advance seat assignments united

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The Guide to United Basic Economy

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Table of Contents

What is basic economy on United?

United economy vs. basic economy, how credit card benefits work in basic economy, elite status holders still get perks in basic economy, what else you need to know, basic economy across u.s. airlines, united basic economy, recapped.

Basic economy fares are the latest trend in the airline industry. This is the cheapest fare class available on many airlines — stripped of things like advanced seat selection, upgrade eligibility, itinerary changes and free checked bags.

While the savings can be significant, these fares can end up costing more than you expect if you value any of the above perks. Here's what to know about United Airlines basic economy to help you decide if the savings are worth it.

Basic economy is United’s least-expensive economy fare class. Unlike some of the other perks (i.e. free checked bag, seat selection) included on a regular economy ticket, basic economy offers nothing extra.

In addition, you'll board last and may not be able to bring a carry-on.

For all of its restrictions and limitations, these types of fares are easy on the wallet. A NerdWallet analysis of flights from Chicago-ORD to 10 destinations across the country found a basic economy ticket will typically save you $60 on your base fare.

» Learn more: How to beat basic economy at its own game

Is United economy the same as basic economy? No, the flight experience varies across these two ticket types.

Although you’ll pay slightly more for a regular economy ticket, the benefits can outweigh the cost. Here are the key differences between United economy versus basic economy tickets:

As you can see, each part of the flying experience from booking to take off is worse if you’re flying in basic economy. Even if the money spent is on par with an economy ticket, you’d board last and would miss out on earning Premier Qualifying Flights that you need to reach elite status.

Only you can decide if purchasing a basic economy ticket is worth the perks you forego. However, if you just need to get from point A to B and don’t value any of the benefits included in a regular economy ticket, going with a basic economy fare can save some money.

Although United basic economy tickets have a lot of restrictions, there are some ways around them, including purchasing a la carte economy benefits.

Some of the restrictions around United basic economy fares are waived for those who carry one of the airline’s co-branded credit cards. That includes priority boarding and free checked bag allowances.

If you have one of these cards already, be sure to add your MileagePlus number to your United basic economy reservation to get the priority boarding benefit. To receive these perks, you must purchase your ticket with the qualifying credit card.

United℠ Explorer Card (annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $95 ): One free checked bag for the primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same reservation. Priority boarding for primary cardholder and companions on the same reservation.

United Club℠ Infinite Card (annual fee: $525 ): Two free checked bags for the primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same reservation. The primary cardholder and travel companions on the same reservation qualify for Premier Access benefits, which include priority boarding.

United℠ Business Card (annual fee: $99 ): One free checked bag for the cardholder and a companion traveling on the same reservation. Priority boarding applies to the primary cardholder and travel companions on the same reservation.

United Club℠ Business Card (annual fee: $450 ): Two free checked bags for the cardholder and a companion traveling on the same reservation. Primary cardholder and travel companions on the same reservation qualify for Premier Access benefits, which include priority boarding.

United Quest℠ Card (annual fee: $250 ): Two free checked bags for the cardholder and a companion traveling on the same reservation.

» Learn more: Best benefits of United Airlines credit cards

United MileagePlus Premier members receive similar benefits on basic economy fares. These include free checked bags for MileagePlus Premier members and their travel companions, as well as priority boarding. The number of free checked bags depends on your Premier status level:

Premier Silver: Priority boarding and one free checked bag.

Premier Gold: Priority boarding and two free checked bags.

Premier Platinum & Premier 1K: Priority boarding and three free checked bags.

United Airlines military baggage basic economy allowance

United offers five free checked bags to active duty U.S. military personnel and their accompanying dependents when traveling on official business. The allowance is lowered to three checked bags for personal travel.

Military members also receive pre-boarding privileges while flying United. In other words, the negative aspects of basic economy fares are mostly offset for members of the military — the lack of advance seat assignments will probably be your biggest headache.

United bag fee calculator

Before booking United basic economy, use our calculator below, which will help determine the total cost of your ticket (including any bag fees), so you can compare the trade-offs of Basic Economy to the main cabin based on whether you have elite status and/or airline credit cards.

Note that this calculator applies to domestic flights only. International baggage rules are more complex.

How do I know if I have basic economy on United?

Before purchasing: Basic economy tickets are not offered on every route. If this ticket option is available on a particular flight, you'll see the option displayed on the flight search results page on united.com or under "Choose your travel experience" in the United app.

After purchasing: Check your fare class. What letter is basic economy on United? These tickets are usually classified as N.

Another way to know if you bought a basic economy ticket is if you're eligible to select a seat. If you can select a seat, you have an economy ticket or higher. This perk isn't available for the lowest ticketed passengers.

» Learn more: United basic economy vs. economy vs. Economy Plus

Does United basic economy include a carry-on?

Many frugal flyers often double as carry-on only travelers . So does United basic economy include a carry-on?

The short answer is that basic economy flyers on United cannot bring a carry-on bag on domestic flights unless they hold elite status or have a United credit card . This rule changes, however, on international flights, where basic economy flyers can bring a carry-on for free.

» Learn more: The best United credit card offers

How much is a checked bag on United basic economy?

Unless you're elite or have a United credit card, basic economy class passengers can expect to pay $35 (or $30 if prepaid) for the first checked bag and $45 ($40 if prepaid) for the second checked bag on domestic flights. You can, also get a free checked bag in basic economy on Trans-Pacific flights.

These are the same United baggage fees that economy class passengers are subject to.

Can I upgrade from basic economy to economy on United?

Yes, it's possible to purchase a United upgrade from basic economy to economy for certain flights. Travel within the U.S. and short-haul flights to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America cost a flat fee of $45 to "Switch to Economy."

» Learn more: How to add United economy benefits basic economy ticket

In NerdWallet's annual analysis of the best airlines, we compared the basic economy experience across the major U.S. airlines currently offering a basic economy fare.

We looked at restrictions and allowances, including baggage, miles earning and trip modification policies. Here's how they stacked up:

Basic economy fares on United are restrictive if you’re someone who appreciates flexibility and peace of mind while traveling. But the most unpleasant aspects of this cheap fare can be eliminated with benefits reserved for United elites and those who hold the co-branded United credit cards.

If you anticipate traveling in basic economy frequently, picking up a United credit card might be worthwhile . If you’re traveling with a friend or family member who has United Premier elite status, it’s absolutely worth booking your flights together to piggyback on their baggage and priority boarding benefits.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-2x Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays and United® purchases. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

1x-2x Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.

100,000 Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

1x-3x Earn 3x miles on United® purchases, 2x miles on dining, select streaming services & all other travel, 1x on all other purchases

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

If your flight is canceled, here's what to know about securing a seat assignment on your new flight

When your flight is canceled , your mind immediately starts racing to figure out logistics. It's easy to get swept away in the details of booking a new flight, verifying your luggage will make it on your new route and more.

However, one aspect many travelers overlook when rebooking is seat assignments. While getting any seat can quickly become more important than securing your favorite seat, where you sit does matter to some people — especially families trying to sit together.

Personally, I'm team aisle when it comes to seats on airplanes, and while things happen, I wouldn't be thrilled if my aisle turned into a window seat (let alone the middle) through no fault of my own.

The good news is that travelers should be refunded for any paid seats on canceled flights, though the specifics of policies vary by airline. If you received a seat assignment without paying — such as via an elite status benefit — you shouldn't have to pay for a seat assignment on the rescheduled flight, either. Don't necessarily expect to get your seat of choice, though.

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter .

You need to be proactive

We'll get to refunds, terms and conditions in a moment, but the first thing to know if this happens is you need to be proactive with securing a seat assignment on your new flight following a cancelation if where you sit on the plane is a priority for you.

With flights taking off as full as they are, the odds are high that there aren't going to be a ton of seats still available when you're being moved to a new flight in the final days and hours leading up to departure. Don't just assume the airline is giving you and your family seats together — there may not be any available.

However, don't despair. Be proactive in trying to select your own seat, ask the airline for help and then keep an eye on the available seats as departure nears. Sometimes, certain seats are blocked for assignment until just before departure and often a few people will either be upgraded or have a change of plans at the last minute, thus freeing up some additional choices. Also, don't be shy at asking for seats together — even if all that is left is in an extra legroom seat that normally costs extra — if the airline canceled your original flight.

You can turn to seat alerts using ExpertFlyer (owned by the same parent company as TPG) as an extra layer of help.

Paid seats will be refunded

As mentioned, a traveler who paid for seat selection on a flight that is canceled is entitled to a refund for that seat across the board, including at the big three U.S. airlines — United Airlines , American Airlines and Delta Air Lines .

United's paid seat policy

United offers maximum flexibility for travelers. The carrier automatically refunds travelers the cost of their paid seat assignments in the event of a canceled flight, whether the flight was voluntarily or involuntarily canceled.

"Any paid seating assignments, such as Economy Plus or preferred seating, will be automatically refunded to the original form of payment after the scheduled departure time of the flight," a United spokesperson wrote in an email.

Economy Plus seats feature up to 6 inches of extra legroom and are located near the front of the economy cabin. These seats and all other preferred seats are complimentary for United MileagePlus members with Premier status (Silver, Gold, Platinum and Premier 1K). Depending on their status tier, these members get free preferred seating for themselves as well as for one to eight companions.

In short, if United is unable to reseat you in the same type of seat you originally booked, expect to be automatically refunded the ancillary charge if you paid one.

"There are certain scenarios where you may be reaccommodated in a seat other than the one you've purchased, such as in instances of irregular operations, a last-minute aircraft change or an oversell," United says on its website . "In these cases, you will be issued a new boarding pass. If you find that you have not been reaccommodated in a seat of similar or greater value, fees paid for the seat will usually automatically be refunded."

Related: How to get seats together as a family on Southwest Airlines

American's paid seat policy

Like United, American refunds paid seats for flights it cancels or the airline will attempt to rebook you in your preferred seat.

"We make every effort to reseat passengers in the same seat or in a like seat when that isn't possible," a spokesperson for American said. "Customers can also use aa.com or the mobile app to view any available open seats if they'd like to make a different, available seat selection."

Customers can expect a refund of the paid seat charge if they are unable to get a similar seat to the one they had paid for.

However, unlike United, American will not extend a refund to passengers who cancel a flight on their own.

"Paid seats are nonrefundable if you change, cancel or miss your flight," according to the airline website. "Paid seats are nonrefundable if you change your seat assignment on the same flight to a lower priced or free seat."

There are two paid seat options, which are complimentary for AA Advantage Executive Platinum, Platinum and Gold status holders: Preferred seats and Main Cabin Extra. As you might suspect, preferred seats are located in preferred areas of the plane, which could mean they are closer to the front or in a row of two seats instead of three. Main Cabin Extra seats provide additional legroom (33 to 43.5 inches of pitch, depending on the aircraft, versus the 30 to 33 inches you'll find in standard economy seats). Those sitting in Main Cabin Extra seats will also receive a free alcoholic beverage.

Delta's paid seat policy

As is the case with both United and American, Delta will refund any paid seat charges for canceled flights to your original payment form, while also attempting to rebook you in your desired seat.

"We will absolutely work to accommodate customers in their desired seat on an individual basis in these cases," a Delta spokesperson said via email. "We will be able to refund these payments to the original form of payment in the event that's not possible."

Like American, when Delta rebooks customers on a new flight after canceling their flight , their seat selection will carry over to the new flight (based on availability).

But if a customer purchases a ticket with a preferred seat, and then cancels their ticket, the preferred seat is not eligible for a refund, per a Delta spokesperson.

"If the customer is impacted by an involuntary cancelation scenario, they would be eligible for a refund," they told me.

All Delta Medallion status holders — specifically Silver Medallion, Gold Medallion, Platinum Medallion and Diamond Medallion — receive free preferred seating, which may include seats at the front of the plane or in exit rows. Delta flyers can also upgrade to the carrier's extra-space economy class known as Comfort+, which provides up to 3 inches of additional legroom, among other perks. Unlike United's Economy Plus and American's Main Cabin Extra, Delta's Comfort+ is a separate fare class that requires Medallion members to get on a list for an upgrade; these members, especially top-tier ones, generally don't have issues clearing.

Unpaid seats

In the case of free seat selection, you essentially start from square one.

An airline will often automatically give you the same seat if it's available or a similar one if it is not; it may also allow you to pick your own seat once it rebooks you, but you are basically at the mercy of the airline in this case.

Bottom line

Overall, if an airline cancels your flight, it should refund you for any paid seats. If you choose to rebook a new flight in response to a cancelation, your airline will rebook you in the same seat as your original reservation (if available) or a similar seat. If not, you can pick your own seat once you're rebooked.

This process can be frustrating, especially when multiple people are traveling together, because sometimes one person in your party may get a seat assignment while another does not.

Airlines could soon be changing their ways, though. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Transportation sent a letter to airlines urging them to adopt policies that minimize the chances of families getting separated on planes. When the USDOT begins monitoring this in November, it may respond with new regulations enforcing such rules.

For families booking flights and hoping to sit together, TPG senior family writer Tarah Chieffi has some advice for the three airlines we've discussed:

• American: The only way to guarantee seats together on American is by choosing seats for your whole family at the time of booking.
• United: Purchase a United economy fare or higher that includes complimentary seat assignments at the time of booking.
• Delta: Avoid booking a Delta basic economy fare because those do not include advance seat selection; book your children on the same reservation as the adults in your party.

Read her guide for more tips on increasing the likelihood of getting seats together.

While airlines do their best to assign you a specific seat and keep families together, they do not guarantee this in the case of rebookings, especially last-minute ones. The flight you'll be joining is probably already quite full and it may only have a few available seats.

Don't lose all hope, though. Some gate agents may take pity on you and give you an even better seat than originally booked — for free.

"Oftentimes agents feel bad for you and can give you a seat that would normally be a paid one for free in that scenario," TPG senior aviation reporter Ethan Klapper told me. "And you can often ask an agent for a better one, like an exit row."

Related: What you can ask from an airline after a delayed or canceled flight

United Check-in

• Planes & Seat Maps

How can I check in for my United Airlines (UA) flight?

You may check-in for your United Airlines (UA) flight with the following options:

• Online check-in (Web check-in)
• Mobile check-in
• Voice check-in
• Auto check-in
• Curbside check-in at the airport
• Self-service kiosk check-in at the airport
• Ticket counter check-in at the airport

Does United Airlines (UA) have online web check-in?

Yes, you may check-in for your United Airlines (UA) flight online starting 24 hours and ending 60 minutes before the scheduled departure time (depending on your departure city and destination) to receive a mobile boarding pass on your mobile device or a printable boarding pass. You may use this option if:

• you have an electronic ticket and the first flight is on United Airlines (UA)
• you may access your reservation with your confirmation code, e-ticket number, or frequent flyer account
• you are not a special needs passenger (for example an unaccompanied minor or traveling with a pet)

Can I check bags with the United Airlines (UA) online web check-in?: Yes, you may check bags but you must drop them at the airport baggage drop before the check-in deadline for your flight.

Can I pay bag fees with the United Airlines (UA) online web check-in?: Yes

Can I select or change my seat with the United Airlines (UA) online web check-in?: Yes

Does United Airlines (UA) offer mobile check-in?

Yes, you may check-in for your United Airlines (UA) flight with your mobile device starting 24 hours and ending 60 minutes before the scheduled departure time (depending on your departure city and destination) to receive a mo-bile boarding pass on your mobile device. You may use this option if:

• you are not a special needs passenger (for example, an unaccompanied minor)
• you are departing from an airport which accepts mobile boarding passes (if not, then you may check-in and print a boarding pass at the self-service kiosk or ticket counter)

Does United Airlines (UA) offer curbside check-in? (US Carriers only)

Yes, you may check-in for your United Airlines (UA) flight curbside at most U S airport locations from 30 minutes to 4 hours before the scheduled departure time (depending on your departure city and destination). You will need your photo ID and also your flight reservation code, flight number destination, or electronic ticket number to check-in. Please check United Airlines (UA) website for an exact list of participating airports and minimum check-in times.

Does United Airlines (UA) offer self-service kiosk check-in?

Yes, you may check-in for your United Airlines (UA) flight at the airport self-service kiosk from 30 minutes to 3 hours before the scheduled departure time (depending on your departure city and destination) and receive a printed boarding pass.

Can I check bags with the United Airlines (UA) self-service kiosk check-in?: Yes

Can I pay bag fees with the United Airlines (UA) self-service kiosk check-in?: Yes

Can I select or change my seat with the United Airlines (UA) self-service kiosk check-in?: Yes

Does United Airlines (UA) offer ticket counter check-in?

Yes, you may check-in for your United Airlines (UA) flight at the airport ticket counter from 30 minutes to 3 hours before the scheduled departure time (depending on your departure city and destination) and receive a printed boarding pass.

Can I check bags at the United Airlines (UA) ticket counter check-in?: Yes

Can I pay bag fees at the United Airlines (UA) ticket counter check-in?: Yes

Can I select or change my seat at the United Airlines (UA) ticket counter check-in?: Yes

What is United Airlines (UA) Voice Check-in?

Voice Check-in allows quick and easy check in for your United flight over the phone if you do not have access to the Internet or a mobile device. Customers traveling within the U.S. or Canada with less than 10 people in their party are eligible for voice check-in.

With Voice Check-in, you may tell the number of bags you want to check, hear your baggage service charges and arrange either for your boarding documents to be delivered by email or to pick them up at an airport kiosk.

To use this option you will need to call 1-800-864-8331 and say "check in" during the automated menu.

What is Auto Check-in?

When you check in for the first segment of your flight, if your itinerary is eligible, then you will be given the option to select Auto Check-in for the remaining segment or a return flight. When your remaining segment or return flight departure is within the 24-hour window, Auto Check-in will take the necessary steps to check you in for the flight. When you select this feature, you'll choose how you prefer to receive your boarding pass, such as by email or mobile device (where applicable), or print at an airport kiosk.

Does United Airlines (UA) charge a fee for a seat assignment?

United Airlines (UA) does not charge a fee for selecting a standard seat assignment.

When do I need to check-in for my United Airlines (UA) flight?

The minimum time to check-in for a United Airlines (UA) flight is:

• 30 minutes before scheduled departure time for US domestic flights
• 60 minutes before scheduled departure time for international flights to/from the US

When do I need to arrive at the airport for my United Airlines (UA) flight?

Suggested arrival time:

• 1 hour before scheduled departure time for US domestic flights
• 2 hours before scheduled departure time for international flights to/from the US*

Minimum required check-in time with carry-on baggage baggage:

• 30 minutes before scheduled departure time for US domestic flights*
• 60 minutes before scheduled departure time for international flights to/from the US*

Minimum required check-in time with checked baggage:

• 45 minutes before scheduled departure time for US domestic flights*

*Several heavy travel U S domestic cities have minimum check-in time of 45 minutes and some non-U S cities have minimum check-in times of 75 to 90 minutes. Check united.com for exact details.

When do I need to be at the boarding gate?

Boarding closes at the following times for United Airlines (UA) flights:

• 15 minutes before scheduled departure time for US domestic flights
• 30 minutes before scheduled departure time for most international flights to/from the US. Some non-US airports close boarding 60 minutes before scheduled departure time. Check united.com for exact details.

SeatGuru was created to help travelers choose the best seats and in-flight amenities.

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seat assignment question: United operated by Lufthansa

I'm researching multi-city flights from seattle-venice, rome-seattle for Spring 2020. Premium economy is not available for the dates I'm looking at on Lufthansa. However, on the United site I can find flights operated by Lufthansa and am given the opportunity to select premium economy. However, the United site won't allow me to select seats. It tells me "Advance seat assignments are not available on united.com for this flight. After completing your purchase, you can visit the operating airline’s website for additional information." That makes me feel less-than-confident that we would actually land in premium economy and might, instead, end up in regular economy. Please share your experience with this type of booking! Thanks!

I think your seat-class fear is unfounded, but I don’t have that specific experience. I do know from actual experience that within two days of purchase (and maybe even in your final Ticket Receipt, without effort) you will be able to get Lufthansa’s Confirmation Code and work with your booking.

When the Lufthansa site warned me that I was about to be transferred to the United site to accomplish seating for a United-sold, Lufthansa-operated flight (2019), I closed that browser window and went with the United site and the United confirmation code. It worked fine.

Thanks, Tim. My mind is saying, "If Lufthansa says there are no premium economy seats for those flights how can United sell me premium economy seats?"

This is pretty much standard. When you book a flight on Airline A for a seat on a flight that's actually operated by their partner Airline B, it's usually not possible to select seats on the Airline B flight from Airline A's website. That is, United can typically see and allows seat selection only on their own (and maybe a few other partner carriers') flights; flying on other airlines' planes you need to access the operating airline's booking engine to choose seats. That's because despite all marketing spin, different airlines' systems are not very well integrated.

In your case, United will be happy to book you a ticket that includes a seat on a Lufthansa plane. United will give you their own (United) confirmation number, but that's probably useless when dealing with Lufthansa's website or other Lufthansa systems. You need to get the Lufthansa confirmation number for your flight. You can typically get that by logging in to your United account and drilling down into the details of your booking. Or you can just call United and ask them for it (you will need to give United your United booking number).

You need that number to make changes to your flight, check in online, pick seats, maybe choose a meal, buy an extra bag, etc. That booking number is quite important, always have it handy. This is especially true when booking award seats with frequent flyer points.

Typically to do any of these things, you go to the operating airline's website, log in there with your booking number and your last name (surname), under things that are usually labeled "manage my flight." Most airlines work this way. Good luck.

Thanks, David. So, what happens if United sells me a premium economy seat and Lufthansa doesn't have any of those seats left? Should I assume, if the Lufthansa site says they're sold out, that we're going to be bumped into a different class?

If United sells you a ticket for a specific class of seat on a partner airline, I would certainly expect that kind of seat to be available, and I wouldn't worry much about booking. Book the ticket, call United and get the Lufthansa booking number, then within the first 24 hours (might be important) go to the Lufthansa website and see if you can log in there and pick your seat. Note that it might take a few hours for your ticket booked on united.com to gell and become accessible on Lufthansa's system, so don't freak out if you can't access it just a few minutes after your booking. Once you are able to log in at Lufthansa's website and access your flight there, see if you can choose your seat. Some fare classes (ticket prices) may or may not include the ability to choose a specific seat - beware anything that sounds like "basic economy" as those sub-economy fares usually come with lots of annoying limitations, like no picking your seat (that's why they're cheap).

If you do not see any seats in the class of service that you paid for, call United. I would expect that they would refund your money if you call within 24 hours.

Note the timing carefully - the itinerary booked on United may take a few hours to appear and become accessible on the Lufthansa website, but you may have only 24 hours to cancel with United if you do not see the seats you were expecting. So, you may have to wait a bit (maybe 12 hours?) before checking on the Lufthansa website, but don't wait more than 24 hours or you may not be able to cancel easily with United.

In my experience, when booking a partner flight via United's website, it does take a few hours before the partner airline's booking number becomes available, and may take a few more hours before you can use that on their website.

Caveat: I've always been able to get the partner booking number, and then access my flight info on the partner website (after short delays for both). That has worked for me on multiple United partners, including (I think) on Lufthansa. But things change (and I've never booked a "basic economy" flight), so no 100% guarantees. I'm pretty sure you should be OK though. Good luck.

if the Lufthansa site says they're sold out, that we're going to be bumped into a different class?

That's a question for United. Read the booking details v-e-r-y carefully. Make sure there are no asterisks or other teeny "gotcha" indicators hinting at some sort of exception. Be careful about this: United likes to sell "mixed" itineraries - ie you pay for a "business class ticket" from Portland to Frankfurt, but if you look carefully, you may find that this itinerary has two legs: first leg from Portland to Seattle is in Business class (as you expect), but the long leg of the flight from Seattle to Frankfurt may be in coach (a nasty surprise). So-called "mixed" itineraries should always be indicated.

I would be surprised (but not gobsmacked) if United sold you a "Premium Economy" ticket to Italy that included one or more legs that were not in Premium Economy (which different airlines call different names).

If there are no Premium Economy (or its equivalent) seats on one leg, I would not expect to be bumped up to a better class.

You could also check seatguru.com (you'll need the airline, specific flight number and date) to see what the seat layout for the plane is. Caution though, seatguru is not always accurate - and there's always a chance of an aircraft type swap at a later time.

Bottom line: check to see what United's refund policy is before you book. IME they usually give you 24 hours to cancel at no cost, but read the details carefully to know what your options are.

Unfortunately, I don't remember which other airline was involved (it could have been KLM rather than Lufthansa), but within the very last few years I bought a regular coach-class ticket (not basic economy) to Europe through the United website with the flight actually being operated by a European carrier. That UA was not operating the flight was clear on both Google Flights and the United website.

When I went to the KLM-or-Lufthansa website after my purchase to select a seat, I found it was impossible to do so, although I did have the operating carrier's record locator number. I got the same answer when I telephoned the European airline. Apparently there's a missing electronic link somewhere that makes it impossible to select a seat in advance if you've purchased your ticket from United. It turned out OK for me, because I was able to get an aisle seat when I checked in 24 hours in advance, but it was a very nerve-wracking experience. It would have been much worse for people with more specific seating needs than mine.

So I would suggest further research on this. My bet is that this problem has been discussed on FlyerTalk. Or perhaps calling Lufthansa might yield useful information. Being a pessimist about such matters, though, I would tend to believe oral information from Lufthansa only if it was bad news. I'd want to find any good news (i.e., assurance that a seat can be selected shortly after ticket purchase) in print somewhere.

"There is absolutely no excuse in this day and age for forcing people who buy tickets three or four months in advance to wait until 23 hours before the flight to be able to choose what seats they have."

That's not true for LH's Premium Economy. I was able to select my seat for a recent flight when booking 8 months ago.

Sadly, people seem to respond without even really reading the question. I thought the best answer you received was from the person who said to check the details carefully for each leg of the flight before you purchase the ticket. Also, be aware that sometimes airlines use different terms for different levels of service. Economy Comfort doesn't always equate to Premium Economy, etc. Perhaps Lufthansa calls its service something else than United calls it, or it could be another level of service entirely.

I may be a bit paranoid, but I believe that the airlines are doing their best to confuse travelers about what class of services they are actually purchasing. “Economy” has morphed into several different tiers, with different names. Example: I have started tracking prices for a trip we will take next August, SFO >VNO, HEL > SFO. The best prices I’ve been seeing, with just one connection, are running around $1250. We usually purchase the upgrade to economy+ (United’s lingo) for the outbound, transatlantic segment, not the same as “Premium Economy.” Skyscanner is showing prices under $1000 on KLM, so I went to that site. All looked good when I chose appropriate flights, except a proviso that no bags could be checked, not even at an extra charge. This leads me to think that KLM’s “economy” may be the equivalent of united’s “basic economy,” which also includes the downside of no seat selection. I could not see any other economy tier. Delta has also introduced a class between economy and business but I think it, like United’s is not the same as the simple, and not so expensive, option of paying for seats with a little more leg room. It doesn’t seem unreasonable to me for consumers to expect clear statements, at the start if the reservation process, of what each class of service, however labeled, entails and consistency, at least among code-sharers in the labeling of their offerings.

All looked good when I chose appropriate flights, except a proviso that no bags could be checked, not even at an extra charge. This leads me to think that KLM’s “economy” may be the equivalent of united’s “basic economy,” which also includes the downside of no seat selection

Many European carriers nowadays offer only "basic economy" etc. via resellers. It should be up to the resellers to mark that fact clearly and not to hide it as much as possible.

Just did this sort of thing for our flight to Paris spring 2020 and it worked fine.

@sla019 Actually, I was on the KLM website. You’ve offered good information, though. It makes choosing a flight more complicated. All the more reason to wish for consistency, at least among code sharers.

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How to Avoid Paying Airline Seat Fees

See recent posts by Peter Thornton

Sit Anywhere on the Plane for Free

Just as restaurants may ask for an extra fee if you want a special side dish or concert venues may charge more for specific seats rather than general admission, most airlines do charge extra if you want to pick a certain seat. I know this isn’t how it used to be, but Basic Economy is here to stay and this is just simply how the industry has evolved. The good news is that airfares are still historically low and, if you are diligent and don’t need all the frills of yesteryear, you can fly super cheap and sit anywhere (read somewhere) on the plane for free.

Don’t Be Fooled Into Paying to Choose a Seat

Airlines want you to pay extra to choose a seat — even middle seats. This is one reason airlines are able to sell tickets for pennies or across oceans for only a couple hundred dollars. The airlines are making big profits from ancillary fees and do everything possible to keep the actual airfare lower than the competition. As consumers of air travel, we need to be careful to only pay for what we want and not get fooled into paying more than we intend. In my opinion, the seat fee is one of the easiest airline fees to avoid.

It can be confusing when going through the booking steps and you may not even realize an extra seat fee was added by the time you get to the final payment screen. Even if an airline’s website makes it appear that you have to pay extra for a seat, you are never required to choose a specific seat and can always opt to decline seat selection in lieu of a FREE seat assignment during check-in.

Related: Passenger Etiquette: The Basic Rules of the Armrest

Watch for pop-ups and automatic add-ons.

The biggest culprits in trying to force seat selection fees are ultra-low-cost carriers like Allegiant, Frontier, and Spirit. None of the fares sold by these airlines include seat selection, but there are certain bundles you can add on, which would include seat assignments. Some legacy airlines have simply made seat selection unavailable for Basic Economy fares and require that you purchase a standard or Main Cabin Economy ticket in order to choose a seat in advance.

Below, I’ll go over specifics on what to look for during the seat selection step when booking on the larger U.S. carriers. These same tactics can be used for international carriers. Just remember, you are never required to pay an extra seat fee.

How to Avoid Seat Fees on Alaska Airlines

Flying Alaska Airlines is one of the easiest ways to avoid a seat fee, because even Alaska’s version of Basic Economy, the “Saver” fare, includes limited free seat assignments at the back of the plane. When choosing seats on the seat map, scroll to the bottom to find seats marked with a “S” for Saver fare seats. Seats shown in a dark blue color are for passengers purchasing a “Main” class fare only so you’ll have to upgrade to that type of fare to choose those seats in advance. If you’re buying a Saver fare and don’t like the choice of seats, simply click on “Skip Seats” and you’ll be assigned seats for free during check-in, which may include seats towards the front of the plane.

How to Avoid Seat Fees on Allegiant Airlines

When the seat selection screen appears on Allegiant’s website, it doesn’t even indicate that there are fees associated with choosing a seat. However, if you do click on a certain seat, a pop-up will appear telling you the price and you’ll have to confirm that you agree. To bypass this and avoid paying a fee, just scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Continue”. You’ll have to do this for both flights if you are booking a roundtrip. Another pop-up will appear warning that you haven’t chosen a seat and asking if it’s ok. Just click “Yes, Continue” and be on your way without caving in to Allegiant’s fear of separation anxiety tactics.

Related: The 10 Best Underseat Carry-On Bags for Basic Economy

How to avoid seat fees on american airlines.

American Airlines does not necessarily try to trick you into paying a seat fee when booking. Its Basic Economy fares do not allow advanced seat selection for domestic or short-haul international flights, and therefore, you simply won’t be shown a seat map when booking a Basic Economy ticket. For transatlantic flights, Basic Economy fares do allow you to choose specific seats during booking for a fee, but prices are clearly displayed on the seat map. To avoid a fee, just click on the small text that reads “skip seats for all flights” and your seats will be assigned for free upon check-in. And if you avoid Basic Economy entirely, you’ll be able to choose seats in advance for any flight when booking a Main Cabin Economy ticket.

How to Avoid Seat Fees on Delta

Delta sells Basic Economy tickets in more markets than any other airline. And while some aspects of Delta’s Basic Economy differ depending on the destination, advanced seat assignments are simply not allowed for any Basic Economy ticket on Delta. Of course, Delta doesn’t want to actually sell its Basic Economy fares. Anytime you select a basic fare, you’ll get a pop-up asking if you’d like to move to Main Cabin Economy fare, which includes seat selection. If you don’t want to pay more, just click on the checkbox that you accept restrictions and then click on the small “Continue with Basic Economy” text to avoid the upcharge. Seats will be assigned for free after check-in.

How to Avoid Seat Fees on Frontier Airlines

Frontier doesn’t really try to mask the fact that you’ll pay to choose a seat. You’ll see prices listed for each seat directly on the seat map. To avoid a fee, scroll to the bottom and click on the green “Continue” button without choosing a seat. A pop-up will then appear and you’ll have to click on the small print “No Thanks, I’ll take whatever.” link to actually continue.

How to Avoid Seat Fees on Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines now offers a Basic Economy fare. While it’s currently limited to only a few routes between the U.S. mainland and Honolulu, Hawaiian’s “Main Cabin Basic” fare is likely to spread throughout its network eventually. This type of fare does not allow advanced seat assignments but you’ll always be asked to confirm your selection when booking a “Main Cabin Basic” fare. And not just once — a second pop-up appears during the booking process asking “Want to choose your seats?” To avoid the upcharge for a “Main Cabin” ticket, just click “No thanks” and you’ll be able to select seats during check-in.

Related: How to Choose the Best Seat on a Plane

How to avoid seat fees on jetblue.

JetBlue was the latest airline to implement a Basic Economy fare, which it calls " Basic Blue ". This fare requires a fee to choose a specific seat in advance. Be careful, because prices are not listed on the seat map itself. Instead, a price will pop-up when you hover over a seat and are also listed to the left of the seat map. To avoid this fee, simply scroll to the bottom of the seat selection page and look for the text that reads "skip seat selection for now". Click on that link and you'll have the chance to choose a seat from what's still available when you check-in starting 24 hours before departure. If you decide to purchase JetBlue's classic "Blue" fare, advanced seat assignments are included.

How to Avoid Seat Fees on Southwest Airlines

Southwest doesn’t assign seats on any of its flights so you won’t ever pay a seat fee, per say, when flying Southwest. However, it does give the option to add EarlyBird automatic check-in for a fee, which would give you an earlier boarding position and a better choice of seat. Alternatively, set an alarm on your phone to check-in exactly 24 hours before your flight and get a decent boarding position for free.

How to Avoid Seat Fees on Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines is very clear and upfront that you’ll be paying a fee to choose a seat. There are prices for each seat on its seat map, but you don’t have to click on any of them. Look for the small print text that says “continue without seats” and click that link to avoid any seat fees. Of course, a pop-up will then appear inducing blatant FOMO (Fear Of Middle Overtone). Just click on the smaller “continue without seats” text again and you can continue without adding any cost to your cheap flight.

Related: Finally! Middle Seats Will Soon Be Larger on Some Airlines

How to avoid seat fees on sun country airlines.

Sun Country is also very upfront with its fees on the seat map. All seats will have a price listed, but it isn’t very clear on this page that you don’t actually need to choose a seat. To avoid a fee, just scroll to the bottom of the page (without clicking on a seat) and click the orange “continue” button. A pop-up will appear saying that your seat selection is not complete. Simply click on the white “continue without all seats” button to finish booking without adding any extra fees.

How to Avoid Seat Fees on United Airlines

United’s Basic Economy fare is the most restrictive of the U.S. legacy carriers, but it does allow advanced seat assignments — for a fee. Since prices are not listed on the seat map until you hover over or select a seat, it can be pretty easy to whisk through this step and add fees to your booking that you did not wish to add. To avoid any extra fees, just click on the grey “Continue to payment” button without choosing any seats. Free seat assignments will be given after check-in. Of course, if you purchase a standard Economy ticket, you’ll be able to choose standard seats for free during booking.

Related: A New Look at Basic Economy for Transatlantic International Travel

There’s a good chance you can sit together without paying a fee.

Choosing to leave seat assignments up to chance is more nerve-racking when you’re traveling with family and friends and want to sit next to each other. While it’s never guaranteed you’ll get seats together, don’t assume that a free seat assignment at check-in will doom you to be separated in middle seats throughout the cabin. Sure, it could happen, but in my experience, and hearing from several others, couples and families are usually still seated together when seats are assigned by the airline for free.

For better odds, I would recommend checking in as early as possible. And if you don’t end up sitting next to your travel companion, it’s not the end of the world. You’ll still get to your destination at the same time and might even enjoy the time to yourself in-flight.

Of course, traveling with small children is a different story and many parents would like to ensure that they will be sitting next to minor children onboard. The Families Flying Together Act calls for any child under the age of 13 to be seated with parents or guardians for no extra charge, but this doesn’t seem to be a concrete law.

To ensure small children are seated next to an adult, the Department of Transportation suggests contacting the airline directly after booking and discussing your situation. Arrive at the airport early and work with the agents to accommodate your family. Airline agents will do everything possible to seat young children next to a family member.

Related: JAL's Seat Map Feature Helps You Avoid Crying Babies on Flights

Book Your Ticket at the Airport

The internet has made booking flights extremely convenient and some airlines have decided to charge a fee for that convenience. I recently booked flights on Frontier and Spirit for a friend and I, in person, at the airport in order to save each airline’s hefty online booking fee. To my surprise, we were also assigned seats next to each other for free at the time of booking. I assumed our seats would be randomly assigned at check-in and never asked for specific seats. But, sure enough, we were given adjacent seats on both flights and even got Frontier’s extra legroom seats assigned for free.

This is not a given, but if you are courteous and friendly with the agent when booking a flight at the airport, you may just find yourself getting free seat assignments in advance. I haven’t tried this with any legacy carriers, but since a human agent has the ability to override the system, you’ll probably have a better chance of getting seats assigned next to each other for free when booking at the airport. I wouldn’t assume that this will happen, but if it’s convenient for you to book at the airport, it’s worth a shot.

Related: How to Avoid Online Booking Fees on Airline Tickets

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Aeroflot Seat Assigments - Moscow Forum

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... have you mentioned AB number on Orbitz booking?

That's why I arrive early. AIM.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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Aeroflot Economy Saver Seat Assignment - Moscow Forum

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Hi everyone,

Now I don't mind where I sit as long as I get to the destination. But I am concern that it might be overbook and I get bumped off, as I have something booked in Geneva that I cannot miss. The next category up is quite a bit more expensive.

Is it worth the risk? Is seat assignment possible through online check-in 24 hours ahead as some had suggested on another thread.

Thanks for any feedback.

Is seat assignment possible through online check-in 24 hours ahead

>>>

Does one fly standing in the civilized world these days?

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I have successfully used Aeroflot's own web site to purchase tickets AND pick seats at the same time. But it doesn't seem to work if you buy elsewhere...

Come to the airport early

Based on my experience, and as noted, you are ok (only?) if you bought the ticket thru the Aeroflot site...

If yoiu buy from Aeroflot directly you can assign a seat. Otherwise, 24 hrs before departure try internet-check-in, if it works from JFK. If not - come to check-in early.

I bought my tickets directly on Aeroflot web site, and when I clicked "Select Your Seats" link at the end of the process, it said seat maps were not available. When I called Aeroflot and they looked up my reservation, they told me that the fare I booked was not eligible for advance seat selection.

So it looks like if you book a discount fare (booking class W or L, maybe some others), you won't be able to select seats in advance, regardless of how you booked it.

I have got my tix last summer thru Orbitz.

Then I went to Aeroflot website and found my reservation and was able to assign myself a seat.

But I am a Aeroflot Bonus member, so I found this ressie only after logging in...

There's also limited online registration 24 hrs prior... list of cities is limited though (((

I am also an Aeroflot Bonus member but I am unable to locate the link you just mentioned.

Could you please let us know how to access the "select a seat" feature ?

Best regards

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