Will Delta have seats for us?

[SueInBoston]

Hi All..

Looking for some reassurance or reality check here...lol

Bought tickets with Delta about 2 months ago, at that time, there were no seats to pick for the first part of trip, I went ahead anc completed the purchase anyway thinking Delta will realize they oversold and change to bigger plane. Well we leave next week and still showing same plane with no seats...is my family doomed? Can anyone share their experience?

TIA

 

[grimley1968]

Much as I'd love to offer you reassurance, I think the best advice I can offer to you is to give Delta a call ASAP. What you're describing doesn't sound good, but I don't work for Delta and have no inkling what it really means. It might be nothing to worry about or it could be a very large problem, or anywhere in between. The only people who can really, truly alleviate your concerns are people who work for Delta.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The flight may not necessarily be oversold, just the preselectable seats are all, well, preselected. Check in for your flight online 24 hours in advance. If you still can't select seats, get to the airport as early as possible. You can check luggage four hours in advance, so four hours if you can and work with the airline staff to get seats.

 

[NotUrsula]

Doomed? I wouldn't be that dramatic, but you should prepare to be all seated in single middle seats, because that is your likely scenario. The only guaranteed way to ensure a pair is if you have a child small enough (<40#) to use a carseat on board, in which case you are entitled to a legal spot for it, which will give you ONE window/middle pair.

Do call Delta, and if they tell you that they cannot assign (carseat considerations notwithstanding), then call back 24 hours out in case some seats are released then. If you do not have status with the airline there is a fair chance that even if they do release seats, you won't get first dibs on them, and will have to settle with what you get at airport checkin -- in which case scattered middles are your likely scenario.

If you do not get advance assignments over the phone, prepare your family members to sit alone. Each child should carry on their snacks and quiet entertainment in his/her own backpack-type bag. Make sure that the packaging is something that they can handle without assistance.

 

[seashoreCM]

If your children are seated away from you, check up on them during the flight.

Most airlines set aside a goodly percentage (typically 20-25%) of seats for assignment at the airport, so finding no seats to choose from does not give a hint at the plane's being full.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Airlines do NOT set aside 20% to 25% of seats for selection at the airport on the day of departure.

OP - sometimes when no seats are showing on a particular flight during booking and thereafter it may mean it is a flight operated by a codeshare partner. Please call your airline for additional information.

If your children are seated away from you, check up on them during the flight.

Most airlines set aside a goodly percentage (typically 20-25%) of seats for assignment at the airport, so finding no seats to choose from does not give a hint at the plane's being full.

 

[sixcats]

We had this happen a few years ago on a Delta flight. The preassigned seats were all gone by the time we booked. When I called delta they told me that they keep a few rows unassigned. I made sure that we were checked in and at the airport early and we were given seats together.

I am sure that there are cases where the flights are oversold. Be there as early as you can to assure that you won't be the ones bumped.

 

[Peanut Giggleface]

Most airlines these days always overbook their flights to accommodate for the no-shows and last minute cancellations. Their goal is to have every flight 100% booked. They will not bring out larger airplanes because they are counting on the no-shows and last minute cancellations. Your best bet is to check in early on-line and then get to the gate early. If the flight is still overbooked by the time the majority of people for the flight are at the gate, they usually make an announcement. They will announce that the flight is overbooked and will offer a free ticket for those travelers willing and flexible enough to take the next flight. My husband travels a lot and often comes home with these free tickets. If it's late in the day, they will put him up in a hotel at their expense as well. I wouldn't worry about it, but do take precautions and get there early.

 

[DebbieB]

Hi All..

Looking for some reassurance or reality check here...lol

Bought tickets with Delta about 2 months ago, at that time, there were no seats to pick for the first part of trip, I went ahead anc completed the purchase anyway thinking Delta will realize they oversold and change to bigger plane. Well we leave next week and still showing same plane with no seats...is my family doomed? Can anyone share their experience?

TIA

There could be seats set aside for preferred flyers that you don't see. They typically open those up at 24 hours if not reserved. They don't bring out a bigger plane because one flight is full. Most flights fly full these days and they only have so many planes in their fleet. You could call now and check. Do you have young children?

 

[kaytieeldr]

They will not bring out larger airplanes because they are counting on the no-shows and last minute cancellations.

They also won't bring out larger planes because, well, they don't have larger planes. With travel down after 9/11 and the economy down over the last few years, airlines sold/sell off unneeded aircraft. They simply don't have spares sitting around.

 

[Peanut Giggleface]

They also won't bring out larger planes because, well, they don't have larger planes. With travel down after 9/11 and the economy down over the last few years, airlines sold/sell off unneeded aircraft. They simply don't have spares sitting around.

True. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[bumbershoot]

OP - sometimes when no seats are showing on a particular flight during booking and thereafter it may mean it is a flight operated by a codeshare partner. Please call your airline for additional information.

That has been the case when DH has run into this. Well, except when he flew Asiana out of Seatac, but that's b/c Asiana doesn't pre-assign ANY seats when leaving out of Seatac (out of Seoul, different story), so everyone's in line working the system to get seats assigned.

But anyway, the codeshare thing has been the scenario in every other case where this has happened with DH's work travel, and his TA goes through Delta often. It hasn't been a problem yet, though he's just one person.

 

[SueInBoston]

Thank you all for your advice. I tried calling Delta and was on hold for over 30 mins . I think I will just check in early and make sure that we get to the airport early as well. My kids are older so it would not be a problem for everyone to sit seperately.