I was checking seat maps on orbitz.com for an upcoming RT MSP-SLC-SFO-SLC-MSP and saw that some premium seats opened up in the first few rows of Y. On Delta.com, I was unable to see the seats, but I called Delta reservations, and after some consultations, I was assigned the seats in the elite area.

The agent said that she wasn't that familier with the Skyteam elite program, and she asked me if I was a tier 1 or tier 2 elite. I said I didn't know, but I do know that I am NW Silver Elite and a Sky Team Elite member. She was friendly, and assigned me seats together in 737 rows 11 and 12, the same seats I had seen on Orbitz.com.

Less than a minute later, My Itineraries on Delta.com had the updated seat assignments, and Orbiz.com reflected the change. So the Orbitz seat maps are updated in real time.

Of course, YMMV.

Here's my experience with Delta phone agents:

If your call is routed to the India call center, the agent may not even know what Northwest is, much less whether your elite status entitles you to select seating.

If you call is routed to a NA call center, the agents are extremely knowledgable and will set you up in no time.


I don't even bother calling Delta after hours any more...during business hours it seems like about 75% of my calls go to a US call center. After 8pm Pacific it's all India.

I agree...

If you do get a person from another continent, ask for the "change ticket/reservation" dept and they'll transfer you back to North America. My experience is that because that dept has to know all the ins and outs of changing tickets, they are up-to-date on all the skyteam elite policy.

.....

You gotta love this. Wasn't there a "Skyteam Training Kit" or something that went out to all of the Skyteam airlines?

Things that make you go, "Hmm....".

-Alan

Since I am travelling for a wedding with my wife, I knew better than to book even an MSP-ATL-SFO. That would go over like a lead baloon.

Going a bit OT here....With my travel pattern, I would have to do that quite a few times to make it from Silver to Gold Elite. I fly mostly short-haul to the great lakes and east coast on NW non-stops from MSP. I usually end up with 26-32k EQM, which is okay with me. I don't really want to be gone more than I am already. This year's upgrade % as a silver is definately down, though. On NW, I have been upgraded on 10 of 18 mainline segments, and have flown or will fly 10 segments on DL/NW RJs in Y, bringing my total upgrade % down to a lack-luster 35.7%.

Just booked MSP-SLC-TUS return. MSP-SLC on NW and SLC-TUS on DL. Was able to select my NW seats on NWA.com and DL seats on Delta.com without problems. No access to premium seats on DL but who cares, its a CRJ! Easy process and painless.

I just called DL and told them I was a NW/Skyteam elite and they put me on exit rows for all 4 of my flights.

Wow I am jealous. I called to change seats for a flight in 2 weeks, and according to the agent, she could not assign exit rows before day-of departure. Interesting...

-CLG

I've generally gotten poor seat selection on Delta.... system doesn't recognize this so-called "Sky Team Elite" thing.....

I do not think that Skyteam Elite guves you prefered seating.

It is supposed to. But my experiance shows they don't. I'm skyteam Plus and I was once put in the very last row of an Super 80 with only 10 people on board. No lie. I move up to the first row of economy after they shut the door.

You are right:

SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits

And you also get:
I still have to see this with NW.

The agent with whom you spoke was either ill informed or deceitful. I have had exit row seating assigned to me in advance on several DL itineraries as a NW elite this year. Call back and try another agent!

You definately have to talk to a live person that knows what they are talking about.