Yesterday, Delta Air Lines sent an email allowing Medallions to be upgraded to Comfort+ only if their seat preferences are available.
“We’ve heard your feedback about wanting greater control over your Complimentary Delta Comfort+ Upgrades, so we’re thrilled to roll out a new feature,” the email reads. “Now prior to check-in each time you travel by yourself—if you haven’t already been cleared at booking—you’ll be able to customize your Delta Comfort+ Upgrade request by setting your Seat Preferences before you fly.”
Essentially, if you don’t want a C+ middle seat, you won’t get one. There shouldn’t be any ugly surprises come upgrade time — though it might mean you don’t get upgraded to C+ if your seat selection (i.e. window, aisle, or either) isn’t available).
The feature was in beta for a while. I swear I had used something similar (like “don’t upgrade to a middle seat”) for a while and then it just disappeared.
This is a nice feature for Golds and Silvers who can’t select Comfort+ seats shortly after booking (as Diamonds and Platinums can). Though, frankly, I’ll take most exit row seats over a non-bulkhead C+ seat.
“Travel By Yourself”
You might have noticed the verbiage, “prior to check-in each time you travel by yourself…” I received messages from people who wondered what exactly that means.
If you’re on an itinerary with a companion, you can’t select seat preference. If you want to get C+ upgrades, you and your friend will take what Delta gives you (and like it! 🙂 ). For example, there’s no option to select a window for yourself and aisle for your companion (while hoping no one sits in the middle). I verified this by comparing two different trips (one where I’m the only one on the itinerary, the other with a friend).
I’m traveling solo on this flight. (BTW, it’s a CRJ-200, so no first class available)
Meanwhile, the option isn’t present for a trip I’m taking with a friend. (All the good C+ seats were already booked, so we’re in an exit row.)
What Do You Think?
Do you like this new addition? Tell us in the Comments section below!
— Chris
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Is it my imagination, or are exit row seat cushions thinner (& less comfortabke) than regular seats in Main or C+?
@Rick: Not your imagination —- exit row seats generally are thinner. That’s why on longer flights, I bring a seat cushion with me. It really helps.
Great feature indeed! One other side benefit is that on flights that aren’t completely full, we stand a better chance of the center seat being empty. This means more elbow room for those of us already upgraded to aisle or window in C+.
Chris: To get extra legroom and other advantages of C+, I would usually accept a middle seat in C+ if no aisle or window seat is available. But am I more likely to receive a middle seat assignment if I don’t state a preference for for something else? In your example, I don’t see a way to rank my preferences, e.g., (1) Aisle; (2) Window; (3) Middle.
This makes no sense! I have a trip 1/7/20. I am Gold & my wife is Silver. The first class upgrade box is checked for each one of us (same PNR), but if I check the comfort+ box for either one of us the aisle/middle/window option does not come up, so I unchecked them.
This doesn’t seem to be working for existing itineraries, at least as of this morning. Still only gives the preference to request update to Comfort+ or not.