pcnw

My husband and I are taking our first trip to Europe next week. I used the skymiles rep to help with booking of our two business elite tickets. Picked our seats, paid, got confirmation and seat assignments (together) and just discoverd today that they have changed our seats and on the international leg coming and going we are not sitting together.

I've talked to three supervisiors and listened to all of the reasons and excuses but to make a very long story short I was told to fix it when we get to the airport.

I told the first supervisor that I wasn't hanging up until I talked to her supervisor. She said they weren't available and in the middle of my sentence she clicked me on hold and never came back.

It's the last straw from us.

Kathie

Any time there is an equipment change on any airline your seats will be moved. In my experience, unless the plane is totally packed, you will get seats together once you get to the airport. Or, worst case, one of you can trade seats with someone on the plane to put the two of you together.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Get to the aiport early and maybe something can be arranged. If not, when you board, maybe someone will switch seats. Ask nicely, of course.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Worst-case scenario is that you don't get to sit together on one or both of the flights. That's a shame, but the real trip is the time you spend together in Europe, not the flights to and from. Don't let this ruin your vacation. It will still be a wonderful time.

MikeT

This is something that will be easily resolved at check-in or at the airport. You may even be able to resolve it online.

dutyfree

You can probably get seats together at the airport or as others have said above then ask on the plane. I would also (if you have time) find out Delta's twitter account or FB as they have special agents who attend to problems ASAP/on the spot.
Where are you leaving from and where are you going in Europe?

Cali

I would check in online 24 hours in advance. We have always gotten seats together when we have checked in 24 hours in advance. Good luck.

twosassyk

We had the exact same thing happen on U.S. for flights to Germany. We had booked many weeks ahead and about 2-3 days before we left I logged on and found the changed seats and got the same response from them and I have Chairman's Preferred status on their airline. We went to the airline check in desk very early and got the seats changed. I totally feel your "pain" and understand completely, but I also agree this is a big trip that will be filled with great memories so whatever happens try not to let it ruin your whole trip

julia1

<i>"I told the first supervisor that I wasn't hanging up until I talked to her supervisor. She said they weren't available and in the middle of my sentence she clicked me on hold and never came back."</i>

I learned a very valuable lesson early in my airline passenger career. I was checking in for a flight and two women were checking in for the same flight at the desk next to mine. It was clear there was a problem of some sort, I don't remember the details, it was a long, long time ago, but the two passengers clearly weren't happy with what they were hearing.

The agent calmly and patiently explained the options and solutions available. The passengers became louder and louder, more and more argumentative, upset and finally abusive, threatening that they would stand there all day and do whatever it took to get what they wanted.

At that point the agent paused, looked at them intently, then quietly and very firmly told them, "The first thing you have to do is be polite to me."

And the lessons I learned that afternoon were three-fold: you can't always get what you want when you travel, some things are simply out of your control; it's always better to be polite and treat the other person with respect, as you would want to be treated if you were in their position, no matter how upset you are (along the lines of my momma's old saying that you get more flies if you use honey than if you use vinegar); and don't make an enemy of the person who holds the keys to your happiness in her hands.

I understand your disappointment, and I empathize with your desire to sit with your husband, but I encourage you to trust that it may all work out the way you want in the end, and if it doesn't this will be just a small blip in what is otherwise a most wonderful first trip to Europe for you both.

Ackislander

What Julia1 said.

I cannot tell you the number of nice things that have happened to me in years of business and pleasure travel simply because I followed the Golden Rule of treating airline staff the way I would want to be treated in their position.

The best was an unrequested upgrade to first class on AA from CDG to BOS, and I didn't even have status. Strike on another airline. Lots of additional passengers, lots of shuffling going on. They were boarding the plane and many people still did not have seat assignments. Passports and tickets taken behind the scenes. No information for long periods of time. Panic. Ugliness. I figured the worst that could happen was an extra day in Paris.

I just hope the OP's intemperance hasn't resulted in a black mark in her file.

CarolA

As I posted on Trip Advisor I suggest you stay home. This happens on all airlines. And on all airlines you get farther with honey then vinegar.

Saying stuff like "I am going to stay on this phone until....". Sounds very much like what a 2 year old says "I am going to hold my breath until I get my way"


When you buy a seat on any airline you buy A seat not always the seat of your choice.

sumrcr

Assuming that a poster has had a hard time and is just letting off steam, I am usually tolerant of rants. But this complaint is so over the top that the Delta agents have my sympathy. I would have hung up if I had been on the other end of a call like the one the OP describes. Please, please keep your promise and never fly Delta again. That will make my own experience flying Delta much more pleasant.

Dayenu

As the last resort you can ask the flight attendant to help you to ask somebody to switch seats - if you offer better seats, people will move.

I always buy the cheapest seats, and pick a row in the middle of the plane. Then I watch our seats being moved father and father to the back of the plane. Who cares, they cannot split us into different hotel rooms

joethekay

Sometimes not sitting together for 8 hours is a good thing especially if you are going to spend the rest of the vacation together. I usually ask for an aisle seat and my DW asks for her aisle seat and most times they are nowhere near each other on the plane. Never a problem.

Marianna

Pcnw, try calling the Atlanta CS number and ask to speak to a supervisor. They probably won't do this until you tell the first person you talk to the problem. Stay calm and polite - that is always good advice. Anyway, what happened to us was something similar which I have written about here on Fodor's on this forum.

I called talked to several people and also was disconnected. Last call, I asked for the supervisor. I got someone and thought he was not a supervisor and he assured me he was - gave me his full name, too. He listened to our dilemma and said he was sorry but he could not change our seats but that I could call in the remaining few days before the flight to see what they could do. I thanked him for his advice and he asked me what he could do to make things better and I (jokingly) asked for first class seats for 4 people. He said he couldn't do that but he could give me four $200 vouchers for another trip. I thanked him. He said he made some notes in our file and to make sure to ask if we can get other seat assignments upon arrival at check-in. We did and the four of us were upgraded to seats in the upper deck. Very nice.

We used our vouchers for our trip in July.

Good luck getting this resolved.

CarolA

Sadly, her fit is probably alreaded on the PNR. Meaning Delta is a lot less likely to help. (not to mention that when one makes the 'never again' rant, the airline figures "why help they won't be back")

Marianna

I said that I asked to speak to a supervisor above and I just re-read my original thread and I had asked to speak to a manager. The manager was the person who gave us the advice and the vouchers.

NewbieTraveler

While I agree that you get more with honey than you do vinegar AND I always try to use that approach, I have had to deal with Delta's "customer service" before as well and they will finally push you to the limit. If they keep files on their unhappy customers, I guess I have one with my name on it too.

Dayenu

Maybe if she flies AA she'll be happier?

DMBTraveler

pcnw,

Believe me you are not the only people that had your seats changed on this flight. As mentioned by others this is not all that unusual since airlines sometimes have to change equipment on a particular route for any number of reasons.

I don't know if you have flown Delta First/Business before but they do offer a good product. I would do as others suggested except flying AA

Enjoy your vacation, your flights to and from should just be a small part of the whole experience.