American Airlines Seat Selection Options

American Airlines offers various seating options on its many flights, but the fare classes are divided into three broad sets: Basic Economy, Main Cabin, and Main Cabin Extra.

Basic Economy: This is the most restrictive fare class, and passengers can select a seat; there will be no option of free seat selection at the time of booking. This is usually done when automated seat assignment is performed at check-in. If there are families with children under the age of 15, their seats will be allocated together wherever possible.

Main Cabin: The main cabin passenger who pays a full economy ticket can select any standard seat for free at the time of booking. A preferred seat or an extra-legroom seat can be reserved for a fee. Pricing is by demand and seat placement on the aircraft.

Main Cabin Extra: This category offers more legroom and early access to board the aircraft. It is available for purchase on flights for approximately USD 20. Travelers in this category enjoy free snacks and drinks, plus free entertainment.

How to Choose an American Airlines Seat

You can choose your seat during booking or after it's been made through the "Manage Trips" section on American Airlines' website. Here's how:

Upon Booking: After selecting your flight, next comes the selection of seats. From here, after setting your search, click on a link that says "seats" so that you can preview the available seats.

After booking, log on to the American Airlines homepage and sign in using "Manage Trips." Enter your last name and confirmation number; click on it to access your reservation, then follow the seating options available.

Partner Airlines: For travel on flights operated by partner airlines, the confirmation number must be directly obtained from them and used to choose a seat.

Fees Paid to Choose Seats

The cost of choosing a seat depends on several factors:

• Economy Class: No seat selection unless paid for.
• Coach Class: This class allows only free standard seat selection; preferred and extra-legroom seats require about $10 to $22, depending on availability.
• Refunds: Under certain conditions, you are allowed to have the seat selection fee refunded in some instances after you or American Airlines have made flight changes.

AAdvantage Member Benefits

This is a special privilege for AAdvantage members in selecting seats:

• Complimentary Main Cabin Extra seats: Available to members with elite status within 24 hours of departure, based on availability.
• It enables the usage of miles to pay for an upgrade or preferred seating option.

Also read American Airlines student discount

Tips to Choose an  AA Seat Successfully

To maximize your comfort and ensure a smooth travel experience, consider these tips:

• Book Early: The earlier you book your flight, the better the selection of seats you will have. This is especially important if you are traveling with family or friends and want to be able to sit together.
• Check back: Many airlines don't offer seat selection at the time of booking, but seats often open up as the flight nears.
• Use your AAdvantage Account: Logging into your AAdvantage account at the time of booking makes it easier to manage the perks and benefits associated with the status level earned.
• Be Operational Change Aware: American Airlines may change seat assignments for operational reasons. Always check your assignment before heading to the airport.

Conclusion

Learn how to navigate the maze of seat selection with American Airlines. Being in a position to understand different fare classes and entitled benefits, plus understanding how to manage your selections online, will go a long way toward improving your travel experience. 

If you want to select seats for extra legroom or sit next to family members, you'll want to book early. AA added some nice perks in there that make flying just that little bit nicer, so sign up if you fly with them quite a bit. 

Happy travels!