Delta blocks middle seats for coronavirus prevention

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Delta Air Lines will start enforcing social distancing on its flights in an effort to minimize coronavirus transmissions by blocking customers from middle cabin seats, according to a company statement issued Wednesday.

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The seating limitation will be put into effect starting April 13 and is set to run through May 31. It will also apply to the airline’s Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+ and Delta Premium Select seats. Customers will not be able to select middle seats in these sections when they are booking flights online or through the Fly Delta App.

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Additionally, Delta will reduce the number of customers it allows on each flight while temporarily doing away with automatic, advance Medallion Complimentary Upgrades – all of which are said to help “allow gate agents to determine how to best seat customers while considering social distancing and aircraft weight-and-balance restrictions.”

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Priority seating order will still be upheld to seat customers of each ticket type appropriately. Ten customers will be boarded on the plane at a time.

Traveling companions who wish to sit directly next to each other will have to contact Delta’s Reservations team in advance or talk to a Delta gate agent upon arrival.

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Delta has also adopted new cleaning standards such as overnight interior fogging, disinfecting high-touch areas and spot checks to ensure customers are brought on sanitized flights. Food and beverage distribution has been streamlined to minimize contact between customers and crew.

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For added convenience, the company is extending the ability to re-book flights for up to two years.