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• Travel experience

All the essentials

A Main Cabin ticket is more than just a seat – it includes everything you need for an enjoyable flight.

Seat selection

You can choose your seat for free when you book or buy a Preferred Seat in a more favorable location or a Main Cabin Extra seat with more benefits.*

Main Cabin Extra

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

Wi-Fi and connectivity

You can bring 1 personal item and 1 bag with you on board for free. Check all the restrictions for carry-on and checked bags, including free allowances and charges, before you travel.*

• Carry-on bags
• Checked bag policy

Free snacks

Snacks and soft drinks are always free. Plus, additional food or drinks may be available for free or to buy, depending on your route.

Main Cabin food

Free entertainment

Sit back and relax with free movies and TV shows – on screen or your device.

Inflight entertainment

*If you’re an AAdvantage ® status member or AAdvantage ® credit cardholder, your bag benefit and boarding group applies if higher based on status.

AAdvantage® benefits

Aadvantage® status.

Flying with AAdvantage ® status / one world ® status? Enjoy more benefits like mileage bonuses, priority check-in and boarding, complimentary checked bags, lounge access and more.

AAdvantage ® status benefits

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.
• 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.
• We will attempt to assign children under 15 with at least one adult they're traveling with.
• If you sit in a seat other than the one assigned, you may be asked to move.

Preferred Seats

• Preferred 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 seat' is defined as moving from preferred to non-preferred or preferred aisle / window to preferred middle

Request a refund

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.

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

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Frequently asked questions about our seating options

For all fare classes except Basic Economy, you’ll be able to pick your seat or change your seat assignment. If you have a Basic Economy ticket, you’re able to purchase a seat assignment during booking and up until check-in opens. Learn more about Basic Economy restrictions.

You can choose a seat or change your seat assignment for most United- and United Express®-operated flights on united.com , on the United app or through your travel agent. If no seat assignments are available, you can check back closer to departure to see whether seats have become available. Learn more about seating options .

Seat assignments, no matter the fare class you purchase, aren’t guaranteed and could change without notice because of schedule changes, equipment swaps or other unforeseen circumstances.

We’ll always try to assign you the same or similar seat type and location and keep you with your traveling companions when you’re booked in the same reservation, unless you’ve purchased a Basic Economy ticket without purchasing advance seat assignments. We know that your seat assignment is important, so we’ll do our best to keep your original seat preference.

We may briefly hold some seats for operational reasons, and don’t allow seat selection or changes for Basic Economy tickets. If you’re unable to choose a seat, we’ll assign you one at check-in or at the departure gate.

All customers with Basic Economy tickets, including United MileagePlus® Premier® members, are eligible to purchase Economy Plus seating at check-in only.

I want to understand the boarding process

You will be assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and position (1-60+) upon check in.

• Your unique group and position combination (for example: A35) will be displayed on your boarding pass and represents a reserved spot in the boarding group at the gate.
• Numbered posts in each of our gate areas indicate where to line up.
• When your boarding group is called, find your designated place in line and board the aircraft in numerical order with your boarding group.

Southwest-operated flights have open seating. Once onboard, simply choose any available seat and stow your carryon items in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.

Family Boarding and Seating

If you are traveling with a child six years old or younger:

• Up to two adults traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding.
• There should be enough open seats to enable the child to sit next to at least one accompanying adult.
• If the child and adults are all holding “A” boarding passes, they should board in their assigned boarding position rather than waiting for Family Boarding
• If you need and request assistance, Southwest will endeavor to seat a child next to one accompanying passenger (14 and older) to the maximum extent practicable and at no additional cost.
• Families can speak to Gate Agents or Flight Attendants to request assistance.

If you are traveling with a child age seven to 13 years old:

• If you need and request assistance, Southwest will reasonably endeavor to seat a child next to one accompanying passenger (14 and older) to the extent practicable and at no additional cost.

Preboarding

Some Customers with disabilities may preboard at the very beginning of the boarding process prior to general boarding. Preboarding is available for Customers with disabilities who need a specific seat to accommodate a disability, need assistance boarding the aircraft, or need to stow an assistive device.

A Customer Service Agent at the ticket counter or the departure gate can help with this accommodation, and you'll be asked questions to determine if you qualify. You'll receive a new boarding pass marked with PRBD if you qualify, which lets the Operations Agent at boarding know that you can preboard. Remember that you can't occupy an exit seat if you preboard.

Customers with disabilities who simply need a little extra time to board or otherwise do not qualify for preboarding may board between the "A" and "B" groups, before Family Boarding. A Customer Service Agent at the ticket counter or departure gate can give you a new boarding pass marked with XT, which lets the Operations Agent at boarding know that you can board before Family Boarding.

Interested in improving your boarding position?

Upgraded Boarding gives Customers the ability to upgrade their boarding position to A1-A15 24 hours before the flight, depending on availability. This allows Customers the opportunity to be among the first to board the aircraft, pick their preferred available seat, and access the overhead bin space.

EarlyBird Check-In® gives Customers the convenience of automatic check-in before our traditional 24-hour check-in, depending on availability. As an EarlyBird Check-In Customer, you'll have the benefit of an earlier boarding position, a better opportunity to select your preferred available seat, and earlier access to overhead bin storage for your carryon luggage.

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Other Seat Information

With Basic Economy please remember refunds and upgrades are not available at any time. Basic Economy is best for those traveling by themselves with firm travel plans. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the restrictions so you know if Basic Economy is right for you.

• No seat(s) assigned until after check-in, not together
• No changes allowed*
• Cancelable for partial eCredit in most cases (cancellation fee applies)**
• Last to board & not eligible for upgrades
• No miles earned; no credit toward SkyMiles Medallion Status***

*Ticket changes or refunds not allowed after the Risk-Free Cancellation period. **For tickets issued for travel originating in Korea, tickets will be refunded to the original form of payment after deducting the cancellation fee. Check your ticket along with the Baggage & Travel Fees page to view any fees that apply to Basic Economy tickets. Tickets issued for travel originating in Europe, India, the Middle East and Africa cannot be canceled.

***Not eligible for MQD earn, paid or complimentary access or upgrades to premium seats, including to Delta Comfort+® or Preferred Seats; and no paid access to Priority Boarding.

If you are unable to sit in your seat without encroaching into the seat next to you while the armrest is down, please ask the agent if they can reseat you next to an empty seat. You might also consider purchasing an upgrade to First Class/Delta One®.

If you would like to book an additional seat in order to ensure your comfort during your travel, please click the " Message Us " button on the Need Help page for assistance.

Preferred Seats include:

• Exit row seats
• Bulkhead window and aisle seats
• Window and aisle seats in the front of Main Cabin

These seats are available to eligible customers on Delta and Delta Connection aircraft. Preferred Seats are available for purchase up until the check-in window closes on most Delta operated flights. Keep in mind that Preferred seats are non-changeable, non-refundable and cannot be transferred to a new flight or itinerary. In the event of a cancellation, you may receive an eCredit for the value of your Preferred Seat if you cancel your flight before the 24-hour check-in window opens.*

Basic Economy: Customers who purchase Basic Economy tickets are not eligible to purchase Preferred Seats.

Medallion Members: Members are eligible for Complimentary Upgrades to Preferred Seats upon request and subject to availability.

SkyMiles Members: Earn miles, including Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) toward Medallion Status with the SkyMiles Program, for Preferred Seat purchases.

*Applies to Delta-operated flights canceled prior to the 24-hour check in window only.

Using the My Trips seat map or the offers presented on the Trip Details page, you can select a seat and pay to upgrade your trip to Delta One®, Delta Premium Select, First Class or Delta Comfort+® on eligible flights within the U.S. and Canada, from the U.S. to international destinations and on most exit-international flights to the U.S. after purchasing a ticket.*

Paid upgrade seats are: 

• Typically changeable and refundable, depending on the fare rules of the original booked ticket
• Not eligible to be transferred to a new flight or itinerary
• Unavailable for purchase once the check-in window for the flight has closed

If you need to cancel, you may receive an eCredit for the value of your paid upgrade if you cancel your flight before the 24-hour check-in window opens.**

In some cases, customers with Special Service Requests (SSR) on their reservation are not eligible for post-purchase upgrades such as exit row seating, to ensure they are assigned to a seat that meets the needs of their request.

*Excludes tickets booked in Basic Economy. **Applies to Delta-operated flights canceled prior to the 24-hour check in window only.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can't find the answer to your question? Check out our top seat Q&As for more information.

If you voluntarily change or cancel your flight before the 24-hour check-in window opens, you may receive an eCredit for the value of your seat purchase.* Currently, eCredits may only be applied toward future travel, but this is the first step in the direction of offering you more flexibility with eCredits in the future.

Any time after a ticket is issued until 90 minutes prior to departure or until the check-in window has closed, customers can upgrade from Main Cabin to Delta One®, Delta Premium Select, First Class or Delta Comfort+®, or from Delta Comfort+ to Delta One®, Delta Premium Select or First Class.

Customers may use a different method of payment than the method used to purchase the original ticket. Upgrades are add-ons to your purchase and will not require a new ticket to be issued to you.

Customers can go to My Trips and look for the upgrade offers banner located at the top of their trip to purchase a Delta One, Delta Premium Select, First Class or Delta Comfort+ seat upgrade as an add-on if available.

Post-purchase upgrades are sold for individual flights and all customers in the reservation must upgrade for the selected flight.

Currently, some Special Service Requests (SSR) are not eligible for post-purchase upgrades such as exit row seating, to ensure that customers are assigned to a seat that meets the needs of their request.

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Types of Seats on JetBlue

Wondering where to sit? We've got you covered.

Core (preferred)

Even more® space, even more® space seats.

Even More Space is available for an extra charge, which varies by seat and route. Even More Space seats include up to 38” of legroom, early boarding, and priority security at select airports.  

You can select Even More Space seats when you book your reservation or any time before your flight departs. Even More Space seats must be purchased by flight and seat assignments don’t carry over for connections. 

If you’ve already booked, use the Manage your trip  to retrieve your reservation and select any available Even More Space seat for your flight. The price is displayed when you click the seat. Once you’ve made your selection(s), review your seat assignments, enter your payment info, and you’re all set. 

Booking Extra Seats

Want more elbow room? Booking an extra seat can be done with a couple extra clicks.

Individual Seat Details

seats AC: 18.5” 

seats DEF: 19” 

Core: 143 

Mint: 16 

Core: 3x3 

Mint: 2x2 

Mint Suite: 1x1  

Core: 144 

Core: 114 

Mint: 24 

Mint: 1x1 

Seats with Limited or No Recline

Limited recline.

Rows 17, 29

Rows 12, 13

Disability Seating

Fixed armrests, reserved rows.

Row 1: seats D, E, F 

Row 5 

Row 6 

Row 7: seats D, E 

Row 7: seats A, B, C, D, E 

Row 1: seats A, F 

Row 2: seats A, F 

Row 3: seats A, F 

Row 4: seats A, F 

Row 5: seats A, F 

Row 19: seats D, E, F 

Row 7: seats D, E, F  

Row 11 

Rows 1, 24 

Row 25: seats A, F 

Row 6: seats A, B, C, D, E 

Row 9: seats D, E, F  

Row 16 

Row 15: seats D, E, F  

Row 18 

Row 1: seats C, D 

Row 2 

Are upgraded seats refundable?

Seats are refundable to the original form of payment if the booking is cancelled prior to the scheduled departure. 

What are my seat options with a Blue Basic fare? 

• You may select seats for Blue Basic booked on or after September 24, 2023 at any time for a fee. If you don’t, your seats will be assigned before departure. 
• Travelers that combine a Blue Basic fare with Even More Space (on all legs, if connecting) will get to board early and bring a carry-on bag. 

Can I use JetBlue Travel Credits on seat upgrades? 

Travel Credits cannot be used on direct seat fees. You may use your Travel Credit on a fare that includes your desired seat type. 

Mosaics Seat Selection Information 

• Mosaics and anyone traveling on the same PNR (up to eight companions) will be entitled to preferred or Even More Space seats as part of their loyalty benefits, according to tier levels.
• Mosaic 1 Customers may select Core (preferred) at booking at no extra charge except when traveling on a Blue Basic fare, pending availability. 
• For all fares, Mosaic 1 Customers may select Even More Space or Core (preferred) seats at no extra charge within 24-hours of travel, pending availability. 
• Mosaic 2 Customers & above may select Core (preferred) or Even More Space seats at no extra charge at or post booking, pending availability. 

I already selected a Core (preferred) seat, but I want to change. 

If you selected your seat prior to January 29, 2024, you will not be charged to remain in that seat. Any voluntary seat changes in a Core (preferred) seat on or after January 29, 2024 will incur the applicable fee. 

Is there a family seating guarantee?

We will always do our best to seat children with an adult family member. Our  family seating guarantee  includes auto-seating families in adjacent seats, fee-free, when you travel on the same booking and we have the seats to accommodate you. Blue Basic Customers are included in auto-seating. If you change those seats, applicable fees apply.

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• Based on avg. fleet-wide seat pitch of U.S. airlines. 
• Fly-Fi and live television are available on all JetBlue-operated flights. Availability and coverage area may vary by aircraft. See details on inflight wi-fi and entertainment. DIRECTV service is not available on flights outside the continental U.S.

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Start your own personalized journey with Paid Seat Assignment

Spacious Business class seats on domestic flights are available for an additional fee

Front row economy class seats for quick exit from the aircraft before other passengers

A380 window seats on 2F are perfect for those traveling alone or as a couple

A more spacious seat with extra leg room

First class seats are available for an additional fee

How to survive basic economy on United Airlines

So, you're preparing for a trip and notice you've booked a basic economy fare on United Airlines. You may have a lot of questions about what this fare allows and how your experience may be different from any previous trips you've taken with United. Don't worry — this guide aims to answer all of your questions.

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter . And whether you're road-tripping or globetrotting, the suite life is always better. Download the free TPG app to upgrade your travel!

What is United basic economy?

United has two types of economy fares: economy and basic economy .

Basic economy provides a lower-priced fare but may place restrictions on seat assignment, boarding, carry-on baggage, upgrades, changes, refunds, elite earning and elite benefits. This guide will answer common questions about these restrictions and the basic economy experience on United, but be sure to also check out Benji Stawski 's review of United's basic economy .

Related: Comparing basic economy fares across US airlines

Note that some basic economy restrictions are waived for Star Alliance elites and cardholders of United cobranded credit cards, two of which currently offer increased bonuses. If you fall into either of these groups, see the specific section related to your group to see which restrictions are waived for you.

• United Explorer Card : Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
• United Quest Card : Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
• United Club Infinite Card : Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• United Business Card : Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.

Related: 4 reasons someone in your family needs a United credit card

Can I check a bag?

Yes. Baggage fees vary based on itinerary; you can calculate the fees for your flight here . If you don't have elite status with United or carry one of their credit cards, here are some examples of baggage fees:

• Within the U.S. and Canada: $35 for the first bag ($30 if prepaid), $45 ($40 if prepaid) for the second bag, $150 for each additional bag. Between the U.S. and Europe: $75 for the first bag, $100 for the second bag, $200 for each additional bag.
• Between the U.S. and Mexico : $30 for the first bag, $55 for the second bag, $180 for each additional bag.

Related: How to avoid checked baggage fees on major domestic airlines

Can I bring a carry-on?

Sometimes. For domestic flights, only one personal item such as a shoulder bag, purse, laptop bag or another item that is no larger than 9 by 10 by 17 inches is allowed. Mobility aids and other assistive devices are also permitted. This item must go under the seat in front of you. Any additional items must be checked at ticket counters; if you take them to the gate you'll pay a $25 gate-service fee per item plus the applicable checked bag fee.

On transatlantic flights operated by United and United Express, your carry-on baggage allowance is the same as for standard economy tickets. This means you can bring a carry-on item that is no larger than 9 by 14 by 22 inches as well as a personal item that is no larger than 9 by 10 by 17 inches.

Premier members of the MileagePlus program, Star Alliance Gold members and the primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card, like the United Explorer Card, may bring a carry-on and a personal item onboard.

Related: How to tell if your backpack counts as a personal or carry-on item

Can I select a seat?

Yes, but it'll cost you. Advance seat assignments may be available for purchase during booking and until check-in opens. Selecting a seat is oftentimes reasonably priced, usually $10 on short-haul flights. However, if you don't opt to purchase a seat assignment, a seat will be automatically assigned prior to boarding, for free. You can only purchase Economy Plus seats at check-in.

United's website states that travelers on the same reservation — including families with young children — may not be able to sit together unless advance seat assignments are purchased:

"With Basic Economy, if you do not purchase advance seat assignments, we're not able to guarantee that your family will be able to sit together. If it's important for your family to sit together, please consider purchasing advance seat assignments, if available, or selecting another fare."

Related: Flying United? Don't switch seats once you're on board

Why can't I check in online?

You'll only be able to check in for your flight online if you're checking a bag or traveling on a transatlantic flight. (Note: After checking in online, go to a check-in counter or designated kiosk in the airport lobby to check your bags.) If you're not checking a bag or traveling on a transatlantic flight, you'll need to finish checking in at the airport to prove that you don't have more than one personal item.

When can I board?

You'll board in the last boarding group, unless you have elite status or select credit cards. More on that in a bit. Note: Basic Economy customers with disabilities or who need assistance are allowed to pre-board.

Related: United Airlines updates its boarding process, creates new signage

Can I change my flight?

No. Changes aren't allowed with basic economy. This includes advance and same-day changes.

Related: The best ways to avoid airline change and cancellation fees on paid flights

Can I get a refund if I cancel my flight?

Refunds are not usually allowed except as stated in the United 24-hour flexible booking policy .

Related: How to refund a nonrefundable airline ticket

Do I still earn miles?

Yes. You'll earn award miles based on the fare and your MileagePlus status, as well as full Premier qualifying points and lifetime miles, and accrue toward the four-segment minimum. However, your flights will not count as Premier qualifying flights toward elite status.

Related: United Airlines makes big changes to how we earn elite status, upgrades

Does having a cobranded credit card help?

Yes, but only if you use a cobranded United credit card to purchase your ticket, are the primary cardholder of this card at the time of check-in and provide your United MileagePlus number when you purchase the flight.

If you manage to satisfy all these requirements, you'll defeat basic economy by getting the following benefits even when flying on a basic economy fare:

• One carry-on bag no larger than 9 by 14 by 22 inches for you and each of your travel companions traveling on the same reservation.
• Priority boarding for you and your travel companions traveling on the same reservation.
• First checked bag free for you and one travel companion traveling on the same reservation when you book your tickets using your United Explorer, United Club Infinite, United Quest, United Business or United Club Business Card.
• First and second checked bags are free for you and one travel companion traveling on the same reservation when you book your tickets using one of the above cards.

The information for the United Club Business Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: The best credit cards for flying United

Does having elite status help?

Yes. When flying on a basic economy fare, Premier members and Star Alliance elites get the following benefits:

• Your normal checked baggage allowance.
• Your normal boarding group for you and your travel companions traveling on the same reservation.

However, elite status holders will not receive any of the following when flying on a basic economy fare:

• Complimentary Economy Plus seating.
• Complimentary upgrades.
• Paid upgrades.
• Mileage upgrades.
• Upgrades using PlusPoints .

Related: Last-minute strategies for United Premier elite status

Bottom line

United Airlines basic economy fares are more restrictive and punitive than any of the other U.S. carriers. However, the United basic economy experience can be made better with elite status or an eligible cobranded United Airlines credit card when the card is used to book the flight.

So, if you haven't booked your ticket yet, or you plan to fly United basic economy again, you may want to consider getting a United Airlines credit card. Doing so now is particularly compelling due to the increased bonuses currently available:

These cards provide a carry-on bag and priority boarding in Group 2 for you and each of your companions traveling on the same reservation. Plus, you and one travel companion traveling on the same reservation get your first checked bag free. These benefits of these cards easily outweigh the fees if you use them to book United basic economy fares just a few times each year.

You can also check out our guides to basic economy on Delta Air Lines and American Airlines .

Additional reporting by Johnny Motley.

SELECT SEATING OPTIONS

If you do not select a seat now, you will randomly be assigned a seat from the remaining selection at check-in.

We Recommend You Choose Your Seat at Booking

Available at time of booking.

Get your preference of aisle, window or middle seat.

Sit near the front, or exit it's your choice!

Keep your party together.

Choose your seat on all Air France flights

Have a preference between the aisle and window seats? Want to be seated next to the person you are traveling with? Select the seat of your choice when you book your flight.

Opt for more choice

To provide you with the widest possible choice, you can select your seat in advance, whether it is a Standard seat in the Economy cabin, a Premium seat in the Premium Economy cabin, or a Business seat in the Business cabin. 

This paid service is available on all flights, from the time of booking until 30 hours before departure.

Please note that you can also select your seat for free, depending on availabilty: - when you book a flight in La Première, - when you check in online (30 hours before your flight's departure) or at the airport, in the Economy, Premium Economy, and Business cabins.

You can view the rate for advance seat selection when you purchase your ticket or in My Bookings . This rate will vary according to your destination, travel dates, and fare selection. 

You can pay for this service using your Flying Blue Miles or Blue Credits.

Complimentary Standard, Premium and Business seat selection

No matter your destination, a Standard seat in the Economy cabin, a Premium seat in the Premium Economy cabin, and a Business seat in the Business cabin is free:  

• Flying Blue Silver, Gold and Platinum members and their travel companions if they appear on the same booking
• passengers with reduced mobility
• children traveling alone
• passengers traveling on a Flex fare*

Passengers who have purchased a Standard fare ticket departing from the United States, Canada, Mexico**, and Papeete to Europe can choose a standard, premium, or business seat free of charge.  * If this service is not free of charge during booking, please select your seat in the  My Bookings section of the website. ** The service is free of charge only for transatlantic flights.

How to purchase this service

You can select your Standard, Premium or Business seat:   When you purchase your ticket  - on our website or via our mobile app - At an Air France ticket office or at a travel agency - by phone with the help of one of our sales representatives. After your book your flight and up to 30 hours prior to departure  - in My Bookings , - at an Air France ticket office or travel agency, - by phone with the help of one of our sales representatives.

Even more choice with seat options

Travel with more leg room, choose a Duo seat in a row of two, or be among the first to exit the aircraft… Treat yourself to extra comfort with a  Seat Option!

Families traveling with children

If you are traveling as a family with a child (14 years old or younger), we will reserve your seats, free of charge, 2 days before your flight. We will do everything we can to make sure you can travel together and sit next to each other. To make this possible, all of your family members must be included in the same booking file. Your seat location is indicated on your boarding passes, provided during online check-in or at the airport. However, if you would like specific seats, you can choose the seats you prefer in advance. In this case, you will pay online, either when booking or later in the  My bookings section of the website. Please note if you are a family traveling with a child under the age of 2, you can not purchase a Standard, Premium or Business seat online. To access to this service, please  contact us after your have booked your flight.

Children traveling alone

For children traveling alone and receiving the Kids Solo service, choice of standard seat is provided at no extra charge when purchasing the ticket. Please indicate during the booking process that your child is traveling alone. You can choose your child's seat at no extra charge: - When purchasing your ticket online - After purchasing your ticket, in My bookings .

Changes to your seat selection

If you wish to change your flight or your travel dates, you can transfer your preselected Standard, Premium, or Business seat over to your new flight via My Bookings .. If the seat you initially selected is not available on your new flight, you may request a refund in the "Contact us" section of the website. For security, safety or operational reasons, we may be required to change the seat you reserved. If you are not satisfied with the new seat selection, you can: - Change it in  My bookings - Obtain a refund online, by completing the request form provided on the “Contact us” page.

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Advance seat selection.

Advance seat selection brings you one step closer to planning the perfect trip. Travel with peace of mind and confidence.

Eligibility

Economy class seats can be assigned in advance after flight reservation and the ticket purchase. First and Prestige Class seats can be assigned after flight reservation.

How To Select

• Select a seat through the website or mobile app.
• Select a seat through the travel agency where you purchased your ticket.

Service Availability

From 361 days to 48 hours prior to flight departure (at least 24 hours prior to departure for First Class and Prestige Class)

• Your selected seat may be changed without prior notice due to aircraft replacement or other irregular circumstances.
• The seat map provided on the website may be different from the actual configuration of the aircraft you will be boarding.
• Advance seat selection may be limited according to your booking class or membership level.
• Some seats are not available for selection.

(Prior to Departure)

Please note that pre selected seats may not be guaranteed if passengers do not check in by the time specified above.

Service Restrictions

• Passengers using certain codeshare flights operated by other airlines
• Passengers using charter flights
• International : Passengers flying with T Class
• Domestic (Korea) : Passengers holding a group ticket
• For some Economy Class seats on international flights, the advance seat selection service is offered for a fee.

Choosing your seat in advance

We recommend that you choose your seat as early as possible to get the one you want, and to avoid sitting separately from family or friends.

How to choose your seat

You can do this when booking your flight or afterwards through Manage My Booking.

If you have a booking, follow these simple steps:

• Log in to Manage My Booking
• Under 'Your booking details', click on your flight number
• Under 'Seating', click on 'View or change seats for this flight' and follow the instructions on screen

Do I have to pay to choose a seat?

Whether your seat selection is free or you’ll have to pay extra depends on a range of factors, including the fare you choose and your cabin of travel.

You can choose your seat for free from 24 hours before departure when check-in opens, unless you’ve booked a Basic ticket (economy, hand-baggage only) where your seat is allocated to you.

With a Basic ticket (economy, hand baggage only), you can either:

• Pay to choose your seat from when you book until check-in opens, or
• We’ll allocate you a seat for free when check-in opens. You can then pay to change to a different seat, although your choice may be limited.

If you’re an Executive Club Member, you’ll collect Avios if you pay to choose your seat on a British Airways flight. You’ll collect at least six Avios per pound (GBP) spent. Find out more about collecting Avios on flights .

You may be entitled to choose your seat for free if you fall into one of the following groups.

Travelling in First

It’s free from the time of booking to choose a seat in our First cabin.

Executive Club Members

As an Executive Club one world® frequent flyer Member you're able to choose seats at different stages, depending on your tier.

You must be travelling on the booking, or in the case of Gold Members, one of the bookings, for these benefits to apply. They apply to British Airways-operated flights only and are not available on group rate bookings.

On some occasions, exit row seats on short-haul flights may not be available in advance due to operational reasons.

Gold/oneworld Emerald

Enjoy free seat selection when booking for everyone in your party. This includes friends and family on other bookings who are travelling with you in the same travel class and on the same flight.

Silver/oneworld Sapphire

Enjoy free seat selection – excluding exit row seats on long-haul flights – from the time of booking for everyone in your party. Exit row seats on long-haul flights can be selected for free from 24 hours before departure.

Bronze/oneworld Ruby

Enjoy free seat selection – excluding exit row seats – from seven days before departure for everyone in your party. Exit row seats can be selected for free from 24 hours before departure.

Enjoy free seat selection from 24 hours before departure, excluding exit row seats and not including travel on basic fares. Seats can be purchased from the time of booking.

Flexible tickets

Tickets with increased flexibility allow you to make certain changes to the date and time of your flight. They also include free seat selection.

• Fully Flexible fares (Y/W/J class) allow you to choose seats for free from the time of booking.
• Short haul Plus fares allow you to choose seats for free from 48 hours before departure.

You choose your flexibility when you buy your flights.

Choosing seats together on separate tickets

You can see which seats are still available together to choose for free from 24 hours before your flight, when online check-in opens.

However, if you are travelling with others on different bookings, you can pay in advance to choose specific seats to ensure you sit together for your flight. Just log in to Manage My Booking .

Flying with children

To get the best choice of seats and make sure your family sits together, it’s best to choose your seats in advance. You might have to pay to do this.

If you don’t choose your seats in advance

We’ll do our best to seat your family together by assigning seats a few days before your flight departs. However, seat selection may be limited at that time and your seats may be split across different rows or the aisle. We'll make sure each child under 12 years sits next to an adult from your booking but children over 12 years are booked as an adult in our system and may sit separately.

Travelling with an infant under two

Seats are free when you fly with an infant under two who won't be travelling in a seat of their own. You can choose a seat for you and everyone in your party free of charge as soon as you've made your booking, except for bookings of over nine people. One person in your group and the infant will be able to choose a carrycot/seat position, subject to availability. The remainder of your party will be able to select other seats for free.

Travelling with a disability

There's no charge for choosing your seat if you have a specific seating requirement because of your disability.

How to book your seat

In most cases, you can select your seat using Manage My Booking, but sometimes you may need to contact us, like for some non-visible disabilities. Here's what you need to do.

• Book your flight
• We recommend that you let us know about the assistance you require at least 48 hours before your flight leaves. Once you have notified us that you require additional assistance, go to Manage My Booking and click on 'Seating' within the flight details section
• Select your seat, and if you need any help, please contact us

Travelling in large groups

Groups of more than nine people.

When you travel as a group, we’ll allocate your seats free of charge. While we'll try to seat your party together, we can't always guarantee it, particularly if your group is split across separate bookings.

To ensure your group is seated together, or if you would like specific seats, you can pay to choose your seats in advance. This applies to groups booked in the UK and Ireland only.

Paying for a seat

How much will it cost.

The cost of selecting a seat varies depending on the type of seat and the cabin you're travelling in. Prices are available when booking your flight or in Manage My Booking. You can pay in advance using a credit or debit card or by using Avios on British Airways-operated flights.

It may not be possible to choose bulkhead seats, as they're usually reserved for customers with a disability or those travelling with an infant.

Payments at the airport

Like many airlines, we only accept debit or credit card payments at many of the airports we operate from, including London Heathrow, London Gatwick and North America.

Pay with Avios

You can use your Avios to pay for seats in advance via Manage My Booking , with full or part payment options available. This is available for British Airways-operated flights and gives you more ways to spend your Avios.

As an Executive Club Bronze, Silver or Gold Member you can choose seats for free in many instances. For more information see our terms and conditions below.

Changes and refunds

If you’ve paid to choose a seat and we're unable to offer you that seat or a suitable alternative when you board your flight, you can claim a refund. See our terms and conditions for paid seating below.

Terms and conditions

Availability

• All paid seating is subject to availability and is only confirmed once paid for.
• Paid seating is available on British Airways mainline operated flights and on British Airways-operated flights marketed by other carriers.
• Paid seating may be offered by British Airways franchisee airlines. The seating Terms and Conditions of British Airways franchisee airlines may differ from those of British Airways mainline-operated flights, therefore we recommend that you refer to the franchisee airline’s relevant Terms and Conditions.
• Paid seating may be unavailable on some flights operated by codeshare partners.
• Paid seating for group customers (bookings containing more than 9 passengers) is only available where the reservation has been made directly with British Airways Group Sales. Group customers who have made their reservation through a travel agent or a tour operator cannot currently book paid seating. Payment with Avios is currently unavailable for group customers.
• All un-ticketed passengers, including those travelling on a cruise or package holiday who have not yet received confirmation of their ticket numbers, are unable to choose paid seating until they have received confirmation of their ticket numbers.

Changes to seats

• On British Airways marketed and operated flights, you may change your seat (subject to availability) at any time. If you change your seat to a lower-priced seat, we will not refund the difference in price. If you change your seat to a higher-priced seat, you must pay the difference in price.
• You cannot make changes to paid seating on British Airways-operated flights marketed by other carriers.
• Paid seating is not guaranteed, as seating may need to be changed for operational, safety or security reasons, even after boarding the aircraft.
• If we change your seat, we will attempt to find you a suitable alternative. If you are unsatisfied with your new seat, you can apply for a refund of the paid seating.
• Paid seating is not transferable to any other passenger.
• British Airways changes your seat to an alternative seat and you are unsatisfied with the alternative seat
• British Airways cancels your flight
• You become ineligible to sit in an exit row and you inform us at least 48 hours in advance of scheduled departure of your flight, or
• You have paid for a cabin upgrade and do not wish to pay the difference to select your seat in the upgraded cabin.

The above does not affect any right to a refund you may have during a “cooling-off” period, if and to the extent applicable under local law. Details of this under Israel’s Consumer Protection Law 1981 are set out in our legal information .

• Cancel your flight
• Are involuntarily upgraded
• Are considered unsuitable to sit in the seat type you have selected
• Accept a voucher towards a future booking that includes paid seating (see further the relevant voucher Terms and Conditions), or
• Have booked a British Airways operated flight marketed by another carrier and choose to move to a different flight.
• On British Airways marketed and operated flights, if, in accordance with your ticket type, you choose to move to a different flight, you will be entitled to choose an equivalent seat on your new flight. If an equivalent seat is not available, any sums previously paid for seating will be forfeited and will not be refunded. Alternatively, you may choose a more expensive seat and pay the difference in price.
• On flights marketed by other carriers, if you choose to move to a different flight, you will not be entitled to choose an equivalent seat on the new flight and you will not be entitled to a refund.
• You have 30 days after the last flight in your itinerary to apply for a refund of paid seating, where due. Please submit your refund application online using our seating refund form . We cannot process refund applications at the airport or on board.
• Unless otherwise stated, we will only make a refund to the credit card used to pay for the paid seating, or in the case of Avios payment, to the Executive Club Member’s Avios account.  

Exit row seats

• Exit row seats are situated either next to or immediately behind the exit door.
• If you choose an exit seat, in the unlikely event of an emergency evacuation you will be expected to assist us in opening the emergency door. For this reason, you must: be over the age of 12 years old, not be pregnant, not have accessibility needs or be substantially blind or deaf, be fit enough to operate an emergency exit door, be able to understand printed or verbal instructions given in English, and be willing, as well as able, to assist in the case of an emergency evacuation. When requesting an exit row seat, you will be asked to verify your eligibility.
• British Airways has the sole discretion to determine whether you meet the requirements to sit in an exit row seat. If you do not meet the requirements, you will be assigned an alternative seat. The additional amount paid for an exit row seat will be forfeited and will not be refunded.
• If, after the date of requesting an exit row seat, you become unable to fulfil the requirements to sit in an exit row seat, please contact us at least 48 hours before your flight in order to claim a refund.

Using Avios as payment for seat selection

• Executive Club Members can use their Avios to pay in full or in part for paid seating on British Airways operated flights in Manage My Booking on ba.com or by calling a British Airways Contact Centre.
• Paid seating purchased with this payment option will be subject to these Paid Seating Terms and Conditions.
• All seats selected must be eligible for full or part Avios payment in order for Avios to be applied to the booking.
• The Avios payment rates are defined in a fixed set of currencies. If more than one Avios payment option is available, it is not possible to change the price option chosen once a booking has been made.
• The Avios payable will depend on the cabin class, route selected and the number of people on the booking. This will be displayed on the booking page.
• British Airways reserves the right to alter the applicable Avios payment rates at any time in its sole and absolute discretion, but this will not apply to bookings already made.
• When an Executive Club Member pays for seating using Avios, the Avios will be debited from the Member’s Executive Club account for each passenger on the booking.
• When Avios has been used as full or part payment for seating, those Avios will be refundable only in accordance with the rules detailed in these Paid Seating Terms and Conditions.
• When a seat selection is made using Avios as full or part payment for a member who is either on the Household Account or the Family and Friends List, the Avios will be taken from each Member’s Avios points balance in proportion to the size of each Household Account Member’s Avios points balance. Members of a Household Account can make full or part Avios payment for paid seating for people outside of the Household Account.
• Avios payment may not be used in conjunction with any other promotional offers, unless expressly stated otherwise.
• Members do not earn Avios and Tier Points on paid seating.
• It is not possible to use Avios for paid seating on bookings made through Concur or on group bookings.

Booking an extra seat for additional space

You can buy an extra ticket to keep the seat next to you free, for reasons like requiring additional personal space or to secure a fragile or precious item, such as a musical instrument or painting.

An item must fit in the seat, otherwise it will need to be checked into the hold. Find out more about baggage .

How to book an extra seat

• Please contact us  or your travel agent to make a booking for an extra seat as this type of booking cannot be made online.
• If you arrive at the airport and haven't booked an extra seat in advance, please speak to a member of British Airways staff. If there are seats available in the cabin you are travelling in, you may be able to buy an extra seat.
• At many airports, including London Heathrow, London Gatwick and some in North America, you can only pay using a card. Please check with a member of our staff at the airport to find out if options are available for converting cash to a payment card.

Additional personal space and safety

If you would like the seat next to you to be kept free for additional personal space, you can buy it as an extra seat for comfort.

You'll need to buy yourself an extra seat for comfort if:

• You're travelling in economy and need more space to easily fasten your seatbelt for take-off, landing or during periods of turbulence, or
• You're unable to fully lower both armrests of your seat. It's a safety requirement to have a fully lowered armrest between each passenger during take-off, landing and turbulence.

We can give you an extension seatbelt if you need it.

Please note:

• An extra seat doesn't give additional seat width – see our seat dimensions guide below for the minimum seat widths on our aircraft.
• On most of our long-haul aircraft, the armrests in the economy cabin don't fold away into the seat back completely. They stop at an angle of 45 degrees when lifted and can't be raised further.
• There must be a fully lowered armrest between each passenger during take-off, landing and turbulence. 
• Armrests are fixed in our First, business (Club World) and premium economy (World Traveller Plus) cabins and can't be raised or lowered.
• You can't buy an extra seat for comfort at the bulkhead or on an exit row.
• You won't be able to buy an extra seat on a British Airways-operated flight if your journey includes a flight operated by another airline.

Choosing seats with our partner airlines

If you book with us for a flight operated by American Airlines, Finnair, Iberia, JAL or Qantas, you can choose your seats in Manage My Booking .

If you’re flying with one of our one world alliance partners and are an Executive Club Gold/oneworld Emerald Member, a Silver/Sapphire Member, or a Bronze/Ruby Member, you can contact your local British Airways customer centre to choose a seat for that flight.

In all other cases when you're flying with one of our partner airlines, please contact them directly to choose your seat.

Please note that you cannot use Avios to pay for seats on flights that are operated by our partner airlines.

If you paid to choose a seat on a flight operated by any of our partner airlines and would like to get a refund, please contact them directly.

Watch CBS News

How airline "drip pricing" can disguise the true cost of flying

By Megan Cerullo

Edited By Alain Sherter

Updated on: April 24, 2024 / 2:47 PM EDT / CBS News

With many airlines now hawking "unbundled" fares, it's easy for travelers to mistake low advertised prices for cheap plane tickets . But for consumers eager to get the best deal on flights heading into the summer travel season, it pays to learn how "drip pricing" can make airfare more expensive.

Indeed, selecting the cheapest base fare is no longer the best way to get a good deal, according to travel experts. That's because airlines now routinely charge more money for "extras" such as seat assignments,  checked bags , snacks or wifi. 

"Nobody likes feeling nickel-and-dimed, like the price they saw for a flight was a bait and switch," Scott Keyes, founder and CEO of travel site Going.com, told CBS MoneyWatch.

Here's what to consider. At first glance, the initial pricing for a flight you find on an online travel site might seem temptingly low. But after factoring in the cost of selecting your seat, checking bags and other add-ons, the fare can end up being much higher — as much or more than an all-inclusive fare.

This model, commonly referred to as drip pricing, can certainly boost an airline's revenue, and proponents say it benefits consumers by allowing them to pay only for the perks they truly value. For their part, critics say it makes it harder to determine the true cost of flying and to compare prices among airlines.

Keyes traces drip pricing back to 2008, when airlines began charging passengers to check second bags. That allowed full-service carriers to offer a lower-cost, no-frills ticket in order to compete with budget carriers.

"That lower headline price brought people in — then they started adding seat-selection fees," Keyes said. "It's an innovation from the budget airlines that the entire industry has copied and that full-service airlines have adopted for themselves."

"It makes it very difficult"

For consumers, however, the problem with unbundling fares is it makes it trickier to compare what different airlines charge for tickets, experts told CBS MoneyWatch. 

"It makes it very difficult to find out what the all-in price will be," said Columbia Business School marketing professor Vicki Morwitz, who authored a  report on how consumers react to drip pricing.

Her research shows that consumers tend to book the ticket option that looks cheaper upfront, but costs more once add-ons are factored in.  "Consumers make a mistake and spend more money than they needed to spend," she explained. 

Jay Sorensen, president of IdeaWorks, a consultancy that has advised U.S. airlines, agrees that drip pricing makes comparing airline ticket prices more complicated. But he still thinks it can benefit consumers by letting them pay for the extras they want, while leaving behind those that aren't important to them. 

"The outcome is of course that it's more difficult to compare between different products and airlines," he said. "While that's true, airlines, as profit-seeking companies, are under no obligation to make it easier to compare with their competitors."

Sorensen compared the experience of booking airfare today to shopping for groceries.

"You roll in with your shopping cart, and as you walk through the aisles you toss stuff in your cart," he said. "You buy a base fare, and as you go through the booking path you add things to the cart, like a checked bag, seat assignment, or pay to book a meal or other services," he said. "That's dramatically different from the way travel was once sold in U.S."

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.

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Open seating no more? Southwest CEO says airline is weighing cabin changes

Southwest Airlines  is considering changes to its single-class, open-seating cabins to drive up revenue, CEO Bob Jordan told CNBC on Thursday, a shift that could be among the largest in the airline’s history.

“We’re looking into new initiatives, things like the way we seat and board our aircraft,” Jordan said in an interview after the carrier’s  disappointing first-quarter report.

Southwest’s all- Boeing  737 fleet has a single economy class cabin and no seating assignments, though it does offer earlier boarding for a fee so customers can snag their preferred seats. The airline has focused on keeping its product simple and user-friendly for years, aiming to keep its own costs and complexity to a minimum.

Meanwhile, rivals including  Delta  and  United  have touted high revenue growth for premium seating such as business class and  strong upsell rates .

Analysts have repeatedly asked Southwest about opportunities for premium seating or additional fees. (The airline doesn’t charge travelers for their first two checked bags.)

Most U.S. airlines charge travelers to choose many of its seats in advance, even those that don’t come with extra legroom. Eight U.S. carriers —  Alaska ,  Allegiant ,  American , Delta,  Frontier ,  JetBlue ,  Spirit  and United — together brought in $4.2 billion from seating fees in their domestic networks in 2022, according to Jay Sorensen, an airline ancillary revenue expert at IdeaWorksCompany.

Jordan said no decisions have been made on what kind of changes Southwest will ultimately make, but he said studies have yielded “interesting” results.

“Customer preferences do change over time,” Jordan said.

While details were scarce during Southwest’s earnings call, when asked whether Southwest would consider a separated cabin on its planes, Ryan Green, the carrier’s chief commercial officer said: “Curtains and things like that are a bit far afield from what Southwest Airlines is.”

Green added that the carrier is not considering charging for checked bags because “people choose Southwest Airlines because we don’t have bag fees.”

— CNBC’s  Phil LeBeau  contributed to this report.

More from CNBC:

• Honda to build $11 billion electric vehicle hub in Canada
• Comcast beats earnings estimates even as it sheds more broadband subscribers
• American Airlines swings to a loss, but tops estimates for Q2 forecast

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New Air Canada seat selection fee paused following backlash

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Air Canada has paused changes to its seat selection policies following backlash from Canadian travellers.

Currently, travellers have to pay to pre-select seats before check-in on an Air Canada flight but can select seats for free during check-in. 

On April 19, Canada's largest airline announced a policy change to seating assignments that would automatically assign travellers a seat at check-in for free. But customers wanting to change their seats would have to pay a fee (see slide two).

Air Canada said the proposed change included "transparent pricing" and customers could skip the option and keep their assigned seat. 

The new seat assignment fee was slated to commence April 24 but the airline told V.I.A. that it has "paused implementation" for "operational reasons."

Air Canada noted that it sells several branded fares at various prices, including its Basic, Latitude and Business Class, and each has its advantages. 

"The ability to select your seat ahead of your flight is one such attribute (an extra bag, refundability are examples of other such attributes)," it said in an emailed statement. 

"For our branded fares that do not permit free seat selection, customers have the option to choose a seat prior to check-in and pay a seat selection fee, or wait for us to assign a seat at time of check-in for no fee."

While the airline has paused the new changes, it added that they are "consistent with our branded fares" and are similar to the policies of other carriers in Canada. 

Customers with children will not have to pay the fee to sit together, regardless of fare class. 

Air Canada will communicate further when it plans to implement the policy.

Travellers respond to Air Canada's proposed seat payment changes

Multiple people took to social media to share their frustration over the proposed changes. 

Traveller Steven Clark shared the changes in a post on X, noting that the airline can "now split your party at their discretion to force you to spend money to ensure your party sits together," adding that its current policy was "a safe gamble at 24 hours [that] you could find seats together."

JW Kite mentioned how "Delta has been doing this for a few years for those who book an Economy (lowest) fare."

Alishya Weiland  wrote, "That's quite annoying!"

Another frustrated flyer mentioned, "Westjet does this too and it’s disgusting…just another cash grab!" 

Air Canada launches program to prevent lost baggage

Air Canada recently launched a new program to  prevent travellers and their bags  from getting separated during their journey. 

A new feature in the Air Canada mobile app allows customers to track the progress of their baggage in real-time at "key points" while they travel. Travellers can see their bags move from the check-in at the airport to the plane and then through connections before arriving at their final destination. 

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What fliers need to know about new refund rules for airlines

Starting in about six months, u.s. airlines will have to offer customers cash refunds before vouchers.

New federal rules for airlines will go into effect later this year, giving travelers a better picture of the full cost of flights before they book — and getting them an easier refund if things go awry.

After a process that lasted more than a year, the Biden administration announced the rules on passenger protections Wednesday.

“This is a big day for America’s flying public,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a news conference at Reagan National Airport.

While the trade group Airlines for America said its members “abide by — and frequently exceed — DOT regulations regarding consumer protections,” consumer advocates praised the administration’s move.

“These rules are not only critical but also common sense,” said William McGee, senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project, who spoke at Wednesday’s event.

Most new rules go into effect in the fall

At the event Wednesday, Buttigieg said that “the bulk of these protections” will go into effect in about six months. Others will start in a year.

That means refund rules that get customers automatic cash refunds when airlines cancel or significantly change flights won’t be in place during the busy summer travel season. But they should be set in time for the Thanksgiving and winter holiday season rush.

Buttigieg said that the department expects airlines to take some time to develop the processes to return cash to travelers, but added that he doesn’t want them to drag their feet.

“They don’t have to wait the number of months that it’ll technically take for this to go into effect,” Buttigieg said Wednesday. “They could and should be doing this right now.”

You should get refunds without having to ask

Instead of first offering a voucher or credit, airlines “must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops,” the Transportation Department says. The refunds need to be issued within seven business days for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days when bought through other methods.

However a traveler originally paid is the way the refund needs to be issued, the rule says, whether that’s by credit card or airline miles . Other types of compensation are allowed only if a passenger chooses one of those alternatives.

“No more defaulting to vouchers or credits when consumers may not even realize that they were entitled to cash,” Buttigieg said.

You can still choose to be rebooked

If travelers’ flights have been canceled or significantly changed, they can still continue with their trip. Passengers are only eligible for a refund if they have declined to accept alternative transportation.

Airlines will have to pay for delayed bags and broken WiFi

There are many ways for a trip to go awry, and the new rules cover more than just a late or canceled flight.

If a checked bag isn’t delivered within 12 hours of a domestic flight arriving at the gate, or within 15 to 30 hours of an international flight arriving, depending on how long that flight is, passengers will be entitled to a refund of their checked-bag fee. They will need to file a mishandled baggage report.

Refunds will also be given if passengers pay for a service such as WiFi, seat selection or in-flight entertainment and the airline fails to provide.

‘Significant’ changes will be the same for all airlines

Automatic cash refunds are due to passengers if their flight experiences a “significant change.” But what does that mean? Previously, the definition could vary from airline to airline.

The new rules provide some consistency. A change is considered significant if a departure or arrival is different by more than three hours for domestic flights or six hours for international trips.

Other changes considered significant: the departure or arrival is from a different airport; there are more connections; passengers are downgraded to a lower class; or service or flights are on planes that are less accessible for a person with a disability.

No more hidden fees for bags and seat selection

The rule on extra fees — what the Biden administration refers to as “surprise junk fees in air travel” — will require airlines and online travel booking sites to disclose up front the fees for a checked bag, carry-on bag, reservation change and reservation cancellation. Those fees must be clearly noted and not shown through a hyperlink, the rule says.

Consumers must also be informed that they don’t have to pay for a seat assignment to travel and that a seat will be provided without an additional price.

“Healthy competition requires that, as a consumer, you comparison shop, which means knowing the real price of a trip before and not after you buy,” Buttigieg said. “Airlines will now be required to show you these costs up front, so you have all the information you need to decide what travel option is best for you.”

Travelers can either search without providing their personal information to see standard fees or, after entering their information, see more tailored fees that might apply given their military status, frequent-flier membership or credit card use.

“The final rule puts an end to the bait-and-switch tactics some airlines use to disguise the true cost of discounted flights,” the Transportation Department said in a news release. “Prior to the rule, some airlines were offering deceptive discounts that consumers may have believed applied to the full fare that was being advertised but only applied to a small portion of the ticket price.”

You will still have to report complaints

Buttigieg said the main way for the department to find out about a violation of the rules is when people submit complaints through the site flightrights.gov . But he said he hopes that by making refunds automatic, there will be less need for complaints — and more flexibility for employees to perform audits or spot-checks of airline compliance.

Europe-style compensation is still not in the rules

Some travelers heading to or from Europe who experience delays under certain circumstances are entitled to compensation worth more than $600. That kind of system does not exist for domestic flights in the United States, but Buttigieg said it is on the agenda.

“On compensation, we continue to develop that — and to be clear, with this rule on the books, that does not stop or slow the progress that we’re driving in terms of a compensation rule,” he said.

More on air travel

Leave flying to the pros: Think you could land a plane in an emergency? Experts say you’re wrong . Here’s what you should actually do if something goes awry during a flight .

Pet peeves: Why do “gate lice” line up early for a flight ? Psychologists explained for us. Another move that annoys airline workers: abusing the flight attendant call button . For more on how to behave on a flight, check out our 52 definitive rules of flying .

Plane mess: Stories about extremely disgusting airplanes have been grossing out travelers. The question of plane cleanups became the subject of a recent debate after a flight attendant allegedly told a pregnant passenger to pick up the popcorn spilled by her toddler.

Frequent flying: Airline status isn’t what it used to be, but at least there are some good movies and TV shows to watch in the air. And somewhere out there, experts are trying to make airline food taste good.

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Reporting by Jack Queen and Luc Cohen in New York; additional reporting by Andrew Goudsward in Washington; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Jonathan Oatis

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Thomson Reuters

Legal correspondent specializing in politically charged cases.

Reports on the New York federal courts. Previously worked as a correspondent in Venezuela and Argentina.

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