RaflW

That seat map you posted is for the 76Z v2 (lav at the front of the cabin), so that should indeed be a C+ seat. I was in 16B a few weeks ago and partner was in 16C -- the whole row is C+ on the Zv2. Note that there may be an equip swap to the Zv1 shortly before departure, those are quite common.

Why it is free, I dunno. Are you OK with being booted to the back if they later say "whoops, you shouldn't have gotten that free?"

Tifosi

That's exactly my worry. I don't think I'll risk it, better to choose a tolerable regular economy seat. Thanks for the reply!

DCAproducer

So he heard back from DL. DL basically said no compensation is due since he accepted the itinerary change. He had no choice because his original flight would have missed his connection.

So not only did he lose his C+ seat, but he ended up in the back in a middle seat. I think this is a BS answer on Delta's part, but he didn't want to argue with them.

KDCAflyer

It's a total BS answer. I'd push harder and escalate if needed.

TrojanTraveler

Another update on these D1 configured 767s. I was on a recent flights TATL back to the US, and had been in row 13 for months. Shortly before departure, yet again I was put into row 14. When I got on the plane, it was an ex-Gulf jet, but they had renumbered the rows. This plane in coach also now starts at row 13, not row 12. So row 13 could be a great seat, or could be (in my opinion) a lousy seat if you get the ex-Gulf version. In this case I was glad that DL has switched my seats (though I was baffled as to why...row 13 still existed in both versions).

It makes sense that they've renumbered the rows to match up, but of course you don't know which plane you will get and all the seat maps (or at least on all my reservations) show the ex-Gulf version (with the exit row), whether you get that version or not.

I believe that my plane originally had row 12. In yet another DL seating change, there were many people who were in Comfort+ and booted to the back of the plane (including into middle seats). I know because they were trying to get the FAs to do something (so I got to hear the whole story), and they had other traveling companions who were seated in Comfort +. Quite a few people who were fairly angry at DL for having to travel TATL in a regular coach middle seat rather than the Comfort+ seat they were expecting.

dzflyer

Ive never had that kind of experience ever. What his medallion status?

RaflW

It also sounds like you might be willing to pay for C+. If that is the case, call in and ask to book C+. The CSR should either happily take your CC number, or tell you the seat is free and you can ask why.

DCAproducer

He's a SM. He has racked out again. I'll report back what they say.

orca15

[answer at the bottom, leaving here for others with the same question. Basically, (some?) Int'l flights work like they did six months ago]

Help FT!

SO is GM flying XXX-ATL-JFK-KEF and return. Paid (T) fare.

First problem was that ATL-JFK-KEF was a "stopover" so International rules applied ATL-JFK. We solved that with a phone call, got her a C+ ATL-JFK.

Now for the Int'l flights, JFK-KEF and KEF-JFK. Both flights are a 757, with C+ (by looking at seat map) seems to be rows 15-20, which doesn't match anything in the wiki.

Several questions:
1) Under "my trips," both legs say "Not Complimentary Upgrade Eligible." (the ATL-JFK said this before the phone call to fix). Isn't GM eligible for C+ on Intl, per the FAQ's

2) The C+ cabin seems full on her outbound (DL 446, 11/22). Weirdly, searching for C+ tickets JFK-KEF for a wide range of dates yields no availability. Why?

3) Is there something I am missing, how does a GM select C+ inside the 72 hour window? I have the UG selection checked for all the flights it gave a choice, but it doesn't show up on the Int'l legs.

Thanks!

PS - her first flight as (gifted) GM, got the FC UG on the first leg! Hope she doesn't get used to it.

[added] Got an answer from the DM line- basically she said that since these flights didn't have a C+ fare class (yet) they worked like the old days. 72 hours prior seats would just be "selectable" through the Delta app, and the price would show free (shows $89 now).

I guess this answers why a search for C+ seats was fruitless.

So I guess for some subset of Int'l flights, it works (for now) like the old days...says "Not Upgrade Eligible" but doesn't mean it, opens up at T-72 (clocked from that leg, apparently) and becomes selectable. Purchase through the seat map rather than a fare class of it's own.

Totally straightforward.

RaflW

Yeah, it's whack. Transatlantic is not (currently) being sold as a separate 'experience', aka fare class. So it still functions as a C+ buy-up from the seat map. GMs can move to a C+ seat free at T-72, FOs at T-24. I have heard (but not yet traveled after May 16, so don't know) that when on a domestic leg of a TATL trip, C+ is impossible now, due to the mix of fare classes on the dom vs intl leg. Curious if anyone else can confirm that?

So, when you see "Not Upgrade Eligible" on the trip to KEF, I think that means not to F/J, for that leg. In theory, xxx-ATL and ATL-JFK could be F upgradable, even if C+ isn't due to the absurd IT and fare coding decisions DL has made. But who knows?!*

DL mgt seems to be aware that they've created a mess, but they plunge ahead to make more of their route map a confusing cluster while maybe, slowly fixing the back end issues (and lack of clear communication to 'valued customers') that the first rollout has created:

So, parts of Asia, C+ as fare, part as seat map buy up. And parts of Latin America C+ fare, parts as seat map buy up. Really? This is what the most admired airline in America is rolling out??

*edit: I see she got a domestic UG to F, so that is possible. Should have read more closely.

DCAproducer

Update. I send a direct message to Delta via Twitter and they said absolutely he is due a refund for the fare difference. They sent his itinerary to the refunds desk. They apologized for the bad response he got via email through the DL site.

KDCAflyer

I would write a letter to someone higher up with the email attached. Employee involved definitely needs retraining.

orca15

She got the email today "explaining" the new UG method of getting C+ seats, and sure enough, in the fine print I found this: (Bolding mine)

"and other markets such as...." Really? But wait, there's more...That links to another page that also says (as you mentioned)

which does not mention TATL- so maybe even after Sept. 19 TATL will still be via seat map?

I'm sooooo confused!

RaflW

It is roundabout, but I am (so far) confident that DL is not changing TATL C+ sales/Medallion access after Sept 19, based on their less-than-excellent communications. I just recently paid up to C+ for a flight to AMS in Oct (I rarely do, but it was 1. 10A in an A330 which is one of the few seats on the 'bus that I prefer over 27A/B/H/J, and 2. I have a 1h10m connection AMS so want to be right by door two). I paid after booking via seat map.

As I understand it, if DL made C+ a separate fare class ex-Europe, it would be subject to higher passenger taxes - at least in some countries, I haven't tracked it closely. If/when DL does a true P.E. cabin ex-Europe, then they would have to lump it on the cabin class tax, but they want to avoid it till then. So they play this game.

danielonn

How is the 10 A and B on the 2 side for Delta Comfort Plus? I am booked on a new 717 from LAX-SJC and going down on the regional jet? Its nice to see the Boeing 717s as opposed to the Jungle Jets being used from SJC-LAX.

Thanks