Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines confirmed the accuracy of this table on September 3, 2019.  Airline policies are subject to change.  Additional information is available on Delta’s website here.

Tips for families: How would an adult best ensure he or she is seated next to a family member under the age of 14 when flying your airline?

• Book as early as possible and select a fare type that permits you to reserve seats together at the time of purchase.
  • Delta does not recommend Basic Economy fares for families that want to sit together because, unlike all other fare types, Basic Economy fares do not include advance seat selection.
• Book children on the same reservation as adults.
  • Delta currently gives groups of 3 or more booking Main Cabin tickets on the same reservation unique access to blocked seating in domestic markets.
• Confirm any seat selections made through third parties (including online travel agents) on delta.com or contact a Delta reservations agent as indirect booking channels may not offer real-time seating inventory. 
• If you are unable to obtain seat assignments together with your family online, contact Delta reservations by phone to review available seating options.
• If you do not have confirmed seats, arrive early at your departure gate and talk to the gate agent.  Delta gate agents will try to seat families together.
  • Delta blocks a limited number of seats prior to departure and will use the seats, as available, to accommodate family seating and other needs.
  • Delta agents will also ask for volunteers to move seats to make adjacent seats available for families with children.
• Note that during significant operational disruptions (e.g. severe weather) seating options can be significantly limited as a result of substantial increases in rebooking.

Seating Policy

Seating Model: Does your airline provide seat assignments or does it use an open seating model?
 

• Delta Air Lines provides advance seat assignments for all fare products except Basic Economy.

Advance Seat Selection: Does your airline enable consumers to reserve seats at booking?

• Customers purchasing First Class, Comfort+, and Main Cabin tickets may select seats during booking. 
• Advance seat selection is not available for Basic Economy fares.  Seat assignments for Basic Economy are provided between the time of check-in and arrival at the gate.

Fee: Does your airline charge an additional fee for these advance seat reservations?

• Advance seat selection is complimentary for First Class, Comfort+, and Main Cabin tickets.
• Advance seat selection is not available for Basic Economy fares.

Disclosures

Airline: What disclosures relevant to family seating does your airline provide to consumers during the booking process?

• Customers shopping Basic Economy fares are informed when selecting such a fare, and before final purchase, that their seat(s) are assigned at check in.  To ensure consumers are aware of this information, they are required to affirmatively check a box acknowledging that they have reviewed it and agree to continue with the Basic Economy booking.  
• Customers booking by phone are notified about seating restrictions or other limitations related to fare types.

Travel Agent: If your airline allows others to sell tickets on its behalf, do the family seating disclosures provided by these entities differ from the disclosures provided when booking directly with the airline?

• Delta requires the travel agencies with which it has contractual relationships to make clear disclosures about advance seating assignment restrictions during the booking process.  These disclosures may vary depending on the travel agent.  Delta cannot control disclosures made by a travel agent for which it does not have a contractual relationship.

Additional information on family seating.

• Delta recommends that customers book directly through its website or a Delta reservations agent to ensure they receive the most accurate and up to date information.