I went to check my mother-in-law in for her flight home from visiting us for Thanksgiving yesterday, and not only were her seats gone, but her flights were gone as well. (All of this after she received an email reminding her to check in.) A call to NW yielded the following -- Delta had "taken" the flight from NW, but forgot to take the reservation. No, she could not have her aisle seats booked two months ago back. Eventually I convinced the agent that there were coach choice seats available that she should get for free, and got her assigned into the blocked handicapped seats. I check my flights frequently so this sort of nonsense doesn't screw me up too often.