Delta Blocking Middle Seat Sales Through April 30, 2021: Should More Airlines Do This?
February 8, 2021 Jim Byers
| Delta says it’s continuing its industry-leading commitment to provide more space on board as the only U.S. airline to block middle seats and limit capacity on all flights departing through April 30, 2021, ensuring customers can confidently plan and book their spring travel. “The airline hasĀ consistently listened to its customers and prioritized their preferencesĀ byĀ offeringĀ moreĀ space through seat blocking and reducing the overall number of people on board each flight since April 2020,” officials said. This is clearly a big factor for fliers. Air Canada and WestJet were blocking off middle seats last year for some time, but they went back to “normal” sales some time ago, with enhanced safety measures in place. If planes are full, and some folks who’ve flown lately say a lot of them are fairly packed due to limited routes, then perhaps it’s simply a revenue issue. If you can sell middle seats, then why not sell them? āWe want our customers to have complete confidence when traveling with Delta, and they continue to tell us that more space provides more peace of mind,ā said Bill Lentsch, Chief Customer Experience Officer.Ā āWeāll continue to reassess seat blocking in relation to case transmission and vaccination rates, while bringing back products and services in ways that instill trust in the health and safety of everyone on board ā that will always be Deltaās priority.ā Details on Deltaās seat blocking policy can be foundĀ here. Peace of Mind WhenĀ Planning, Booking and FlyingĀ In addition to extending seat blocking commitments, Delta is taking other steps to reassure customers as they return to travel in the months ahead, such as: Making it easier to understand testing requirements and get tested prior to travel, whether customersĀ purchaseĀ an at-home testĀ orĀ find a nearby locationĀ for in-person testing, with more options on the way. Creating anĀ interactive travel mapĀ to help customers understand where Delta flies and the latest travel requirements or restrictions at their destination.Ā Streamlining travel by buildingĀ aĀ digital conciergeĀ to manage booking, test scheduling andĀ automatic document verification all in one place onĀ delta.comĀ and the Fly Delta app. Deploying a dedicated team of clean ambassadors who willĀ ensure a consistently safe and sanitized experienceĀ at more than 55 airports. ExpandingĀ rapid testing centersĀ to Deltaās hub airports in Minneapolis and Detroit, which follow other testing facilities atĀ Atlanta, Boston,Ā New York-JFK and Seattle.Ā Delta VacationsĀ selling onlyĀ international hotels and resorts that offer in-hotel testing for travel through April 2021. Through theĀ DeltaĀ CareStandard, Delta has also put in place more than 100 layers of protection to ensure a safe travel experience, including aĀ comprehensive employee testing program,Ā regularly sanitizing high-touch surfacesĀ and replacing onboard industrial-grade HEPA filters twice as often as recommended. As Delta welcomes more customers back on board, the airline continues to invest in offering a superior customer experience, including refreshing more thanĀ 300 new in-flight entertainment optionsĀ and recently announced plans to bringĀ high-speed Wi-FiĀ on board this year.Ā |
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