Everything you need to know

Summary

• American Airlines introduced seat selection fees in the late 2000s and now charges up to $160 for seats with more legroom.
• Seat selection fees may vary depending on factors such as flight length and seat location, with elite-status passengers receiving free preferred seating.
• The Department of Transportation could pass the FAIR Fee Act to eliminate child seat separation fees and possibly eliminate seat selection fees as well.

American Airlines is one of the many airlines that charge seat fees, making American Airlines one of the eight airlines that collectively collected $4.2 billion in seat fees in 2022. In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about this US airline’s seat fees.

Since when does AA start charging for seat selection?

According to USA Today, airlines like AA began experimenting with seat reservation fees in the late 2000s. Just a decade later, seat reservation fees gained traction and currently airlines charge up to hundreds of dollars for seat reservation.

What is the average cost of AA’s seat selection fee?

Major airlines in the US charge an average of $33 for their preferred seat, according to IdealWorks Company’s 2023 Cartrawler Report Series. The report also showed that the average seat selection fee for the emergency exit row was $48, while the fee for the last row was $18. According to the report, the table below shows how much AA charges on average for seat selection:

However, these are just statistical averages, and you could potentially pay up to $160 for seat selection with more legroom on AA long-haul international flights.

There is a wide range of seat selection fees at AA

If you book standard seats, AA does not charge a seat selection fee. However, if you book basic economy fares, the seat selection fee applies. For families traveling on basic economy, the airline states:

“If you are travelling as a family with children under 15 and have not yet been assigned seats, our system will automatically search for seats next to each other before the day of departure. We will do our best to keep you together, but if the number of seats is limited, we will allocate seats so that children under 15 sit next to at least one adult.”

Factors that determine the seat selection fee include:

• Duration of the flight
• The type of seat you want (aisle seats and window seats with the most expensive seat selection fee)

A middle seat between two preferred seats may not incur a seat selection fee. The airline also states that there is no seat selection fee in certain cabins:

“When booking or purchasing a Preferred Seat in a cheaper location or a Main Cabin Extra Seat with more benefits, seat selection is free.”

Are AA seat selection fees refundable?

The seat selection fee charged by American Airlines is refundable only in exceptional circumstances. These include the following situations:

• If you pay more for another seat on the same flight
• If you upgrade your flight with AA to Business or First Class

Nerdwallet reported that there are a few other circumstances under which AA will refund 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 will also receive a refund if American Airlines cancels your flight – or if American delays your flight long enough that you miss a connecting flight for which you purchased seats – and does not provide a comparable seat on the new flight.”

How do I avoid paying AA seat selection fees?

There are a few ways to avoid AA’s seat selection fees, the most popular of which is to use the elite status you’ve earned with AA.

Redeem AAdvantage miles

Because AA’s seat selection fees depend on factors such as flight length and seat location in the cabin, there’s no way to know in advance how many AAdvantage miles you’ll need to offset the seat selection fees.

If your account does not have enough AAdvantage miles to cover the seat selection fees, you will not be able to use the combination of miles and cash for seat selection.

Preferred seating

If you have one of AAdvantage’s elite statuses, you have complimentary access to preferred seating, which is the standard legroom seats in your preferred cabin sections. You get access to preferred seating from the time of booking. Elite members of oneworld alliance partner airlines also have complimentary access to preferred seating.

Can AA’s seat selection fees come to an end?

There are rumors that the Department of Transportation is considering a bill that would allow a child (any 13-year-old or younger) to ride next to an accompanying adult without an additional fee. In the U.S. Senate, it was reported that the implementation of a FAIR (Ban on airlines, ridiculous) Fees Act would be implemented and that this law is a:

“a bicameral bill that would prohibit airlines from charging unreasonable fees – including baggage, seat, cancellation and change fees – that are disproportionate to the cost of the actual service provided. The bill also directs the Department of Transportation to review all other fees charged by airlines and to ensure that children can sit next to their family on the plane at no additional cost.”

The calls to eliminate seat selection fees charged by airlines are growing louder, and it will be interesting to see when the FAIR Fee Act is implemented. If such a law were to pass, it would mean an end to seat selection fees, not only for American Airlines, but for all other airlines as well.