Delta to Keep Middle Seats Blocked Through April 2021

Delta Air Lines will be keeping its middle seat off-limits until April 30, 2021.

"We 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," Bill Lentsch, Delta's Chief Customer Experience Officer said in a press release shared with Travel + Leisure on Monday. "We'll 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 – that will always be Delta's priority."

Delta has continued to provide customers with peace of mind by providing an at-home testing option and also launching an interactive map to help answer all questions when it comes to traveling amid the pandemic.

At-home testing can help comply with requirements for travelers who need a negative test before flying. Delta terminals at Atlanta, Boston, New York's JFK, and Seattle airports also offer onsite testing.

As Delta has been gradually making their way back to normal for certain aspects of flying (like resuming its beer and wine service for first-class and Comfort+ passengers after initially suspending it and reopening its Sky Club lounges), their airline's CEO, Ed Bastian, said in a New Year's memo to employees that he's optimistic for 2021 when it comes to travel.

"It's likely that we'll experience two distinct phases during the next 12 months," Bastian wrote in the memo to employees, published to the airline's website. "The first will look a lot like 2020, with travel demand deeply depressed and our focus on ensuring the health and safety of our people and customers. The second phase will begin only when we reach a turning point with widely available vaccinations that spur a significant return to travel, particularly business travel."

Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram.