Summary American Airlines introduced seat selection fees in the late 2000s, now charging up to $160 for extra-legroom seats. Seat selection fees can vary with factors like flight duration and seat location, with elite status passengers getting free preferred seating. Department of Transportation may pass the FAIR Fee Act to end child-seat separation fees, potentially eliminating seat selection fees.
American Airlines is among the many carriers that charge seat selection fees. In doing so, American Airlines is one of the eight carriers that collectively drew $4.2 billion in seat charges in 2022 .
In this article, we are going to cover everything you need to know about the seat selection fees of this flag carrier of the US. Window or aisle? Front or back? Which seat offers passengers the most comfortable option for their flight? When did AA start its seat selection fees? According to USA Today , airlines such as AA started to experiment with seat selection fees in the latter years of the aughties. Only a decade later, the seat selection fees were gaining traction, and currently, airlines are charging as much as hundreds of dollars for seat selection.
What is the average cost of AA's seat selection fee? Major Airlines in the US charge $33, on average, for their preferred seat, as documented by the 2023 Cartrawler Report Series by IdealWorks Company . The report also showed that the average seat selection fee for the exit row was $48, while that for the last row was $18. According to the report, the table below shows how much AA charges, on average, for seat selection: Preferred seat Exit row Last Row $31 $55 $11 However, these are just statistical averages, and you might end up paying as much as $160 for seat selection on AA for an extra-legroom seat on international long-haul flights.
There's a great range of seat selection fees on AA If you are booking standard seats, the seat selection fee is non-existent on AA. However, if you are booking basic economy fares, the seat selection fee kicks in. For families traveling on a basic economy, the airline states : "If you’re a family traveling with children under 15, and do not already have seats assigned, our system will search for seats together automatically before the day of departure.
We’ll try our best to keep you together, but if seats are limited, we’ll assign seats so children under 15 are next to at least 1 adult." Some of the factors that determine the seat selection fee include: Duration of the flight The type of seat you want (aisle seats and window seats having the most expensive seat selection fee) A middle seat in between two preferred seats might not have any seat selection fee. The airline also states that there would be no costs for seat selection in certain cabins: "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.
" Is AA's seat selection fees refundable? The seat selection fee charged by American Airlines can only be refunded in exceptional circumstances. These include the following situations: If you pay more for another seat on the same flight If you upgrade your AA's flight to business or first class Nerdwallet reported that there are a few other circumstances when AA refunds the seat selection fees: " If you cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking (if you booked at least two days before departure) or cancel your flight and purchase seats on a rebooked flight. You'll also get a refund when American Airlines cancels your flight — or if American delays your flight long enough to miss a connecting flight on which you purchased seats — and doesn't provide a comparable seat on the new flight.
" How to avoid paying AA's seat selection fees? There are a few ways that you can use to get around paying AA's seat selection fees. The most popular of these is to use the elite status earned on AA. Use AAdvantage Miles As factors such as the flight duration and location of the seat in the cabin dictate AA's seat selection fees, there's no way of knowing in advance how many AAdvantage miles you will need to compensate for the seat selection fees.
If you don't have enough AAdvantage miles in your account to cover seat selection fees, you won't be able to use the combination of miles and cash for seat selection. Preferred Seating If you belong to any of the elite statuses of AAdvantage, you will have complimentary access to preferred seating i.e.
, the standard-legroom seating in areas of the cabin that you prefer. You will get access to preferred seating from the time of booking. Preferred seating is something that elite members of oneworld Alliance partner airlines also have complimentary access to.
Can there be an end to AA's seat selection fees? There are rumors that the Department of Transportation is looking towards drawing legislation that will allow a child (anyone 13 or younger) to be next to an accompanying adult without any additional fee. It was reported in The US Senate that the implementation of a FAIR ( Forbidding Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous ) Fee Act would be implemented and that the act was a: "bicameral legislation that would prohibit airlines from charging unreasonable fees – including bag, seating, cancellation, and change fees – that are not proportional to the costs of the service actually provided. The bill also directs the Department of Transportation to review any other fees imposed by airlines and to ensure that children can sit with their family on flights at no additional charge.
" Voices to end the seat selection fees that airlines charge are getting stronger, and it will be interesting to see when the FAIR Fee Act will be implemented. If such an act were to go through, it would mean an end to seat selection fees, not only for American Airlines but all other carriers, too..
