Sudden New Seat Fees
 

I was shocked to check in today for my flight tomorrow on Delta for the Thanksgiving holiday. Even though I'm a Gold Medallion flier, for the first time ever, with no warning, Delta apparently has instituted a brand new $29 fee just to choose any kind of decent seat, other than the seat they auto-assigned me to at the back of the plane. I'm sorry, but if you're going to gouge even your best, most-loyal fliers like this, what kind of business is that? I'm not sure there's much that can be done to fight these kinds of new nickle-&-dime strategies. But I assure you I will take these fees into consideration, as I do baggage and other fees, in choosing future flight options.

I wish you would, but you probably won't. Frequent flyer miles are predominantly racked up by people travelling at their company expense and spent for personal travel. As a result, the market is totally distorted and people no longer buy their tickets on price and quality alone. Delta is the largest carrier in the world and acheived this not by being the best, indeed they became the largest carrier whilst still in bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is the customers way of telling you that your service is crap. Delta found a way around it.. they built up local monopolies and paid off politicians. What you are left with is an airline which cares nothing about the customer, gouges them, particularly at holiday times and does so with impunity. Welcome to the world of Delta.

The fee is for exit row and priority seating. Priority seats are windows and aisle seats towards the front of the airplane. I'm sure you are familiar with exit row seating. As a Gold, Platinum or Diamond Medallion member, you are not charged for the priority or exit row seats; in fact, before selling them, priority seats were reserved exclusively for SkyPriority. Gold Medallions have always been eligible for up to three free checked bags. You can also fly same day confirmed for free. Delta hardly charges fees to Medallion members!

It's possible that the reason why you were prompted a charge, and were not assigned a better seat might have been because your frequent flyer number with Gold status was not in your record. Always check to make sure it's added in there before paying a fee! You can do it your self on a kiosk, or just see an agent working the SkyPriority line.

See a Delta agent at the airport? Are you kidding me? They are very busy abusing passengers and certainly don't have the time or inclination to be helpful.

Zappin...sounds good on paper, but this airline is going over the edge...getting worse by the day...this seat racket is the latest thing...

jimworcs is spot on here...

Nice to find someone who agrees with me!

lol but it's true!:p I'm just putting the facts out there because they're real! -- SkyPriority members (Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion) do not pay seat fees! period! (or bag fees for up to 3 70lb bags, or same-day change fees)