does Delta pay attention to seating preferences when clearing upgrades?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, AS Gold
Posts: 93
does Delta pay attention to seating preferences when clearing upgrades?
Just curious. Is Delta supposed to pay attention to seating preferences when clearing upgrades?
I'm about to board a flight where I was 2 of 14 on the list who cleared with several aisles available. Got a window; of course they had cleared everyone else by the time I got to the desk and the seat map was locked in the interim.
Of course, i'm happy to get upgraded at all but it seems that hardly ever does the GA pay attention to seating preferences, which is a big bummer.
Thanks! Happy New Year!
I'm about to board a flight where I was 2 of 14 on the list who cleared with several aisles available. Got a window; of course they had cleared everyone else by the time I got to the desk and the seat map was locked in the interim.
Of course, i'm happy to get upgraded at all but it seems that hardly ever does the GA pay attention to seating preferences, which is a big bummer.
Thanks! Happy New Year!
#2
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
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Posts: 4,630
I know that in the past, it was not the case, but every upgrade I got last year was to my seat preference (Aisle) while window seats remained open. Not sure if it's a coincidence, but all my upgrades were to the same seat (4B) on 738s.
#3
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: MR/SPG Plat, HH Gold, DL PM
Posts: 413
I agree; I think the assumption is that most people aren't too picky about seating preference when it comes to upgrades. I don't think I've ever gotten my seating preference in the rare instances I've been upgraded, but I'm certainly not complaining.
PS: Happy new year!
PS: Happy new year!
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 664
IME, no they don't. Their responsibility is to get the plane off on schedule. Adding time to find and research the FF's preferred seating has the potential to further delay the flight. In the grand scheme of things, this is not of those items I fret over. I am thankful for the UG, including the occasional bulkhead which is my non-preferred seat, and move on.
#5
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: DL DM PM
Posts: 2,034
All my UGs that clear in advance take into account my seat preference and all those at the gate do not seem to. That seems reasonable given that a programmed machine does the former and a harried human being who probably doesn't examine people's profiles the latter.
#6
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MCO
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Posts: 4,081
Just curious. Is Delta supposed to pay attention to seating preferences when clearing upgrades?
I'm about to board a flight where I was 2 of 14 on the list who cleared with several aisles available. Got a window; of course they had cleared everyone else by the time I got to the desk and the seat map was locked in the interim.
I'm about to board a flight where I was 2 of 14 on the list who cleared with several aisles available. Got a window; of course they had cleared everyone else by the time I got to the desk and the seat map was locked in the interim.
Now if you are talking about the gate UG's, of course they won't look up every pax's preference. That said, I think last year I had only 2 window seat UG's. Personally would rather have all window seats up front than all aisles in the back.
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
No. There is no way to match the tecnology between seat preference and what is available, unless the GA happens to have the time to deeply examine your profile, play around with what the computer assigns and then changes and mixes things up.
#8
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC, BOS, ORD
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM
Posts: 843
All my UGs that clear in advance take into account my seat preference and all those at the gate do not seem to. That seems reasonable given that a programmed machine does the former and a harried human being who probably doesn't examine people's profiles the latter.
#9
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#11
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My impression is that upgrades in advance assign seats based on the upgrade priority waitlist, so #1 (the first upgrade at the window) gets the most forward non bulkhead aisle seat, #2 gets next aisle nonbulkhead seat, etc.
For gate upgrades, if the GA notices that two are traveling together, he/she might try to give them seats together. Otherwise, it seems to be random to save time.
For gate upgrades, if the GA notices that two are traveling together, he/she might try to give them seats together. Otherwise, it seems to be random to save time.
#12
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: DL GM, AMEX Business Platinum, AMEX Delta Reserve, DL SkyClub Member, Choice PM
Posts: 2,218
Just curious. Is Delta supposed to pay attention to seating preferences when clearing upgrades?
I'm about to board a flight where I was 2 of 14 on the list who cleared with several aisles available. Got a window; of course they had cleared everyone else by the time I got to the desk and the seat map was locked in the interim.
Of course, i'm happy to get upgraded at all but it seems that hardly ever does the GA pay attention to seating preferences, which is a big bummer.
Thanks! Happy New Year!
I'm about to board a flight where I was 2 of 14 on the list who cleared with several aisles available. Got a window; of course they had cleared everyone else by the time I got to the desk and the seat map was locked in the interim.
Of course, i'm happy to get upgraded at all but it seems that hardly ever does the GA pay attention to seating preferences, which is a big bummer.
Thanks! Happy New Year!
If the Upgrade to 1st class clears anytime from T-6 days to T-3 hours, before the gate, I usually get my preferred seating Aisle seat.
At the gate .... it does not matter, just happy to be upgraded, even if I get a window seat.
And am always happy to exchange seats on board with anyone that MUST have a window seat!
#14
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Join Date: Apr 2009
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Posts: 16,273
My preferences (aisle) seem to only be respected during purchase. If I am upgraded at the window, I am frequently assigned a window even if there are aisles available. At the gate, it seems to be the same - completely random.
#15
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Woodstock, GA USA
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Delta DM & 1MM, Hertz and Avis President's Circle
Posts: 906
[QUOTE=MSPeconomist;24083013]My impression is that upgrades in advance assign seats based on the upgrade priority waitlist, so #1 (the first upgrade at the window) gets the most forward non bulkhead aisle seat, #2 gets next aisle nonbulkhead seat, etc.QUOTE]
My experience with upgrades would confirm that this is what happens. I've even watched the upgrade process where the GA was very busy and doing the upgrades in spurts. This is exactly what happened in those situations.
My experience with upgrades would confirm that this is what happens. I've even watched the upgrade process where the GA was very busy and doing the upgrades in spurts. This is exactly what happened in those situations.