The days of empty middle seats on airplanes are coming to an end.
On Wednesday, Delta announced it will end their policy of blocking middle seats on all flights as of May 1st.
While most major US airlines instituted the policy at the start of the pandemic last year, Delta had been the last one to still allow for middle seats to go unbooked.
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Part of the reason for the end of the policy is the increase in COVID-19 vaccinations.
“During the past year, we transformed our service to ensure their health, safety, convenience and comfort during their travels,” CEO Ed Bastian said in a press release. “Now, with vaccinations becoming more widespread and confidence in travel rising, we’re ready to help customers reclaim their lives.”
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“The relationships we’ve built, together with the knowledge that nearly 65 percent of those who flew Delta in 2019 anticipate having at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by May 1, are what’s giving us the assurance to offer customers the ability to choose any seat on our aircraft, while also introducing new services, products and rewards to support the journey,” Bastian added.
Delta will continue to require masks on all flights for crew and passengers and maintain enhanced sanitization protocols.
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Hungry and thirsty passengers won’t have to bring their own food and refreshments as Delta is also reintroducing snacks and beverage service on domestic and select short-haul international flights starting April 14th, the company said.
The airline is also giving passengers more flexibility by extending the timeframe of when tickets expire beyond the standard of one year. All tickets purchased in 2021 will now expire Dec. 31, 2022.
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