Delta Air Lines has delighted customers with its generous seat lockout policy during this pandemic. Of the “big three” US airlines, Delta is the only one that blocks seats. However, the airline has stopped that practice at a destination in a cabin, setting an interesting precedent, at least.
How Delta’s Seat Lock Policy Works
For several months, Delta has been blocking seats on flights to give people more space:
- Delta One, Premium Select, Comfort + and Main Cabin have been reserved for no more than 60%
- First Class has been reserved to no more than 50%
As of now, this policy is valid until September 30, 2020. I think it is a fantastic policy, and if I were to fly I would go out of my way to look for an airline that is blocking seats as it makes a huge difference in terms of comfort and the overall feeling of having at least some control over your surroundings.
While this has undoubtedly been a point of differentiation for Delta, arguably it has not been the most profitable move. Delta reported a massive loss in the second quarter, which was significantly greater than the losses of American and United. I’m not suggesting that seat lock is just the primary cause of that, but it presumably contributed.
Delta has been blocking intermediate seats for several months
Delta no longer blocks Delta One suites in China
Delta has just created a single seat lock exception. Delta no longer limits business class capacity on flights to and from China. The airline is still blocking seats in economy and premium economy for China, but that is no longer the case in business class.
As it stands, Delta is limited to operating just two flights a week to China, as the airline flies to Shanghai once a week from Detroit and Seattle. This is how Delta describes the decision to no longer lock business class seats:
Tight government restrictions on the number of flights Delta is authorized to operate to China means that seat availability remains extremely limited. To meet the high demand in this market and protect our customers and employees, reservations on Delta flights between the US and Shanghai will be offered to their maximum capacity in the Delta One cabin, where the Delta One suite offers more space. and privacy with a full height door in each suite and dividers between central suites. Intermediate seats at Delta Premium Select and Main Cabin will continue to be locked.
To be fair, Delta flies A350s to China, and these planes have business-class suites with doors. Ultimately, Delta One Suites still has more personal space than it would in many other situations where seats are locked.
Delta A350 business class
At the same time, set an interesting precedent. The airline is likely to have lost a significant amount of revenue due to its seat lock policy, and an exception is now being resolved.
I can’t blame Delta for this change, because it’s hard to turn down revenue, especially when you can’t add more capacity. At the same time, could we see more exceptions in other markets as well?
Delta A350 business class
Bottom line
Ultimately, Delta has done a phenomenal job of blocking seats during the current pandemic. Now, for the first time since the policy was introduced, the airline is deviating from this policy. In fairness, this is only to one destination, on two flights per week and in business class.
But it raises the question of whether we could see this expand. Could we see Delta add similar exceptions on other aircraft-operated routes with Delta One Suites? I suppose they did not need it, since the demand on most international flights is practically non-existent.
What do you think of Delta’s move to seat blocking on Shanghai flights? Fair enough, or a strange inconsistency?
(Tip of the hat for Zach Griff)
