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The Guide to American Airlines Seat Selection

JT Genter

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

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American Airlines seat selection fee

How to select seats on american airlines flights, how to avoid paying american airlines seat selection fees, when can you get a refund of american airlines seat selection fees, final thoughts on american airlines seat selection.

Seat selection is complimentary for many seats on most American Airlines tickets. However, as you can tell by that convoluted sentence, American Airlines seat selection isn't free for all passengers.

So, how much does American Airlines charge for seat selection? We’ll answer this question and explain how you can avoid paying an American Airlines seat selection fee.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

The cost to select a seat on American Airlines ranges from free — for standard seats except when booking basic economy fares — to over $160 for an extra-legroom seat on a long-haul international flight.

American Airlines seat selection fees vary based on several factors — including the flight length and what type of seat you want. Window and aisle seats are generally the most expensive. Meanwhile, a middle seat in between two preferred seats might not cost anything.

» Learn more: The complete guide to American Airlines partners

does american airlines assign seats together

American Airlines travelers can select seats during the flight booking process or after purchasing a flight. If you're just starting a flight search, we recommend logging into your AAdvantage account first. That way your information will be auto-filled, and you'll be able to maximize any frequent flyer perks you have. More about that below.

Say you want to travel from Denver to London. First, you'll need to select your flights. During the search process, you can preview available seats by selecting the "seats" link in the search results. This can give you an idea of the number of available seats for your group. However, the price for selecting seats won't be listed yet.

does american airlines assign seats together

After selecting your flights, reviewing fare upgrade options, entering your information and declining the option to buy miles, you'll finally be able to select seats for your flight.

If you booked a basic economy fare , you'll have to pay for a seat selection no matter the type of seat. In the example below, prices to choose a seat range from $9-$24 depending on which one you select.

does american airlines assign seats together

If you booked a standard economy fare, you can select any standard seat for free. Or you can pay for preferred and extra-legroom seats — in this example, the cost ranges from $10-$22 for a preferred or Main Cabin Extra seat.

does american airlines assign seats together

You won't be able to select seats on flights operated by partner airlines — even if the flight has an American Airlines flight number. Instead, you'll have to complete the booking to get the partner confirmation number (also referred to as a PNR or record locator). Then, you can contact that airline for seat assignment.

If you booked an American Airlines flight through another airline, you’ll need your American Airlines confirmation number. Once you have this, head to the American Airlines homepage and click the "manage trips/check-in" tab.

does american airlines assign seats together

Enter your last name and the confirmation number to find your trip. Then, you'll see your seat selection options.

The most reliable way to avoid paying a seat selection fee is to have elite status through American Airlines or through an eligible partner airline, such as Alaska Airlines or British Airways . Additionally, you can redeem AAdvantage miles to pay seat selection fees.

Preferred Seating

All tiers of AAdvantage elite status get complimentary access to preferred seating — standard-legroom seating in preferred areas of the cabin — from the time of booking. Similarly, elite members of oneworld Alliance partner airlines get complimentary access to preferred seating on American Airlines, even at the lowest Ruby tier.

Main Cabin Extra

In addition to extra legroom, Main Cabin Extra seats also grant travelers early boarding and complimentary snacks and drinks — including beer, wine and spirits.

AAdvantage Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum elites get complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra seats from the time of booking. Gold elites can select Main Cabin Extra seats free of charge within 24 hours of departure.

Similarly, Alaska MVP Gold, Gold 75k and Gold 100k elite members can select Main Cabin Extra seats from the time of booking. Alaska MVP members must wait until 24 hours before departure to select Main Cabin Extra seats for free. However, basic economy fares aren't eligible for this benefit.

» Learn more: The guide to American Airlines elite status

Using AAdvantage miles

If you can't use elite status to avoid American Airlines seat selection fees, you may be able to redeem AAdvantage miles to pay for them. Like the cash cost, the mileage cost depends on factors such as the length of the flight and the location of the seat in the cabin.

The redemption rate for seat selection fees is typically about 1 cent per mile. That's not a great rate. NerdWallet values American Airlines miles at 1.7 cents each. Still, this could be an appealing redemption option if your mileage balance is too low to redeem miles for flights.

You'll need to have enough AAdvantage miles in your account to cover the entire cost of the seat selection fees. Otherwise, you'll either need to select a seat that costs fewer miles or buy more miles. Travelers don't have the ability to buy a single seat with a combination of miles and cash.

» Learn more: Easiest ways redeem American Airlines miles

Upgrading to a Main Plus ticket

Travelers who pay for a Main Plus ticket get complimentary access to preferred and Main Cabin Extra seats. This option isn't free. However, the extra cost may be worth it to get an extra checked bag, preferred boarding and complimentary seat selection.

American Airlines seat selection fees are generally nonrefundable. However, you can get a refund of your seat selection fees in a few specific situations.

For example, American Airlines will refund your seat selection fees if you opt to upgrade to business or first class, pay more for another seat on the same flight, cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking (if you booked at least two days before departure) or cancel your flight and purchase seats on a rebooked flight.

You'll also get a refund when American Airlines cancels your flight — or if American delays your flight long enough to miss a connecting flight on which you purchased seats — and doesn't provide a comparable seat on the new flight.

American Airlines seats can generally be selected during booking or after booking your flight. However, you'll need to avoid basic economy fares to get free seat selection. And you'll only get free preferred or extra-legroom seat selection if you have elite status or use miles to pay the fee.

If you’re having trouble making your American Airlines seat selection, check to see if your flight is operated by a partner airline. If so, you'll need to retrieve the confirmation code for that airline and contact the airline to choose a seat.

(Top photo courtesy of American Airlines)

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' class=

I'm hoping you frequent flyers can help me out...

does american airlines assign seats together

If you didn't book your seats when you booked your ticket, but rather waited till last minute, you'll get what's available. Some seats that are marked unavailable are being held for those who have higher frequent flyer status, and if they're not taken by those guests, will be opened to everyone at Online Check-in (OLCI). Check at the 24 hour mark, when check-in opens and pick your seats then, from what's available. It's likely you'll be separated.

If you booked Basic Economy, you'll not get your seat assigned at all till check-in - and maybe the airport itself. You can't pick your seat - that's one of the reasons BE is cheaper.

If you log into your reservation you can see what seats, if any, are assigned to you.

People usually pick their seats at the time of purchase. That, unfortunately, is what you should have done. It is important to do that at the time of purchase not only to reserve your desired seat but also to keep you off the top of the bump list.

Agree that most folks pick seats when they buy their tickets. You won't have seats "assigned to you". I'd just pick from what is available now and then get to the airport early to see if they can help you sit together. Sometimes things change on the day of travel.

does american airlines assign seats together

Even if you pick from the remaining 4 seats for now, keep checking back at least once a day. As time gets closer some seats may be released or some people may decide to upgrade to another class of service, thus freeing up their original seats.

Keep checking.. Certainly check at T-24 hours.

does american airlines assign seats together

Seating has become such a manipulative tool :-(

does american airlines assign seats together

it depends on how you booked it. If you bought economy class or higher, he would have picked the seats at the time of booking. If you bought the basic economy, or whatever american airlines equivalent is, your seats will be assigned at check in after everyone who paid for it has picked their seats.

^^ yes but like I said you can still go in and buy your seats beforehand. I did last weekend.

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How to Avoid Letting Basic Economy Tickets Separate You and Your Family on a Flight

Because no one wants to get split up.

does american airlines assign seats together

Planning a family vacation ? Families who are trying to be cost-efficient will have to battle one dreaded aspect of traveling with a group: basic economy tickets often don't include the ability to choose your own seat.

To help families navigate their rights — and avoid extra fees or a hectic in-flight scenario — the Department of Transportation (DOT) recently released guidelines regarding family seating on planes.

Each airline has its own specific policies regarding family seating. Some, like American Airlines , have a computer system that will recognize families who are traveling together (if they are on the same reservation).

"If seats are limited, [the airline] will try to assign seats so children under 15 are next to at least 1 adult on the same reservation record (which may result in adults in the party being separated)," according to the DOT.

But it is important to understand your airline's unique policies before your flight.

The most general rule of the game is to be communicative with your airline. Most will try to help families sit together — as it usually helps cabin crew and fellow passengers when there's an adult looking after a child.

Travelers can make seat reassignment easier by booking their family airfare on the same reservation to keep every member of your traveling party close. If you book through a third-party site, be sure to reach out to the airline directly — and as early as possible — and confirm your reservation.

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.

Some airlines, like Delta , will reserve and block "a limited number of seats prior to departure and will use the seats, as available, to accommodate family seating and other needs."

And if there are any issues during your flight, you can report them afterward to the DOT.

But when it doubt, if sitting together is a non-negotiable for your family, the DOT recommends you don't take the risk. Avoid a budget airline like Spirit or Frontier and just pay to reserve your seats together.

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Airline Family Seating Dashboard

A parent who purchases airline tickets for a family should receive a guarantee from the airline that it will seat the parent and child together without fees or a last-minute scramble at the gate or having to ask other passengers to give up their seat to allow the parent and child to sit together. On February 1, 2023, Secretary Buttigieg announced the Department's plan to launch a dashboard that displays which airlines guarantee family seating. Since then, some airlines have stepped up to guarantee adjacent seats for young children traveling with an accompanying adult at no additional cost. While this represents significant progress, USDOT is not stopping here. Secretary Buttigieg recently submitted to Congress a legislative proposal to require that airlines provide fee-free family seating .

Commitment for Fee-Free Family Seating

Please click this link for an alternative text version of the dashboard .

Limited Conditions

* When using an airline that assigns seats, the airline can condition its guarantee on each of the following:

  • Child and accompanying adult are on the same reservation;
  • Adjacent seats are available at the time of booking in the selected class of service;
  • Aircraft is not substituted for smaller aircraft;
  • Adult either chooses seats for the entire reservation or skips seats for the entire reservation, and does not make changes to seat assignments once assigned to them; and
  • It is physically possible based on seat layout to seat the number of young children traveling next to the accompanying adult(s).

If the conditions are satisfied, airlines that assign seats and guarantee fee-free family seating will provide adjacent seat assignments to the adult traveling with a child age 13 or under no later than on the day before the flight.

* When using an airline with an open seating policy, the airline can condition its guarantee on the following:

  • Child and accompanying adult are on same reservation;
  • Accompanying adult notifies gate agent of need for adjacent seats prior to start of boarding; and

DOT is not satisfied with airline statements that they will "make efforts" to seat families traveling with children together at no additional cost. The Department urges all airlines to guarantee family seating. DOT will update the dashboard above to provide air travelers clear information about the airlines that commit to providing adjacent seats for a young child and an accompanying parent and those that do not.

The dashboard will serve as a bridge to help families while the Department advances a rulemaking to ensure airlines seat young children adjacent to a parent or other accompanying adult. In addition, the President has called upon Congress to fast track the ban on family seating fees so that DOT can take action to stop those practices more quickly than through a rulemaking.

Tips for Families

The Department provides families practical tips that families may use before, during, and after air travel and links to airline websites with information applicable to family seating .

If you are dissatisfied with an experience related to family seating, you can file a complaint with the airline or DOT. Click here to file a complaint with the DOT.

See below for detailed information about airline customer service commitment plans.

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8 Ways to Get Seats Together on Your Next Flight

Family at Airport; Courtesy of FamVeld/Shutterstock.com

Apr 10, 2018

See recent posts by Family Vacation Critic

Did you know it’s not mandatory for airlines to seat families together? Organizations such as the Family Travel Association have been rallying the government to change that.

“In 2016, Congress passed a law called the Families Flying Together Act , which was supposed to ensure children under the age of 13 would be seated with parents or guardians on flights, but regulations resulting from the law have yet to be drafted by the Federal Aviation Administration,” says Rainer Jenss, President and Founder of the Family Travel Association . “As a result, parents who want to ensure they sit together with their children can take the chance and hope that fellow flyers and/or flight attendants will be sympathetic to their cause and switch seats in case they don’t have pre-assigned seats together. To make 100-percent sure there won’t be a problem, some families will have to fork over the money to guarantee adjacent seating.”

Until the FAA drafts new regulations, there are a few tricks to make sure your family is seated together when flying.

1. Pay extra for seat assignments.

So many airlines, especially budget airlines, have moved to an a la carte menu of options, charging extra fees for carry-on bags , beverages, and more. One fee worth paying for? The seat reservation.

What this means is that instead of letting the computer automatically assign you a seat, you pay extra (anywhere from $7 to $30) per seat to ensure your family can sit together. The cheapest time to pay for your seat assignment is during your initial purchase process; if you wait until check-in or when you arrive at the airport, you’ll pay a premium.

Even non-budget national carriers like American and United have made it more challenging to get seats together. There are some flights that don’t require you to pay extra for a seat assignment, but the only “free” seats may be middle seats. Therefore, to get a group of seats together, you may need to pay extra regardless of airline. If you’re willing to sit in the back, at least you may only need to pay extra for some of the seats (aisle and/or window).

2. Choose an airline that waives seating fees for families.

Some of the discount airlines, such as Spirit and Frontier, charge for any advance seating, while the major airlines with “super saver” type of fares do not allow passengers to select their seats until check-in, unless they choose to pay an additional fee. Officially, airlines discourage families with small children from purchasing these types of fares without paying for a seat.

But as more families pressure airlines to waive seating fees so that young children can sit with parents without a price penalty, some airlines are listening. Two Canadian carriers, WestJet and Air Canada , are now waiving seating fees for families with kids under 12. If you don’t see seats together on the map during seat selection, just call the airline directly and have a booking agent reserve your seats together.

According to their responses to the U.S. Department of Transportation , Alaska Airlines and Delta have a similar policy: if you are unable to get reserved seats together with your child during booking, you can call the airlines to review your options.

American Airlines’ and United Airlines’ systems, even for their most discounted fares, will automatically attempt to seat families together—and at least ensure that one adult is seated next to any child under 15 years old. Hawaiian Airlines’ system prioritizes seating children 11 years old and younger with an adult.

Related: Best U.S. Airlines for Families  

3. Fly Southwest and purchase EarlyBird Check-In.

Some people don’t understand Southwest’s open seating policy and think it’s a disaster for families. But it’s actually one of our favorite ways to fly! On Southwest, you’re assigned a boarding group and number based on when you check in. You then line up by group and number, starting with A 1-30, A 31-60, B 1-30, and so on. Once you’re on board, you can take any open seat. This means that if you want seats together, you need to board in the A group, or possibly the B group.

If you check in exactly 24 hours in advance, you will likely still be in B group, since A-List status members and those who purchase EarlyBird Check-In will take up the A group slots. Family boarding for those with children under the age of 6 and their parent/guardian takes place between the A and B group boarding.

For families with children over 6, the best way to ensure seats together is to purchase EarlyBird Check-In. For $15 per flight, per seat, you will be automatically checked in to your flight in the A boarding group. While this is an extra expense, we’ve found that the peace of mind with guaranteed seats together in the front half of the plane, and room for carry-on bags , is worth the investment. Plus, Southwest doesn’t charge for checked bags or beverages so you save some money there. Just note that saving seats isn’t technically allowed if you’re thinking of only paying for EarlyBird Check-In for one family member.

4. Book online directly with the airline.

There are many advantages to booking directly through the airline versus an online travel agent or third-party booking site, especially when it comes to cancellation and changes. However, it will also give you the most control over seat selection and an avenue for recourse should your seats get shifted.

Unless you’re booking very far in advance, you should be able to select seats as part of the ticket purchase process. Remember, some airlines may charge an additional fee for seat selection.

5. Book together or link your reservations.

If you’re booking tickets separately, or booking some seats with points and others with cash, you’ll have separate booking numbers. Therefore, even if you select seats together, the airline may still shift seats around due to an equipment change or other issues. If this happens, they won’t know that you’re traveling together because it was booked under two or more reservations.

Therefore, if your tickets are booked separately, be sure to call the airline and request that they link the reservations or PNRs (passenger name records). This will at least let the airline know you’re traveling together and give you some protection. Nothing is guaranteed, but it’s a start.

6. Play the odds.

If you’ve chosen a discount airline such as Spirit or Frontier and you still don’t want to pay for seating together, the best strategy is to make sure that all your tickets are booked on the same reservation and check in as early as possible.

Officially (according to what the airline has reported to the U.S. Department of Transportation), Frontier’s system will “detect and help families flying together… only if all the passengers are on the same reservation record.”

In an unofficial experiment flying Frontier eight times in a one-year period, our family was always automatically seated together when we checked in 24 hours before our flight—without having to pay for assigned seats.

Related: Things You Should Never Wear at the Airport  

7. Double check seat assignments before check-in.

Seat reservations will sometimes be shuffled by the airline. You don’t want to learn this at the airport, because at that point the desk agent or gate agent will often tell you there is nothing they can do. Then you’re left begging and pleading with grumpy passengers to switch seats with you or trying to enlist the help of a flight attendant who is focused on getting the plane loaded quickly.

If you get any emails about a shift in schedule, be sure to double-check your seat assignments at that time to make sure there hasn’t been an equipment change resulting in changes to your seat selections. Even if you don’t hear from the airline, it’s good practice to review your seat assignments at least a few days before your flight. At a minimum, check in online at home 24 hours before departure and double-check your seat assignments at that time. At least then if there’s an issue, you have time to call customer service and see if they can shift things around to get you back together. Doing this at the check-in counter or gate is nearly impossible.

8. Be prepared to do some shuffling.

If these strategies have still not worked and you’ve arrived at the airport without seats next to your kids, talk to the gate agents—they will usually be able to shuffle the seating chart in order for at least one parent to sit next to the kids.

And if that still doesn’t work? Get on the plane and politely ask the flight attendants for assistance. In our decade of traveling with two young kids, we have had to do this less than a handful of times—and each time, strangers were willing to vacate their seats to accommodate us.

After all, no one wants to be stuck next to a frightened two-year-old without their mommy!

Related: Things You Should Never Let Your Child Do On The Plane  

What to Pack for Your Next Trip

Items to pack before you get to the airport, shop the look.

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How to Ensure Your Family Sits Together on a Plane

By Jessica Puckett

Mother holding daughter at airport

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

While many U.S. airlines have nixed pesky fees to change or cancel flights due to the pandemic, similarly aggravating charges to reserve or change seats still endure in most cases. That can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you’re a parent trying to sit next to your young child.

Although it seems like a service you shouldn’t have to pay for, there is actually no federal regulation requiring airlines to seat parents with their children for free. Once a child passes the age of 2 years old (after which they can no longer be a lap infant and need their own seat), airlines can technically seat them anywhere on the plane. Most carriers, however, will try to work with passengers so at least one parent can be next to a young child without having to hand over more money.

Unfortunately, if you’ve booked on a low-cost carrier, such as Spirit or Frontier, the only option to absolutely guarantee seats together will be to pay an extra fee, ranging anywhere from $1 to $50 per seat. It’s also important to remember that all of these strategies—even paying to choose seats together—are still subject to change from airlines. Circumstances like a last-minute aircraft change can lead to gate agents shuffling the onboard seating arrangements.

Here are five easy steps to help ensure you sit next to your child or other loved ones on the plane.

Buy fares early

Most major U.S. airlines’ seating policies say they “strive” to seat families together, but they can't guarantee anything. One way to help the odds fall in your favor? Book early. 

Many carriers still allow most passengers the chance to make complimentary seat selections: United, Delta, American, and JetBlue all have a certain amount of seats that can be selected for free at the time of booking. Some carriers, like Alaska, even leave a limited number of seats for “Saver Fares,” its version of basic economy (though most seats in this class are randomly assigned at check-in). But the closer the flight gets, the less likely it is that complimentary seats will be left—especially seats together. Booking early ensures you will have plenty of seats to choose from.

Another tip: If you're traveling with a young child, avoid choosing an exit row seat. Federal regulations prohibit children under the age of 15 from sitting in the exit row, which would mean a last-minute seat swap for your child during boarding.

Additionally if you can check-in online, do so as soon as possible—ideally right when it opens, 24 hours before departure. Some airlines that allow free seat selection, like Alaska, set aside some of the best seats for frequent fliers with elite status . Once check-in begins, those prime seats are released for anyone to scoop up, but they will go fast. 

If you're flying Southwest Airlines, early check-in will also be key to finding seats together given the carrier's famous open seating policy. (The airline does allow families of up to two adults with children under 6 years old automatic pre-boarding after the “A” group.)

For basic economy fares on United, Delta, American, and JetBlue there's an additional fee to reserve seats before check-in. Otherwise, seats will be randomly assigned during check-in or at the gate. 

Book everyone on the same reservation

When you purchase tickets, make one reservation for your whole family. This means ideally booking the fares at the same time under one confirmation code . 

A single reservation can sometimes be enough to prevent you being seated apart: Airline seating systems are usually programmed to keep a group on the same reservation together when possible. Take United's policy , which says that even if you don't select seats in advance, “we’ll do our best to find adjoining seats for your family on the same reservation in the cabin you booked a few days before your flight departs.”

Similarly, Hawaiian's family seating policy says “if your child is booked under a separate confirmation code, our system won't know that they're part of your group.”

Don't panic if you've already booked tickets separately. You can call the airlines’ reservation line and let them know you’re all part of one family group—most of the time the agent can link the reservations or make a note that will identify you as a family within the seating system.

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Arriving at the airport early can help ensure families sit together.

Ask customer service for more seating options

Calling the airline can be helpful beyond linking your reservations: If you can’t find seats together, giving the airline’s customer service line a ring is your next best bet. Delta, for instance, says if it’s not possible to book seats next to each other online or through its app, to call the reservations line.

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This step is especially important if you booked through an online travel agency like Expedia or Orbitz. Such third-party sites might give you the option to reserve seats for free at the time of booking, but they need to send those seating requests to the airline. If those seats are no longer available, you might not be notified. Calling to confirm your seats with the airline will help you avoid any unpleasant surprises when it's time to board.

Follow up on basic economy fares

If you're traveling in a pair or group, you will save some major headaches by simply avoiding basic economy tickets and opting for main cabin economy. But sometimes these rock-bottom fares are just too enticing to pass up. If you are booked in basic economy and you want to avoid a fee to sit with your child, calling the airline is doubly important. Carriers sometimes bend the strident rules in this no-frills fare class to accommodate at least one parent to sit next to young children, though don't bank on it.

Additionally, some airlines say their seating algorithms can deduce when a group should be seated together at no charge. For instance, American Airlines’ policy says : “If you’re unable to choose seats, don’t want to pay for seats, or choose a Basic Economy fare, our system will detect that you’re a family traveling. The system will search for seats together automatically before the day of departure. We’ll try our best to keep you together, but if seats are limited, we’ll assign seats so children under 15 are next to at least 1 adult.” 

Arrive at the airport early

If none of the strategies above have worked, a final course of action is to arrive at the airport early and speak with the gate agent. Oftentimes, they can pull some strings to make sure families sit together. 

“If a family is not sitting together, gate agents will often call up other passengers and try to shuffle them around to make everyone happy,” Alaska's policy says .

Aim to get to your gate at least an hour before departure to speak with the agents there.

“Airlines will do what they can at the airport to help families who self-identify to their agents as needing to sit together,” says the DOT's consumer page on family seating. “Even if the airline is unable to seat the whole family together, they may be able to assure you that each child is seated next to an adult family member.”

If you've exhausted all of these options and still feel that the airline isn’t being helpful or fair, you can always file a complaint with the DOT. Regulators say every single one of these complaints is reviewed by both the DOT and the airline in question. After reading it themselves, officials send each complaint to the airline, which then must provide a mandatory written response to the DOT.

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Flying together: how to make sure you sit together on a flight.

Use these expert tips to snag a seat with family or friends.

How to Sit Together on a Flight

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Follow these expert times to sit with your loved ones on your next flight.

Not only is airfare often the most expensive component of any vacation, but it can also be the most stressful. Not everyone enjoys flying, let alone dealing with strangers in the air. Plus, air travel comes with a multitude of annoyances – things like waiting in line for security and to check your bag, finding space for a carry-on and the potential for unruly or rude seatmates .

Still, is there anything worse than arriving at the airport to realize you won't be able to sit with your family or friends? Probably not. For that reason, it's crucial to think ahead as you plan your trip.

While there may be times where you can't select your seat on an airplane, the experts say there are plenty of steps you can take early to set yourself up for success. Before you book your next flight, consider these strategies to help you score a seat next to family and friends.

No matter where you're flying, booking early can give you the best chances of being able to sit with your companions. Since flights open up for sale about 330 days in advance of travel dates, families – especially those with young children – should book flights as soon as their dates are solidified, says Eva Grodberg, luxury travel specialist from Epic Experiences.

This strategy also works for groups, she says, adding that you will likely want to contact the airline by phone to secure group space. "Most airlines have groups departments [that] will offer a discount code if the group is flying together on the same plane," she says. While they may not be able to guarantee your seats on the plane, you have a much better chance at getting the seats you want if you call and request them early.

[See: 50 Ways to Save More on Travel in 2018. ]

Avoid Basic Economy

It's also important to remember that not all fare classes are created equally. The least expensive fares often come with fewer perks and no option to choose seats ahead of time.

"When booking published rates, be sure to select a carrier and a fare class in which you get to pick your seats during purchase," says Kenny Totten, director of marketing & sales for The Air Travel Group. "Stay away from Basic Economy if flying with your fellow traveler is important, as many carriers assign those seats at check in."

Book Everyone on the Same Itinerary

Another step you can take to ensure you sit with your travel companions is to book all your seats on the same itinerary, says Mable Tang of Thai Airways. By employing this strategy, you'll be able to see all your seat options in one place and preselect seats in the same vicinity.

And when you book everyone on the same itinerary, it's more likely your seats will be near one another should your flight be rescheduled or moved to a different aircraft.

[Read: How to Get Your Child a Passport. ]

Ask a Gate Agent for Help

In the event your seats aren't together when you get to the airport, it's still not too late to score some seats next to or near one another.

"You can always talk to a gate agent when you arrive for your flight," says travel expert Hillary Kline of The Travel Leaders Group. "Oftentimes, they have some flexibility to move seats around and open up space and will do their best to get people traveling together seated together."

Gate agents are usually more willing to help families with young kids, she says. Arriving early can also help since it's less likely all the seats on your plane will be assigned already.

Ask Other Flyers to Switch

In the worst-case scenario, you can ask fellow passengers to switch seats once you're already on the airplane, says Kline. There's no guarantee here, but solo travelers or those who don't care where they sit may be willing to trade spots.

"Extra bonus points if you have a coveted aisle, window or even exit row seat, and are willing to take their middle seat instead," she says.

Earn Elite Status

Ahmed Bhuiyan, a blogger and travel industry consultant who flies more than 100,000 miles a year, says that earning elite status is another way to ensure you get your preferred seats for free ahead of time. Ahmed is Platinum with the Delta SkyMiles program , so he receives preferred seats on Delta flights and other flights within the SkyTeam Airline Alliance.

As an elite status member, you can also secure these preferred and preselected seats for companions on your itinerary, he says. If you're angling for elite status but aren't sure you can earn it via flying alone, keep in mind that some airline credit cards offer a fast track to elite status once you meet a minimum spending requirement.

Check in Early

While booking early is one of the best ways to be able to select a seat before your plane fills up, checking in early can also help, says Bhuiyan.

As soon as check-in becomes available for your flight, make sure to check in using your airline's website or mobile app. You may be able to select your seats at that time if you haven't already, he notes.

[Read: The 15 Best Family Vacations. ]

Be Ready to Pay

Finally, there will be situations where you can't choose your seats ahead of time unless you want to pay a premium. This is particularly common with international carriers on overseas flights, as many overseas airlines don't include seat selection as part of the rate when you buy an economy seat.

As an example, let's say you book a Delta flight from the U.S. to Europe that includes an international segment on Air France. You may be able to select seats on your Delta leg ahead of time, but you'll likely have to pay to select seats on Air France in advance.

You can pay to select the seats you want ahead of time across many airlines, although the price you'll pay will vary based on your carrier and your itinerary. For most domestic and international flights, you'll likely pay anywhere from $5 to $50 per person to select a seat ahead of time.

If you really want to sit together and can't imagine flying away from your loved ones, the added expense of choosing your own seats could be well worth it.

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Go to “My trips/check-in” from the homepage and enter your name and record. From there, you can choose seats. If seats are unavailable, check back later or you can change seats when you check in.

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Airlines, just let families with children sit together for free already!

Eric Rosen

As a kid-free frequent flyer who's often traveling for work these days, I'll admit that I'm not always thrilled when a family with a brood of boisterous young children boards a flight I'm on. This is especially true in business or first class.

However, flying families are a fact of life. The vast majority of kids taking to the skies are, of course, well-behaved little angels, and their parents are just trying to get from point A to point B without bothering anyone.

I became much more tolerant of toddlers on trips after traveling with my own young nephews and niece a few times. When a kid decides they want to throw a tantrum in the middle of the aisle…there's not really much you can do about it but try to mitigate the collateral annoyance.

These days, I simply smile at passing tykes as they board, put on my headphones and settle in for a podcast.

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I was doing precisely that the other day when I noticed a mother with three young daughters in tow walking down the aisle, looking at their boarding passes in anxious consternation. She pointed the two eldest, who looked to be about 11 and eight years old, to one row of seats where they took the window and center places together.

Then the mother directed her youngest, who looked to be about five or six, to the middle seat in one row and said that she would be in the middle seat one row back. As you might imagine, the little girl looked like she was doing her best, though not quite succeeding, at holding back tears.

The prospect of sitting between two strangers on an airplane when she was barely old enough for kindergarten must have been pretty scary.

Luckily, the woman sitting in the aisle seat next to the child offered to take the parent's middle seat in the next row so that mother and daughter could sit together. It was a simple but beautiful moment of humanity in a setting where air rage and aloofness seem to be more the norms.

Should families have to pay more to sit together?

does american airlines assign seats together

As I pondered the circumstances, I'll admit that my first impulse was to think, "Well, they probably could have purchased seats together or planned a little better." After all, the web is littered with articles about how to get your family seats together by "outsmarting" airlines.

The strategies include everything from booking the whole party on the same reservation to appealing to gate agents' sympathies. Often the conclusion is just the same, though: Pay more if you need to guarantee seats together.

(As a side note, it's possible that this family had misconnected from another flight and were simply given the last available free seats on the plane, so perhaps seating assignments were mostly out of the control of both the airline and the travelers.)

The more I thought about this family's situation, the more I gravitated toward the conclusion that airlines should just let families with young children select seats together for free. Not only would that be the decent thing to do…but it might even be economically sound.

The Biden Administration's Department of Transportation recently issued a notice urging airlines to do this, but it's a long way from becoming policy or law of any sort.

What airlines currently do for families

Some airlines do theoretically attempt to seat parents and children together.

"If you don't choose seats in Main Cabin or Basic Economy, we'll assign seats a few days after you buy your tickets so children under 15 are next to at least one adult they're traveling with," reads American Airlines' policy for families with children two years or older.

As in the case on my American Airlines flight, though, that clearly didn't happen.

If the mother I saw wanted to be seated with her children, she likely would have needed to purchase seat assignments for $17-$21 per person, each way on our Los Angeles to Dallas leg. That would have added about $168 to the cost of a round-trip journey, assuming no free middle seats were open. That's not even considering if they had to connect to another flight and pay yet another round of fees.

does american airlines assign seats together

Delta Air Lines' family seating policy is even vaguer: "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."

Just hope that there are some available or you might end up paying $39.99 per person, each way, like on this Los Angeles to Seattle example. That is the price to select open Main Cabin Preferred seats, which are simply your regular economy window and aisle places, so you have a shot at getting a middle seat where one of your party can sit for free.

does american airlines assign seats together

To be fair, Delta does use a dynamic seat-blocking algorithm to set aside certain seat blocs for flyers traveling in family groups. However, in a season of sold-out flights, chances are these blocs are released earlier than usual and that family travelers booking at the last minute will be out of luck.

For its part, United Airlines claims that it "strives to seat children under age 15 with an accompanying adult family member," though that's far from a guarantee.

The airline goes on to offer general advice: "To have the best likelihood of children being seated with an accompanying adult, we recommend booking early and selecting seat assignments when you book….There may be additional charges for seat assignments depending on which fare you select….If it's important for your family to sit together, you may want to consider purchasing advance seat assignments if available, or selecting a different fare option."

The airline does say it will try to find adjoining seats for family members on the same reservation; however, it warns that your group may be split and that "seat selections are not guaranteed and may be changed."

On a recent flight similar to my own, from Los Angeles to Houston, there were very few empty seats where an assignment would be free. Instead, passengers who wanted to ensure they were sitting together would have had to shell out $18-$28 per person, per direction. For a family of four, that could add up to an additional $224 round trip.

does american airlines assign seats together

Open up seats for families with young children

Instead of saying they'll try to do their best, and then gouging anxious parents with extra fees to sit near their little ones, airlines should just automatically open up their seat maps for parents with children 15 years or younger.

I'm not suggesting they let families secure premium economy options, like United's Economy Plus or American's Main Cabin Extra, for free.

However, if there are open seats in coach that will enable parents to select places together, they should be able to do so for free. It could be as simple as making sure that when the airline's reservation system registers a child under the age of 15 on a booking, the seat selection for that ticket could be complimentary. After all, the airline will verify each passenger's details when booking and at the airport anyway.

Otherwise, airlines are essentially charging a child tax and squeezing desperate parents for every extra penny just so they don't put their kids in stranger danger.

Why would airlines give up such a potentially lucrative revenue stream? Goodwill would be part of it, but good business might just be another.

Seating families together would be good for business

does american airlines assign seats together

How many families would be more likely to book an airline with an open seating policy for kids just to avoid the last-minute scramble and upsell for that last open aisle seat?

Is Southwest any less profitable because of its open seating policy? It allows families traveling with children ages 6 or younger to board between its A and B groups, ensuring there are enough open seats for parents to place their kids next to them.

I should think that parents with young kids would gravitate toward the hassle-free options whenever possible, and might even pay slightly more to avoid any airport issues or awkward situations. If airlines were to enable this option through their own booking systems, it might even encourage more flyers to book direct rather than through third-party online travel agencies.

What's more, seating children next to strangers is a potential safety risk.

I'm not suggesting our planes are full of criminals just waiting to prey on kids, but even one instance where a child is traumatized or abused would be bad enough. That's something airlines should avoid at any cost.

Elite flyers won't mind

As a flyer with elite status with several airline programs, I'd likely be one of the passengers most affected by seating policy changes.

Right now, thanks to my status, I can have my pick of pretty much any open economy seat on a few different airlines when I book. If those airlines were to open up the seat map more to families for free, chances are I'd have fewer seats to choose from. I'm okay with that, though.

I'd probably still be able to find a window or aisle seat most of the time. Plus, this wouldn't necessarily impact those extra legroom rows that airlines open up for most elites to pick from.

If not, the worst that would happen is I'd get stuck in a middle seat. Chances are, I would sit in a middle seat anyway if a parent asked me to switch seats so they could sit with their child, and this is something I would have happily offered if it would have helped in this situation.

While airlines do try to seat parents and children together on flights — and I believe their customer service, check-in and gate agents genuinely try their best to make it happen — there are simply too many variables to account for and too many families getting split up.

Remember, this is coming from a mostly solo, non-family traveler with the least to gain from such a policy change. Also, I would be one of the folks whose own seating options would be more limited if airlines took this common-sense step. Still, I'd be totally OK with it, and I believe most other flyers would as well.

Bottom line

As flights have gotten fuller, without much relief coming in the near term, airlines need to reconsider their family seating policies. They should give parents and children every opportunity to sit together without charging them a premium to do so.

Taking such a stance might even encourage some families to be loyal to one or two specific airlines, generating even more business and revenue. Perhaps it could even result in some families earning elite status and gaining the ability to select their seats for free that way — which is already playing into airlines' existing loyalty offerings and benefits.

Either way, splitting parents and young kids can't be good long-term business, and it certainly isn't customer-friendly.

Feature photo by Granger Wootz/Getty Images.

New DOT family seating dashboard makes airline seat selection policies more transparent

does american airlines assign seats together

The Department of Transportation announced a new tool to help families figure out which airlines will let them sit together for free.

A  family seating dashboard went live Monday morning, outlining airline policies and fees for family seat selection. 

"As recently as a month ago, no U.S. airlines guaranteed no-fee family seating. Now, after weeks of USDOT and the Biden Administration pressing airlines to improve their customer service, American Airlines and Frontier Airlines have stepped forward and guarantee no-fee family seating," a statement from the DOT said. "While this represents significant progress, USDOT is not stopping there – and has already begun work on a common-sense rulemaking to ban airlines from charging families junk fees to sit together."

At the time of its launch, only Alaska, American and Frontier Airlines guaranteed adjacent seats for travelers age 13 or younger with an adult travel companion at no additional cost, according to the DOT. 

The dashboard allows users to click through to see individual airline policies.

Family seating: American Airlines guarantees families will sit together for free – under these conditions

Flight delayed or canceled?: What you need to know and what airlines owe travelers

The new tool comes amid President Joe Biden's larger push for pricing transparency across many service sectors.

During his State of the Union address, Biden said he was cracking down on so-called junk fees at airlines, hotels, banks and in other sectors.

According to the DOT, the dashboard "provides a clear comparison of services the airlines have committed to provide, which will assist consumers when deciding which airline to fly. It makes it easier to know which airlines have stepped up and guarantee adjacent seats for young children traveling with an accompanying adult at no additional cost and which airlines do not."

Last year, the DOT launched a similar tool outlining the delay compensation policies of major U.S. airlines.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].

Simple Flying

How does the southwest airlines boarding process work.

The major American carrier uniquely does not assign seats at all.

  • Southwest Airlines' open seating policy improves boarding times, on-time departures, and cost savings.
  • Passengers are assigned boarding positions based on fare status and check-in time.
  • To get a better seat, consider purchasing a Business Select fare, buying upgraded boarding, or having Southwest Elite status.

Southwest Airlines adopts a unique approach to boarding that sets it apart from other carriers. Unlike traditional seat assignments, the Dallas-based airline employs an open seating policy, where passengers choose any available seat upon boarding the plane.

The open seating policy is credited with improving boarding times, contributing to on-time departures and cost savings, a benefit that Southwest claims translates into lower ticket prices for its customers . While boarding at the gate is organized, the process can become chaotic, with passengers moving back and forth on the aircraft, trying to find seats together. By understanding and leveraging this system, passengers can enjoy a more personalized and stress-free travel experience.

How Southwest assigns seats

On Southwest Airlines flights, people are assigned boarding positions in order of fare status and check-in. Higher fares and earlier check-in lead to better positions, and earlier boarding positions mean greater odds of getting their desired aircraft seat.

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 Flying in the sky.

Every flight is organized into three boarding 'groups': A, B, and C. Each seat consists of a letter and number. Within these groups, passengers are assigned individual 'positions' numbered 1 through 60 (ranging from A1 to C60). When passengers board, they can choose any available seat remaining.

This usually means getting:

  • Window seat closer to the front of the aircraft.
  • Aisle seat closer to the front of the aircraft.

Pre-board is designated for passengers with disabilities or those requiring special assistance to board, which must be arranged before the boarding process.

If fewer than fifteen Business Select tickets are sold, the remaining spots from A1 to A15 become available twenty-four hours before departure for a nominal fee (Upgraded Boarding). Passengers provided they do so before boarding begins. Recently, Southwest Airlines has raised the price for its 'Upgraded Boarding' service . The fee has increased from up to $60 to a range between $30 and $80 per flight segment, effective May 15th, 2023.

Airbus A330 & Jetbridge

What Is The Fastest Way To Get Everyone Onboard An Aircraft?

This usually means:

  • Window seat in the rear of the aircraft
  • Aisle seat in the rear of the aircraft
  • Center seat in the front of the aircraft.

Regarding Early Bird Check-In, for a fee starting at $15, Southwest automatically checks you in before the standard 24-hour window (automatic check-in thirty-six hours before departure). This service simplifies the check-in process and almost guarantees an "A" boarding group position. It applies to all flight segments on your travel day, including connecting flights.

However, holding this status does not guarantee an A-boarding position. Within this group, the order is determined by:

  • Which fare was purchased (more expensive fare means better position)
  • When Early Bird Check-In was purchased (earlier means better position)

Being in the B group usually means a good chance of securing a window or aisle seat or finding two seats together if traveling with a companion.

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 Flying in the sky.

  • Center seat near the rear of the aircraft.

While being in this group doesn't automatically mean you'll be stuck in the middle seat, the likelihood is higher.

Boarding order

Upon arriving at the gate, passengers are advised to locate the boarding group assignment on their boarding pass, determining their position in the queue. They are encouraged to watch the monitors for their boarding group and listen to the gate agent's announcement to start boarding.

When their group is called, passengers are expected to join the line. The boarding order is the following:

  • Pre-board & Business Select passengers
  • A-list members, along with passengers who need extra time but are not eligible for pre-boarding, families (traveling with children six years old or younger), and active-duty military personnel.
  • B group passengers
  • C group passengers

Passengers arriving late after their boarding group has been called can board any time after their group, but seat selection may be limited. Early boarders have the first pick of window and aisle seats and overhead bin space for luggage. The arrangement for families and military personnel does not require pre-boarding arrangements, but customers with disabilities should arrange this beforehand.

Southwest Airlines is reportedly considering changes to its family boarding process, moving to allow children under 13, up from the current six years, to board earlier. Based on traveler reports and not officially confirmed by Southwest, this potential adjustment suggests families with children six and under may board during pre-boarding , ahead of general boarding.

How to get a better seat

To secure the best seat on a Southwest flight, consider purchasing a Business Select fare for guaranteed A1-15 boarding, buying upgraded boarding on travel day, having Southwest Elite status, or using a Southwest credit card for complimentary upgrades.

However, unlike other airlines, Southwest credit cards don't automatically grant priority boarding but offer reimbursements for expenses on upgraded boarding positions or EarlyBird Check-In. Download the Southwest App and log in to your account for a convenient check-in process that requires just a few taps on your phone and allows you to check in early, aiming for a better boarding position.

Additionally, prioritizing seats towards the back of the plane can be beneficial, especially for those in the B or early C boarding groups, as front seats tend to fill up first. Solo travelers in the C group might find better window or aisle seats at the back.

5MP_of_About to Board the BLI Boarding Ramp_01

How Do Boarding Processes Differ At Major US Airlines?

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 on a wet and snowy airport apron.

Furthermore, flight attendants can assist in finding seats, especially near the middle or exit rows. While some passengers may reserve seats with their bags, asking politely can lead to getting a preferred spot. Prime seats at the front are up for grabs and can be claimed by any passenger, offering a chance for a great seat even with a later boarding number.

Continuously innovating

Southwest Airlines is testing new boarding methods , experimenting with dual-boarding and de-planing techniques, and using data science to optimize the process. The aim is to enhance efficiency without compromising a low-cost approach, with successful strategies possibly becoming permanent.

Southwest continually evaluates its boarding procedure to enhance customer experience. Updates and changes are communicated through Southwest's official channels, ensuring passengers are well-informed of any adjustments affecting the boarding process.

Despite these challenges, we can acknowledge the fairness of this boarding process, where early check-in increases the chance of securing a preferred seat without additional charges, contrasting this with airlines that charge for regular economy seating.

Southwest's boarding procedure emphasizes the importance of checking in early, considering upgrades for better boarding positions, and employing strategic seat selection tactics once onboard to enhance your travel experience.

Boarding efficiency is crucial for Southwest, as delays can impact its on-time performance and operational costs, where it seeks to maintain competitiveness and customer loyalty in the low-cost airline market.

What do you think about Southwest Airlines' boarding process? Let us know in the comments below.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 San Francisco

Southwest Airlines

IMAGES

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  2. A beginner's guide to choosing seats on American Airlines

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  3. American Airlines Fleet Airbus A320-200 Details and Pictures

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  4. A Beginner's Guide to Choosing Seats on American Airlines

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  5. American Airlines Seating Chart Review

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  6. A beginner's guide to choosing seats on American Airlines

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COMMENTS

  1. Basic Economy − Travel information − American Airlines

    Book a trip today The basics about Basic Economy fares Changes and cancellations Basic Economy fare tickets cannot be changed*. However, you have up to 24 hours from the time you first buy your ticket to cancel and get a refund if you booked at least 2 days before departure. After 24 hours, refunds are not allowed. Read about 24-hour cancellations

  2. A beginner's guide to American Airlines economy seats

    Many of American Airlines' aircraft have a section of MCE seats at the front of the economy cabin while others — such as former US Airways aircraft and regional jets — may only classify bulkhead and exit row seats as MCE.

  3. Main Cabin − Travel information − American Airlines

    Seat selection You can choose your seat for free when you book or buy a Preferred Seat in a more favorable location or a Main Cabin Extra seat with more benefits.* Main Cabin Extra Wi-Fi You can buy Wi-Fi on select aircraft so you never miss a beat while you're on board. Wi-Fi and connectivity Bags

  4. American Airlines guarantees families will sit together for free

    USA TODAY After the Department of Transportation's call to stop charging families to sit together on planes, American Airlines now guarantees that children will be seated next to an...

  5. American Airlines Seat Selection: What to Know

    The cost to select a seat on American Airlines ranges from free — for standard seats except when booking basic economy fares — to over $160 for an extra-legroom seat on a long-haul...

  6. Guide to airline family seating policies

    Like most major airlines, American allows you to choose your seats when booking or at any time leading up to your flight. There is no fee to choose your seats if you book a first-class, business-class, premium economy or main cabin fare.

  7. Traveling with children − Travel information − American Airlines

    The system will search for seats together automatically before the day of departure. We'll try our best to keep you together, but if seats are limited, we'll assign seats so children under 15 are next to at least 1 adult. ... American Airlines credit card;

  8. Patience is a Virtue: How to Get the Best Seats with AA Basic Economy

    On paper, American Airlines warns that you can't pick your seats when flying basic economy. In practice, that's not entirely true. Starting seven days before departure on domestic flights, American allows basic economy travelers to pay up for a seat assignment. Prices will vary by flight, but they typically start at $10 for a middle seat to $12 ...

  9. Everything you need to know about flying basic economy on American Airlines

    If you don't choose to pay to select a seat, American Airlines will automatically assign you a seat for free at check-in. American Airlines has the following policy for families traveling in basic economy: ... and do not already have seats assigned, our system will search for seats together automatically before the day of departure. We'll try ...

  10. American Airlines "Guarantees" Families Can Sit Together

    March 1, 2023 35 Recently we've seen both United Airlines and Frontier Airlines introduce new family seating policies. This follows President Biden's announcement about cracking down on travel "junk fees," including airlines charging fees for families to sit together. While no laws have been passed yet, we're seeing airlines be proactive.

  11. American Airlines Seating Assignment Question

    I'm wondering if my husband and I's seats are already reserved together, or if since we didn't reserve our seats, we will be separated and sitting in two of the four "available" seats throughout the aircraft? Thank you! Report inappropriate content 1-10 of 12 replies Sorted by « 1 2 » Sea_Reed006 St. Lucia Destination Expert for St. Lucia

  12. How to Sit Next to Your Family When Flying With Basic Economy ...

    "If seats are limited, [the airline] will try to assign seats so children under 15 are next to at least 1 adult on the same reservation record (which may result in adults in the party being...

  13. Airline Family Seating Dashboard

    Alaska Allegiant American Delta Frontier Hawaiian JetBlue Southwest Spirit United Guarantees adjacent seats for child 13 or under and an accompanying adult at no additional cost for all fare types subject to limited conditions

  14. American Airlines guarantees family seating in new customer service

    CNN — American Airlines will guarantee that children will be seated next to an accompanying adult, according to the airline's updated customer service plan. It's the latest airline response...

  15. 8 Ways to Get Seats Together on Your Next Flight

    American Airlines' and United Airlines' systems, even for their most discounted fares, will automatically attempt to seat families together—and at least ensure that one adult is seated next to any child under 15 years old. Hawaiian Airlines' system prioritizes seating children 11 years old and younger with an adult.

  16. How to Ensure Your Family Sits Together on a Plane

    For basic economy fares on United, Delta, American, and JetBlue there's an additional fee to reserve seats before check-in. Otherwise, seats will be randomly assigned during check-in or at...

  17. Flying with American − Support − American Airlines

    If you're a family traveling with children under 15, and do not already have seats assigned, our system will search for seats together automatically before the day of departure. We'll try our best to keep you together, but if seats are limited, we'll assign seats so children under 15 are next to at least 1 adult.

  18. Two Basic Economy tickets

    42 slpybeartx • 1 yr. ago Unless that plane is half empty… not a chance. Most likely two middle seats. I would recommend upfaring the ticket to a main cabin fare. Then you can choose seat. Better value than just paying to choose mmaalex • Iikely to get two middle seats so...not together.

  19. Airline seating: How to keep your family together on flights

    Here's how to do it: • Be polite: Sometimes, you won't have any leverage, like a better seat or a set of extenuating circumstances. A "please" and "thank you" can overcome all of that — and ...

  20. Flying Together: How to Make Sure You Sit Together on a Flight

    In the event your seats aren't together when you get to the airport, it's still not too late to score some seats next to or near one another.

  21. Reservations and tickets

    Same-day flight change allows you to confirm a seat on a different flight on your day of departure on any American Airlines or American Eagle ® flight where eligible seats are available. Your new flight: Must have the same departure and arrival airports

  22. Random seat assignment without paying? : r/americanairlines

    With basic economy you are assigned random seats upon check in (or at gate) and you will likely be separated from anyone else on your reservation. United, Delta, and AA have been doing this for years now in addition to many of the low cost budget airlines. 5. slym0009. • 3 yr. ago.

  23. Airlines, just let families with children sit together for free already

    What airlines currently do for families. Some airlines do theoretically attempt to seat parents and children together. "If you don't choose seats in Main Cabin or Basic Economy, we'll assign seats a few days after you buy your tickets so children under 15 are next to at least one adult they're traveling with," reads American Airlines' policy ...

  24. DOT family seating dashboard helps families stay together while flying

    At the time of its launch, only Alaska, American and Frontier Airlines guaranteed adjacent seats for travelers age 13 or younger with an adult travel companion at no additional cost, according to ...

  25. Delta, Southwest and United Airlines make unpopular seating decision

    Southwest Airlines, however, would not be able to do that because it does not assign seats. That airline does offer priority boarding for families with children, albeit only children ages 6 and under.

  26. How Does The Southwest Airlines Boarding Process Work?

    The major American carrier uniquely does not assign seats at all. The major American carrier uniquely does not assign seats at all. ... Being in the B group usually means a good chance of securing a window or aisle seat or finding two seats together if traveling with a companion. Photo: Angel DiBilio | Shutterstock ... American Airlines Is Now ...