seat selection
47% Your Mileage May Vary
26% The Bulkhead Seat
17% Boarding Area
10% Other
Seat selection on most airlines now offers more control than ever, especially with the shift to assigned seating on major carriers like Southwest. Here’s what you need to know.
Southwest Airlines Assigned Seating (Effective January 27, 2026)
- Assigned seating is now standard for all flights departing on or after January 27, 2026.
- Passengers can choose from three seat types: Standard, Preferred, and Extra Legroom.🔗
- The Southwest Plus Card provides complimentary standard seat selection within 48 hours of departure and Group 5 boarding for the cardholder and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation.🔗
- Without the card, first checked-in passengers still get priority, but seat selection is no longer guaranteed at booking — it’s now available via online check-in or through the app.🔗
General Seat Selection Tips
- Book early to increase your chances of securing preferred seats, especially on popular routes.
- Check-in early — many airlines release additional seat options 24–48 hours before departure, including exit rows or bulkhead seats.🔗
- Use your frequent flyer number when booking to unlock status-based perks like early access or free seat selection.🔗
- Co-branded credit cards often include seat selection benefits, such as the Southwest Plus Card’s 48-hour free selection window.🔗
Partner Airlines and Seat Booking
- For codeshare or partner flights (e.g., Air Canada, Singapore Airlines), use the operating carrier’s website to select seats — not the one you originally booked with.
- Enter your PNR and last name to access your booking and choose seats directly on the partner airline’s site.
- Some carriers charge for seat selection, especially on basic or economy fares — always check before booking.🔗
Special Options and Perks
- Etihad’s “Economy Neighbour-Free” lets you bid for empty seats next to you 72 hours before departure, with prices starting at €10.
- Fiji Airways’ “My Bubble Seat” offers personal space in economy, available 72 to 4 hours before departure.🔗
- Air Canada’s elite members get free preferred seat selection, while standard passengers may pay $20–$199 depending on seat type.🔗
For the best experience, always confirm your seat selection is reflected in your reservation before check-in.Your Mileage May Vary +1
Your Mileage May Vary 6%
So You’ve Booked Your Dream Award Ticket — Now What?
You’ve been working toward your dream trip for as long as you can remember. You set a goal, diligently saved your points or miles, and finally booked that coveted award ticket. Congratulations! If you’re flying on the same airline where you redeemed your miles—for example, using AAdvantage miles to fly on American Airlines—the process is usually straightforward. While booking, you provided your details and selected your seats. This type of booking is often called “flying on the airline’s own metal”—a fancy way of saying you’re flying on their planes, not a partner airline’s. But what if your dream
Your Mileage May Vary 17%
The Southwest Plus Card: What’s New, What’s Gone, and What It’ll Cost You
Southwest Airlines offers three different personal credit cards with Chase: the premium Priority card, the mid-tier Premier card, and the entry-level Plus card. Historically positioned as a no-frills option, the Plus Card is undergoing a significant upgrade—both in terms of cost and benefits. If you’re considering applying for the Southwest Plus Card (or any Chase Southwest card), we’d appreciate it if you used our referral link. We earn Southwest points with each sign-up, which helps us keep Your Mileage May Vary HQ running strong. $99 for new applicants (up from $69). Current cardholders will see a price increase
Boarding Area 17%
How to Pick the Best Spot on a Plane
Choosing the perfect seat on an airplane can significantly enhance your travel experience. Whether you’re seeking extra legroom, a quiet corner to catch some sleep, or a spot with the least turbulence, understanding how to select the best seat is crucial. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the strategies and tips that will help you make an informed decision on your next flight. Every aircraft model comes with its unique seating configuration. Familiarizing yourself with the airplane seating layouts is the first step in choosing the ideal spot. Airlines often provide seat maps during the booking process,
The Bulkhead Seat 12%
Southwest Ends Open Seating: Assigned Seats and New Boarding Groups Begin Tomorrow
More than 50 years after it pioneered open seating, Southwest Airlines will officially retire the free-for-all boarding process that became one of its most distinctive traits. Beginning Tuesday, January 27th, every Southwest flight will depart with assigned seating (ending the tradition of picking any open seat after boarding). The shift brings Southwest in line with most major US carriers and introduces a new fare-based seat selection system (along with a full overhaul of the boarding experience). Passengers booking flights departing on or after January 27th have already been able to select seats since July 2025. With assigned seating, passengers
The Bulkhead Seat 14%
Southwest Airlines Assigned Seating Will Be Bookable Starting Next Week
A major shift to Southwest’s decades-long boarding policy is coming soon. Assigned seating options will be bookable starting on July 29th for flights departing on or after January 27th. The new policy gives passengers the ability to select their seats during the booking process, which is a first for the airline. Seat selection options will be available through new fare bundles that allow travelers to choose from these seat types: Customers not initially choosing a bundled fare will still have the option to upgrade their seat later during the booking process or closer to their departure date. Southwest
Your Mileage May Vary 7%
So You’ve Booked Your Dream Award Ticket — Now What?
You’ve been working toward your dream trip for as long as you can remember. You set a goal, diligently saved your points or miles, and finally booked that coveted award ticket. Congratulations! If you’re flying on the same airline where you redeemed your miles—for example, using AAdvantage miles to fly on American Airlines—the process is usually straightforward. While booking, you provided your details and selected your seats. This type of booking is often called “flying on the airline’s own metal”—a fancy way of saying you’re flying on their planes, not a partner airline’s. But what if your dream
Points Miles and Bling 9%
Air Canada Announces Positive Changes to Seat Benefits for Elite Members
Air Canada has announced a positive change to their advanced seat selection policy for Aeroplan Elite Status members and their travel companions. Standard and Preferred seat selections will now be available to some Elite members at no cost. The Status you hold, the type of fare, and the type of flight will determine when you can select your seats on a complimentary basis. These new benefits will apply to all bookings from October 2, 2023 onwards. Advanced seat selection is the way to go if you don’t want to be stuck in the middle seat. Standard seats are the
Your Mileage May Vary 17%
The Airlines That Let You Buy Empty Seats Next To You, For Cheap
Having an empty seat next to you on a plane is like the ultimate of economy class luxuries. When the flight attendants close the door and there’s no one next to you, you feel like you’ve won the airline lottery. Am I right, or what? There was a short time during the early months of the pandemic that, in the name of social distancing, middle seats were blocked on many airlines. As this process began to be phased out in late 2020 and early 2021, passengers on some airlines were offered the opportunity to purchase the middle seats next
FrequentMiler 1%
How to select seats on partner bookings
It’s common to book a trip through one airline that includes segments flown by other airlines. For example, a trip booked through American Airlines might include segments flown by Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Qatar, Qantas, or other AA partners. In some cases the partners are so well integrated that its possible to select seats through the airline you booked with (e.g. you may be able to select Air France seats when booking through Delta), but often you cannot. Often, it is necessary to go directly to the operating carrier to select your seats. Here’s how… When you book a