept checking it and a seat opened up in the rear, so I took it. I still kept watching and a seat opened up in row 2 (it was an RJ, so no first class) so I switched. Ended up with no one beside me in row 2.

 

[pooch]

Have you called Delta?

just procrastinating I guess (is that procrastinating about my procrastinating??) Actually waiting for YOU to report on your experience I will probably call them at some point, but maybe not

 

[dunbarfamily]

Yes, you can change your seats as many times as you like. I had a flight last year where I did not have a seat. It was a business trip, I was by myself. I kept checking it and a seat opened up in the rear, so I took it. I still kept watching and a seat opened up in row 2 (it was an RJ, so no first class) so I switched. Ended up with no one beside me in row 2.

Thank you! I never knew you could keep checking. Though normally, we are a group of six and the odds of finding better seats closer to the front are probably pretty low. This particular trip is only my husband and I, so hopefully we'll get something closer to the front, at least for the DTW-MCO leg. Gotta beat all the crazies to the ME line, you know!!