I was wondering about all this...have two DL itins in June: one PDX-SLC-EWR r/t. The other PDX-ATL-SXM o/w. When I booked each of these some time ago, I opted for my usual exit row or bulkhead seats (a much-appreciated DL benefit, I might add). With the EC addition, bulkhead seats are now EC (grandfathered, so no $$) and the exit rows remain.

From all the chatter I'm reading from DL flyers, it's not worth anything to switch from an exit row to EC on domestic (including Caribbean) flights. No extra leg room (probably less except in bulkhead on most a/c); no extra seat width; negligible extra recline. Only significant benefit is free booze, a non-issue for teetotaler me.

So, for the SXM trip, I'm keeping 18D (exit row aisle) on the 737-800 PDX-ATL and 27D (exit row aisle) on the 757 ATL-SXM.

On the NYC itin, I decided to experiment (before I did much research), so from PDX-SLC, I'm in 20C (bulkhead exit row aisle, an EC seat, $29) on the 757, from SLC-EWR, 11D (exit row aisle) on an A319 or A320; from EWR-SLC, 5D (standard EC aisle, $29) on an A320; and from SLC-PDX, 23C (standard EC aisle, $29) on a 757. (I was interested in the latter since the table/tray on the 757 exit rows is so badly designed that it is punitive on the midsection of any male other than an anorexic marathon runner.)

I did call DL CS the other day to ask about the benefits of the EC seats and benefits accorded AS elites. The guy was both clueless and a less than masterful b.s. artist. The highlights of his answers:

a. "yes, $29 is half price" (wrong)
b. "the EC seats are wider than standard seats" (you-should-know-better wrong)
c. "the main benefit of the EC seats is that they are just more relaxing" (incredible)

Will report after these trips. My biggest fear now is just how miserable I will be doing the PDX-JFK-IST r/t (<$600) run on DL this winter. I haven't flown coach int'l in many, many years and reports on the EC seats on the 763 are very discouraging.

--mcz