So the wife and our 8 yr old daughter decided to fly to PHX-- very last minute, of which the injury to the pocketbook is evidence. Neither has status and only "blue" seats are available as of now for assignment. Everything else is X'd.

So, since nothing is available in the back rows, not even middles, will making a call to DL help assign seats in the Preferred rows? They wont be together, but at least they will have seat assignments. Or is it waste of time, and we should just hold off till online check-in kicks in? Do those seats open up for everyone at the OLCI 24 hour mark, or are they only assigned at the airport?

Thanks much to the collective wisdom of FT!