how do i get my seat assignment on delta

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

The Delta Seat Selection Guide

Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Table of Contents

How Delta seat selection works

Delta seat selection fee, ticket types and seat selection rules, delta air lines seats for elite members, delta plane seating chart, how to pick seats on delta, final thoughts on selecting a seat on delta air lines.

Booking a Delta Air Lines flight and wondering about Delta’s seat selection? It’s no wonder — with differing benefits for elite members and strict restrictions on basic economy tickets, figuring out how and when to choose your Delta seat can quickly become overwhelming.

Here's a look at Delta seat assignments, how Delta Air Lines’ seating system works and the costs of choosing a seat.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards

Delta operates a variety of cabin classes on its aircraft, including economy, Premium Select, first class and Delta One seats.

Like most airlines, Delta will allow you to select your seat when booking, though the cost to do so and any upcharges will vary depending on the flight you’re taking. Those flying with families and wondering “does Delta seat families together?” are in luck. Delta does its best to seat families together, even after check-in.

» Learn more: Delta vs. United, which is best for you?

According to an analysis of airline fees by NerdWallet, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines charge the least for seat selection, while budget airlines Frontier and Spirit charge the most.

Delta sits in the middle, charging an average of $15-plus for each flight that you'd like to select a seat for. The cost will vary depending on the type of ticket you book with the airline — which we'll discuss next.

» Learn more: How to navigate costly airline seat selection fees

How much is seat selection on Delta Air Lines? That will depend on the ticket type you’re purchasing, be it basic economy, main cabin, Premium Select (premium economy), first class or Delta One.

Basic economy

Basic economy tickets have the most restrictions of any Delta ticket, and this extends to seat selection. Those who book basic economy tickets won't be able to select seats; instead, a seat will be randomly assigned to each passenger after check-in. This includes families and groups who are traveling together — expect to be split up when booking a basic economy ticket.

If you reserve a basic economy ticket, it’s possible to purchase a specific seat starting seven days before departure. Pricing for this varies by trip and is priced by segment.

Main cabin seating, also known as regular economy, includes complimentary seat selection. As a main cabin customer, you also have the option to purchase an upgrade to preferred or Delta Comfort Plus seats while remaining an economy class passenger.

You can also book upgraded economy tickets with additional seat selection perks:

Main Cabin Preferred: Main Cabin Preferred seats are functionally the same as regular main cabin seats. The difference lies in the seat location; Main Cabin Preferred seats are typically window and aisle seats nearer to the front of the plane, plus exit rows. These are the least expensive upgrades from standard economy seating.

Comfort Plus: When available, a Delta Comfort Plus ticket can be purchased directly while booking and the price will include seat selection. The cost to upgrade is higher than for a preferred seat in main cabin. Comfort Plus features more legroom than main cabin and offers passengers dedicated overhead bins. In addition, Comfort Plus guests will receive complimentary beer and wine on all domestic and short-haul international flights.

Main cabin passengers can also choose to upgrade to a Comfort Plus seat either before or after purchasing their ticket.

Premium Select

Premium Select is Delta’s version of premium economy, with larger seats and better recline, two free checked bags, earlier boarding and premium extras. Those who book Premium Select can choose any seat within the cabin for no additional fee.

Delta One and first class

Both first class and Delta One ticket holders can choose any seat within their cabin for free. These spacious seats come with two free checked bags, premium snacks and meals, priority boarding, and a dedicated flight attendant.

GET MORE MILES, MORE BENEFITS WITH A DELTA CARD

Regardless of where you sit once you're on the plane, a Delta-branded credit card can make your trip go a little smoother. Most include free checked bags and priority boarding, and some really stack up the perks. Among options:

on American Express' website

$0 intro for the first year, then $150 .

• 2 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.

• 1 mile per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

Terms apply.

• 2 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta and at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).

• 3 miles per $1 on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on hotel purchases.

• 2 miles per $1 at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).

• 3 miles per $1 on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.

• 1 mile per $1 on other eligible purchases.

• No foreign transaction fees.

• First checked bag free.

• Priority boarding.

• Companion certificate (main cabin).

• Airport lounge access.

• Companion certificate ((first class, Delta Comfort+ or main cabin).

• Credit for application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card , see this page .

★ LIMITED TIME OFFER

Heads up! For a limited time, select Delta Air Lines credit cards are dangling larger welcome offers for new cardholders — 40,000 miles larger than the previous offers, to be exact, for a total of 80,000 to 100,000 miles, depending on the card. (Terms apply.) NerdWallet calculates the average value of Delta miles at 1.2 cents apiece, meaning these offers could be worth $960 to $1,200. Good until Oct. 23, 2024. Learn more and apply here.

Those who have joined the Delta SkyMiles program and earned Medallion elite status will receive seating benefits on their flights.

Main Cabin Preferred

When booking main cabin tickets, all four tiers of elite status members can select main cabin preferred seats for no additional charge.

» Learn more: The NerdWallet guide to earning Delta SkyMiles

Comfort Plus

Platinum and Diamond level elite members (the two highest tiers) can choose Comfort Plus seats shortly after ticketing for free. Mid-tier Gold members, meanwhile, will be able to select these seats starting 72 hours prior to departure, and low-level Silver members can pick from available Comfort Plus seats starting 24 hours before departure.

Delta elite members will also receive upgrades on select first class and Delta One flights depending on their elite status.

You can find Delta Air Lines seating without needing to book a flight. To do so, you’ll want to first search for your preferred route on Delta’s website. On the search results page, you’ll find a variety of flights from which to choose.

Each flight presents a seat map, which you can preview by selecting "Seats."

Once you’ve picked "Seats," you’ll be taken to a new page that shows a live preview of your aircraft’s seats.

You’ll also be able to view the seat map during the booking process. Once you’ve selected your flight, you’ll be taken to another page prompting you to pick a seat.

How do I choose my seat on Delta?

During booking

The process for reserving a Delta seat is fairly simple. As we mentioned above, you’ll be able to pick seats when booking your flights on the website; Delta will automatically prompt you to do so before checkout.

You may not be able to select seats on codeshare flights, which are operated by Delta’s partners . In this case, you’ll want to go directly to the other airlines’ webpage to manage your seat selection.

After booking

If you need to choose or alter your seat after you’ve booked your flight, go to "My Trips" on the Delta homepage.

If you’re logged in already, you’ll be able to view all the trips you have booked with Delta. You’ll find seat selection options by going down to the "Passenger Information" section.

» Learn more: 6 ways to save on Delta flights

Delta has a variety of ticketing options available for every type of passenger. This includes the highly restrictive basic economy class ticket as well as main cabin tickets for those who prefer certainty with their seats.

Upgrading to Main Cabin Preferred and Comfort Plus seats offers better benefits for those in economy. Loyal members of Delta’s SkyMiles program can also expect to receive complimentary access to these seats and upgrades to higher classes depending on their level of status.

Photo courtesy of Delta Air Lines.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Popular Topics

Delta Basic Economy: Everything You Need to Know & How to Beat It

Kyle Potter is the executive editor of Thrifty Traveler, covering everything from aviation news to travel deals to in-depth guides on using airline miles. A professional journalist, he joined the comp...

Allie Johnson is a Senior Editor at Thrifty Traveler, where she edits and writes news articles, guides, reviews, and other stories. She joined the company in December 2022. Previously, she spent six y...

Delta was the first of the major U.S. airlines to introduce basic economy more than a decade, selling no-frills fares that come with fewer perks or benefits in order to compete with budget airlines like Spirit, Frontier, and Sun Country. While every other airline from American to United eventually followed suit, Delta basic economy fares stood out as more generous for years.

No more. Delta has gutted its basic economy fares: You no longer earn any SkyMiles nor credits toward Medallion status – the first (and only) major U.S. carrier to make such a brutal move. As of earlier this year, you can can't get into a Delta Sky Club if you've got a basic economy ticket.

Plus, these basic fares are almost unavoidable nowadays. You'll see them whether flying domestically, heading to the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, and even on most award tickets booked with SkyMiles.

But it's not all bad news. While you can no longer change or cancel these fares for free, you can pay a fee to cancel for a Delta eCredit . Plus, Delta basic economy fares still allow you to bring a carry-on bag onboard .. and there's even a sneaky way to pick a seat for free when flying Delta basic economy .

Let's take a deeper dive into what's included and everything you need to know about Delta Basic Economy: What you get, what you don't, how it stacks up against Delta's Main Cabin tickets – and most importantly, how to beat these no-frills fares.

• What's Included with Delta Basic Economy?

Delta Main Cabin vs. Basic Economy

• Delta's Big, Bad Changes to Basic Economy

What Routes Have Delta Basic Economy Fares?

How to beat delta basic economy, how do delta basic economy fares stack up, what's included with delta basic economy.

While there’s no question Delta basic economy has some tough restrictions, it’s still more generous than what other airlines offer in many respects.

Oh, and keep in mind: While your fare has a different name with some limitations, once you're on board it's the same Delta economy experience as everyone else. Same seat, same service, same in-flight entertainment options.

What is Delta's Basic Economy Baggage Policy?

Delta's Basic Economy baggage policy is almost identical to any standard economy fare: You can stow a carry-on bag overhead and put a personal item under the seat in front of you for free. Flying domestically, you'll now pay $35 each way to check a bag – the same as a standard economy fare.

But things change if you're heading far abroad. While most Delta main cabin economy fares to Europe, South America, and beyond include a free checked bag, the airline charges basic economy passengers to check a bag on many long-haul flights. For example, adding a checked bag on a basic economy ticket to Europe currently costs $75 each way.

What is Delta's Carry-On Policy?

Unlike several other airlines, flying basic economy with Delta allows you to bring both a full-size carry-on bag and personal item for free.

Delta Basic Economy Seat Selection

Seats are typically assigned at check-in or at the gate, but you can also pay for seat selection on many flights starting seven days before departure or pick your own for free after check-in opens.

Delta Basic Economy Boarding

You boards last in Delta’s boarding order, which means you may struggle to find a spot to stow your carry-on bag.

Earning Delta SkyMiles?

Not anymore. As of December 2021, you no longer earn SkyMiles on a Delta Basic Economy ticket.

Flying isn't the best way to earn Delta SkyMiles anymore – it hasn't been for years. Still, this stings.

Earning Delta Medallion Status?

Delta's basic economy fares also no longer earn and Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) – the sole building block for earning Delta Medallion status after a big (and unpopular) revamp to the airline's status program last year.

Delta Basic Economy Upgrades?

Basic Economy is not eligible for complimentary upgrades if you have Delta Medallion Status . You can't even pay to upgrade basic fares to Delta Comfort Plus or First Class seats, either.

Delta Basic Economy Cancellation & Ticket Changes

Just as with almost any ticket, Delta Basic Economy cancellation is free within 24 hours of booking. So if you get buyers' remorse, you cna get a refund.

Otherwise, you can pay $99 to cancel a flight within the U.S. or to the Caribbean, Mexico, or Central America. Long-haul international flights cost $199 to cancel for a Delta eCredit.

Let's get straight to it. The biggest difference is in price – and that's the point.

Like most airlines, Delta practically begs you not to book basic economy: You have to specifically opt-in by checking “Accept Restrictions” and proceed with your basic economy fare. In fact, a top Delta official once wondered aloud: “What are people willing to pay” to avoid basic economy?”

And that shows. While it varies by route, Delta now regularly charges an additional $50 to $80 roundtrip to avoid basic economy and move to a more-inclusive main cabin fare on a simple domestic flight. We've even seen that swell closer to $200 or more recently – particularly for flights to and from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP).

Traveling internationally? Expect to pay $200 or more roundtrip to avoid these restrictions.

Read more:   Why Travelers Should Learn to Love Basic Economy Fares

The entire point of basic economy is to lure you in with a cheap price, then convince you to pay more to avoid additional restrictions. And that basic economy vs. main cabin upsell is only getting stronger as Delta loads up these fares with additional restrictions.

Delta's Big, Bad Changes to Basic Economy

Back in December 2021, Delta went where no other major airline has gone: Its basic economy fares no longer earn Delta SkyMiles nor credits toward earning Delta Medallion status. 

While some airlines stop flyers who buy their cheapest tickets from earning status, Delta is the first to deny them redeemable SkyMiles. Not even Spirit Airlines does that!

Previously, you'd earn at least 5x SkyMiles per dollar spent on your Delta basic economy ticket. Now, you'll earn zero SkyMiles on the exact same fares. So while taking a $300 flight would have earned you at least 1,500 SkyMiles, you don't get a single mile now.

Read more:  What Delta's Latest Basic Economy Changes Mean for Travelers

It got worse to kick off 2024, as Delta now bans travelers with a basic economy ticket from visiting Sky Club lounges. That's just one of the many ways Delta has tried to combat overcrowding in its lounges in recent years.

Is Basic Economy on Delta Still Any Good?

If there's an upside to Delta basic economy, it's that these fares still aren't as restrictive as their competitors in other respects.

Unlike other fares like United basic economy which only allow you to bring a personal item, you can still bring a full-size carry-on bag with Delta's skimpiest fare.

While you don't get free seat selection with basic economy, Delta gives you a few ways to ensure you won't get stuck in a random middle seat. For starters, you can pay for a seat assignment starting seven days before departure when flying basic economy, with fees that typically run about $29 a seat. And as you'll see, there's even a sneaky way to get a seat for free…

Delta also threw travelers who book basic economy a bone when it comes to canceling flights. These fares could not be changed nor canceled, period, prior to the pandemic. Now, basic economy tickets can be canceled for a fee of $99 to $199, depending on where you're going. You'll get a Delta eCredit for the leftover amount after subtracting the cancellation fee.

That's a far cry from the days of free change and cancellation even on basic economy fares from the pandemic, but it's better than nothing.

Read more: Have a Delta Flight Booked? Get a Credit if the Price Drops! 

You can now find Delta basic economy fares on all routes heading to the following locations:

• U.S. domestic flights, including Alaska and Hawaii
• Mexico and Central America
• The Caribbean
• South America

That's right: Almost every route in Delta's vast international network now features basic economy. That doesn't mean you'll always see basic economy fares on every single flight – Delta and other airlines sometimes decide not to sell these fares. But it's a strong possibility.

On the plus side, Delta gives basic economy fares one free checked bag on some of its longest routes to Asia and Australia . That's not the case if you buy a Delta basic economy fare to Europe or South America, for example.

Finally, Delta is an oddity in one way: Delta is still the only major carrier currently selling basic economy award tickets. Delta basic economy awards first cropped up many years ago but have only recently expanded to many long-haul international routes in Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and even Australia and New Zealand.

That means the lowest rate for using SkyMiles to book your flight will be for a basic economy ticket, unlike award tickets on most airlines which are for main cabin fares.

Even the most restrictive basic economy fares don't have to be so painful. And there are a few great ways to get ahead even with Delta's cheapest fares.

Carry a Delta Credit Card

Carrying one of the co-branded Delta credit cards offered by American Express helps you beat Delta basic economy fares . This is the key to making these fares less painful.

As a benefit of holding one of the Delta American Express cards (with the exception of the *delta blue* ), you will get a free checked bag and priority boarding . And you get these benefits even when flying on a basic economy ticket … even if you didn't pay for your Delta ticket with that card !

So while flying on a Delta basic economy ticket would normally mean you board last, holding one of these cards allows you to board in Zone 5.

Without early boarding, finding a spot for your carry-on bag once onboard the aircraft could be a challenge as you will be the last to board. So even though you are allowed a free carry-on, it may end up getting gate-checked. There's less cause for concern when you can board in the Main Cabin 1 zone.

Additionally, all of the cards also offer a free checked bag – at least a $30 value each way, every flight. That means you could check a bag for free and not worry about stowing it overhead at all. You also don't even need to pay for your ticket with the card to receive these benefits.

For example, the *delta skymiles gold card* has an introductory annual fee of $0, and then just $150 each year after that (see rates & fees .) Even in your second year with the card, it takes just three roundtrip flights with a checked bag each year to come out ahead.

Pick a Seat Assignment for Free

Like most airlines, Delta gives you the chance to pay for a seat assignment if you want to avoid that dreaded middle seat. We've seen Delta Basic Economy seat assignments on domestic flights as cheap as $19 each way – or as much as $59.

But there's another, little-known way to potentially get a seat for free with Delta Basic Economy. 

Starting when the check-in window opens 24 hours before your flight, Delta allows you to move about the cabin to any open seats … at no cost. That's your chance to check the seat map and pick the best of whatever seats are left.

This isn't a slam dunk by any means. If your flight is full, you'll be stuck with whatever seat Delta assigns you. But it's worth checking, double-checking, triple-checking, and quadruple-checking after the check-in window opens to see if you can snag a better seat as your flight draws closer. You can change your seat selection up until boarding begins.

Read our guide to picking your seat when flying Delta basic economy !

Delta basic economy fares are a mixed bag. There's both good and bad news.

Let's start with the good news. Once you get on the plane, the experience is identical whether you've got a basic fare or a main cabin ticket. These fares are more generous than what you get with other competitors in several respects, too.

You can bring a carry-on bag on board. Delta also offers two ways to pick a seat even when flying basic economy. Starting seven days before departure, you can log into your reservation and pay for a seat assignment, which typically costs $29 per seat. If you're feeling lucky, you can wait until the check-in window opens 24 hours before departure. Once that happens, Delta allows you to move to any remaining open seats for free.

Then there's the bad news. If you strike out with picking a seat, you'll likely be assigned a middle seat at check-in. When traveling with a companion or a child, there's no guarantee you'll sit together. While Delta says it tries to seat children with a family member , it won't always happen. It depends on how full your flight is, and on the agent working at the gate.

Finally, Delta has degraded basic economy more than any airline by removing the ability to earn SkyMiles or towards elite status. That's a massive, unprecedented change that automatically makes Delta basic more restrictive than any of its peers.

That's why we recommend you consider paying the upcharge for a main cabin fare if you want the best experience: Earning miles, ensuring you can sit next to a companion, and getting the ability to change or cancel your flights without a penalty.

Above all, Delta basic economy fares are just like every other airline. Airlines act like these are lower-priced fares for budget-conscious travelers. In reality, they're charging the same amount a main cabin economy ticket once cost and giving you less. It's the airlines' way of getting more money out of you in fees.

Bottom Line

Basic economy has transformed the airfare world. By offering these bare-bones fares, Delta can compete with budget carriers on price while pitting flyers with new restrictions – largely in hopes that they’ll pay up to upgrade.

Basic economy isn't going away. And as we've seen recently from Delta, it's going to continue to expand … and likely get worse.

Stop Overpaying for Travel!

Get our daily email for the latest in travel, flight deals, and how to save on your next trip.

Kyle Potter

Kyle Potter is the executive editor of Thrifty Traveler, covering everything from aviation news to travel deals to in-depth guides on using airline miles. A professional journalist, he joined the company in November 2018 after five years covering state and national politics for T...

Related Posts

Southwest is Refunding & Reimbursing Travelers, How to Get What You Can

How Does Delta Determine its Medallion Upgrade Order?

Want to Be On Time? Fly Hawaiian, Delta, Alaska, or … Spirit

21 Responses

Can you book a pet with basic economy?

It’s our understanding that carry-on pets/emotional support animals are handled separately by Delta, and what kind of fare you have isn’t a factor. But please check with Delta directly before booking!

So do I get to take my personal in for free or am I charged for that and if I don’t pay for a seat do I definitely get a seat on that plane since I already bought my ticket?

Yes and yes.

What is the easiest and most efficient/least expensive way to transport a bicycle?

If you have a hardshell case for the bike, that will be the easiest way. You can check as normal. If it weighs over 50 lbs, however, you’ll be on the hook for the excess weight fee.

Traveling from San Antonio international airport to ATL international airport then to the Caribbean with baggage will my baggage transfer to the next flight are I have to claim it and check it in again

Hi Pauline, your baggage will be checked all the way through. You won’t need to do anything on the way there.

I’m so confused so does basic E include checked luggage fee? The option I picked says “included” but on delta’s website it’s asking to estimate baggage fees

It depends where you are flying. Basic economy tickets to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia include a checked bag. Otherwise, you will have to pay for it unless you have one of the co-branded Delta SkyMiles credit cards. More information on Delta baggage fees here:

https://thriftytraveler.com/guides/airlines/avoid-delta-baggage-fees/

My sister and I just flew basic economy last week with seat assignments at the gate. Both flights we actually had great seats. Row 14 on our bigger plane and row 2 on our next plane.

I’m trying to work out how the cancellation process works if I buy a basic economy ticket using frequent flier miles. Can I cancel and get my miles redeposited?

You will be able to cancel your ticket and get your miles redeposited, but Delta will subtract 9,900 SkyMiles for domestic/shorthaul international tickets and 19,900 SkyMiles for longhaul international basic economy awards.

Flying from Australia to LA If I fly basic economy do you have to pay for food an drinks on your flight

No, all drinks and meals are free just as with a standard economy ticket.

I know I sound like an old fart but flying used to be a lot less complicated and a lot more fun. You just bought a ticket, checked a free bag, got on the plane with spacious seats and leg room, ate some hot, decent food and got to your destination. I’m amazed at how the average customer on Delta has to spend so much time deciphering information about basic things like tickets, boarding, miles, baggage, etc. It’s really become a nightmare. I appreciate your explanation here. It helped. It didn’t help on the Delta Website, which is why I came here. I still don’t know the answer to all the questions I had about SkyMiles but at least you helped out. Thank you.

Agree! It’s ridiculous all we have to go through when buying a flight

Hi there We are flying from Syd to lax next week in basic economy . I just checked to see the ‘purchase seats’ section and its costing $105 for seat reservation. Would the price get cheaper as the day comes near?

I am very disappointed I bought a round trip to Peru (3), and I ended up flying with LATAM. I paid “main cabin” because I have a special child. Flying on LATAM was the worst in my life, very uncomfortable and bad service, I paid to fly with Delta , main cabin because want to be comfortable for my son. I think I should get my money refund because in LATAM I was in economic. I hole in my way back from Lima to USA I can get better service, and refund from I paid more to fly in Delta Main cabin.

If you’re silver medallion you also get free checked 1st bag. No need for their useless cards

I appreciate your positive feedback on the blog about Qantas cancellation policy! If you have any specific questions or if there’s anything else you’d like to know about airline policies or travel in general, feel free to ask. Additionally, if you could provide the reference or context you’d like me to include, I’ll do my best to assist you.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Trip Planning

Airplane Seat Planning

Use Websites to Help You Plan Your Plane Seating

You have bought your airline ticket, so your logical next question should be: Where am I going to be sitting? It's important to find this out because getting a great seat can help ease the stress of flying, especially if you'll be on a long journey. 

When you make an airline reservation, a seat will be automatically assigned to you, but you usually also have the option to choose a different seat.

Choosing an airplane seat involves more than choosing between a window or aisle seat. A window seat could be over a wing or an aisle seat can be next to a bathroom. There are a few things you might want to know in advance of your flight:

• Where exactly is my seat located?
• Am I at the front of the airplane?
• Will I be sitting near the bathroom or emergency exit?
• Does my seat have extra legroom?
• Can I fully recline my seat?
• Do I want to upgrade to first or business class? What are the differences in seats and services between first, business, and coach class?
• Can I plug in my laptop, phone, or tablet at my seat?

Websites can help you choose a seat that will make your flight more pleasant and relaxed.

Seat Information Websites

There are two airplane seat information websites that you can use to get seat information in advance of your flight: SeatGuru and SeatLink . Both work very similarly.

SeatGuru shows you airplane seat maps online so you can find out whether your airplane seat is over a wing or next to the toilets. Basically, it’s a site that gives advice on which plane seats people should try to get or avoid .

SeatLink is better if you don’t know your aircraft types, you can just list your city, airline, and dates and it will bring up the flights and equipment for that day. You can also search by flight number (SeatGuru does this too but SeatLink’s is sleeker).

If you dislike your seat assignment after checking your placement with one of the websites, change your seat by logging in to the airline's website. Keep in mind that you'll likely have to pay to move to more desirable seats, such as the ones with extra legroom. 

Key to Plane Lavatories, Exits, Galleys, Laptop Plugin Ports

Once you have the seating chart, scan the plane's interior and find lavatories, exits, galleys (kitchen areas), laptop plugin ports, and desirable seats.

You might not want to sit next to a bathroom. But, if you are not feeling well or have a tendency to get airsick, then proximity to a bathroom might be important. But, it works both ways, so if someone else isn't feeling well, sitting near a lavatory might be a drag. 

An exit door in your row is not a bad thing; it means more legroom because of the space required for the door. It also means you may not get a window view at your elbow (since the wing is there) or that the overhead storage space may be limited.

Sitting near the galley (the airplane's kitchen area) does not necessarily mean that you are among the first to get in-flight drinks and food. Flight attendants might cart their wares several rows back and you might wind up being among the last to be served, as well as being close to the kitchen noise and smells.

Laptop Ports

You may want to recheck your travel notes while you're in the air or you might have some work to finish up on your laptop. If this sounds like you, then a laptop port or plug-in for your devices might be important to have. 

Seats themselves are colored green (good), yellow (something's up with this seat), or red (yuck).

Make a Change if You Want

Once you've decided on a seat that looks perfect for you, log in to your online booking, check out the available seats on the flight, and choose a new one if you're willing to splash the cash on a better experience. 

It can seem like a time-consuming process, but taking a few extra minutes out of the booking process to research what might be in store for you on the flight can make all the difference. 

Related Articles

More related articles.

Extra Seat - Personal Comfort   

General information.

Delta Air Lines strives to serve every customer’s needs by providing a safe and comfortable flight for everyone onboard. To ensure a smooth travel experience, customers are encouraged to make additional seating arrangements in advance of their travel day if:

• Based on the seat dimensions of our Aircraft , they will encroach into the next seat while seated.
• The seat armrests cannot stay down while seated.

If a customer cannot safely and comfortably fit in a single seat in the purchased class of service, there are options available:

• The seat will be sold at the same fare when purchased at the same time.
• Customers who do not purchase the extra seat in advance risk the need to change seat assignments to another location on the aircraft that provides additional space. In the event of a full flight, customers will be rebooked for a later flight with available seating.
• A customer may purchase an upgrade to Delta Premium Select, First Class, or Delta One®.

If seating arrangements cannot be made to ensure safety during flight, including a safe evacuation in an emergency, travel may not be permitted pursuant to the conditions of Delta’s Contract of Carriage.

Please Note: Delta has the right to charge for all seats occupied.

Making a New Reservation to include an Extra Seat for Personal Comfort

To make a reservation for an extra seat to accommodate a customer’s personal comfort:

• Create the new Passenger Name Record (PNR) using the passenger’s last name and EXST as the first name for the extra seat.
• Enter Passenger Type Codes (PTC) to match the number of seats requested. For the passenger’s seat use ADT and for the additional seat(s) use OTS or whatever PTC the GDS requires.
• Add the SFPD information for the extra seat (Gender and Date of Birth (DOB) should match that of the passenger.
• Assign seats next to each other.
• IN CONJ W/TKT SMITH/EXST (PASSENGER’S LAST NAME/”EXST” AS FIRST NAME)  
• IN CONJ W/TKT SMITH/JOSEPH (PASSENGER’S LAST/FIRST NAME)  
• SSR EXST DL SMITH/JOSEPH

Please note: GDS entries for the PTC and SSR fields may vary. Please contact your GDS Help Desk if you need assistance. For all other questions please contact  Global Sales Support or Delta Reservations  for assistance.

Additional Information

Basic Economy Fares

Basic Economy fares may not be used to purchase an extra seat ticket because a seat assignment is required and Basic Economy fares do not allow an advanced seat assignment.

Itinerary Changes

If applicable, the Administrative Service Charge (ASC) for an itinerary change is only paid on the passenger's ticket, not the extra seat ticket.

Wholly Unused Ticket

For wholly unused, nonrefundable tickets, the value of the extra seat ticket may only be used for a new ticket in the passenger's name. The extra seat ticket is not transferable.

Carry-on baggage is ONLY permitted for the passenger and NOT the extra seat. When a passenger purchases an extra seat, they are entitled to checked baggage allowances/restrictions for each ticket/seat.

Seat Assignments

Whenever possible, assign adjacent seats that are only two abreast, unless there is another passenger traveling.

Please note: Do not assign seats in the exit row or Bulkhead seats. Bulkhead seats do not have mobeable armrests. Emergency exit row seats do not have moveable armrests and seat belt extensions are not permitted in the exit row.

If you need assistance assigning two seats together, please contact Global Sales Support or Delta Reservations. 

Complimentary Upgrades

If a Medallion member would like to be waitlisted for a Complimentary Medallion Upgrade, the PNR will need to be divided. Please contact Global Sales Support or Delta Reservations for assistance.

Please advise the Medallion member that there are no refunds for the extra seat if using a nonrefundable fare, and the complimentary upgrade clears .

SkyMiles Awards SkyMiles mileage may be redeemed toward the cost of the extra seat.

SkyMiles Credit

SkyMiles credit is not automatically tracked for the purchase of an extra seat and must be requested by the SkyMiles member after travel. For additional information, please contact Delta Sales Support or Delta Reservations  for assistance.

Joint Venture (JV) Partner Policies

When making a reservation for an Extra Seat, please note that PNRs with a mixture of DL operated and AM, AF, KL, KE, LA or VS operated flights are not permitted.

For assistance with reservations for an Extra Seat that include carriers other than Delta, please contact Global Sales Support or  Delta Reservations  for assistance.

For partner information, visit the respective partner airlines’ website:

Air France/KLM

Virgin Atlantic

• About this Site
• Website Feedback

• Vacation Rentals
• Restaurants
• Things to do

Selecting seats on Latam Airlines when booked through Delta - Air Travel Forum

• Tripadvisor Forums    
• Air Travel Forums

Selecting seats on Latam Airlines when booked through Delta

• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Vacation Rentals
• Air Travel forum

Anyone else have this issue? How did you end up booking seats on the flight ?

Add - I do not want to wait until check in for my seat assignment, because I am traveling with my husband and 4 friends. We would like to at least be able to sit next to our spouses.

14 replies to this topic

Need to get the PNR for the LATAM booking from Delta. It will be a different PNR reference.

you should have a separate reference number for the Latam system, if you cannot find it on the communications you have, contact whoever you booked with and ask for the LATAM reference.

Did you ever get this resolved? I am having the same problem. I was able to the the Latam confirmation number from Delta. Delta says the seats are all grayed out which is also what I see on the Latam site. I called Latam and they say Delta has to make the seat assignment. Fun.

Delta assigned me seats the day I called and posted this comment. So, I'm not sure why everything is grayed out. I'm sorry I couldn't help more.

Thank you for this info, totally worked!

• Zip Air 7:47 am
• edream Review 7:43 am
• Is eDreams a trusted company? 7:06 am
• Booking.com 7:03 am
• What if layover connection is tight? 6:12 am
• Question on Skiplagging Mumbai - Zurich Not taking last leg 5:22 am
• Flights to and within Europe 4:17 am
• China southern 787-8 business class 4:06 am
• Connection Spring Break 2025, Opinions Please! 3:48 am
• Is Priceline reliable? 2:32 am
• Scam travel agent Airwaay.co.uk. Beware ! 1:09 am
• Beware of Flugladen.at or .de 11:29 pm
• How do you get a response from Expedia after a problem? 11:26 pm
• Air Canada pilot strike questions 11:20 pm
• ++++ ESTA (USA) and eTA (Canada) requirements for visa-exempt foreign nationals ++++
• ++++ TIPS - PLANNING YOUR FLIGHTS +++++++
• Buy now or later? What's with these screwy ticket prices?
• Around-the-world (RTW) tickets
• All you need to know about OPEN JAW tickets
• Beware of cheap business class tickets (sold by 3rd parties)
• ++++ TIPS - PREPARING TO FLY +++++++++
• TIPS - How to prepare for Long Haul Flights
• TIPS - Being Prepared for Cancellations and Long Delays
• TIPS: EU261 Compensation (cancellations/delay) due to crew sickness
• TIPS - How to survive being stuck at an airport
• Flights delays and cancellations resources
• How do I effectively communicate with an airline?
• Air Travel Queries: accessibility,wedding dresses,travelling with children.
• Airline, Airport, and Travel Abbreviations
• Connecting Flights at London Heathrow Airport
• Covid-19 Coronavirus Information for Air Travel
• TUI Airways (formerly Thomson) Dreamliner - Movies and Seating Information
• ++++ COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION ++++

The world's best hotels. Get the list .

• Travel Forum
• GreenLeaders

If I fly with Delta, can I choose my seat?

Yes, you can choose your seat at My Trips as soon as you buy your ticket, in the "Seats" section. We will redirect you to the Delta website so that you can review the seat map available for your flight:

• If you are an Elite LATAM Pass member (Gold, Gold Plus, Platinum, Black and Black signature categories) you have the benefit of choosing your seat for free.
• If you are not an Elite LATAM Pass member, you can purchase your favorite seat on the same website or access free seat selection according to your fare conditions.

How Delta Medallion Members Can Get Preferred Seats on Partner Airlines

Having elite status with an airline can definitely make life easier for frequent travelers, both in the airport and onboard the aircraft. One common in-flight benefit of elite status is complimentary preferred economy seats, such as seats in the front rows, bulkhead rows, and exit rows.

While they're still just normal economy seats, preferred seats can at least provide extra legroom or allow deplaning more quickly after landing. Delta provides the ability for all levels of its Medallion elite members to book these seats for themselves and their companions at booking for no extra charge.

Airline elite status can be especially valuable when the airline is part of one of the major global airline alliances . Alliance member airlines reciprocate many of the elite benefits to frequent flyers of other member airlines, creating a more seamless experience for frequent flyers flying on different airlines within the alliance. Access to these preferred seats is one of the benefits frequently reciprocated for elite members.

Delta is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, and Delta Medallion members also have status with SkyTeam. There are two tiers of SkyTeam frequent flyer status: SkyTeam Elite and SkyTeam Elite Plus. Delta's Silver Medallion members have SkyTeam Elite status; Gold, Platinum and Diamond Medallion members have SkyTeam Elite Plus status.

According to both Delta's website and SkyTeam's website , both SkyTeam Elite and SkyTeam Elite Plus members are eligible for preferred seats on SkyTeam airlines (though the SkyTeam website now refers to them as "priority seating.") For SkyTeam elites flying on Delta metal, this is the case. However, on some of the other SkyTeam member airlines, it turns out to be more complicated than that.

Unfortunately, the application of this benefit is quite inconsistent between SkyTeam airlines. While some (like Delta) allow not only all SkyTeam Elites, but also their companions, to access complimentary preferred seats, others only give a discount on the preferred seat price to SkyTeam Elites, and not even that for their companions.

Furthermore, even when the preferred seat should be discounted or complimentary on the partner airline, selecting the seat through Delta's website may still result in being charged full price.

While Air France-KLM is perhaps Delta's closest airline partner — and is literally even partially owned by Delta, which has 10% of its shares — its preferred seat policies for both its own elite members and elite members of other SkyTeam airlines couldn't be more different from Delta's.

Not content to have one type of preferred seats, Air France has four , each of them with different fees: Seat Plus, Seat at the Front of the Cabin, Duo Seat, and Duo Seat on the A380 Upper Deck.

While "Seat Plus" may sound like the Economy Plus product offered by some carriers, such as Delta's own Comfort+ product, it isn't. It's just an exit row or a bulkhead. "Seat at the Front of the Cabin" is self-explanatory; they are just the front few rows of seats in the economy cabin. "Duo Seat" is a seat in one of the groups of two seats on planes, such as the 777, where most rows only have groups of three or four seats. "Duo Seat on the A380 Upper Deck" is, of course, exactly what it sounds like — the groups of two seats in the 2-4-2 arrangement in the small economy cabin at the back of Air France's A380 upper-deck.

How does one get these seats as a SkyTeam Elite member?

While the SkyTeam website seems to suggest that SkyTeam Elite members should all be able to get these seats for free, unfortunately, that is not the case on Air France. Indeed, not even all SkyTeam Elite Plus members can get complimentary preferred seats on Air France. Instead of all SkyTeam Elite members receiving complimentary preferred seats, Flying Blue Explorer (i.e. non-status) members receive a 10% discount, Silver members receive a 25% discount and Gold members receive a 50% discount. Platinum members do receive complimentary preferred seats.

Delta Medallion members follow the same discount schedule as Air France's own elites: Silver Medallions receive a 25% discount, Gold Medallions receives a 50% discount and Platinum and Diamond Medallions receive complimentary preferred seats. The discounts and complimentary seats, however, apply only to the elite member, not to their companions. Since this differs from the SkyTeam policy, Delta includes a footnote stating this in their section on elite benefits when traveling on Air France.

There's also another catch: if you select Air France preferred seats via the seat selection screen on Delta's website, you will not get any sort of discount. You will be charged full price, even if your Platinum or Diamond status should allow you to select them for free. This happened to TPG 's managing editor Alberto Riva on a recent flight from Boston to Paris . In order to get the discount through Delta, you'll need to call.

You can, however, get the discount by selecting the seat on Air France's website instead of on Delta's.

And here we encounter another potential 'gotcha.' It turns out that Air France's systems apparently don't update your status level very quickly. I've had Delta Gold Medallion status for around five months now, but Air France's systems still think I'm Silver Medallion. (I have no status with Flying Blue, so the Silver they're showing here is my former Delta Silver Medallion status.)

Furthermore, even calling Delta won't get you around this. When I tried calling Delta to get the correct price for Air France preferred seats, they were only able to give me the price I would have received at Silver, even though I had Gold status when I called. They said I'd have to wait until Air France's system updated my status level before I could get the Gold Medallion discount, which they estimated would take 30-60 days. So far, it has been almost five months, so I'm glad I didn't wait for that.

It shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that KLM's preferred seat policies are similar to those of Air France, since they are the same company and have the same loyalty program. While KLM doesn't have as many different types of preferred seats as Air France, they do still have a couple and they still only give a discount to Silver and Gold members.

Once again, Delta's partner elite benefit page has a special section for KLM listing the preferred seat benefit... with a footnote.

Fortunately, Aeromexico appears to abide more by the defined SkyTeam benefits than Air France-KLM. Their website suggests only one type of preferred seats, which includes exit rows, bulkheads, and seats toward the front of the cabin.

Judging from Delta's partner benefits page, it appears that all Delta elites should be able to get complimentary preferred seats on Aeromexico. There is a footnote again, but this one just says that you need to select the seats through Aeromexico in order to avoid being charged. Which was also true for Air France, even though it wasn't stated.

Alitalia dubs its exit rows, bulkheads and, on domestic flights, the first few rows of economy as 'Extra Comfort' seats. Alitalia's website does say that Alitalia elites can select these seats without charge, but it doesn't say anything about other SkyTeam elites. Unfortunately, Delta's partner elite benefit page doesn't specifically say anything about Alitalia. TPG did score a bulkhead for himself and his father on Alitalia due to his Diamond Medallion status back in 2011, but the situation may have changed since then.

Delta's partner benefit page for its Brazilian partner GOL suggests that, unfortunately, Silver Medallions don't get complimentary preferred seats, which are known as "GOL+ Conforto" seats on GOL, though GOL's website says "Delta Elite customers" get them without further qualification. Unfortunately, I would guess that it's probably Delta's site which is correct in this case, since GOL's own low-tier elites don't get complimentary GOL+ Conforto seats, either.

The upside is that these seats are something of a hybrid between economy+ and preferred seats. They do include priority boarding and dedicated overhead space, but don't necessarily have more legroom (except for the exit rows, of course.) Gold, Platinum and Diamond Medallion members do get them for free.

Fortunately, Korean Air appears to have read SkyTeam's defined benefits list. According to the Korean Air website, preferred seats are available to all SkyTeam elites within 361 days of departure. Korean Air has preferred seats reserved for elites not only in economy, but also in First and Prestige (business) class.

Virgin Atlantic / Virgin Australia

While Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia are close partner airlines of Delta (and Virgin Atlantic is 49% owned by Delta), they are not members of the SkyTeam alliance. As such, the reciprocal elite benefits for Delta Medallion members are just what Delta and Virgin have worked out bilaterally.

Unfortunately, this doesn't include preferred seating on either Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Australia. However, the reciprocal benefits do at least include complimentary seat selection for Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Medallion members on Virgin Atlantic.

SkyTeam really has some work to do on getting its member airlines to comply with its defined member benefits regarding preferred seating for elite members. Additionally, Delta and its partner airlines need to work on properly supporting elite member discounts for partner seating selections through Delta's seat map.

However, at least on many SkyTeam airlines, you can score that exit row, bulkhead, or group of two seats for free as a Delta Medallion if you know where to go to select it. Just make sure to call or go to the partner's website if Delta's website is trying to charge you.