I observed an interesting twist to the "you are in my seat" scenario on my recent long weekend trip on Delta to Zurich. Our plane was delayed from 2-3 hours due to bad weather on the east coast. The plane was boarded, but fueling had to be interrupted (Why they waited to fuel until the passengers boarded I do not understand)because of dramatic lightening. Finally an announcement was made that we would pull back and two passengers and a baby were hurriedly escorted onto the plane. They and many others that night had missed or nearly missed connections, but since we were so late, they were able to board. But their assigned seats were occupied by a couple who had moved from their assigned seats because their seatmate had a small dog in a carrier and the the wife was severley allergic to dogs. It took a while to rearrange passengers- yet another delay. What is the resposibility to retain seat assignments on a connecting flight if one's plane is delayed by weather.?

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