Seat Blocking on Delta during COVID-19 (Ending 5/1/2021)
#91
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,308
Had quite a weird experience today on Delta from SLC-DTW-SBN. Day starts out on that SLC-DTW flight, it's an A321 meaning that there are 10 seats that can be filled in First and I was #4 for 2 open unfortunately. There were 3 couples there and we went out with 3 empty rows of First. That's honestly my biggest travel gripe right now seeing empty rows like that go out, I don't get mad about it though, in the end I'm not confirmed First. What did make me wonder though was on my connection from DTW-SBN on a CRJ-200. Get to the gate, we're overbooked and need volunteers to take the next flight in 5 hours and enough volunteered. I'm in row 12 so I'm the second person on the plane. Then people keep boarding then all of a sudden people who aren't together are sitting next to each other in 8 rows and a lot of them said something since DL blocks seats. Then that got me very aggravated. The fact that they can't fill empty rows of First because 50% and "social distancing" but they're also over here putting people next to each other in those tiny CRJ200s which has WAY less space than a whole row in First even if it's more than 50% full, even a completely full First cabin would be better. In my opinion I just find it extremely hypocritical what they did there. Has anyone else had similar situations like this?
#92
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,308
This is not true. With the CR2 being all Y, they can fill it up to 60% capacity (30 pax). Due to the 2-2 configuration, if there are no couples traveling together, there could be instances of strangers having to sit next to each other.
#93
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,179
The reason for this is because of DLs flawed 1 sized fits all “capacity caps” For example in Y, DL is filling its planes up to 60% capacity. The CR2 seats 50 pax in a 2-2 configuration so at 60% capacity, DL is only selling 30 seats. With the CR2 being in a 2-2 configuration, this means that at least 5 people will need to sit next to someone assuming there are no pax traveling together. As far as F and couples traveling together, I agree that it’s ridiculous that they have to let rows go out empty. The good news is that DL is no longer advertising the 50% F capacity limit and is now only guaranteeing that you are there will be an empty seat next to you. Hopefully DL has figured out a way to not count couples against the capacity restrictions or will allow GAs to process UGs and go above the cap if there are couples traveling together.
#94
#95
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,308
I flew a couple months ago on a domestic wide-body fight and was #1 on the list for zero seats. I asked the GA about an UG since it appeared they were only booking it to 50% even though widebodies were supposed to be at 75% capacity at the time and he told me that since the flight was only marketed as FC and not D1, they could only fill it to 50%. Thankfully it appears they’ve fixed this nonsense policy and FC domestic widebodies flights match the same D1 cabin capacity rules, but DL needs to adjust their capacity restrictions for each fleet and not just follow the 60/50 rule for all fleets.
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
Are you sure about this? My ATL SLC flight last week on 764 capped F at 50%
#98
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 759
The wording on Delta's website is that, "Select aisle seats will be blocked on smaller aircraft with 2x2 seating configurations." Therefore, there is no explicit guarantee of an empty seat next to you on a CRJ anymore. All of my upcoming CRJ flights show the B row completely blocked, suggesting that if you are in C or D you could have a neighbor.
... so much for them pulling out a bigger plane when they are close to capacity as they said they would. They couldn't substitute a CRJ700?
... so much for them pulling out a bigger plane when they are close to capacity as they said they would. They couldn't substitute a CRJ700?
#100
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,308
A CRJ-700, or any RJ with a 2-2 configuration won't make much of a difference. With all RJs in being in a 2-2 configuration and DL allowing up to 60% capacity in Y, if there are no couples traveling together there will end up being a few rows where strangers will have to sit next to someone.
#101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
A CRJ-700, or any RJ with a 2-2 configuration won't make much of a difference. With all RJs in being in a 2-2 configuration and DL allowing up to 60% capacity in Y, if there are no couples traveling together there will end up being a few rows where strangers will have to sit next to someone.
#102
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: DL DM & 5MM, WN
Posts: 1,451
Gate agent in Harrisburg this morning Is announcing that, when boarding “smaller planes,” Delta will fill to the capacity limit and she said that this will mean solo travelers sitting in adjacent seats.
The impression had been given that the new limits were to allow more seating of parties of two and three traveling together.
But I guess not.
The impression had been given that the new limits were to allow more seating of parties of two and three traveling together.
But I guess not.
#103
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: London/JAX
Programs: DL PM, BA Gold, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold, Radisson Premium, Global Entry, CLEAR
Posts: 871
#104
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,223
I flew in F last Friday on a CR9. I had 4C, I was surprised when I got to my seat that there was someone in 4D (they were also surprised). No big deal, I don't expect I'll have a seat empty next to me on every DL flight. But what was strange to me, is that there were no pax in 2CD...
#105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,187
I would submit a complaint to DL. The CR200 is already known widely as a 'torture tube' and being squished next to someone in there goes against DL's whole extra space for safety thing. Personally I would not fly in that plane under current circumstances... do they haven have hepa air filters?