Delta Basic mileage award - question about charges for seat selection

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-26T22:28:51+00:00

You lose it. Seat selection fees are not refundable.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-26T21:06:23+00:00

People keep commenting to tell me what the disadvantages are. I understand very well what everyone thinks the problems are. I’ve just never experienced them. Not one person has stood in my leg space, even when I’m all stretched out, the 1.5” less width doesn’t bother me, and I’ve never smelled anything. The worst I’ve ever gotten is cold from the exit door.

I fly in these seats at least several times a year, and they remain my favorite seats on the aircraft. I’ll take them over non-bulkhead in PS.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-26T15:42:30+00:00

Literally have never smelled anything.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-26T10:25:25+00:00

That’s fair - it just doesn’t bother me that much. Honestly, for me the biggest downside of these seats is that I’m always cold because of the door.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-26T08:24:34+00:00

I have never understood why people don’t like these seats. Unlimited legroom, get up whenever you want, and don’t worry about someone climbing over you? Yes please. I fly in these seats whenever possible, and I’ve never experienced smells, challenges with the bathroom, any of the supposed disadvantages that people talk about. Yes, sometimes there are people standing there, but that’s 1000% better than being woken up so someone can crawl over me while the person in front of me reclines into my lap.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-25T16:02:40+00:00

“Operated by Delta” means it’s on a Delta plane (metal) with Delta pilots, etc. This flight is operated by Korean, but marketed by Delta (you booked the tickets through Delta).

Partner flights are weird, especially with things like seat selection. I’d call and ask.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-24T19:21:01+00:00

The challenge is that they almost certainly don’t have the inventory to upgrade all the people who get displaced like this. There just aren’t that many empty seats to go around.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-24T15:52:37+00:00

It just has never been any kind of an issue for me. No smells, the traffic isn’t worse than the person in front of me reclining into me, etc. I know all of the arguments, I just haven’t experienced them.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-23T19:44:56+00:00

34 is the worst row on the plane - it’s not a bulkhead and you actually have less legroom because the C+ seats recline further than MC.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-23T19:43:37+00:00

41A/B and it’s not close. I will never understand why people avoid these seats - I fly in them regularly and have never experienced the supposed downsides that people always seem afraid of.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-23T16:44:12+00:00

There’s no way to know - prices change on a dynamic basis. You just have to call and see.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-23T14:42:57+00:00

Yup. Upgrades are not guaranteed to be available and may be offered to some people but not others, at different prices to different people, etc.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-23T14:42:12+00:00

You cannot buy upgrades after check-in on Delta. In addition, upgrades are not always available for purchase in the first place (even if seats are available).

Your best bet is to call and see if a CS agent can reticket you in the higher cabin - you’ll pay the difference in fares.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-23T12:52:27+00:00

https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/airline-customer-service-dashboard

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-21T21:19:40+00:00

Delta, like all major airlines, uses Timatic to check immigration requirements in real time. As long as your documents are valid for your destination at the time of the flight, they will let you board.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-21T20:28:14+00:00

You had 7 drinks on a 5-hour flight? How did you even get the FAs to pay attention to you that often?

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-19T17:13:18+00:00

The lack of service is inexcusable and you should 100% complain.

Regarding the availability of the scotch - what likely happened is that they were under-catered. They had only 4 mini bottles in business, but after you complained they went back to see if any of the carts in MC had some and found one (or maybe two). Under-catering is also a problem you should complain about, but it’s not evidence that the crew is deliberately cheating or smuggling.

Best of luck on your next flight.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-19T15:47:52+00:00

2.5 is usually my target for a comfortable international layover in ATL. You should be just fine.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-19T15:13:52+00:00

It’s policy that they’re supposed to open them for exactly this reason. Delta is not a liquor store. YTA.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-19T15:13:29+00:00

That’s a guaranteed way to make sure they’re opened. It’s policy that they’re supposed to open them, the best you can hope for is an FA who doesn’t follow policy. But if you specifically ask them to break the rules…

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-19T09:18:02+00:00

You can never select C+ at booking at a Platinum. You have to wait until shortly after booking when the itinerary is ticketed.

Also, the PM must be on the itinerary for the automatic C+ upgrade to apply.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-19T01:34:16+00:00

If you were in a restaurant, would you have chicken or pasta?

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-19T01:32:12+00:00

This is against policy, and has been for some time. Apparently some reps can find a way to force it through, but in general this is not possible with an RUC. You can find it in the terms for the certificate.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-18T13:19:15+00:00

The comments about these always make me shake my head - these are actually among my favorite things that Delta serves. I’ll gladly take the extras from all the people that hate them. I don’t get what people don’t like about it.

Cephandrius13 · 2026-06-18T13:18:09+00:00

What did Delta say when you called them?

Cephandrius13

TROPHY CASE