One of the VA gold/plat benefits that I’ve appreciated over the years is discounted access to DL’s EC seats in Y/C, which one could access at time of booking, some months ahead

One of the VA gold/plat benefits that I’ve appreciated over the years is discounted access to DL’s EC seats in Y/C, which one could access at time of booking, some months ahead of departure. I last used this in Jan 2015. I have booked DL for April 2016, but now notice I’m now “not upgrade eligible” even though it’s not an “E” fare. I rang up DL and they said VA FF can only now access discounted (or complimentary for plat) EC seats 72 hours prior to departure at the earliest (when the EC seats have all gone?!). Just wondering if anyone else has recently encountered this more restrictive access?

To be honest I managed to wangle front row EC seats - for free - on every one my domestic flights earlier this year. You just have to use the (excellent) Delta iphone app 72 hours before your flight to select the seats. I never paid a cent extra!

Thanks sc. I take it you're plat and it sounds like the 72 hr rule is now the norm for VA FF.

VFM - I am only Gold, and had no issue getting EC seats on all my DL flights this year with only 24 hours access to them. Agree with spacecadet, the App is fantastic. Wish VA would make use the same developer! 

No worries - actually at the time I was only silver, so I had only 24 hours to arrange the seats and it worked a treat. Even for a peak hour NYC-SFO flight.

As the others have said, I have never had any problem securing a DC+ seat. I've been on several flights since it changed to 72 hours and even on really popular routes with nice planes. It's all about going online or the app exactly 72 hours before as you'll also be racing with all the other elites at the same levels too! Stay optimistic!

Thanks for all the reassuring responses!