Delta seat assignment at check in - families?

[mom2two2]

When you book the Delta fare with seat assignment at check in (24 hrs out online) do they try to keep families together?  Do you select your seats when you check in or are they randomly given to you?

[Shorex]

If you have Delta Basic Economy, there is no guarantee that families will be seated together. Gate agent might try to be helpful, sometimes you get lucky. OTOH, there may be a limited option to purchase seat selections in advance, but that somewhat defeats the purpose of buying the cheapest tickets.

 

Read about the details of basic economy tickets from "The Points Guy" here:

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/how-to-survive-basic-economy-on-delta-air-lines/

[terry&mike]

On Delta, if you purchase Basic Economy rather than Main Cabin Economy, you will be able to select your seats at online check in based on what is available at that time. They may be together or may not, as it will be based on that flights seating and what is available. I'd not buy that class for myself, and I would advise a family to not even consider it.

[FlyerTalker]

Here's the dirt about basic economy.  While providing a cheaper price, the primary goal was to make the restrictions so unappealing that folks would buy the "upsell" to regular main cabin economy. AA and UA put in carry-on restrictions, then we have the seat assignment restrictions and more.

 

Someone even quipped that every basic economy ticket should have the disclaimer "This ticket will ensure that you are in a middle seat in the rear of the aircraft, preferably next to the lav."

[waterbug123]

If sitting together is important to you, or necessary due to the limitations of one or more family members (young children, disability, etc.) you would be advised to book a fare class that does allow advance seat selection. 

[irishgal432]

17 hours ago, terry&mike said:

On Delta, if you purchase Basic Economy rather than Main Cabin Economy, you will be able to select your seats at online check in based on what is available at that time. They may be together or may not, as it will be based on that flights seating and what is available. I'd not buy that class for myself, and I would advise a family to not even consider it.

Not necessarily.  At check in sometimes you just get a "boarding card" that lets you get through security and the seats are assigned at the gate.  If you do check in and receive a seat then you can change it to another economy seat. 

[slidergirl]

2 hours ago, irishgal432 said:

Not necessarily.  At check in sometimes you just get a "boarding card" that lets you get through security and the seats are assigned at the gate.  If you do check in and receive a seat then you can change it to another economy seat. 

 

If sitting together is a must, please book a fare that allows you to select seats.   It is uncomfortable and, sometimes, downright rude, to try to guilt passengers who paid to select seats to move to less desirable seats because someone decided they wanted to book the cheapest available...  JMHO.   I paid for the ability to take the type of seat I wanted and I will not change to a less desirable seat.  

[purduemom1]

2 hours ago, slidergirl said:

 

If sitting together is a must, please book a fare that allows you to select seats.   It is uncomfortable and, sometimes, downright rude, to try to guilt passengers who paid to select seats to move to less desirable seats because someone decided they wanted to book the cheapest available...  JMHO.   I paid for the ability to take the type of seat I wanted and I will not change to a less desirable seat.  

 I agree with this. I have been asked to move to accommodate those who booked basic economy and then claim, after boarding,  that they must sit with another in their party. I also won’t change to accommodate their fare choice restrictions.

 

 

Edited February 9, 2019 by purduemom1

[Sea Hag]

6 hours ago, slidergirl said:

 

It is uncomfortable and, sometimes, downright rude, to try to guilt passengers who paid to select seats to move to less desirable seats because someone decided they wanted to book the cheapest available...  JMHO.   I paid for the ability to take the type of seat I wanted and I will not change to a less desirable seat.  

Agree!

[Bases5]

I’m not selfish  like you folks

 I would happily change 

(For a fare price in cash)

[slidergirl]

13 hours ago, Bases5 said:

I’m not selfish  like you folks

 I would happily change 

(For a fare price in cash)

 

If one is claustrophobic, asking them to change from that aisle seat he paid the appropriate price for to be able to select that seat, and you are so cheapa$$ that you book Basic Economy and then pull the "oh, my wife, 6 kids and I need to sit together, you need to move to accommodate us", that is NOT going to happen.   If the family can't deal with the seats they are given when they check in, they need to be removed from the plane...  There is no "fare" price to me to make me sit in a middle seat in the middle section of the plane - that's a panic attack waiting to happen!  Now, if the Flight Attendant offers me an aisle seat in Delta One...

 

Don't get me started on "lap babies"...

[1982CruzStart]

i have to agree as well. If you have to sit together then buy seats. I am not changing my seat for someone that wanted to do the seat lottery to save money. I am sympathetic to families wanting to be together but i think it is unfair for them to think others should move to acommodate them. 

[em-sk]

On 2/8/2019 at 12:02 PM, mom2two2 said:

When you book the Delta fare with seat assignment at check in (24 hrs out online) do they try to keep families together?  Do you select your seats when you check in or are they randomly given to you?

 

This may depend on country of origin for your flight.  In the case of Canada, the Canadian government has made it clear to the airlines that young kids should be seated with one of their parents or someone else who can assist the child in an emergency.  The attitude from the government has been to tell the airlines find some way of achieving that goal and if you don't we will step in regulation.    

 

Air Canada has steps in with their family friendly service, where you call in and they will forced the seats to be assigned together without an extra fee.  Does not apply to the adults in the party or older kids.  I believe the other airlines are doing the same on flights to/from Canada.  

 

I think it is a reasonable approach.   The goal should be to ensure that the flight is operated in  a safe way.  That includes moving people who may have paid for exit rows and are not able to assist in an evacuation into other seats as well as ensuring the young kids are seated next to somoene who can assist them with putting on an oxygen mask or evacuating an aircraft.  That should be independent of all the seat reservation fees.

 

As for sitting next to your family or friends so you can chat with each other the flight, well that is what advance seat selection fees are for. 

Edited February 10, 2019 by em-sk

[mom2two2]

People can be rather rude, can't they?

 

We have not flown in years and there have been a lot of changes since the last time.  I was advised by a TA that once I booked the flights I would get a booking number and then to log into the airline's site and select my seats.  While this was true of the return flight the one there on Delta it was not.  Yes I saw the airline assigns seat notation when I selected fare but I guess I was misinformed/should have clarified.

 

I am not trying to guilt anyone nor would I asked them to move people around for me.  Even if we are two and two etc it would be fine.  We will deal with it.  I was just asking so I was aware of what to expect.  I made a mistake in selecting that fare, believing what the TA told me.

[mom2two2]

19 hours ago, slidergirl said:

 

If one is claustrophobic, asking them to change from that aisle seat he paid the appropriate price for to be able to select that seat, and you are so cheapa$$ that you book Basic Economy and then pull the "oh, my wife, 6 kids and I need to sit together, you need to move to accommodate us", that is NOT going to happen.   If the family can't deal with the seats they are given when they check in, they need to be removed from the plane...  There is no "fare" price to me to make me sit in a middle seat in the middle section of the plane - that's a panic attack waiting to happen!  Now, if the Flight Attendant offers me an aisle seat in Delta One...

 

Don't get me started on "lap babies"...

I am not a cheapa$$ I made an error and was just asking so I know what to expect

[FlyerTalker]

1 hour ago, mom2two2 said:

I made a mistake in selecting that fare, believing what the TA told me.

 

Remember this simple fact.  At least half (and more likely 90% IMO) of "travel agents" are merely "travel order takers".  Especially "cruise agents".  They may know some things about ships, but any similar knowledge about air, hotels and other aspects of travel is outside their wheelhouse.

[Zach1213]

17 minutes ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

Remember this simple fact.  At least half (and more likely 90% IMO) of "travel agents" are merely "travel order takers".  Especially "cruise agents".  They may know some things about ships, but any similar knowledge about air, hotels and other aspects of travel is outside their wheelhouse.

 

I think this is the big thing - there are still a lot of really great travel agents out there, but on this website most people are focused on cruise agents who also will sell you some plane tickets, and that can be an issue when you end up with a product that isn't as expected. Many cruise agents know an extraordinary amount about cruises, far more than I'll ever know, but many simply don't know even the basics about the plane tickets they're selling to get you to said cruise, and that can sometimes create problems and frustrations.

[slidergirl]

4 hours ago, mom2two2 said:

People can be rather rude, can't they?

 

We have not flown in years and there have been a lot of changes since the last time.  I was advised by a TA that once I booked the flights I would get a booking number and then to log into the airline's site and select my seats.  While this was true of the return flight the one there on Delta it was not.  Yes I saw the airline assigns seat notation when I selected fare but I guess I was misinformed/should have clarified.

 

I am not trying to guilt anyone nor would I asked them to move people around for me.  Even if we are two and two etc it would be fine.  We will deal with it.  I was just asking so I was aware of what to expect.  I made a mistake in selecting that fare, believing what the TA told me.

 

It's not the TA's fault.  You didn't do due diligence.  Like FlyerTalker said, most are just order takers now - they just punch in some codes and you get a ticket - they probably don't know themselves what they gave you.

 

What are you going to do when you find that your Delta flight is fully booked and there are NO two seats together?   You say you basically need at least 2 together "to be fine."  Will you be find seating your child 6 rows away in the middle, between strangers?  Be aware that you may have to do just that, with the fare you have.  Remember - you said you won't ask people to move...

 

P.S. if you think Cruise Air is rude or harsh, do not go to the FlyerTalk website and ask questions there.  Some of us got our base training there...  

[Globaliser]

4 hours ago, mom2two2 said:

Yes I saw the airline assigns seat notation when I selected fare but I guess I was misinformed/should have clarified.

 

If a TA tells you one thing and the airline's website tells you another, it's always good to presume that the TA is wrong. Unfortunately, it's a fatal human weakness to hear the things that one prefers to hear.

[mom2two2]

It was JUST a question... I made a mistake and all I wanted to know was process on whether they tend to assign together or not.  I am SORRY for asking here.

I won't "do" anything if my child is six rows ahead of me... they are teenagers.  I just thought it would be nice to sit together going on vacation.

I will think twice before posting....

[sumiandkage]

25 minutes ago, slidergirl said:

 

P.S. if you think Cruise Air is rude or harsh, do not go to the FlyerTalk website and ask questions there.  Some of us got our base training there...  

 

As long as you stay out of Threads of Contention (seat swapping, window shades up or down,  passengers of size,. newbie flyers in security lines etc) Flyer Talk is often a very polite and kind place, especially to inexperienced or nervous travelers trying to figure things out. Even if that sometimes involved very politely and kindly telling someone that they screwed up when they books a non-refundable ticket, but here are a few small things that might mitigate the pain. 

[waterbug123]

19 hours ago, mom2two2 said:

It was JUST a question... I made a mistake and all I wanted to know was process on whether they tend to assign together or not.  I am SORRY for asking here.

I won't "do" anything if my child is six rows ahead of me... they are teenagers.  I just thought it would be nice to sit together going on vacation.

I will think twice before posting....

 

Keep posting here.   There are some VERY experienced travelers and they can be a wealth of information.  Sometimes the answers are a bit direct, and someone wanting a warm fuzzy reply can be taken aback by that.  Other times, some of us hear a question and tend to brace for what that question often means, based on prior/common threads.  In this case, someone asking whether they keep families together when assigning seats reminds us of the people out there who intentionally book a basic economy ticket but then want exceptions to the rules.  Or, we hear "families" and assume it means toddlers or young children, as that's often the case, and we know what's coming next.  The goal isn't to be rude to you with the answers given, but rather to try to cover all possible situations to which you might be referring, and to head off additional follow-up questions, such as -in this case- "will they ask other pax to move/Can I ask other pax to move so we can stay together?"   

So at this point let me go back and answer your question anew:  Yes, seat selection should be available at the time you check in, but at that late date you may or may not find 2, 3 or 4 seats adjacent to each other.  Even if you don't attempt to choose your seats and the airline does your seat assignments at that point, yes they will generally try to keep you together (assuming you're all on one reservation and they thus know you are traveling together) but likely won't have 3 or 4 seats together, and possibly won't have 2 together, so you may all end up in middle seats in different rows.    Since your kids are teens and you are ok withnot being seated right next to them, there doesn't seem to be any issue with having accidentally booked basic economy so you can sit back and enjoy the $ savings.

[1982CruzStart]

This can be a very useful resource so i hope you won't stop posting here if you  have a question. Sometimes more information when you ask a question will elicit different responses. I think many like me thought you were talking about needing small children to sit beside them. If we had known from the beginning that they were teens and that you made a mistake with the fare you purchased and just want to know what the process is, i think you would have gotten different comments. 

I disagree with some of the comments about TA's. If you paid a TA to book your flights then they should know what they are selling you. 

Have a great trip. 

[FlyerTalker]

1 hour ago, 1982CruzStart said:

I disagree with some of the comments about TA's. If you paid a TA to book your flights then they should know what they are selling you.

 

In a perfect world, yes.  But I would say that you are either a huge optimist OR you have managed to find a TA that is more than just a cruise specialist or order taker.

[Globaliser]

 

14 hours ago, FlyerTalker said:

15 hours ago, 1982CruzStart said:

I disagree with some of the comments about TA's. If you paid a TA to book your flights then they should know what they are selling you.

 

In a perfect world, yes.  But I would say that you are either a huge optimist OR you have managed to find a TA that is more than just a cruise specialist or order taker.

 

Indeed. The problem is that although TAs should know what they're selling you, frequently they don't.