american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

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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 .

Table of Contents

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

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

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.

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

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.

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

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.

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

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.

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

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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american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

Frommer's - Home

That's Ridiculous! I Have a Seat, But I Don't Have a Seat Assignment

By Christopher Elliott

If you have a seat on a plane, shouldn't you also have a seat assignment? Did you say, "Of course"? Well then, let me introduce you to Judy Field, who is flying from Dallas to Bangkok next month on American Airlines ( www.aa.com ) and Japan Airlines ( www.jal.com ). Picking the seats for her domestic flight was easy, she says, but when it came to the codesharing leg on Japan Airlines -- not so much. "I would not be given an assigned seat on Japan Airlines' leg from Tokyo to Bangkok," she says. "I was told they do not assign seats in the class that I purchased until the day of flying." Turns out there's a difference between having a seat assignment and having an actual seat, a fact that Dallas-based travelers like Field are all too aware of. Southwest Airlines ( www.southwest.com ), which is headquartered at Love Field, famously doesn't assign seats. (Critics of that airline like to refer to the procedure as "cattle-call" boarding, but it is, in fact, slightly more organized.) But airlines rarely confirm a reservation without having a seat available. That's called overbooking, and the Transportation Department requires airlines to compensate customers for selling seats that don't exist. So what's going on here? One answer: It's codesharing, the dubious practice of an airline pretending another airline's flight is its own. That's how Field could buy a ticket on American from Dallas to Bangkok. American doesn't fly from Tokyo to Bangkok, but Japan Airlines, its OneWorld ( www.oneworld.com ) codesharing partner, does. And Japan Airlines controls the seats on its plane, ultimately. But that is only part of the explanation. When Sallie Rosa booked an American Airlines codeshare flight on British Airways ( www.ba.com ) a few weeks ago, she got a more precise answer. It's about the money. "I purchased the tickets and the American Airlines site, and it said I'd be able to choose my seats on the next page," she says. "But when I went there, the seat maps were unavailable." Repeated attempts to make a seat selection were unsuccessful. She decided to write to British Airways, asking for a confirmed seat assignment. In response, the airline assured her that she had a seat on the plane, but that an assignment would cost her extra. "British Airways has launched a new service to give our customers more control over their seating options," the airline said in an e-mail. "Customers are now able to choose to pay for their general seating any time from the time of booking. They can also secure exit row seats between 4 and 10 days prior to travel." It added, "We introduced a charge so that those choosing to use this additional service were able to do so without passing on extra costs to those who don't." Well, isn't that thoughtful of them? Rosa paid an extra $318 for seats. She's traveling with two kids, and "I would utterly panic if I arrived and had no seats," she adds. This is part of a bigger process called "unbundling" in which airlines are separating everything that used to come with an airline seat, including the ability to check luggage, have a confirmed seat reservation, be served a meal, and even the have the ability to bring a carry-on bag. Air carriers see these "extras" as revenue opportunities, and they're not shy about asking you, their valued customers, for more. But parsing the seat and the seat reservation is bordering on the absurd. It doesn't cost an airline anything extra to confirm a seat, for starters. It also unfairly targets the kind of air travelers who can least afford to pay for the "luxury" of a confirmed seat: families with young children. But worst of all, asking passengers to pay for a confirmed seat reservation suggests that if you don't pony up the cash, you may not have a seat on the aircraft at all, sending air travelers like Rosa into a tizzy. Maybe -- just maybe -- the unbundling madness has gone too far. Maybe the airline industry needs to look elsewhere for the ancillary revenue it depends on to turn a profit. Christopher Elliott is the author of the book "Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals" (Wiley). He's also the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine and the co-founder of the Consumer Travel Alliance, a nonprofit organization that advocates for travelers. You can read more tips on his blog, elliott.org or e-mail him at [email protected] . Christopher Elliott receives a great deal of reader mail, and though he answers them as quickly as possible, your story may not be published for several months because of a backlog of cases.

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american airlines seat selection not available - SeatGuru Forum

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' class=

I'd give them a call and see if they can assign seating. Except for the one seat shown, the remaining seats may be gate check only, but it can't hurt to try

If it's on BA, then you'll need your BA confirmation code (different from AA's - you'll have to phone AA to get it) and then you can pick seats 24h before the flight , using BA's website.

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

Also are you saying there are no seats available, or no free seats?

Did the OP say where they are flying? Just wondering how BA got into the conversation, although of course if OP is flying to London then a code-share on BA would make perfect sense.

>> Did the OP say where they are flying? Just wondering how BA got into the conversation, although of course if OP is flying to London then a code-share on BA would make perfect sense. <<

Doh! (Smacks head with hand.) No, the OP didn't.say that. I must replace my tinfoil hat.

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

I will take what they have and then later try to change the seats!

roadadvsior

' class=

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Are airlines required to seat families together? Guide to airline family seating policies

Tarah Chieffi

Editor's Note

As a mom of three, I'm no stranger to the ins and outs of flying with family .

I know how to disassemble and reassemble my double stroller with ninja-level precision so it will fit through the baggage scanner at security. I also throw screen time rules out the window on travel days. Most importantly, I don't take any chances when it comes to getting my family's seats together when we fly.

Because I know how turbulent flying with kids can be, I happily gave up my seat on a recent solo flight when a father asked if I would switch seats so he could sit with his young son.

I was also quick to say yes because he had a window seat a couple of rows in front of my own window seat. (Had he been in the middle seat, I might have needed an adult beverage thrown in to sweeten the deal, but I digress.)

Related: Should you ask to switch seats on a plane?

The crux of the issue is that it can be costly and confusing to find seats together when traveling with young kids. Some parents assume they will automatically be seated with their kids. Others may end up separated from their families if they are rebooked due to a cancellation. Regardless of the reason, airlines are not legally required to seat families together.

In November 2022, the Department of Transportation began monitoring airline seating policies to determine if federal regulation was necessary regarding family seating.

After months of monitoring, the DOT launched an online dashboard that displays, among other things, which airlines guarantee free family seating. This is part of a larger initiative by the Biden administration to improve consumer protections in the airline industry.

So far, only three airlines – American Airlines , Frontier Airlines and Alaska Airlines – comply with the DOT's guideline that airlines guarantee "adjacent seats for children 13 and under and an accompanying adult at no additional cost for all fare types."

That doesn't mean you are completely out of luck in guaranteeing your family sits together if you are flying on another major airline. Here is a guide to each airline's family seating policy and tips for ensuring your family members can sit together on your next flight.

American Airlines

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. However, you will have to pay a fee to choose your seats if you choose basic economy tickets — American's least expensive (and most restrictive) fare type.

If you're traveling with children under 15 on any fare type, American's system will detect that you are a family traveling together and automatically search for seats together if you don't choose them yourself. If adjacent seats are unavailable for your entire family, American guarantees children under 15 will be seated next to at least one adult.

Related: Here's what it's really like flying business class with little kids

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

It's important that you do everything in your power to choose seats for your entire family at the time of booking. This is the only way to guarantee your entire family will sit together during your flight.

To do this, American advises the following :

  • Book your entire party's tickets in the same reservation.
  • Book your tickets as early as possible, so there are more available seats to choose from.
  • It's better to skip seat selection than to choose just a few seats or seats scattered throughout the cabin.

Related: Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage

Alaska Airlines

To select your seats at the time of booking on an Alaska flight, you'll need to book either a first-class, premium or main-cabin ticket. Only a limited number of advance seating assignments are available to customers who purchase Alaska's Saver fare tickets.

If no advance seats are available, the seats will be assigned at the gate; this is not ideal for a family wishing to sit together.

The good news is that Alaska Airlines' family seating policy does guarantee that children under 14 will automatically be seated with at least one parent or guardian at no additional charge, including on Saver fares. So, even if you can't find adjacent seats for your entire family, you can rest assured that your children won't be seated separately from an adult.

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

To guarantee your family sits together on an Alaska Airlines flight :

  • Book as early as possible and reserve your family's seats together at the time of purchase.
  • Book children on the same reservation as adults.
  • Confirm seat selections made through third parties on Alaska Airlines' website or by speaking with a reservations agent by phone.
  • If you cannot get reserved seats together with your family during booking, call an Alaska Airlines reservation agent to review available seating options.
  • As a last resort, check in online exactly 24 hours before your flight, as this is when most unclaimed seats become available (does not apply to Saver fare seats, which are assigned at the gate on the day of departure).
  • Arrive at the gate at least 60 minutes prior to your departure time and speak with a gate agent. Alaska does block a limited number of seats to accommodate families and other needs on a first-come, first-served basis.

Delta Air Lines

All but one of Delta's fare types allow you to select your seats when you purchase your tickets.

If you want your family to sit together, steer clear of Delta's basic economy fares because they do not include advanced seat selection. If you purchase first class, Comfort+ or main cabin tickets, you'll have the option to select your seats during the booking process.

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

Delta's has other tips for getting your family's seats together :

  • Book children on the same reservation as the adults in your party.
  • Confirm seat selections made through third parties by calling a Delta reservations agent or going online .
  • If you cannot obtain seats together with your family, contact Delta by phone to review your options or, as a last resort, speak with a Delta gate agent at the airport.

Delta does try and seat family members together but only upon request.

Flight attendants will sometimes ask for volunteers to switch seats. The airline also blocks a handful of rows in the main economy cabin on most flights to accommodate groups and families. Still, there are no guarantees unless you reserve your family's seats together before arriving at the airport (preferably at the time of booking).

Frontier Airlines

Frontier's base fares can be alluring to budget-conscious flyers. However, you'll have to pay extra if you want the luxury of advanced seating assignments.

Luckily, Frontier updated its family seating policy to be in compliance with the DOT's recommendations and guarantees that children under age 14 will be seated automatically with at least one parent or guardian at no additional charge.

Unless you have elite status with Frontier , seat selection fees run between $17 and $90 per passenger per flight segment. There are no fare types that include complimentary seat selection for non-elite members if you want your entire family to sit together.

However, you could potentially make up the extra cost by joining Frontier's Discount Den and choosing a Kids Fly Free flight .

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

Frontier also recommends that families:

  • Book as early as possible and purchase advance seat reservations at the time of booking.
  • Book children on the same reservation as adults in your party.
  • If you book through a third party, visit Frontier's website as soon as possible to purchase advance seat selections.
  • Check in as early as possible online or through Frontier's mobile app and Frontier will assign group seats together if any are available.
  • If your family is not assigned seats together, speak with a gate agent for assistance.

JetBlue offers complimentary seat selection with all fare types except Blue Basic, meaning Blue and Blue Extra fares include free advance seat selection. However, for Blue Basic fares, there is a fee of between $5 and $40 each way to choose your seat more than 24 hours before departure (Seat selection is available for free at check-in).

With JetBlue's family seating policy , however, the airline guarantees that children ages 13 and younger will be seated next to at least one adult traveling with them on the same reservation without an additional fee. This applies to all fare types, including Blue Basic fares. At the time of booking, JetBlue's system will assign seats together for at least one accompanying parent as long as adjacent seats are still available when you book your flight.

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

Other tips from JetBlue :

  • Book as early as possible for maximum seat selection availability.
  • Confirm seat selections made through a third party on JetBlue's website.
  • If you cannot obtain seats together at the time of booking, contact a JetBlue agent at check-in or talk to one at the gate. They will do their best to seat your family together.

JetBlue does its best to keep families together and blocks a limited number of rows until the day of travel for passengers with disabilities and unaccompanied minors . If any seats are available after accommodating these passengers, JetBlue may be able to use them to seat families together.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is the one airline on this list that does not assign seats in advance, so you cannot purchase a specific seat assignment ahead of time.

With Southwest's open seating policy , you will be assigned a boarding group (A, B or C) and a position within that boarding group (1 through 60-plus) at check-in. Essentially, A1 is the best boarding position and you'll have the most seating options available to you when you board the plane.

Because of this, the strategies for getting your family's seats together on a Southwest flight differ from other airlines.

Check in on time

To get as high of a boarding group as possible, you'll need to check in exactly (like, to the second) 24 hours prior to your flight. This should land your family in an A or B boarding group, and most of the time, you won't have an issue getting your family's seats together. You may have to venture to the back of the plane to find those seats, though.

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

Utilize family boarding

If you have a B or C boarding group and are traveling with a child 6 years old or younger, you will have the option to board between the A and B groups during "family boarding."

Southwest's policy states that up to two adults can board with a child age 6 or younger during family boarding. If you have more adults than this in your party, speak with a Southwest gate agent to determine your best strategy for finding seats together once on board.

Related: Southwest Airlines offers expanded family boarding ages on some flights

Purchase EarlyBird Check-In or Upgraded Boarding

You can also purchase EarlyBird Check-In , which gives you the convenience of automatic check-in 36 hours before your flight. (Southwest's regular check-in process begins 24 hours prior to your flight.) This means you'll automatically receive an earlier boarding position and more available seats to choose from than if you'd done it yourself.

EarlyBird Check-In pricing starts at $15 per passenger per flight segment, and you must purchase it for everyone in your party. Depending on availability, you may also be able to purchase Upgraded Boarding at the gate for between $30 and $50 per person per flight segment to secure an A1-A15 boarding position.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card holders can receive two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year, which can bring the total cost for your family down a bit. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card also has a benefit of four Upgraded Boardings per year.

Rapid Rewards A-List and A-List Preferred members (and those traveling on the same reservation) automatically receive a boarding position 36 hours prior to departure, though you will still need to check in within 24 hours of your flight to receive your boarding pass.

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

Buy a Business Select fare

Finally, you have the option to purchase a Business Select fare, which, among other perks, includes priority boarding in the A1-A15 group.

Speak with an agent

If you don't heed our advice and find yourself at the airport with a less-than-desirable boarding group, Southwest advises that you speak with a gate agent or flight attendant. They will see if any passengers are willing to move to accommodate your family if you aren't able to get seats together.

Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines keeps its family seating advice plain and simple: The only way to guarantee you'll be able to sit with your family is to purchase your seat assignments ahead of time.

Seat assignments start at $5 per person per segment and vary by route and seat location in the aircraft. You can purchase your seat assignment when you book your flight, during check-in or anytime in between. However, the earlier you choose the seats, the better chance your entire family will be able to sit together.

Spirit currently has no official family seating policy. It only states that it "can't guarantee that you'll sit with your friends and family" if you don't purchase seat assignments; it says that gate agents will work to provide adjacent seats for guests flying with children aged 13 and under whenever possible.

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

There are ways to save money when purchasing your seats, though. Spirit Saver$ Club members receive low fares and discounted prices for add-ons like bags and seats. There is an annual fee, but if you have a large family or plan on flying Spirit Airlines often, the cost may be less than purchasing seats for your entire group.

Speaking of frequent flying, members of Spirit's Free Spirit loyalty program at the Gold level receive, among other perks, free seat selection at the time of booking. Unlike Frontier's program, Spirit's elite status perks, such as seat selection, do not confer to other members on the reservation.

United Airlines

United is also among the few airlines committed to helping families sit together on flights. United's family seating policy guarantees families with children under age 12 in certain cabins can sit together for free, regardless of fare type.

Now, United's new "dynamic seat map feature" will enable passengers to book two seats together for travelers under 12 and an adult companion for free, including on basic economy fares.

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

You'll probably want to avoid basic economy on United if you want your party to stay together. United explicitly states on its website that it's not able to guarantee your entire party will be able to sit together if you purchase a basic economy fare and do not purchase advance seat assignments.

Here are a few more helpful tips for families flying United :

  • Book your tickets as early as possible and reserve your family's seats together when booking.
  • Confirm seat selections made through a third party.
  • If only scattered seats are available at the time of booking, you are better off letting United's system automatically choose seats for you because it will attempt to seat families on the same reservation with unassigned seats together.
  • If you do not select seats in advance, United's system will attempt to find adjoining seats for you and your children under 15 on the same reservation, regardless of fare type.
  • If you cannot obtain seats together, arrive early at your departure gate and speak with a gate agent. They will ask for volunteers to move seats and help accommodate your family.

General tips

There is a lot of overlap with the guidance for getting your family's seats together on most U.S. airlines (with Southwest being the exception).

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

You want to do everything possible to:

  • Book early and select seats when you book. Do not wait until the last minute to check your seat assignments.
  • Avoid saver or basic fares because they often do not offer complimentary seat selection.
  • Choose your family's seats when booking, whether it's included with your fare or you have to pay an additional fee.
  • If you are unable to get your family's seats together at the time of booking, call the airline and speak with a reservations agent to determine the best course of action.
  • Keep checking seat availability in the months and weeks leading up to your flight, especially in the final week before your trip and again 24 hours before your flight. These are the times when people make last-minute changes or elite flyers receive automatic seat upgrades, freeing up space on the seating map.
  • If you arrive at the airport and still haven't been able to secure your family's seats together, politely ask a gate agent or flight attendant for help. You may still have the option to pay for an upgrade, or they can assist you by finding open seats. It may be too late to do anything official, but they'll be much more willing to help if you approach them with kindness.

Related: Where to sit on a plane with 2 small kids

Bottom line

Sometimes kind travelers will help parents who end up in a bind onboard, but there's no guarantee. Luckily, airlines are falling in line and making it easier for families traveling together to sit together.

USA TODAY

Your airfare includes a seat, but the airline wants you to pay more | Cruising Altitude

I am old enough to remember a time when you could pick your seat for free on every flight on just about every airline. That’s because those pesky fees are relatively new. They started to gain traction among full-service carriers in the mid-to-late 2000s, and by 2018, the big three U.S. carriers were all charging them on at least some tickets.

There was a time when there were no Byzantine ticket structures where some fares included seat selection, and others barred you from choosing your location on the plan in advance, or at least from doing so for free.

But nowadays it’s different.

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Low-cost airlines like Spirit and Frontier, of course, charge extra for just about everything, but even the legacy carriers, American, Delta and United, have fare classes in economy now that don’t include seat selection. Some charge extra depending on the seat’s location, even if you’ve paid for a ticket that includes selection.

British Airways takes things a step that is ridiculously far: charging business class passengers a fee on top of their ticket price to select their flatbed seats. For example, on a round-trip itinerary departing from New York on Feb. 22 and returning from London on March 6, it costs around $130 per person each way to choose a seat in business, on top of the $3,300 cost of the round-trip ticket. Keep in mind that pricing is also dynamic and will rise or drop depending on timing and the exact location of the seat, with seats in the center of the plane closer to the lower class dividers costing less.

I’m afraid these fees are becoming a staple with airlines.

“These fees are beginning to rival what they collect for baggage at many carriers,” Jay Sorensen, president at the airline consulting firm IdeaWorksCompany, told me. “The rapid embrace of assigned seating fees by all airlines has been a surprise to me. The extent to which they have been such powerful generators of revenue has been a surprise to me as well.”

Of course, there are ways to avoid paying the fees, from flying an airline that doesn’t charge them or buying a ticket that includes seat selection to having frequent flyer status that gives you free seats as a perk. 

Keep in mind that these fees are technically optional. If you buy a ticket, you’ll have a seat on your flight. In many cases, you just won’t have the option of choosing where that seat is without shelling out extra. Airlines will assign you an unclaimed seat when you check in if you haven’t paid to pick one in advance.

Here’s what to know.

How common are seat selection fees?

Most airlines charge seat selection fees one way or another, Sorensen said, whether it’s by selling lower-fare tickets that don’t include seat preferences or simply by making passengers pay for their seats individually. Even Southwest Airlines, which famously does not assign seats, has its ways of generating seating revenue.

“One could say, well, Southwest doesn’t have these fees, but Southwest does have an early boarding fee,” Sorensen said. “If you want to get a better seat, you’re going to have to pay a priority boarding fee.” 

If you’ve flown in the last few years, you’ve probably seen at least some of the ways airlines squeeze extra revenue out of their seats. The Wall Street Journal recently reported economy seat selection fees as high as $100 on some flights.

How can I avoid paying for a seat on an airplane?

Although the fees have become common across the industry, not every passenger on every flight pays them outright. For example, as a frequent flyer with Delta Air Lines, I have complimentary access to preferred seats in their main cabin – those closer to the front of the plane that other passengers would need to pay extra to select during booking.

Sorensen said free seat selection for preferred or extra legroom seats is a valuable, if somewhat frustrating, perk for frequent flyers, especially now that upgrades are getting harder to come by.

For more casual travelers, however, avoiding seat selection fees can be difficult. Even if you don’t pay them directly, you may be compelled to buy a more expensive ticket that will let your entire travel group stick together onboard. If you’re already paying extra, you may also be tempted to buy a higher-fare class, which can provide perks like more legroom or a nicer seat, though, of course, at a steeper price.

What happens if I don’t pay for seat selection?

As I mentioned previously, you don’t have to pay to select a seat, but you’re much more likely to wind up stuck between two strangers at the back of the plane if you don’t. 

Are airline seat selection fees legal?

The Biden administration has taken a hard look at ancillary airline revenue, and Congress is considering different legislation to crack down on airline seating fees.

President Joe Biden urged Congress in March 2023 to introduce legislation that would bar airlines at least from charging fees for families with young children who want to sit together, and some airlines have already voluntarily implemented such policies.

The Department of Transportation has a dashboard that outlines these policies by airline.

For now, however, airline seat fees remain unrestricted and hard to avoid.

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

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Your airfare includes a seat, but the airline wants you to pay more | Cruising Altitude

You don't have to pay a seat selection fee, but if you don't want to get stuck in the middle at the back, you should consider it.

Passenger allegedly boards flight from Nashville to Los Angeles without a ticket

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

A woman allegedly boarded a flight from Nashville to Los Angeles without a boarding pass earlier this month.

The flyer bypassed the boarding pass and ID check by walking through an unmanned section of the security checkpoint, the Transportation Security Administration said.

“TSA is reviewing the circumstances of this matter, but can confirm that the traveler in question was physically screened, along with their carry-on items, without incident at the Nashville International Airport security checkpoint on February 7th before boarding the flight,” the agency told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. “TSA and its airline partners are cooperating with the ongoing law enforcement investigation.”

The passenger allegedly took an American Airlines flight without a ticket, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “A woman in question was detained for questioning and our investigation is ongoing,” the FBI said in an emailed statement. “No one has been charged at this time.”

American said flight 1393 was met by law enforcement on arrival, but did not address the specifics of the incident. “Safety and security are our highest priorities, and we are assisting law enforcement in the investigation,” the airline said an emailed statement.

Nashville International Airport referred USA TODAY’s request for comment to the TSA and the airline.

The incident is not the only one of its kind in recent months. A British man was reportedly arrested after flying from London to New York without a boarding pass or passport in December.

Contributing: Zach Wichter, USA TODAY

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

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Officials Investigate How a Woman Flew to Los Angeles Without a Ticket

The woman bypassed a Transportation Security Administration check and boarded an American Airlines flight in Nashville, officials said.

Several people walk through a corridor with sunlight on the word “Nashville” on the floor.

By Derrick Bryson Taylor and Christine Hauser

An investigation is underway into how a woman boarded an American Airlines flight at Nashville International Airport and flew to Los Angeles without showing a ticket last week, officials said on Friday.

Law enforcement met Flight 1393 upon its arrival at Los Angeles International Airport on Feb. 7, American Airlines said in a statement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation detained a woman for questioning after the flight had landed, Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman in Los Angeles, said on Friday.

The airline said it was assisting law enforcement in the investigation but not whether its employees properly checked for a ticket at the gate.

The woman was not named because there were no charges as of early Friday. Ms. Eimiller said interviews were still taking place.

Mark Howell, a regional spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration, said the woman went around the agency’s document checkpoint in Nashville’s airport about 6:30 a.m. local time.

“She went into the queue and lined up, but went under one of the stanchions,” he said on Friday. “She did not go to the ticket and document checker.”

After going around the document checkpoint, the woman and all of her personal belongings did go through a security screening, he added.

The episode is the second time in four months that a traveler boarded a flight to Los Angeles without the proper credentials.

In November, a man, who was believed to be a Russian citizen, finagled his way through security at Copenhagen Airport in Denmark and flew to Los Angeles, carrying only Russian and Israeli identification cards in his bag, officials said.

The man, Sergey Vladimirovich Ochigava, told investigators that he was unsure whether he had a plane ticket to Los Angeles and that he did not remember how he got on the plane. He also claimed not to remember how he went through security without a ticket.

Mr. Ochigava was charged with being a stowaway on an aircraft, a felony, and was found guilty last month, according to the U.S. attorney’s office for the Central District of California . On Feb. 5, he was sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release, according to court documents.

The T.S.A., which has authority over security and passenger screening at U.S. airports, has had blunders in the past, including in 2022, when a Frontier Airlines flight from Cincinnati to Tampa was diverted to Atlanta after a passenger was seen with a box cutter . The T.S.A. later said that mistakes in screening procedures were to blame in that episode.

Derrick Bryson Taylor is a general assignment reporter. He previously worked at The New York Post’s PageSix.com and Essence magazine. More about Derrick Bryson Taylor

Christine Hauser is a reporter, covering national and foreign news. Her previous jobs in the newsroom include stints in Business covering financial markets and on the Metro desk in the police bureau. More about Christine Hauser

What to know about American Airlines' new policy changes: Checked bag fees, luggage size, earning loyalty points and miles

The Fort Worth, Texas-based airline announced the updates on Tuesday.

Delta made waves last year in announcing sweeping policy changes to its loyalty program , and now American Airlines has followed suit with changes of its own that will impact how travelers earn frequent-flyer points, as well as how much they pay for checked bags.

On Tuesday, the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier announced increased costs for checked bags both online and at the airport.

In a push to get more flyers to book directly with American Airlines, the carrier is also "[updating] the way customers earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points on flights, depending on where they book."

PHOTO: In this Aug. 7, 2023 file photo, passengers stand in line to check in luggage at an American Airlines ticket baggage counter at O'Hare International Airport, in Chicago.

Vasu Raja, American's chief commercial officer, said in a statement that "the best fares" will come when booking directly with the airline, adding that the shift in policy will be most rewarding for members of its AAdvantage program.

American Airlines' new bag fees

PHOTO: In this March 6, 2022 filre photo, American Airlines baggage handlers load luggage on an airplane at the O'Hare International Airport (ORD), in Chicago.

Previously, a passenger's first checked bag on domestic flights cost $30. The airline has now raised that fee to $35 when purchased online, or $40 when purchased at the airport. A second checked item will cost $45, another $5 increase, both online and at the airport.

The changes will go into affect for flights booked on or after Feb. 20 for travel within the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean .

There are a few exceptions: Passengers with status in the AAdvantage loyalty program, those who use an American-branded credit card, and those who buy a premium-class ticket will continue to receive complimentary bags on domestic and international flights.

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American also offers complimentary bags to active-duty U.S. military personnel on all American flights.

The airline last raised its bag fees in 2018.

American Airlines lowers fees for oversize, overweight checked bags

In a bright spot for American customers, the airline has introduced its lowest fee ever for checked items that are only a few pounds heavier or a few inches larger than a standard bag, which the airline said can "result in savings of more than $350 for some customers."

American will also reduce the oversize checked baggage limit to 115 linear inches.

For bags over the weight limit between 50-53 pounds, the new fee will be $30, and overweight bags between 53-70 pounds will be charged a fee of $100 to $200. Bags weighing between 70-100 pounds will still be charged $450.

For bags that are over the size limit, between 62-65 linear inches, passengers will be charged a new fee of $30, with bags between 65-115 linear inches charged $150 to $200.

Previously, customers were charged $100 to $200 extra for overweight bags between 50-70 pounds, and all oversize bags between 62-126 linear inches were charged an extra $150 to $200.

Additionally, bags that are both oversized and overweight will now be charged a single fee, rather than two separate fees, ranging from $30 to $450, depending on size and weight.

The lower costs and simpler fee structure for oversize and overweight checked items will go into effect for travel on or after April 17.

PHOTO: A screenshot of the fee changes coming to American Airlines for oversized and overweight checked items.

Additionally, the airline has said it will no longer allow javelins, pole vaults or hang gliders to be checked starting April 17.

American Airlines updates how flyers earn AAdvantage miles, loyalty points

American is also updating the way customers can earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points on flights, which is contingent upon where they book, "starting with tickets issued on May 1, 2024."

How to ensure you're earning miles and Loyalty Points

PHOTO: In this Feb. 5, 2021 file photo, a worker hauls luggage for an American Airlines flight at O'Hare International Airport, in Chicago.

In order to earn points in the AAdvantage loyalty program, American Airlines said most customers will be required to purchase tickets directly from the airline or its eligible partner carriers. Additionally, Basic Economy fare tickets will only earn points when the flight is booked directly with American or its eligible partners.

Customers can book travel anywhere as an AAdvantage Business member or contracted corporate traveler to keep earning points and miles. Corporate travelers won't be affected by this change, the airline stated.

American said it will share a list of eligible preferred agencies on aa.com in late April, for customers who wish to book through those travel agencies to earn miles and points.

American Airlines loyalty members, credit card holder benefits

PHOTO: American Airlines passenger jets are lined up on the gates at Washingtons Reagan National Airport, Feb. 10, 2024, in Arlington, Va.

Certain AAdvantage members and credit card holders will still receive important benefits, such as complimentary bags on American Airlines flights.

AAdvantage members who book directly with the airline will also receive benefits like same-day standby and Trip Credit for canceled flights.

The airline said that booking directly will also help loyalty members reach AAdvantage status and unlock rewards faster.

Finally, for tickets purchased on or after Feb. 20, the pet-in-cabin fee will be $150.

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American Airlines is making it harder to rack up frequent-flier miles - here's who will be most affected

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

American Airlines will restrict earning miles on tickets purchased through most third-party travel websites starting May 1

American Airlines will soon stop letting customers earn frequent-flier miles when they book trips on third-party travel sites - and the change will hurt some road warriors more than others.

The airline announced Tuesday that unless travelers book tickets directly through American's website or with its "preferred" travel agencies or third-party sites, they will not be able to earn frequent-flier miles on their tickets as they used to.

At the moment, American Airlines (AAL) passengers can earn miles when they buy a ticket via third-party websites such as Expedia (EXPE) or their credit card's travel-booking portal. Currently, there are some restrictions on how many miles travelers earn on basic economy-class tickets purchased on third-party sites.

But after May 1, if travelers want to earn miles for American's AAdvantage program on their purchases of any flight they have to make the purchase directly from American Airlines, or through an agency or third-party travel site recognized by the airline. The airline hasn't yet released a list of these preferred third-party sites, but says it will do so in April.

In another blow to travelers' wallets, the carrier also announced that it will increase fees for checked bags from $30 to $35 for the first bag, and $40 to $45 for the second.

While American says that most AAdvantage Miles members won't be affected by the new rules, some travel experts say the restrictions will penalize everyday travelers, especially those who spend a long time searching for cheaper tickets. It will be a bigger inconvenience for those comparing fares at different sites, to say the least, said Gunnar Olson, flight-deal analyst at Thrifty Traveler.

"This is just another way in which the airlines are making everybody double-check and triple-check everything before they make bookings so you don't get stuck with a fare that you really didn't want in the first place," he told MarketWatch.

Airlines want to push travelers to buy more premium tickets - those first-class and the business-class seats that bring in more money, Olson added. In the past decade, many airlines have come up with restrictions on basic-economy seats, such as checked-bag fees, and boosted the rewards for their loyalty programs.

The result is that leisure travelers lose the most, said Chris Elliott, a consumer advocate and journalist.

"The losers are going to be regular air travelers who are just trying to get a good deal and maybe enough frequent-flier miles to have a flight at the end of the year to visit grandma for Thanksgiving," said Elliott. Elites - those hardcore business travelers who have tons of miles - are not among those impacted, he added, especially by the increased baggage fees. "Corporate travelers are the ones with a credit card. They all get quote-unquote, 'free checked bags,'" Elliott said.

"Almost every airline is pursuing some sort of NDC strategy, so they're all trying to do the same thing." Jeff Klee, CEO of corporate travel platform AmTrav

However, about 80% or more of AAdvantage Miles members will still be able to earn miles as they do now after May 1, an American Airlines spokesperson told MarketWatch in an email.

The airline will continue to allow travelers to earn frequent-flier miles when they book on third-party sites that use a new booking system known as "New Distribution Capability." The system displays more features such as seat selection, and can "provide more relevant, tailored offers to our customers," the carrier said on its website. Many major travel sites such as Expedia have already adopted the new technology.

It's possible that other airlines could follow suit and push third-party sites to use the new booking system, travel experts and aviation analysts told MarketWatch. Aside from the new system being more user-friendly, it's also a lot cheaper for airlines and for passengers. Airlines usually offer cheaper prices to passengers through sites that use the NDC system compared to non-NDC sites.

"Almost every airline is pursuing some sort of NDC strategy, so they're all trying to do the same thing," said Jeff Klee, CEO of corporate travel platform AmTrav. "I think there will be a lot of changes in how airline tickets are sold and who's selling them," Klee told MarketWatch.

Will I still be able to earn frequent-flier miles if I book travel on Expedia, Travelocity, Kayak or another travel site?

For deal-seekers who are searching for cheaper prices via major online travel agencies such as Expedia, the good news is that most of those sites have adopted the new technology, which means they will likely be on American's list of preferred providers.

Big global distribution systems - such as Amadeus (AMADY) and Travelport, as well as major travel agencies and aggregators such as Expedia and Booking.com (BKNG) - have adopted the new system, according to aviation analytics company OAG.

But it could be hard for smaller, mom-and-pop travel agencies to implement the change quickly, said Zach Griff, senior aviation writer with the Points Guy. Those businesses usually have less support to navigate through a new infrastructure change and many employees of travel agencies have little access to the new technology or are not familiar with it, according to OAG.

Expedia, Kayak (BKNG), Travelport and Booking.com did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Will I still be able to earn frequent-flier miles as a business traveler?

It depends on whether those travelers work for an employer that has a relationship with American Airlines, but most corporate travelers will not be affected by the policy change.

Business travelers who work for companies that have contracts with American Airlines are not affected by the new rules, the carrier said when announcing the change. Those travelers can still earn miles wherever they purchase their tickets. This includes AAdvantage Business members, a category the airline introduced last year, for travelers with medium or smaller-sized businesses.

Most big corporations have contracts with major airlines, Griff said. But travelers from smaller companies may have to navigate this change on their own.

Will I still be able to earn AAdvantage miles when I book flights through a credit-card portal?

People who book their flights through their credit card's travel portal are facing more uncertainty, analysts told MarketWatch.

Some credit-card companies partner with other online travel agencies and outsource the booking process to agencies that use the new system that American prefers, said Cory Garner, who runs an independent airline advisory company Garner in Dallas, Texas.

But some credit-card companies still use the old technology and may have some difficulty meeting the requirement by American Airlines, he said. In addition to that, it's uncertain whether American Airlines will see those credit-card companies as competitors of its own credit-card lines and act on that, Garner said. Airlines also operate their own credit cards and they often generate important revenue for the company.

But using credit-card travel portals may not offer the best deals for consumers. An American Airlines spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal recently that credit-card travel portals that use the older distribution technology do not have the same access as others to American Airlines' cheaper fares.

This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

02-22-24 1559ET

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American Airlines Is Raising Bag Fees and Changing How Customers Earn Frequent-Flyer Points

American Airlines is raising bag fees and pushing customers to buy tickets directly from the airline if they want to earn frequent-flyer points

Seth Wenig

FILE - American Airlines planes sit on the tarmac at Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, Jan. 11, 2023, in New York. American Airlines is raising bag fees and pushing customers to buy tickets directly from the airline if they want to earn frequent-flyer points. American said Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, that checking a bag on domestic flights will rise from $30 now to $35 online, and it'll be $40 if purchased at the airport. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

DALLAS (AP) — American Airlines is raising the cost of checking bags and it is making other changes to push customers to buy tickets directly from the airline if they want to earn frequent-flyer points.

The airline said Tuesday that checking a bag on a domestic flight will rise from $30 now to $35 online and $40 if purchased at the airport. The fee for a second checked bag will rise from $40 to $45 both online and at the airport.

American last raised bag fees in 2018.

American, based in Fort Worth, Texas, introduced bag fees in 2008 — $15 back then — to cope with the rising cost of jet fuel. Since then, they have become a steady revenue source for most major U.S. carriers. American easily led the industry by raising $1.4 billion in bag fees in 2022, the last year for which U.S. Transportation Department figures are available.

The airline is also raising bag fees by $5 for short international flights including those to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean — now $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second.

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The airline will generally allow customers to check at least one bag free if they hold elite status in American's loyalty program, buy a premium-class ticket or use an American-branded credit card.

In January, Alaska Airlines raised its checked-bag fees for most economy passengers from $30 to $35 for a first bag and from $40 to $45 for a second. JetBlue followed this month, raising its fees to $35 and $50.

“Airlines tend to move in herds, so when Alaska recently announced they would be upping their bag fee to $35, there was little doubt other airlines would soon follow,” said Scott Keyes, founder of the travel site Going. “It’s unlikely American will be the last.”

Keyes noted that American's decision to charge customers more if they pay bag fees at the airport instead of when they buy their ticket mimics a tactic used by budget airlines such as Spirit and Frontier.

American will give a break to customers whose bags are slightly overweight or oversized. Instead of being hit with the full extra fee — ranging from $100 to $650 — graduated fees will start at $30 for bags that are no more than 3 pounds (1.36 kg) or three linear inches over the limits.

And it is cutting the cost of transferring points between frequent-flyer accounts.

At the same time, American announced that starting with tickets issued on May 1, customers will have to buy tickets directly from the airline or its partner carriers or from preferred online travel agencies if they want to earn points in its AAdvantage loyalty program. The airline said it will list the preferred travel agencies in late April. Corporate travelers won’t be affected.

About 60% of American's ticket sales are already made directly through the airline, said Scott Chandler, vice president of revenue management.

The changes are part of a long shift by airlines away from using travel agents — and paying them commissions — and bringing ticket sales in-house.

“The old way of booking a ticket relied on agents having a ton of experience and understanding product attributes,” Chandler said in an interview. “The old technology doesn't let us explain things very well, and it is a little more confusing for customers when we introduce new products.”

Chandler likened it to the way that Amazon.com explains features that it sells on the site.

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Save time and money with the help of Orbitz.com. You can find a wealth of information to help you plan a successful trip and cheap flights to Moscow. Moscow is an enchanting city with stunning views and breathtaking scenery. No matter when you visit, you are sure to enjoy everything this great city has to offer.

Moscow When to Go

June, July, and August are the most crowded months in Moscow, and getting into popular attractions like the Kremlin can be difficult. It’s worth braving the crowds, though, to see the golden domes, bright white bell tower, intricate Fabergé eggs, and the rest of the impressive complex. There are sure to be crowds in Red Square during the summer, too, but you can’t miss St. Basil’s fairytale-like Cathedral, Lenin’s Mausoleum, the fanciful Kazan Cathedral, and the popular, upscale GUM shopping mall. Keep an eye on the forecast. Temperatures in summer reach into the 90s and it’s the rainiest period in Moscow.

Spring is shoulder season in Moscow, as well as a pretty time to visit. The flowers around the city come into bloom. To celebrate the end of a long winter, Maslenitsa, a religious and folk holiday, ushers in the new season with pancake feasts, traditional (and friendly!) fist fighting, bonfires, and other celebrations. Temperatures warm up to the 50s and 60s during the day, so enjoy a visit to one of Moscow’s many parks; there are almost 300 square feet of parks per person here. Kolomenskoye is a nice one, with a beautiful church that dates back to 1532.

Tourists are in shorter supply during the winter due to Moscow’s notorious cold, but if you enjoy a snowy landscape, pack some warm boots and go. The Russian Winter Festival at the end of December and beginning of January is a fun way to celebrate the best of the season—troika rides, ice hockey games, snowmen, and plenty of warm tea. Especially in winter, make use of the (heated) Metro public transit. Many of the underground stations feature art, including statues, stained glass windows, mosaics, and chandeliers.

Frequently asked questions

  • Turkish Airlines - 380 flights to Moscow per month
  • Azur Air - 136 flights to Moscow per month
  • Flydubai - 105 flights to Moscow per month
  • Consider other airports to save cash. Enter your preferred departure and arrival airports in the form fields, then select the ‘Nearby airports’ function below. It will list the available options.
  • If your plans aren’t cast in stone, click on the ‘Show flexible dates’ link to check out the flight deals for a selection of departure dates. You may find an even better fare.
  • You can also hit the ‘Show options’ link to filter results for your preferred airline, seating class, nonstop flights and refundable flights. Under ‘Sort & Filter’ to the left, you can even pick the time of day you’d like to fly.
  • Book your fare as soon as you’ve sorted your travel dates. While it does happen from time to time, airfares rarely fall in price as your date of departure approaches.
  • Make big savings on your vacation by bundling your flights, hotels and car rentals into one handy package. Your credit card will thank you for it.
  • Where possible, don’t fly in the most popular seasons. Airfares soar during school breaks, summer and other vacation periods like Easter and Thanksgiving.
  • St. Petersburg (LED-Pulkovo) to Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) - 1 hour and 28 minutes
  • Sochi (AER-Sochi Intl.) to Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) - 4 hours
  • Yekaterinburg (SVX-Koltsovo) to Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) - 2 hours and 39 minutes
  • In all cases you’ll need some identification. How much? This depends on where you’re traveling to and from. When reserving your flight tickets, we suggest to put down the same name, birth date and gender as shown on your government-issued ID.
  • If you’re flying direct to Moscow, chances are you’re going to be airborne for quite a while. Pack lots of snacks and things to keep you busy. Now is the perfect time to get stuck into that book you’ve been eager to read!
  • Cabin temperatures are often chilly enough to give you goose bumps. Carry an extra warm layer even if you’re vacationing during the height of summer.
  • Flexibility isn’t just useful for your yoga. Have some room to move around your travel dates so you can snap up more affordable airfares when they pop up.
  • Budget airlines offer first or business-class seats at a fraction of the usual cost. Skip the full-service carriers and consider these cheaper options.
  • Make the most of your airline’s frequent flyer program and use points to upgrade your seat. You can also bid for an upgrade in an online auction if available.
  • Slip on a pair of comfy sneakers and tour this bustling city on foot. There are many awesome attractions to make your way to, such as Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral.
  • You’ll discover rewarding day trips a quick drive from the center of town. Tour Moscow State University first and then find time for Crocus Expo Center.
  • Love to find out what else Moscow has to offer? Organize a car rental and hotfoot it to Dmitrov or Sergiyev Posad. With your own vehicle, exploring those harder-to-find destinations will also be easy.

More to Explore

Moscow flights, flights to moscow.

  • New York to Moscow
  • Washington to Moscow
  • Chicago to Moscow
  • San Francisco to Moscow
  • Almaty to Moscow
  • Tashkent to Moscow
  • Orlando to Moscow
  • Kyiv to Moscow
  • London to Moscow
  • Berlin to Moscow
  • Paris to Moscow
  • Milan to Moscow
  • Mineralnye Vody to Moscow
  • Amsterdam to Moscow
  • Beijing to Moscow
  • Istanbul to Moscow

Airports Near Moscow

  • Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO)
  • Vnukovo Intl. Airport (VKO)
  • Zhukovsky Airport (ZIA)

Fare, taxes & fees:  Fares include all taxes and fees, except baggage fees. Rates shown reflect fares found by other Orbitz users over the past 7 days. Due to rapidly changing airline prices & seat availability, these fares may no longer be available.

Refunds/changes/cancellations:  Itinerary changes, if permitted for the fare, will have a $30 service fee charged by Orbitz. Additional airline charges may apply.

Other conditions:  Schedules, fares and rules are subject to change without notice. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights/dates or in all markets. Lower fares may be available. Fares will not be honored retroactively or in exchange for any wholly/partially unused ticket. Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable. Fare rules are provided for the selected itinerary before booking.

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  • Travel experience

Main Cabin Extra

Main Cabin Extra

A little more of everything

Enjoy more space with Main Cabin Extra seating, starting at $20. Seats are located in Main Cabin and offered on most flights, subject to availability.

Early boarding

Be one of the first to board after AAdvantage ® status members with Preferred Group 5 boarding and get easier access to overhead bin space.*

Boarding process

Extra legroom

Sit back and relax with more room to stretch out at the front of the Main Cabin.

Free carry-on

You can bring 1 personal item and 1 bag with you for free. See all the restrictions before you board.

Checked bag policy

Complimentary snacks and drinks

Enjoy complimentary beer, wine and spirits; plus free Biscoff cookies or mini pretzels and soft drinks. Additional food may be available for free, depending on your route.**

Main Cabin food

Free entertainment

Enjoy free movies and TV shows – on screen or your device.

Inflight entertainment

You can buy Wi-Fi on select aircraft so you never miss a beat while you’re on board.

Wi-Fi and connectivity

*Overhead bin space availability varies by aircraft.

**On flights with full drink service. The number of drinks served may be limited.

Book your seat

Look for the Main Cabin Extra icon when you choose your seats.

Book a flight and buy Main Cabin Extra

If you've already booked your flight, you can still buy a Main Cabin Extra seat. If you bought a Basic Economy ticket, boarding restrictions still apply.

Change your seat

AAdvantage ® members can now use miles to reserve Main Cabin Extra seats.

  • Reserve seats with miles
  • Find your trip

You can buy Main Cabin Extra through Reservations, select travel agencies and airport self-service kiosks. If you have a credit card stored in your AAdvantage ® profile, you can also buy on our mobile app.

American Airlines app

AAdvantage® status member access

Who gets complimentary main cabin extra seats.

  • AAdvantage Executive Platinum ® , AAdvantage Platinum Pro ® and AAdvantage Platinum ® members
  • one world ® Sapphire and Emerald members with elite status on Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Qatar Airways or Japan Airlines

All listed members are allowed complimentary access for up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation.

AAdvantage Gold® and one world® Ruby members*

Enjoy complimentary access within 24 hours of departure when seats are available.

* one world ® Ruby members with elite status on Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Qatar Airways or Japan Airlines

Seat assignments

  • We make every effort to ensure you get your chosen seat, but seat assignments are not guaranteed.
  • We reserve the right to change seats for operational, safety or security reasons.
  • You must check in at least 60 minutes before departure for international flights and 45 minutes for domestic flights within the U.S. Also, make sure you arrive at the gate 15 minutes before departure or you may lose your seat.

Main Cabin Extra seats

  • Main Cabin Extra seats are on select flights operated by American Airlines and American Eagle and subject to availability.
  • Seats are non-transferable and valid only on the flight purchased.
  • We reserve the right to discontinue the sale of seats or refuse to sell seats to a passenger.
  • Fees for seats are non-refundable with some exceptions.

Refunds issued for seats

We'll issue you a refund if:

  • You pay to upgrade to First or Business
  • You pay more for another seat on the same flight (but not if you change to a lower priced or free seat)
  • You cancel your flight within 24 hours and booked at least 2 days before departure
  • You cancel, rebook and buy seats on your new flight
  • We cancel your flight and we're unable to get you a comparable seat on another flight rebooked by us*
  • We delay your flight causing you to miss a connection and we're unable to get you a comparable seat on another flight*
  • You’re denied boarding on an oversold flight and we're unable to get you a comparable seat*

*Unable to get you a comparable seats is defined as moving from Main Cabin Extra to a preferred or other Main Cabin seat or from an aisle / window Main Cabin Extra seat to a middle Main Cabin Extra seat

Receipts and refunds

Request a refund or voucher

You can request a refund online if you paid for seats and you make changes to parts of your reservation, and you lose your paid seats on the unchanged segments.

You can request a voucher for the value of your non-refundable seat if you cancel your trip during the coronavirus travel period and booked by March 31, 2021.

Keep in mind you need to submit separate refund requests for your flights, seats and other purchases.

Request a refund or voucher Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility guidelines

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  • Admirals Club ®

american airlines ticket with no seat assignment

Find cheap flights from New York to Moscow

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When to book flights from New York to Moscow

Faqs for booking flights from new york to moscow, what services are available for travelers with limited mobility.

If you or someone you are traveling with has limited mobility, there are a few services available for you to benefit from. For example, all airports in the New York and Moscow regions have employees that are there to help individuals with limited mobility go through security. Each airport also has elevators and ramps to make the main terminals accessible for individuals in wheelchairs.

What are my transportation options for going from downtown New York to LaGuardia?

An easy way to go from downtown New York to LaGuardia is by driving, as the trip will only take you around 20 to 25min as long as there is no extra traffic. Otherwise, you can use public transportation, like the Babylon bus line, which will bring you to the airport in around 35 to 40min.

Can I rent a car directly from Domodedovo Airport?

There are several car rental companies that have offices directly at Domodedovo Airport, including Hertz and SIXT. You can find the desks for these companies on the first floor of the International Arrivals hall. Each company keeps its fleet on airport property.

How can I go from Sheremetyevo International Airport to the city center?

If you opt to drive from Sheremetyevo International Airport to the city center, you can plan on the trip normally taking between 40 to 45min, depending on weather and traffic conditions. Public transportation can be used for this journey as well, such as bus lines 41 and 20K. If you opt to take the bus to get to the city center, you will arrive in around 40min total.

Do I need a passport to fly between New York and Moscow?

Yes, you’ll need a passport to travel to Moscow from New York.

Which aircraft models fly most regularly from New York to Moscow?

We unfortunately don’t have that data for this specific route.

How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from New York to Moscow?

KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from New York to Moscow.

How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from New York to Moscow?

KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Moscow from New York is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from New York to Moscow?

Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Moscow with an airline and back to New York with another airline.

What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from New York to Moscow?

Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Moscow from New York up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top tips for finding a cheap flight from New York to Moscow

  • The New York area has a few different airports for visitors to fly into, such as LaGuardia (LGA), Newark Liberty (EWR), and John F. Kennedy (JFK). LaGuardia is the closest to the city center, as it is only 10 miles away, while John F. Kennedy can be found approximately 17 miles away from downtown New York. You will find Newark Liberty approximately 13 miles from downtown.
  • Moscow is serviced by five different airports, which are known as Sheremetyevo (SVO), Domodedovo (DME), Vnukovo (VKO), Zhukovskyt (ZIA), and Ostafyevo (OSF). Domodedovo International Airport is one of the largest in the area and services many international flights, including those from the United States.
  • If you have some extra time before you can board your plane at John F. Kennedy, you may want to rest and relax in one of the airport lounges. There is the Primeclass Lounge in Terminal 1, the Centurion Lounge in Terminal 4, and the American Airlines Admirals Club in Terminal 8.
  • Those that will be traveling with little ones should keep in mind that Vnukovo International Airport has a parenting room in Terminal D that can be accessed for free. This room contains changing tables, a play area, and baby cribs.
  • To rest before a long day of traveling, you may want to treat yourself to a spa treatment at the Departure Spa in Terminal C of Newark Liberty. You can choose from a variety of treatments here, including manicures, massages, and pedicures.

Book cheap flights from New York to Moscow

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IMAGES

  1. 😍 No seat assignment american airlines. air travel. 2019-01-27

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  2. How To Get Seat Assignments On American Airlines?

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  3. How to Read your Boarding Pass Ticket? First Time Traveling by Plane? I

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  4. American Airlines Seat Selection: How to Choose or Change Seat

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  5. 17 American Airlines Ticket Template Ideas

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  6. How To Check In Online For American Airlines?

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COMMENTS

  1. Find your trip

    Find your trip or travel credit. If you're an AAdvantage member, log in to view and manage your upcoming trip and use your saved information. Find your trip on aa.com to check in online, change or cancel your reservation, add special requests, and redeem Trip or Flight Credit.

  2. What to Do if You Don't Have a Seat Assignment for a Flight

    Depending on the airline, if you've just purchased a flight and don't have a seat assignment, typically, you should wait until 24 hours before your flight when your check-in window opens (and ...

  3. No assigned seat after buying ticket -- should I be concerned?

    Welcome to Flyertalk, OP. Don't stress about being IDBd from the flight - as you remembered, it is extremely rare. In any event, the absence of a seat assignment does not make you more likely to be bumped. AA's IDB priority factors include last to check in (always check in early), elite status and other factors.

  4. Main Cabin − Travel information − American Airlines

    Seat assignments. If you're unable to choose seats when you book, check back closer to departure or we'll assign you a seat when you check in. We make every effort to ensure you get your chosen seat, but seat assignments are not guaranteed. We reserve the right to change seats for operational, safety or security reasons.

  5. American Airlines Seat Selection: What to Know

    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 ...

  6. Reservations and tickets

    The first 3 digits of your ticket number are the airline code, which is always '001' for American Airlines. Example ticket number: 001234567890. ... American Airlines withholds some seats until the day of departure to allow our airport personnel to accommodate passenger needs. If you are unable to reserve a seat at the time of booking, you ...

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

    Main Cabin Extra seats have between 33 and 43.5 inches of pitch — depending on the aircraft type — versus the 30 to 33 inches you'll find in standard economy seats. For example, the front row of economy on the American Airlines A321neo is designated as Main Cabin Extra and has 40 inches of pitch. While this is a solid seat — you can even ...

  8. 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: ... No, except if 1) you cancel the ticket within 24 hours of purchase, 2) American changes your flight schedule by 61 minutes or more, 3 ...

  9. That's Ridiculous! I Have a Seat, But I Don't Have a Seat Assignment

    One answer: It's codesharing, the dubious practice of an airline pretending another airline's flight is its own. That's how Field could buy a ticket on American from Dallas to Bangkok. American doesn't fly from Tokyo to Bangkok, but Japan Airlines, its OneWorld ( www.oneworld.com) codesharing partner, does. And Japan Airlines controls the seats ...

  10. American Airlines Basic Economy: What Are The Restrictions?

    Below is what you can expect, in no particular order. Pay for seat assignments. American Airlines basic economy tickets don't allow free seat assignments in advance for most customers. You'll be automatically assigned a seat at check-in (which can either be at the airport, or starting 24 hours out via online check-in). ...

  11. No Seats Available : r/americanairlines

    If your flight says "ticketed" you are confirmed in the flight and will get a seat. Depending on the kind of plane, AA holds back a few seats for seat assignment till 24-36 hours before the flight. Check back then, or when you check in for the flight. AA was/is having issues with seat maps online and with reservations.

  12. American Airlines Seating Assignment Question

    Re: American Airlines Seating Assignment Question. You should receive a "check in" email about 24 hours before your flight. You can check/ buy seats then. Even if you have already bought your seat selection they might have cancellations or changes and you might get side by side seats. The price will be adjusted.

  13. 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 ...

  14. american airlines seat selection not available

    9. Re: american airlines seat selection not available. 11 years ago. Save. While AA offers free seat selection in advance, on certain flights when enough seats have been filled, the entire seat map goes gray so you won't be able to get an assigned seat in advance, at times even if you OLCI 24 hours prior to your flight.

  15. Guide to airline family seating policies

    American Airlines. Like most major airlines, American allows you to choose your seats when booking or at any time leading up to your flight. ... Only a limited number of advance seating assignments are available to customers who purchase Alaska's Saver fare tickets. If no advance seats are available, the seats will be assigned at the gate; this ...

  16. Basic Economy − Travel information − American Airlines

    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. AAdvantage ® members can cancel Basic Economy fare tickets on or after January 17, 2024 and receive travel ...

  17. 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.

  18. Your airfare includes a seat, but the airline wants you pay more

    Here's what to know. How common are seat selection fees? Most airlines charge seat selection fees one way or another, Sorensen said, whether it's by selling lower-fare tickets that don't ...

  19. Traveler allegedly takes American Airlines flight without ticket

    The passenger allegedly took an American Airlines flight without a ticket, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "A woman in question was detained for questioning and our ...

  20. Officials Investigate How a Woman Flew to Los Angeles Without a Ticket

    By Derrick Bryson Taylor and Christine Hauser. Feb. 16, 2024. An investigation is underway into how a woman boarded an American Airlines flight at Nashville International Airport and flew to Los ...

  21. What to know about American Airlines' new policy changes: Checked bag

    In this Aug. 7, 2023 file photo, passengers stand in line to check in luggage at an American Airlines ticket baggage counter at O'Hare International Airport, in Chicago. Kirby Lee/AP, FILE.

  22. American Airlines is making it harder to rack up frequent-flier miles

    By Zoe Han . American Airlines will restrict earning miles on tickets purchased through most third-party travel websites starting May 1 . American Airlines will soon stop letting customers earn ...

  23. Reservations and ticket changes

    You may be charged a service fee for trips ticketed by our Reservations offices, airport ticket counters, or travel centers in certain countries or regions. Not all international calls to American Airlines are toll-free. Cell phone rates may be higher than landline rates.

  24. American Airlines Is Raising Bag Fees and Changing How Customers Earn

    The airline said Tuesday that checking a bag on a domestic flight will rise from $30 now to $35 online and $40 if purchased at the airport. The fee for a second checked bag will rise from $40 to ...

  25. Cheap flights to Moscow (MOW)

    With around 697 direct flights every month, you'll be heading straight into Moscow and embarking on your next awesome adventure in next to no time. Some of the carriers that travel nonstop to Moscow include Aeroflot, Nordavia Regional Airlines and Nordwind Airlines. Severstal Aircompany, Belavia and Pegas Fly are some other well-known options.

  26. Domodedovo

    Aeroexpress offers two classes of cars - Economy and Business. Both categories are comfortable. Economy class tickets are valid for any departure on the selected direction and date and have no seat assignment. Business-class tickets are valid for the chosen route, date, and time. The seats in Business class are assigned.

  27. Main Cabin Extra − Travel information − American Airlines

    Book your seat. Look for the Main Cabin Extra icon when you choose your seats. If you've already booked your flight, you can still buy a Main Cabin Extra seat. If you bought a Basic Economy ticket, boarding restrictions still apply. AAdvantage ® members can now use miles to reserve Main Cabin Extra seats. You can buy Main Cabin Extra through ...

  28. Cheap Flights from New York to Moscow

    New York. $1,047. Flights from New Windsor to Moscow. $470. Flights from New York John F Kennedy Intl Airport to Moscow. $470. Flights from Newark Airport to Moscow.