After checking for flight advisories on the Delta site I observed a notice that the assigned seats that had previously been confirmed for the international flight (booked on cheaptickets.com) for my family were no longer confirmed and that seats would be assigned at check-in.

I called Delta and was told the booking service I used had cancelled the assigned seats. Luckily (or unluckily) we were fortunate enough to get the last five of six seats left on the flight to London, but neither my wife, nor I, nor my children sat together. We were all assigned seating separately, in middle row seats.

Delta informed me that this happens quite often with the this services. At no time did I request that our seats be released. I received no confirnmation from Cheaptickets.com that my seats had been release. The only notice I received form their service concerned a flight time change. This is an example of customer service at it's worst!