My wife, GM, and I were flying D1 from SCL to ATL just after the T'giving holiday. Upon checking in at SCL, I noticed that our seats had been changed from 2B&C to 5B&C. When I asked why, as I had selected them two months earlier when I made the reservation, the agent had no clue. However, she was able to snag 1B&C for us. Ok, at least we'll still should get our first choice of entree.

Once on board I noticed that the couple behind us in 2B&C were neither handicapped, under 21 years of age, or "air marshals." In fact, it appeared that a family of four adults was now occupying row 2. So, I wrote DL to ask why our seats were changed. While I didn't get a specific answer, both my wife and I received 9500 bonus miles each for the "hassle." Sweet!

Compare that to a more recent flight on AA where weather caused me to miss my cxn. at ORD. I arrived at ORD 10 min. prior to the departure of my connecting flight to LIT, ran down the concourse and arrived at the gate 5 min. before departure only to find the flight already closed! I realize that on time departures are paramount, but this was the last flight of the day and nobody was going to be connecting at LIT. You'd think in this case, since they knew that my inbound was running late, that they'd hold the flight for 5-10 min. So, I complained to AA and while I received a nice apology, no bonus miles were forthcoming!

It's possible that Delta would leave you behind, too. But it's good that you were satisfied with the seating issue

Yes, DL might close the doors too.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...em-behind.html

Just out of curiosity OP, why are you shocked AA didn't hold the flight? AA's website says passengers are required to be at the gate 15 min prior to departure. Your inbound arrived inside that window, never mind when you actually made it to the gate. And if the flight was full, AA definitely had the perfect reason to remove you and give your seat to someone else. Frustrating for sure, and it wasn't your fault, but that's how it is.

DL may not have held the flight either. Delaying the plane can seem like a no-brainier especially for the last flights of the day but can have an impact the following morning due to crew rest requirements. Not to mention a delay is a delay - metrics don't really care why, and airlines compete on on-time performance.

DL does have a habit of doling out SkyPesos for almost all complaints, even the stupid ones. The amounts never make any sense either. Broken IFE/AVOD can get triple what a lengthy mechanical delay or cancellation does.

The way DL handles moving seats in complete bs. In the OP's case, they should have asked. Yet, whenever they make mistakes when the mess up seat assignments via things like schedule changes (even when there is no seat map change but seats get changed anyways), they will refuse to change seat assignments.

Not shocked, really, but disappointed. Since it was the last flight of the day, I thought they would hold it for 10 min. at least, since they knew when my inbound arrived. Also, as PLT with DL, I think I would have received more than a distressed traveler voucher, even though it was weather related.

AA is really cheap on issuing miles for these issues and you really gotta call in, if you get nothing

DL changed my D1 seat from 2A to 6A at check-in. I asked for an explanation, or my original seat back, since I find 6A to be inferior. I did not end up in my original seat, but in addition to an explanation, cs offered a voucher for $125.