The first rumor is from my buddy who often guest posts here on the blog, that is, John @laptoptrael. You see most of us, as you can see from the quick poll above, would rather take the next flight than have the “privilege” of “upgrading” or as I call it Side Grading to a middle seat in Delta Comfort Plus that is the EXACT same size seat as the rest of coach. No way I would ever take a middle C+ seat over any other aisle or window seat I had before. I would rather buy a new ticket on another flight than be subject to this. Not going to happen Delta. Period.
In fact, if you follow the blog at all, you know that due to proven results that Delta C+ upgrades can cause you to miss a real first class upgrade I am opting out more and more of C+ Side Grades and it is resulting in near perfect 100% upgrades and I will keep doing this since I have little confidence in Delta IT to fix the current buggy upgrade system.
But there could be a solution in the works. There is an unconfirmed rumor that Delta is working on a way to make it so you can OPT OUT of center seat upgrades beyond the current options to choose window or aisle as a choice in your My Delta preferences. This could be amazing or a destruction of the ridiculous PR marketing that C+ really is any kind of real upgrade after all. Let me explain.
All of us know C+ is nothing special. On the other hand Delta clearly is making a fortune selling these fake upgrade seats as something “Plus”. Once most normal people try them they see they have been bamboozled and get the same seat as the rest of coach, I doubt they will buy it again. We, on the other hand, get that a center C+ is not EVER going to happen. But if Delta allows us to “opt out” of center seat C+ “upgrades” they are in effect agreeing that this SideGrade is not really worth it and not an upgrade. This would not be good for the marketing folks going forward to explain.
My sources say it is not likely to happen (yet) and I would be flat out SHOCKED to see it happen at all ever. Too much money is on the table to admit it is just not an upgrade you (and I) want.
The next one I just don’t know about and it is at one point hysterical and on the other side ridiculously sad. The rumor is suggesting Delta will add C+ seats to CRJ200s. Oh my. Can you even picture this? In my opinion, the only way this really works is that they make painfully tight and horrid regional seats even less comfortable by moving all the other seats back a tiny bit to give the C+ seats a bit more leg room. I just cannot see this happening. And there is more.
I have already talked about how HOOUs are becoming a less and less real medallion perk. If you put C+ seats on a CRJ200 then it is one more dagger in the heart of the value of a HOOU for a drink if elites can get free drinks in C+ even on a CRJ200.
Anyway, neither of these two rumors have been confirmed by Delta and I have reached out about both of them and will update this post if I hear back from them on either point. Personally I doubt either one will happen. What do you think about either idea? – René
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Rene – unfortunately people love feeling “special” and Delta is exploiting that so many of these clueless soles like the seat because they sit closer to the front and get that special boarding feeling. Also – sadly many of the midtiers are clueless as well. Got a few Delta Gold/plat friends that love Delta because they get “upgrades.” That’s when I point them to your blog 😉
The second rumor seems to be of no relevance to me. I don’t remember that I ever flew a CRJ200 so far. Of course, this could change, but I don’t see it coming.
The first rumor? Well, you know, that I don’t consider C+ a sidegrade but indeed an upgrade. Not an upgrade that makes me cry tears of happiness, but still an upgrade. Like an upgrade to a room on a higher floor. Still the same room if you want …
And you know, since I always travel as a couple, there is always a middle seat for one of us. And personally I would consider a window seat worse than a middle seat. Window seat means there are two guys between me and the aisle. Center seat? Only one. If my +1 and I travel together … which is the case … this one person is either me or my +1.
If we have window and center seat, then there is a stranger between us and the aisle.
I know many people see it different than I do. And Delta knows that, that’s why aisle and window seats in the first few rows behind C+ are considered preferred seats.
Well, we’ll see, if these changes will happen. And if they do? I won’t check “Avoid middle seat” or uncheck “Gladly take middle seat”.
But since many people see it different this option would be a good thing, I guess. And it wouldn’t mean that C+ were not better than regular main cabin.
And really, folks who are disappointed because they didn’t know that the seats themselves are the same? Then folks should learn to read. Because never ever Delta implied the seats were different. It was always about legroom, not about seat width, cushioning or whatever.
People may be disappointed when service is totally the same (no improved snack basket for example) or so.
Once again you burst my bubble of hope for eventually getting bigger aircraft locally. C+ would cut capacity on our already full Barbie jets and it’s just really a sad thought. On a one hour flight it would be pointless. I keep hoping that the rumors from 2 years ago would be true and more 200s would go away. I don’t appreciate that new rumor.
@CarolK – The scary part is if they add C+ to CRJ200s it could be a way to justify keeping them MUCH LONGER. 🙁
@Dave, I am only Silver but I don’t think I am clueless. I know exactly the differences between Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin. And I knew what Economy Comfort meant back then.
Still, I enjoy it when I have booked a main cabin seat and get to fly C+.
This October I had four domestic flights and on all four flights I had C+. Three times due to upgrades and once because on the actual plane there were more rows called “Economy Comfort” (yeah, still not rebranded) than on the seat map. So no upgrade … still zone 1, but C+ service 😉
Of course, first class would be better, but chances as a Silver are slim.
@Rene, like mentioned in my comment above, on our last two domestic flights after our meeting we also enjoyed C+ … or EC and C+ 😉
And totally unrelated to your article, but related to our vacation during which we had the pleasure of meeting you: we also had the pleasure of finding the words TSA PreCheck on ALL of our boarding passes! Cool!
@Ralfinho – Now TSA PreCheck on all boarding pass that is something we all can agree is a SWEET “upgrade” over not having it! 😉
@CarolK, @Rene, then I hope for you that it’s just a rumor and nothing else …
I never ever select the option to get upgraded to C+. I have been able to secure exit row seats including those with no seats in front of an exit row seat. It bugs me I am on the back of the bus and it takes forever to leave the plane but that is better than middle seat on C+. As a PM my success rate to get first class upgrades has been abysmal.
@ralfinho i have precheck and I find that when I travel in a small group 2-4 on the same pnr, we all get it. It didn’t work when I traveled with 6 tho, as two didn’t get it and they had to go through regular.
I agree that the middle seat in C+ is not a good upgrade. Earlier this week from LAX to SLC I was moved from a Preferred aisle seat (with my wife and daughter reserved next to me but in a separate record) and ‘upgraded’ to a center C+ seat. (I had forgotten to uncheck the C+ upgrade box later when my family decided to join me in LA.) No other seats left anywhere, so I was set to sit in C+ middle…when I noticed there was ONE F class seat not claimed! I was #3 on the F class upgrade list. When the boarding process began, I went to the counter and pleasantly asked when the last F class seat would be assigned. She immediately said “Now!” and handed me a boarding pass for 4C! (I am a gold medallion.) So, sometimes things DO work out inspite of it all:)
@Bryan K – #TeamBoardLast for the win!