Ah, the quest for sitting together on an American Airlines flight! It's a common desire, whether you're traveling with family, friends, or a significant other. While it might seem straightforward, there are several factors at play that can influence your success. But don't worry, with a little planning and strategy, you can significantly increase your chances.
Let's dive into a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to help you and your travel companions secure those coveted adjacent seats on American Airlines.
The Ultimate Guide: How to Sit Together on American Airlines
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| How To Sit Together On American Airlines |
Step 1: Engage with Your Travel Companions and Plan Ahead – The Cornerstone of Success!
Before you even think about booking, the absolute first step is to communicate with everyone in your travel party. This might sound obvious, but it's critically important. Discuss your seating preferences. Are aisle seats a must for some? Does someone prefer a window? Are you all comfortable with a middle seat if it means staying together? Understanding everyone's priorities from the get-go will help you make informed decisions throughout the booking and seat selection process.
Why is this so important? Because American Airlines, like most carriers, doesn't guarantee adjacent seating unless you select and pay for seats in advance (or have a fare class that includes it). The more flexible your group is, the better your chances of staying together, especially if you encounter limited options.
Step 2: Choose Your Fare Wisely – Understanding the Impact of Your Ticket Type
American Airlines offers various fare types, and your choice here significantly impacts your ability to select seats together, especially for free.
2.1: Basic Economy – The "No Frills" Option (and the most challenging for sitting together)
Basic Economy fares are typically the cheapest, but they come with significant restrictions. With Basic Economy, you generally cannot select a specific seat for free in advance. Instead, seats are automatically assigned at check-in. While American Airlines states they will try to seat children under 15 with at least one accompanying adult, there's no guarantee for other companions.
Consider this carefully: If sitting together is a top priority for your group and you're booking Basic Economy, be prepared to pay extra to select seats, or risk being scattered throughout the cabin. The cost for seat selection on Basic Economy can vary but usually ranges from $9-$24 or more per seat.
2.2: Main Cabin, Premium Economy, Business, and First Class – Your Best Bets
For Main Cabin and higher fare classes (Premium Economy, Business, and First Class), seat selection is generally complimentary at the time of booking. This is your best chance to ensure you sit together without additional fees.
The Advantage: These fares allow you to view the seat map and choose your desired seats immediately upon booking. This gives you control over your seating arrangement.
QuickTip: Reread for hidden meaning.
Step 3: Book Your Flights Early and On a Single Reservation – Maximizing Availability and Airline Assistance
This is arguably the most crucial step for increasing your chances of sitting together.
3.1: Book as Early as Possible
The earlier you book your flight, the more seat options will be available. Airlines often release a limited number of seats for selection in advance, and these go quickly, especially desirable window and aisle seats, or entire rows. Waiting until the last minute drastically reduces your choices.
3.2: Book Everyone on the Same Reservation
If you are traveling with companions, it is paramount to book everyone's tickets on a single reservation (or PNR - Passenger Name Record).
Why it matters: When all passengers are on the same reservation, American Airlines' system recognizes you as a group traveling together. This makes it far easier for the airline to:
Offer contiguous seats: Their system prioritizes keeping passengers on the same booking together when assigning seats.
Facilitate changes: If there's an aircraft change or other operational adjustment, having everyone on one reservation simplifies the re-seating process and increases the likelihood of staying together.
Assist at the airport: If you need help at the gate, it's much easier for agents to assist a single reservation with multiple passengers than trying to piece together separate bookings.
What if you booked separately? If for some reason you and your companions are on separate reservations but want to sit together, you can try calling American Airlines customer service and asking them to link the reservations. While they may not be able to guarantee adjacent seats, linking the reservations can make it easier for them to assist you if seats open up or if you need help at the airport.
Step 4: Utilize the Seat Map During Booking – Your Interactive Seating Tool
When you're in the booking process on American Airlines' website or app, you'll be presented with a seat map.
Familiarize Yourself: Take your time to review the seat map. It will show available seats, occupied seats, and seats that require a fee (often indicated by a different color or symbol).
Strategic Selection:
Prioritize entire rows: If you're a family of three, look for a row with three open seats.
Consider splitting into pairs: If a full row isn't available, look for pairs of seats across the aisle or directly behind/in front of each other.
Main Cabin Extra/Preferred Seats: These seats offer more legroom or a more favorable location (e.g., closer to the front). While they usually come with an additional fee for Main Cabin passengers (unless you have elite status), they might be worth it if sitting together is a high priority and standard seats aren't available. Fees can range from $10-$150+ depending on the flight.
Step 5: After Booking – Monitoring and Managing Your Seats
Just because you've booked doesn't mean your work is done! Seat availability can change.
5.1: Regularly Check "My Trips"
After you've booked, log into your American Airlines account or go to the "My Trips" section on their website or app. Enter your confirmation code and last name to access your booking.
QuickTip: Take a pause every few paragraphs.
Keep an Eye Out: Check the seat map periodically. Other passengers might change their seats, or the airline might release more seats as the departure date approaches. If a better option to sit together becomes available, change your seats immediately. This is often free for Main Cabin and higher fares.
Basic Economy Note: If you booked Basic Economy and didn't pay for seats, continue checking. You might get lucky, and some complimentary seats become available closer to the flight, or you might decide to pay for seat selection if options are limited.
5.2: Consider Setting Seat Alerts
Some third-party websites (like ExpertFlyer, though often a paid service) allow you to set alerts for specific seats on a flight. If your desired seats become available, you'll be notified.
Step 6: Leverage Elite Status or Credit Card Benefits – A Game Changer for Free Seat Selection
If you or anyone in your traveling party has AAdvantage elite status (AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, Platinum, or Gold) or elite status with a oneworld® alliance partner, you're in luck!
Complimentary Preferred Seating: Elite members often get complimentary access to preferred seating (standard-legroom seats in desirable locations) and Main Cabin Extra seats (extra legroom) from the time of booking. This can be a huge advantage for securing adjacent seats without extra fees.
AAdvantage Miles for Seat Selection: In some cases, you can use your AAdvantage miles to pay for seat selection fees, although the redemption rate might not always be ideal.
Step 7: The Final Frontier: Check-in and Airport Assistance – Your Last Chance
If, despite your best efforts, you haven't been able to secure adjacent seats, don't give up hope!
7.1: Check-in Early (Online or via the App)
American Airlines' online check-in typically opens 24 hours before your flight.
The Check-in Shuffle: At this point, the seat map might change again. Some passengers might have canceled or changed flights, freeing up seats. Be proactive and check the seat map during online check-in. If you see two or more seats together, change your assignment immediately.
7.2: Speak to a Gate Agent
If online check-in doesn't yield results, your next best bet is to politely approach the gate agent at the airport.
Explain Your Situation: Clearly and kindly explain that you are traveling as a group and would like to sit together.
Be Flexible: Let them know you are flexible with seat types (e.g., window, aisle, middle) if it means staying together.
They Have the Power: Gate agents have the ability to move passengers around, especially if there are open seats or if other passengers are willing to switch. They often prioritize seating families with young children together.
The "Magic" of the Final Hour: Sometimes, just before boarding, last-minute changes and no-shows can open up blocks of seats. The gate agent might be able to help you then.
7.3: Ask Flight Attendants (In-Flight)
QuickTip: Revisit key lines for better recall.
Once on board, if you still aren't together, you can discreetly ask a flight attendant if it's possible to move once the plane has reached cruising altitude and everyone is settled.
Courtesy is Key: Be polite and understand that they might not be able to accommodate you, especially on a full flight.
Look for Open Seats: Before asking, take a quick scan of the cabin for any empty adjacent seats.
American Airlines Specific Policy for Families with Children
American Airlines has a policy designed to help families with young children sit together:
Children Under 15: American Airlines states that for families traveling with children under 15 years old who do not already have assigned seats, their system will automatically search for seats together before the day of departure. They will try their best to keep families together, and if seats are limited, they will assign seats so children under 15 are next to at least one adult. This applies even to Basic Economy fares. While this is a great initiative, proactive seat selection is still highly recommended for guaranteed adjacent seating.
FAQs: How to Sit Together on American Airlines
Here are 10 related FAQ questions with quick answers to further assist you:
How to ensure my entire family sits together on American Airlines?
The best way is to book all tickets on a single reservation as early as possible and select your seats during the booking process, choosing a fare class that includes complimentary seat selection (Main Cabin or higher).
How to select seats on American Airlines after booking?
You can select or change your seats after booking by logging into the "My Trips" section on the American Airlines website or mobile app and accessing your reservation.
How to avoid paying for seat selection on American Airlines?
Book a Main Cabin, Premium Economy, Business, or First Class fare, as these typically include complimentary seat selection. Alternatively, if you have AAdvantage elite status or are traveling with a child under 15, American Airlines will try to seat you together without a fee (though direct selection might still incur a charge for Basic Economy).
QuickTip: Pause when something feels important.
How to know if my American Airlines fare includes free seat selection?
Generally, Basic Economy fares do not include free advance seat selection. Main Cabin and higher fares usually do. The seat map during booking will indicate if there's a fee for specific seats.
How to get seats together if I booked a Basic Economy fare on American Airlines?
You can pay a fee to select seats in advance through "My Trips" or during online check-in. American Airlines will try to seat children under 15 with an accompanying adult for free, but other companions are not guaranteed.
How to get a bassinet seat on American Airlines for an infant?
Bassinets are available on certain long-haul American Airlines aircraft (777-200, 777-300, and 787) in bulkhead rows. They are offered on a first-come, first-served basis at the gate and cannot be reserved in advance. You should still try to book a bulkhead seat if available.
How to change my seat on American Airlines after checking in?
Yes, you can often change your seat even after checking in, by accessing your reservation through "My Trips" on the website or app, or by speaking to a gate agent at the airport. Availability may be limited.
How to get an exit row seat on American Airlines?
Exit row seats offer more legroom but come with specific requirements (e.g., able-bodied, 15+ years old, able to assist in an emergency). They may be available for a fee, or complimentary for elite status members, and can be selected during booking or requested at check-in.
How to request special assistance seating on American Airlines?
If you require special assistance seating (e.g., for a disability, specific medical needs), contact American Airlines reservations directly after booking your flight to discuss your needs and ensure appropriate seating.
How to find out what seats are available before booking my American Airlines flight?
During the flight search process on American Airlines' website, you can often click on a "seats" or "seat map" link to preview available seating before finalizing your booking. This gives you an idea of potential options for your group.
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