What Happens If You Don't Reserve Your Seats on a Plane? (2024)

FAQs

What Happens If You Don't Reserve Your Seats on a Plane? ›

Airlines will assign you an unclaimed seat when you check in if you haven't paid to pick one in advance.

You can always skip seat selection and save the money, but do keep a few things in mind: Skipping seat selection doesn't mean you won't get a seat on the flight. You might get stuck in the middle seat if you don't pay for one.

If you don't pre-book your seats, they will be allocated when you check in online or at the airport on a first come, first served basis.

Step 2: Skip seat selection if you have to pay

This gets especially confusing with basic economy fares, which differ from airline to airline and often don't include free seat selection. But no matter what, you should skip seat selection altogether if the airline is trying to make you pay.

If you were not able to make an advance seat assignment, keep an eye on the seat map as these seats will begin to open up once check-in begins and then once the gate opens for the flight. If you see a note to see the agent on your boarding pass, you may be in luck.

If you do not purchase a seat assignment, one will be randomly assigned free of charge. However, your party may be separated.

On most airlines, you'll get assigned a seat at check-in or at the gate if you don't already have one. In other words, In case you don't wish to purchase a preferred seat you can always select any free seat available or would be assigned a seat free of charge at the time of check-in at the airport.

Airlines explicitly state what happens to no-shows in their contract of carriage, which is a legal document that explains the terms and conditions of the fare. In general, if you are a no-show for your flight, any subsequent flights on the same itinerary will be canceled without a refund.

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.

Today, airlines have learned to predict capacity with mathematical accuracy, so empty seats are scarce and there's rarely a need to sell off unsold tickets on the cheap. Websites supposedly devoted to "last-minute travel" still exist, but they're really just using the same system that every other booking engine uses.

Why am I being charged for seat selection? ›

A seat selection fee allows you to reserve a seat in your class of service. Each airline ticket comes with a confirmed seat, but if you want to choose your seat location, most domestic airlines will charge an additional fee. These extras are not new.

If you book a reasonable time ahead and ask the airline to seat your family together, it will try to accommodate you, though you might have to call to make your request. Parents understandably think that airlines promising to “try their best” isn't good enough; they want a guarantee that their kids can sit with them.

Achieve elite travel status

Elite status is far and away the best route to securing free seat upgrades. Many airlines will provide complimentary upgrade certificates after you've reached a specific level of status, as well as proactively upgrade you during other flights for which you are eligible.

Your check-in has been completed, but the flight is full, and we were not able to assign you a seat at this moment. You will get your seat number at the check-in desk or at the departure gate in case if there are seats available.

Southwest is probably the most unique and quirky airline in the world. If you don't understand what the question is referring to, instead of being assigned a specific seat on Southwest, you are given a specific spot in line to board. Once onboard, you simply pick any seat and sit there.

"In case the passenger doesn't wish to opt for a preferred seat, the seat will be assigned free of cost through auto-assigned seat mode by the airline. The boarding pass with the auto-assigned seat will be sent via email to the passenger a few hours prior to the flight departure," said Minister Singh in Lok Sabha.

If you don't choose a seat during check-in, a seat will be auto-assigned to you. Boarding pass: Once you have checked in, your boarding pass will be generated. You can view and save it on your device.

The passenger who refused to switch seats was not acting rudely, Randall said. “No one has the obligation to switch their seat, nor explain why they won't switch,” said Randall. “And the person making the request has no right to expect, or get angry, when they don't get their way” on the matter.

“The best rule of thumb is to check with the flight attendant before making any moves, because they'll have the final say once the boarding door closes,” Shon says.

With most airlines, if you DON'T pay and just check in online as early as you can, you WILL get to sit with the rest of your group – as long as seats are still available.