Delta Air Lines blocks middle-seat selection, caps cabin seating

Delta Air Lines blocks middle-seat selection, caps cabin seating
Delta Air Lines blocks middle-seat selection, caps cabin seating
Avatar of Harry Johnson
Written by Harry Johnson

Delta Air Lines is extending our commitment to make more space for safer travel by continuing to block the selection of middle seats and capping seating in every cabin through Sept. 30, 2020.

โ€œReducing the overall number of customers on every aircraft across the fleet is one of the most important steps we can take to ensure a safe experience for our customers and people,โ€ said Chief Customer Experience Officer Bill Lentsch. โ€œDelta is offering the highest standards in safety and cleanliness so weโ€™re ready for customers when theyโ€™re ready to fly again.โ€

Hereโ€™s the latest:

  • We are extending our seating caps: Through Sept.ย 30, Delta will ensure more space for customers on all aircraft by capping seating at 50% in First Class; 60% in Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+, and Delta Premium Select; and 75% in Delta One to reduce the total number of customers on board.
  • We continue to block middle seats: Through Sept.ย 30, all middle seats will continue to be shown as unavailable or not assignable when selecting seats via the Fly Delta app or online. Weโ€™ll also continue to block the selection of some aisle seats in aircraft with 2×2 seating configurations.
  • We are restarting automatic Medallion upgrades: Starting June 10, we are resuming automatic, advance Medallion Complimentary Upgrades to Delta One (domestic U.S.), First Class and Delta Comfort+ โ€“ ย which were previously being managed at the gate โ€“ ย subject to availability and as permitted by the seat caps.
  • We are adding flying where we are full: On routes where increasing customer demand is driving flight loads closer to our caps, we will look for opportunities to upsize to a larger aircraft type or add more flying.

As weโ€™ve done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to evaluate our practices to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers.

From check-in to baggage claim, Delta is delivering a safer travel experience with measures that include:

  • Requiring customers and employees to wear face coveringsย throughout the travel journey to ensure an extra layer of protection.
  • Installing plexiglass shields at all Delta check-in counters, in Delta Sky Clubs and at gate counters across the globe.
  • Addingย social distance markersย in check-in lobbies, Delta Sky Club check-in areas, at the gate and down the jetbridge to encourage customers to stand apart. Our employees and messaging throughout the airport are reminding customers to keep space, too.
  • Wiping down our check-in lobbies, self-service kiosks, gate counters and baggage claims many times throughout the day. And by summer, our teams will be using electrostatic sprayingย in all airports Delta serves in the U.S. โ€“ the same measure used on every Delta flight prior to boarding.ย We have also started electrostatic spraying at TSA checkpoints in key markets and are working with theย TSA to provide electrostatic spraying at allย checkpoints in the airports Delta serves.
  • Using state-of-the-art air circulation systems with industrial-grade HEPA filtersย on many Delta aircraft that extract more than 99.99% of particles, including viruses.
  • Boarding all flights from back to front, reducing the instances of customers passing by one another to reach their seats.
  • Streamliningโ€ฏonboard food and beverage service on all flights and encouraging customers to pack their own food and non-alcoholic beverages to decrease physical touch points.
  • Providing supplies directly to customers when available,โ€ฏincludingโ€ฏhand sanitizers, care kitsโ€ฏand other protective equipment to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
  • Continuing to work with health experts, partners and healthcare industry leaders on best practices.

#rebuildingtravel

About the author

Avatar of Harry Johnson

Harry Johnson

Harry Johnson has been the assignment editor for eTurboNews for mroe than 20 years. He lives in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is originally from Europe. He enjoys writing and covering the news.

Share to...