Seat Blocking on Delta during COVID-19 (Ending 5/1/2021)
Nov 24, 2020, 3:57 pm
#346
Join Date: May 2013
Location: RMS
Programs: DL Plat, UA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Credit Card Diamond
Posts: 8,782
After spending extra to ensure an open seat (2 seat arrangement) on a recent Delta flight from SGA to PDX (both directions), I found myself sitting next to a flight attendant despite Delta showing this seat as blocked off. But it gets worse, once we arrived in SLC from SGA to change planes to PDX, everyone on the flight had to deplane just off the runway to take a bus to a gate. Delta never offered this info up at any point in the booking. Just wanted to give heads up to anyone planning to fly on Delta and thinking of spending extra cashola to get that open seat to remain open, and anyone passing through SLC (bus gating has apparently become a de rigueur thing for flights through SLC due to construction). This experience (and all the maskless pax in the airports) has convinced me I won't be flying again for a long while. Anyone else think airlines should be required to inform pax about this?
By the way, what airport did you fly from? SGA is in the mountains of Afghanistan near the Tajikastan border.
Nov 24, 2020, 4:20 pm
#347
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
Programs: DL Plat (won't hit DM again) 2MM (2.5), HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 5,626
Flew RDU-FLL on a CRJ900 this morning. I was upgraded to C+ when I booked and selected an A seat because B is being blocked. 6 days out I got the UG to FC and selected a D seat.
But midway through boarding a passenger came up from the back to complain that someone was sitting next to him. The FA did a good job of explaining the policy, I thought, and then made an announcement explaining how the policy applied to the RJs. He also said that the GA should have announced the situation before boarding. I was in the lounge so go to the gate just as the flight boarded so don't know if she did.
But midway through boarding a passenger came up from the back to complain that someone was sitting next to him. The FA did a good job of explaining the policy, I thought, and then made an announcement explaining how the policy applied to the RJs. He also said that the GA should have announced the situation before boarding. I was in the lounge so go to the gate just as the flight boarded so don't know if she did.
Nov 24, 2020, 7:42 pm
#348
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: SFO
Programs: Many
Posts: 109
Nov 24, 2020, 10:07 pm
#349
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: BLI or CLT
Programs: The usual suspects
Posts: 1,899
If I am traveling alone and purchase "my seat" and the one next to it in order to ensure there is an empty seat next to me, will it really be empty or will it be seized for the benefit of an FA or someone else with a "need." I am not a person of size who actually needs to buy a second seat.
I have to travel from SEA to North Carolina next month and can take a) Delta with a connection in ATL but purportedly empty middle seat on the long leg, b) American non-stop but a full plane, or c) Alaska non-stop with a blocked middle seat but with a longer drive to my destination.
I have to travel from SEA to North Carolina next month and can take a) Delta with a connection in ATL but purportedly empty middle seat on the long leg, b) American non-stop but a full plane, or c) Alaska non-stop with a blocked middle seat but with a longer drive to my destination.
Nov 24, 2020, 10:11 pm
#350
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,298
If I am traveling alone and purchase "my seat" and the one next to it in order to ensure there is an empty seat next to me, will it really be empty or will it be seized for the benefit of an FA or someone else with a "need." I am not a person of size who actually needs to buy a second seat.
I have to travel from SEA to North Carolina next month and can take a) Delta with a connection in ATL but purportedly empty middle seat on the long leg, b) American non-stop but a full plane, or c) Alaska non-stop with a blocked middle seat but with a longer drive to my destination.
I have to travel from SEA to North Carolina next month and can take a) Delta with a connection in ATL but purportedly empty middle seat on the long leg, b) American non-stop but a full plane, or c) Alaska non-stop with a blocked middle seat but with a longer drive to my destination.
Nov 25, 2020, 5:08 am
#351
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,912
Really wish DL would rethink their F seat blocking policy on narrowbody flights. Have a flight today where F is booked at 50% (so no chance of upgrade) but everyone in F is traveling in a pair and seated next to each other. Literally half the rows of F will be completely empty while elites wait on upgrade list and it's not possible to even purchase an upgrade. Gate agents should have discretion at boarding time to fill any remaining empty F seat pairs at 50% capacity. That would still ensure the intent of DL's social distancing seat policy is met while adding a modicum of common sense.
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek
Nov 25, 2020, 5:50 am
#352
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,040
Really wish DL would rethink their F seat blocking policy on narrowbody flights. Have a flight today where F is booked at 50% (so no chance of upgrade) but everyone in F is traveling in a pair and seated next to each other. Literally half the rows of F will be completely empty while elites wait on upgrade list and it's not possible to even purchase an upgrade. Gate agents should have discretion at boarding time to fill any remaining empty F seat pairs at 50% capacity. That would still ensure the intent of DL's social distancing seat policy is met while adding a modicum of common sense.
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek
Nov 25, 2020, 7:12 am
#353
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 3
My parents are supposed to fly tomorrow from BOS to RDU on a 2x2 regional jet. She was told by Detla on the phone the the flight is full. Despite website saying the aisle seats are blocked, her flight is full. She has someone (not my dad) in the seat right next to her. Now she's second guessing her trip.
EDIT: Delta said Row B is always blocked off BUT if the person in Row A is traveling with a companion, they can book Row B. In that case, if you're in Row C or D, you have someone next to you in Row B. So its nice for someone in A to be able to sit next to their companion, but it screws the people in Row C from having a blocked off seat.
EDIT: Delta said Row B is always blocked off BUT if the person in Row A is traveling with a companion, they can book Row B. In that case, if you're in Row C or D, you have someone next to you in Row B. So its nice for someone in A to be able to sit next to their companion, but it screws the people in Row C from having a blocked off seat.
Last edited by djseto; Nov 25, 2020 at 7:57 am
Nov 25, 2020, 7:52 am
#354
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,912
-FlyerBeek
Nov 25, 2020, 8:56 am
#355
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,040
My parents are supposed to fly tomorrow from BOS to RDU on a 2x2 regional jet. She was told by Detla on the phone the the flight is full. Despite website saying the aisle seats are blocked, her flight is full. She has someone (not my dad) in the seat right next to her. Now she's second guessing her trip.
EDIT: Delta said Row B is always blocked off BUT if the person in Row A is traveling with a companion, they can book Row B. In that case, if you're in Row C or D, you have someone next to you in Row B. So its nice for someone in A to be able to sit next to their companion, but it screws the people in Row C from having a blocked off seat.
EDIT: Delta said Row B is always blocked off BUT if the person in Row A is traveling with a companion, they can book Row B. In that case, if you're in Row C or D, you have someone next to you in Row B. So its nice for someone in A to be able to sit next to their companion, but it screws the people in Row C from having a blocked off seat.
Nov 25, 2020, 9:41 am
#356
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,298
Really wish DL would rethink their F seat blocking policy on narrowbody flights. Have a flight today where F is booked at 50% (so no chance of upgrade) but everyone in F is traveling in a pair and seated next to each other. Literally half the rows of F will be completely empty while elites wait on upgrade list and it's not possible to even purchase an upgrade. Gate agents should have discretion at boarding time to fill any remaining empty F seat pairs at 50% capacity. That would still ensure the intent of DL's social distancing seat policy is met while adding a modicum of common sense.
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek
F should be safe at 100%, especially since it’s actually the same cabin density as Y is at this point with middle seats blocked off.
Nov 25, 2020, 10:15 am
#357
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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Correction: 2-2 FC is less dense, at 100%, than 3-3 coach with all middle seats blocked (67%) because the pitch is greater in FC.
I like FC with an empty seat next to me, but it's silly to see empty pairs of seats with elites on the upgrade wait list. Require companions to sit together and then upgrade to the point where at least one of every pair of seats is occupied. This should not be hard.
I like FC with an empty seat next to me, but it's silly to see empty pairs of seats with elites on the upgrade wait list. Require companions to sit together and then upgrade to the point where at least one of every pair of seats is occupied. This should not be hard.
Nov 25, 2020, 10:22 am
#358
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,298
Correction: 2-2 FC is less dense, at 100%, than 3-3 coach with all middle seats blocked (67%) because the pitch is greater in FC.
I like FC with an empty seat next to me, but it's silly to see empty pairs of seats with elites on the upgrade wait list. Require companions to sit together and then upgrade to the point where at least one of every pair of seats is occupied. This should not be hard.
I like FC with an empty seat next to me, but it's silly to see empty pairs of seats with elites on the upgrade wait list. Require companions to sit together and then upgrade to the point where at least one of every pair of seats is occupied. This should not be hard.
Nov 25, 2020, 10:28 am
#359
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: PDX
Programs: Delta, American Express, Budget, Alamo, Enterprise, Avis, Hertz, Alaska
Posts: 42
Need to clarify. The rest of the flight was 3 by 3. I paid extra for a spot by the door with only two seats. One ended up being occupied by FA.
Nov 25, 2020, 10:36 am
#360
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: PDX
Programs: Delta, American Express, Budget, Alamo, Enterprise, Avis, Hertz, Alaska
Posts: 42
From the Delta website -
This aircraft does not have middle seats, so we’ve instead blocked aisle “B” seats through March 30, 2021. Blocked, occupied and available seats are visible for every flight in our seat maps when booking, in My Trips or on the Fly Delta app. Check the seat map for your flight as the seat adjacent to yours may be occupied.
As for SLC, they try not to use bus gates anymore than necessary. However it is sometimes necessary and there's no way to know beforehand as gate assignment constantly change due to IRROPS, etc... Regardless, bus gates are a fact of life, they exist at many airports.
This aircraft does not have middle seats, so we’ve instead blocked aisle “B” seats through March 30, 2021. Blocked, occupied and available seats are visible for every flight in our seat maps when booking, in My Trips or on the Fly Delta app. Check the seat map for your flight as the seat adjacent to yours may be occupied.
As for SLC, they try not to use bus gates anymore than necessary. However it is sometimes necessary and there's no way to know beforehand as gate assignment constantly change due to IRROPS, etc... Regardless, bus gates are a fact of life, they exist at many airports.
Last edited by ProjectRebooter; Nov 25, 2020 at 11:31 am Reason: misspelling due to autocorrect