flight no seat assignment

What to Do If You Don't Have a Seat Assignment for a Flight

If you run into issues with an airline, the department of transportation recently launched a new airline customer service dashboard., by alina machado • published october 28, 2022 • updated on october 28, 2022 at 9:30 pm.

For William Dzurilla, traveling to Europe to spend time with his grandparents is a gift.

"I was very excited," he said.

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He booked his tickets weeks in advance and on the day of his scheduled departure, he says he left early for Miami International Airport.

"I do live about an hour away from the airport so ... I left almost four hours ahead," he said.

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But when he checked in at an airport kiosk, he became concerned by what he saw on his boarding pass.

"I immediately noticed that there was something wrong because it said see the representative at the front desk," he said.

Without an actual seat assigned, William made his way to the gate to speak with a representative.

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"I have to get into the line," he said. "As the departure of the plane came closer and closer, it became more chaotic and people just started coming up to the representative."

He says he asked if he could get his seat.

"He says no, you're on standby," William said he was told.  "He doesn't even check the computer or anything."

The flight eventually left without him. The airline, he said, marked him as a no show.

"They didn't want to help me at all," he said. "They basically said that I missed my flight."

The airline told NBC 6 they looked into William's case and his boarding pass read "see agent" for a seat assignment, adding "...we cannot confirm that the customer checked in with an agent at the time of boarding."

"If you have on your boarding pass the note to see gate agent or get your seat assigned through the gate agent, as soon as you get through security, just go ahead and go, head to the gate and check in with the gate agent," said Scott Keyes of Scott's Cheap Flights.

Keyes said checking in with the gate agent early will ensure you get your seat assigned and help avoid any headaches.

"It was just very stressful until I finally knew I had a seat secured," William said.

William ended up having to book another flight to make it to his grandparents.

"Because of the situation where I just needed to see my grandparents," William said. "I said, ok with purchasing this ticket just so I could get there and then I went and tried to resolve the issue afterwards."

After the emailed the airline several times, they gave him 15,000 miles and $1,500 in electronic travel certificates for his troubles.

"At the end of the day, the situation did get resolved," William said.  "That is positive so I'm glad."

"I just wished it was a little bit smoother," he said.

If you run into issues with an airline, the Department of Transportation recently launched a new airline customer service dashboard. You can access it by clicking here .

This article tagged under:

What to Do When No Free Seat Assignments Remain on Your Plane

Or in some cases, what to do when all the seats left are in the premium section?

We recently faced this situation, and I had only two options.

Pay For Preferred Seats

I booked our flight on JetBlue about a month out—not way in advance, but it wasn’t a last-minute booking, either. At the time, the only seats remaining were a few middle seats scattered around the cabin and Even More Space seats in the front of the plane and exit rows.

JetBlue wanted $82 to $89 for these seats. I didn’t want to pay an additional $180 for extra legroom seats for a 2-hour flight. And it’s crazy that they charge the same for the middle seat as they do for the aisle or window.

Take Our Chances

Option two was less desirable, but under the circumstances, it made the most sense.

I decided to take a chance and leave us without seat assignments. If anything, I wanted to see what would happen. Would JetBlue put us in one of the Even More Space seats for free? Maybe some passengers would pay for seat assignments at the last minute, opening up other seats. Maybe they would upgrade passengers from regular seats and give us their seats? I was also curious about those with Blue Basic fares who can only pick seats 24 hours before departure.

Online Check-In

When I checked in for the flight the day before, I thought we might get seat assignments, but that didn’t happen. When I looked at the seat map, JetBlue told me that the only remaining seats would cost extra. I could pay for one of those seats or wait for a seat assignment.

I waited this long, so I waited until we arrived at the airport.

At the Airport

We weren’t checking bags, so we went right to the security checkpoint. I checked the JetBlue app every 10 minutes, but there was still no seat assignment. We walked to the gate 10 minutes before the scheduled boarding time. I was on my way to check with the gate agent when I noticed we had seat assignments.

Coincidentally, we ended up with two aisle seats next to each other , which is what we would have picked if they were available. Despite how the graphic looks, these were not Even More Space seats. They were the row behind the exit row, with regular legroom.

These seats weren’t available the night before, so there had to be some moving around to make them available.

What would you have done?

I generally prefer to select my seat in advance rather than leaving it to chance, even if it means choosing a less-than-ideal seat. However, in situations where all available options are bad, it’s worth taking a chance and seeing what happens. Of course, my approach might change if I were flying with a different airline or if the flight duration exceeded 2 hours.

What would you do in this situation? Will you let the airline choose your seat, or will you take whatever they have, if that’s all they have to offer?

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For domestic flights, I take the chance and do not pay for a seat but for international flights, I will pay for advance seat assignments

Similar situation for us flying DCA-MCO on B6. We waited and ended up with two even more leg room seats. Honestly, even though the B6 flight was dirt cheap I’d rather pay for UA and have a consistent product. The stress isn’t worth it

Yeah, at those prices, I probably would’ve done the same. I wonder how airline seat pricing works since it’s often way too expensive to make sense. UA E+ can cost $150-300+, which is absolutely insane, especially since it comes with zero added benefits (no priority boarding, free drinks, etc.). “Preferred” seats with regular legroom aren’t much better. OTOH, AS Premium Class pricing is downright reasonable, and I often debate whether or not to buy up.

Yes, I have a flight on United to Chicago in Basic Economy on Tuesday. I could pay extra. Why? What was the point of Basic Economy? The seat map Is showing nothing but preferred seats at $30 each way.

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My husband, Joe, and I went to Chicago at Christmas to visit my family. Often, you can fly round-trip from LAX to O’Hare International Airport for about $250 to $300, but the price goes up by at least a couple of hundred dollars closer to Christmas. We found a $499 fare on United in October and bought tickets.

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We could choose our seats on the Chicago-bound flight and were told that we could select our seats for the return flight up to 24 hours before departure. Both ways were regular economy fares, no zero-frills basic economy on which you can’t have a carry-on and don’t get assigned a seat until you get to the airport.

The flight to Chicago went fine. We paid the standard $30 extra to check one bag, like chumps. But we hit a problem on the return.

We got the text saying it was 24 hours until departure at 5:50 p.m. Saturday. We were at a computer to check in and select our seats at 5:58. When Joe looked at the seat selection screen, only one seat remained in economy. Every other seat was marked “Occupied/Unavailable” or was in Economy Plus or United First, which required hefty upcharges.

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Here’s what it looked like (the “1” is where my husband selected the last United Economy seat):

My options at this point: Pay even more to guarantee myself a seat on my flight home or show up at the airport with my fingers crossed and hope I didn’t get bumped. Considering it was the Sunday after Christmas, peak holiday travel time, and I didn’t know how many more flights to LAX were scheduled for that night, I paid the extra for Economy Plus. After taxes, it cost $92.

I did not feel good about this experience. Was there something else I should have done? How could I have gotten out of paying extra but still guaranteed a seat on a flight I had booked more than two months earlier? Why did United sell me a ticket for a seat that didn’t appear to exist?

Charlie Hobart, a spokesman for United Airlines, had some answers for me.

“If a customer does have questions about their seating assignment or lack of seating assignment, they can reach out to us,” Hobart said. Customer service representatives are available 24/7 by phone at (800) 864-8331 or on Twitter ( @United ).

If you find yourself in the same scenario and don’t feel like spending the last day of your vacation on the phone or getting into it on Twitter with an airline customer service person, you can proceed with check-in without selecting a seat. You will be assigned one when you get to the airport.

“Just because you do not have an assigned seat when you look to check in does not necessarily mean that you’re not going to fly on that aircraft or that you’re going to miss the flight,” Hobart said. “What we don’t want a customer to think is, ‘Oh, there are no available seats, so the only way I’m going to get on this flight is for me to purchase an upgrade; it seems like that is my only option.’ That is not what we want customers to think.”

Still, that’s what it felt like. Zach Honig, editor-at-large at travel blog the Points Guy , doesn’t blame me.

“It makes perfect sense that you would want to pay to select that seat,” he said. “Anyone I know would have made the same decision.”

Honig and United’s Hobart said if I had proceeded with check-in without selecting a seat, there would have been a message reassuring me I would be assigned one at the airport. That message did not appear on the seat selection screen.

As an extremely frequent flier, Honig is familiar with the ins and outs of the process. But for mere mortals like me, who fly a few times a year but aren’t air travel experts, he said showing up at the airport with no seat assignment can be stressful. Most likely, he guessed I would have been put in one of the unselected Economy Plus seats without having to pay, or someone in regular economy would have been moved up and I would have gotten that seat. I even could have gotten upgraded to first class. But I also would have been running the chance of getting bumped from an oversold flight.

The seat selection screen is “an upsell opportunity, clearly,” Honig said. But it’s not necessarily the airline hiding “free” seats from me in a bid to take more of my money. Upgrades are handed out as boarding time approaches; by having passengers show up without assigned seats, the airline can shuffle the last few stragglers into whatever seats are left.

“It’s unfortunate,” Honig said of my experience. “I think that people who don’t travel often definitely feel pressure when they see that check-in page and that very limited seat map. I’ve been there myself.”

If you find yourself in my shoes and you’re not willing to pay extra, you can go to the airport and hope for the best. Good luck.

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How Delta seat selection works

Delta seat selection fee, ticket types and seat selection rules, delta air lines seats for elite members, delta plane seating chart, how to pick seats on delta, final thoughts on selecting a seat on delta air lines.

Booking a Delta Air Lines flight and wondering about Delta’s seat selection? It’s no wonder — with differing benefits for elite members and strict restrictions on basic economy tickets, figuring out how and when to choose your Delta seat can quickly become overwhelming.

Here's a look at Delta seat assignments, how Delta Air Lines’ seating system works and the costs of choosing a seat.

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Delta operates a variety of cabin classes on its aircraft, including economy, Premium Select, first class and Delta One seats.

Like most airlines, Delta will allow you to select your seat when booking, though the cost to do so and any upcharges will vary depending on the flight you’re taking. Those flying with families and wondering “does Delta seat families together?” are in luck. Delta does its best to seat families together, even after check-in.

» Learn more: Delta vs. United, which is best for you?

According to an analysis of airline fees by NerdWallet, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines charge the least for seat selection, while budget airlines Frontier and Spirit charge the most.

Delta sits in the middle, charging an average of $15-plus for each flight that you'd like to select a seat for. The cost will vary depending on the type of ticket you book with the airline — which we'll discuss next.

» Learn more: How to navigate costly airline seat selection fees

How much is seat selection on Delta Air Lines? That will depend on the ticket type you’re purchasing, be it basic economy, main cabin, Premium Select (premium economy), first class or Delta One.

Basic economy

Basic economy tickets have the most restrictions of any Delta ticket, and this extends to seat selection. Those who book basic economy tickets won't be able to select seats; instead, a seat will be randomly assigned to each passenger after check-in. This includes families and groups who are traveling together — expect to be split up when booking a basic economy ticket.

If you reserve a basic economy ticket, it’s possible to purchase a specific seat starting seven days before departure. Pricing for this varies by trip and is priced by segment.

Main cabin seating, also known as regular economy, includes complimentary seat selection. As a main cabin customer, you also have the option to purchase an upgrade to preferred or Delta Comfort Plus seats while remaining an economy class passenger.

You can also book upgraded economy tickets with additional seat selection perks:

Main Cabin Preferred: Main Cabin Preferred seats are functionally the same as regular main cabin seats. The difference lies in the seat location; Main Cabin Preferred seats are typically window and aisle seats nearer to the front of the plane, plus exit rows. These are the least expensive upgrades from standard economy seating.

Comfort Plus: When available, a Delta Comfort Plus ticket can be purchased directly while booking and the price will include seat selection. The cost to upgrade is higher than for a preferred seat in main cabin. Comfort Plus features more legroom than main cabin and offers passengers dedicated overhead bins. In addition, Comfort Plus guests will receive complimentary beer and wine on all domestic and short-haul international flights.

Main cabin passengers can also choose to upgrade to a Comfort Plus seat either before or after purchasing their ticket.

Premium Select

Premium Select is Delta’s version of premium economy, with larger seats and better recline, two free checked bags, earlier boarding and premium extras. Those who book Premium Select can choose any seat within the cabin for no additional fee.

Delta One and first class

Both first class and Delta One ticket holders can choose any seat within their cabin for free. These spacious seats come with two free checked bags, premium snacks and meals, priority boarding, and a dedicated flight attendant.

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Regardless of where you sit once you're on the plane, a Delta-branded credit card can make your trip go a little smoother. Most include free checked bags and priority boarding, and some really stack up the perks. Among options:

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$0 intro for the first year, then $150 .

• 2 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.

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Terms apply.

• 2 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta and at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).

• 3 miles per $1 on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on hotel purchases.

• 2 miles per $1 at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).

• 3 miles per $1 on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.

• 1 mile per $1 on other eligible purchases.

• No foreign transaction fees.

• First checked bag free.

• Priority boarding.

• Companion certificate (main cabin).

• Airport lounge access.

• Companion certificate ((first class, Delta Comfort+ or main cabin).

• Credit for application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card , see this page .

Those who have joined the Delta SkyMiles program and earned Medallion elite status will receive seating benefits on their flights.

Main Cabin Preferred

When booking main cabin tickets, all four tiers of elite status members can select main cabin preferred seats for no additional charge.

» Learn more: The NerdWallet guide to earning Delta SkyMiles

Comfort Plus

Platinum and Diamond level elite members (the two highest tiers) can choose Comfort Plus seats shortly after ticketing for free. Mid-tier Gold members, meanwhile, will be able to select these seats starting 72 hours prior to departure, and low-level Silver members can pick from available Comfort Plus seats starting 24 hours before departure.

Delta elite members will also receive upgrades on select first class and Delta One flights depending on their elite status.

You can find Delta Air Lines seating without needing to book a flight. To do so, you’ll want to first search for your preferred route on Delta’s website. On the search results page, you’ll find a variety of flights from which to choose.

Each flight presents a seat map, which you can preview by selecting "Seats."

Once you’ve picked "Seats," you’ll be taken to a new page that shows a live preview of your aircraft’s seats.

You’ll also be able to view the seat map during the booking process. Once you’ve selected your flight, you’ll be taken to another page prompting you to pick a seat.

How do I choose my seat on Delta?

During booking

The process for reserving a Delta seat is fairly simple. As we mentioned above, you’ll be able to pick seats when booking your flights on the website; Delta will automatically prompt you to do so before checkout.

You may not be able to select seats on codeshare flights, which are operated by Delta’s partners . In this case, you’ll want to go directly to the other airlines’ webpage to manage your seat selection.

After booking

If you need to choose or alter your seat after you’ve booked your flight, go to "My Trips" on the Delta homepage.

If you’re logged in already, you’ll be able to view all the trips you have booked with Delta. You’ll find seat selection options by going down to the "Passenger Information" section.

» Learn more: 6 ways to save on Delta flights

Delta has a variety of ticketing options available for every type of passenger. This includes the highly restrictive basic economy class ticket as well as main cabin tickets for those who prefer certainty with their seats.

Upgrading to Main Cabin Preferred and Comfort Plus seats offers better benefits for those in economy. Loyal members of Delta’s SkyMiles program can also expect to receive complimentary access to these seats and upgrades to higher classes depending on their level of status.

Photo courtesy of Delta Air Lines.

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Just booked two tickets on Delta from MSP to Jamacia. There were no seats to select, only upgrade options. Wondering if we should be concerned about getting seat assignments?

I don't think so..

They'll "hold back" some percentage of the seats-- and where those seats are is also something they'll look at-- so that their local airport agents have seat "inventory" to use if they discover a seating problem or otherwise.

For a carrier like DL to book to 100% of the aircraft capacity would effectively "paint them into a corner" if they then ran into a special needs situation or similar.

Either check-in online (if possible) early or get to the airport early to have the best chance of seats that remain for day-of-departure assignment.

Remember that between now and departure time people will cancel their reservation (and therefore seats), upgrades from Economy to higher cabins will occur (and again seats will open up in Econ) and on the day of actual departure, some people will mis-connect due to a delay with their earlier flight -- all of these scenarios will add/change the seat count and availability.. So what you see now will change as departure draws closer.

Travel Safe,

You might also call Delta to see if they can release a seat for you. Otherwise you'll need to manage at the airport.

Tripadvisor staff removed this post at the original author's request.

Yes, a very potential problem!

Delta always overbooks.

You MUST always choose your seating at time of purchase.

Too bad the OP never came back to tell us how they made out. I have a feeling it wasn't an issue or we would have seen a rant by now.

"You MUST always choose your seating at time of purchase"

Sorry savantill but Delta now has a new booking class. "E" and if you use that (it is the cheapest) you can not pre select your seats. I have been flying Delta for a long time and have only seen a few instances of overbooking and they usually happen when there is a last minute equipment change.

The OP has been back from their trip for 4 months.

Delta's seat assingment system totally sucks. We weren't offered the option to get pre-assigned seats and ended up sitting apart on our first ever trip to the USA. Won't ever be flying Delta again.

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That's Ridiculous! I Have a Seat, But I Don't Have a Seat Assignment

By Christopher Elliott

If you have a seat on a plane, shouldn't you also have a seat assignment? Did you say, "Of course"? Well then, let me introduce you to Judy Field, who is flying from Dallas to Bangkok next month on American Airlines ( www.aa.com ) and Japan Airlines ( www.jal.com ). Picking the seats for her domestic flight was easy, she says, but when it came to the codesharing leg on Japan Airlines -- not so much. "I would not be given an assigned seat on Japan Airlines' leg from Tokyo to Bangkok," she says. "I was told they do not assign seats in the class that I purchased until the day of flying." Turns out there's a difference between having a seat assignment and having an actual seat, a fact that Dallas-based travelers like Field are all too aware of. Southwest Airlines ( www.southwest.com ), which is headquartered at Love Field, famously doesn't assign seats. (Critics of that airline like to refer to the procedure as "cattle-call" boarding, but it is, in fact, slightly more organized.) But airlines rarely confirm a reservation without having a seat available. That's called overbooking, and the Transportation Department requires airlines to compensate customers for selling seats that don't exist. So what's going on here? One answer: It's codesharing, the dubious practice of an airline pretending another airline's flight is its own. That's how Field could buy a ticket on American from Dallas to Bangkok. American doesn't fly from Tokyo to Bangkok, but Japan Airlines, its OneWorld ( www.oneworld.com ) codesharing partner, does. And Japan Airlines controls the seats on its plane, ultimately. But that is only part of the explanation. When Sallie Rosa booked an American Airlines codeshare flight on British Airways ( www.ba.com ) a few weeks ago, she got a more precise answer. It's about the money. "I purchased the tickets and the American Airlines site, and it said I'd be able to choose my seats on the next page," she says. "But when I went there, the seat maps were unavailable." Repeated attempts to make a seat selection were unsuccessful. She decided to write to British Airways, asking for a confirmed seat assignment. In response, the airline assured her that she had a seat on the plane, but that an assignment would cost her extra. "British Airways has launched a new service to give our customers more control over their seating options," the airline said in an e-mail. "Customers are now able to choose to pay for their general seating any time from the time of booking. They can also secure exit row seats between 4 and 10 days prior to travel." It added, "We introduced a charge so that those choosing to use this additional service were able to do so without passing on extra costs to those who don't." Well, isn't that thoughtful of them? Rosa paid an extra $318 for seats. She's traveling with two kids, and "I would utterly panic if I arrived and had no seats," she adds. This is part of a bigger process called "unbundling" in which airlines are separating everything that used to come with an airline seat, including the ability to check luggage, have a confirmed seat reservation, be served a meal, and even the have the ability to bring a carry-on bag. Air carriers see these "extras" as revenue opportunities, and they're not shy about asking you, their valued customers, for more. But parsing the seat and the seat reservation is bordering on the absurd. It doesn't cost an airline anything extra to confirm a seat, for starters. It also unfairly targets the kind of air travelers who can least afford to pay for the "luxury" of a confirmed seat: families with young children. But worst of all, asking passengers to pay for a confirmed seat reservation suggests that if you don't pony up the cash, you may not have a seat on the aircraft at all, sending air travelers like Rosa into a tizzy. Maybe -- just maybe -- the unbundling madness has gone too far. Maybe the airline industry needs to look elsewhere for the ancillary revenue it depends on to turn a profit. Christopher Elliott is the author of the book "Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals" (Wiley). He's also the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine and the co-founder of the Consumer Travel Alliance, a nonprofit organization that advocates for travelers. You can read more tips on his blog, elliott.org or e-mail him at [email protected] . Christopher Elliott receives a great deal of reader mail, and though he answers them as quickly as possible, your story may not be published for several months because of a backlog of cases.

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If your flight is canceled, here's what to know about securing a seat assignment on your new flight

When your flight is canceled , your mind immediately starts racing to figure out logistics. It's easy to get swept away in the details of booking a new flight, verifying your luggage will make it on your new route and more.

However, one aspect many travelers overlook when rebooking is seat assignments. While getting any seat can quickly become more important than securing your favorite seat, where you sit does matter to some people — especially families trying to sit together.

Personally, I'm team aisle when it comes to seats on airplanes, and while things happen, I wouldn't be thrilled if my aisle turned into a window seat (let alone the middle) through no fault of my own.

The good news is that travelers should be refunded for any paid seats on canceled flights, though the specifics of policies vary by airline. If you received a seat assignment without paying — such as via an elite status benefit — you shouldn't have to pay for a seat assignment on the rescheduled flight, either. Don't necessarily expect to get your seat of choice, though.

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You need to be proactive

We'll get to refunds, terms and conditions in a moment, but the first thing to know if this happens is you need to be proactive with securing a seat assignment on your new flight following a cancelation if where you sit on the plane is a priority for you.

With flights taking off as full as they are, the odds are high that there aren't going to be a ton of seats still available when you're being moved to a new flight in the final days and hours leading up to departure. Don't just assume the airline is giving you and your family seats together — there may not be any available.

However, don't despair. Be proactive in trying to select your own seat, ask the airline for help and then keep an eye on the available seats as departure nears. Sometimes, certain seats are blocked for assignment until just before departure and often a few people will either be upgraded or have a change of plans at the last minute, thus freeing up some additional choices. Also, don't be shy at asking for seats together — even if all that is left is in an extra legroom seat that normally costs extra — if the airline canceled your original flight.

You can turn to seat alerts using ExpertFlyer (owned by the same parent company as TPG) as an extra layer of help.

Paid seats will be refunded

As mentioned, a traveler who paid for seat selection on a flight that is canceled is entitled to a refund for that seat across the board, including at the big three U.S. airlines — United Airlines , American Airlines and Delta Air Lines .

United's paid seat policy

United offers maximum flexibility for travelers. The carrier automatically refunds travelers the cost of their paid seat assignments in the event of a canceled flight, whether the flight was voluntarily or involuntarily canceled.

"Any paid seating assignments, such as Economy Plus or preferred seating, will be automatically refunded to the original form of payment after the scheduled departure time of the flight," a United spokesperson wrote in an email.

Economy Plus seats feature up to 6 inches of extra legroom and are located near the front of the economy cabin. These seats and all other preferred seats are complimentary for United MileagePlus members with Premier status (Silver, Gold, Platinum and Premier 1K). Depending on their status tier, these members get free preferred seating for themselves as well as for one to eight companions.

In short, if United is unable to reseat you in the same type of seat you originally booked, expect to be automatically refunded the ancillary charge if you paid one.

"There are certain scenarios where you may be reaccommodated in a seat other than the one you've purchased, such as in instances of irregular operations, a last-minute aircraft change or an oversell," United says on its website . "In these cases, you will be issued a new boarding pass. If you find that you have not been reaccommodated in a seat of similar or greater value, fees paid for the seat will usually automatically be refunded."

Related: How to get seats together as a family on Southwest Airlines

American's paid seat policy

Like United, American refunds paid seats for flights it cancels or the airline will attempt to rebook you in your preferred seat.

"We make every effort to reseat passengers in the same seat or in a like seat when that isn't possible," a spokesperson for American said. "Customers can also use aa.com or the mobile app to view any available open seats if they'd like to make a different, available seat selection."

Customers can expect a refund of the paid seat charge if they are unable to get a similar seat to the one they had paid for.

However, unlike United, American will not extend a refund to passengers who cancel a flight on their own.

"Paid seats are nonrefundable if you change, cancel or miss your flight," according to the airline website. "Paid seats are nonrefundable if you change your seat assignment on the same flight to a lower priced or free seat."

There are two paid seat options, which are complimentary for AA Advantage Executive Platinum, Platinum and Gold status holders: Preferred seats and Main Cabin Extra. As you might suspect, preferred seats are located in preferred areas of the plane, which could mean they are closer to the front or in a row of two seats instead of three. Main Cabin Extra seats provide additional legroom (33 to 43.5 inches of pitch, depending on the aircraft, versus the 30 to 33 inches you'll find in standard economy seats). Those sitting in Main Cabin Extra seats will also receive a free alcoholic beverage.

Delta's paid seat policy

As is the case with both United and American, Delta will refund any paid seat charges for canceled flights to your original payment form, while also attempting to rebook you in your desired seat.

"We will absolutely work to accommodate customers in their desired seat on an individual basis in these cases," a Delta spokesperson said via email. "We will be able to refund these payments to the original form of payment in the event that's not possible."

Like American, when Delta rebooks customers on a new flight after canceling their flight , their seat selection will carry over to the new flight (based on availability).

But if a customer purchases a ticket with a preferred seat, and then cancels their ticket, the preferred seat is not eligible for a refund, per a Delta spokesperson.

"If the customer is impacted by an involuntary cancelation scenario, they would be eligible for a refund," they told me.

All Delta Medallion status holders — specifically Silver Medallion, Gold Medallion, Platinum Medallion and Diamond Medallion — receive free preferred seating, which may include seats at the front of the plane or in exit rows. Delta flyers can also upgrade to the carrier's extra-space economy class known as Comfort+, which provides up to 3 inches of additional legroom, among other perks. Unlike United's Economy Plus and American's Main Cabin Extra, Delta's Comfort+ is a separate fare class that requires Medallion members to get on a list for an upgrade; these members, especially top-tier ones, generally don't have issues clearing.

Unpaid seats

In the case of free seat selection, you essentially start from square one.

An airline will often automatically give you the same seat if it's available or a similar one if it is not; it may also allow you to pick your own seat once it rebooks you, but you are basically at the mercy of the airline in this case.