Will Delta put my family together?

Family Seating Policy Delta strives to seat family members together upon request. If you are unable to obtain seat assignments together for your family using delta.com or the Fly Delta mobile app, please contact Reservations to review available seating options.



In 2026, Delta Air Lines utilizes a "Family Seating" algorithm designed to strive to seat children under 13 with at least one adult from their party, but it is not an absolute guarantee for all fare classes. If you purchase Basic Economy, your seats are assigned at the gate, which significantly increases the risk of separation. For those in "Main Cabin" or higher, the system proactively looks for adjacent seats during the booking process. If you find your family is separated on the seat map, Delta's current policy encourages you to contact their "Family Travel" specialists or a gate agent as soon as possible. While they do not "block" entire rows for families like some ultra-low-cost carriers, they frequently hold back specific seats that can be manually assigned by agents to ensure parents are not rows away from their young children, especially following the 2024–2025 DOT push for fee-free family seating.

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Delta Air Lines: Families with car seats or strollers can board before first-class and elite members.

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Priority boarding zones. Among the first to board are elite status holders, including those of partner airlines, as well as those seated in the premium cabin, including first class and Delta One cabins as well as Premium Select and Delta Comfort+.

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Premium economy passengers in the Delta Premium Select passengers also get priority boarding after first class, Delta One and Diamond Medallion members. Premium Select is available on select international flights. Following Premium Select flyers, Comfort+ passengers board before the remaining passengers.

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However, there are ways you can achieve this for free.
  1. Pick your airline carefully. ...
  2. Check-in early. ...
  3. Make a specific request. ...
  4. Ask another passenger to swap seats. ...
  5. Sit near the front or the back. ...
  6. Use a seat map. ...
  7. Choose a window seat. ...
  8. Select extra legroom.


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Skipping seat selection doesn't mean you won't get a seat on the flight. You might get stuck in the middle seat if you don't pay for one. Even if seat selection is free, you might want to skip it if only lousy seats are available (see the upgrade hack” below).

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In fact, most regular airlines now charge for seat selection anyways. It's often around $10-$30 per seat per flight segment, so if you cave in and pay for that, it can add up quickly. You shouldn't do it. No matter which airline you're flying on, don't ever pay to select a seat.

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Main Cabin 3. Main Cabin customers booked in T, X and V fares. Basic Economy. Basic Economy customers (E)

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When you're traveling outside of the United States, we suggest arriving at least 3 hours prior to your departure. You must be checked in at least 1 hour before your scheduled departure. Additionally, we recommend being at the gate and ready to board 45 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

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With all Tiers of Medallion Status, you are eligible for Unlimited Complimentary Upgrades to First Class and Delta Comfort+®, plus, day-of-departure Unlimited Complimentary Upgrades to the Delta One® experience on flights within the U.S. 50 – including flights to Hawaii.

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If you are not flying on a Delta-operated and Delta-marketed flight, Reservations can help you upgrade on a purchased ticket from Main Cabin or Delta Comfort+®, to First Class, Delta Premium Select or Delta One® using Mileage Upgrade Awards.

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If, on the day of your flight, your family still doesn't have assigned seating next to each other, arrive early to the airport and explain your situation to gate agents. They may not be able to seat an entire family together, but they will most likely try to seat each child next to an adult in their family.

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The current U.S. airline family boarding policies are: Alaska Airlines: Families with children younger than 2 can board at the beginning of the process, before first-class and elite customers. American Airlines: Families with children board before first-class and elite members upon request only.

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If that's the case, three seats directly behind and in front of one another is your best bet. And, if you have more than six traveling with you, reserve an aisle seat for an adult to sit across from you — this way no one has to sit alone. Where will you and your family sit on your next flight?

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