• 23 Dec, 2025
  • Travel tips

Choosing the right American Airlines seat makes all the difference in your experience. It will alter your journey altogether by view, by the services, and by the environment. You have to get a seat that will offer maximum comfort and relaxation, and refresh you for the trip. You can select the seat even after you have completed the booking process. American Airlines offers this convenience to its travelers. With this guide's help, you will learn about American Airlines' Seat Selection process, their policies, and some tips. 

What is the American Airlines Seat Selection Policy?

American Airlines allows passengers to select their seats after booking the flight ticket. There are some conditions that American Airlines has put in place before you apply for the seat selection. These are made by keeping in mind a lot of factors. You should check them out to know about the eligibility of your flight ticket to get the seat selection. Read the policies written below to apply for the seat selection with American Airlines: 

  • When you travel with American Airlines, they can change your seat for any safety or operational reason. 
  • American Airlines does not guarantee you will get the seat you wanted. 
  • If you want to get your preferred seat with American Airlines, you must complete the check-in process at least an hour before your international flight departure with American Airlines. If you travel domestically with American Airlines, you should arrive 45 minutes before the flight's departure. 
  • You must arrive at the gate 15 minutes before the flight departs to get your desired seat. 
  • You will get the seat of choice on American Airlines and American Eagle flights if available. 
  • The seat reserved under a name with American Airlines will not be transferred. 
  • American Airlines has the right to stop the sale of seats or not allow a passenger to get a seat on the flight. 
  • If you have paid to get a seat on an American Airlines flight and cancel your flight later, the respective amount is non-refundable. 
  • American Airlines will issue you a refund for seats if:
    • If you cancel, rebook the new flight. 
    • If you pay more for another seat. 
    • If you upgrade your cabin to first or business class. 
    • You canceled your flight 24 hours after booking it. 
    • The airline cancels your flight. 
    • The flight has been delayed. 
    • You are not allowed to board because of overbooking. 

How do you select a seat on American Airlines?

If you want to choose a wide seat with extra legroom over the standard seat, you can travel with American Airlines. However, you should also be aware of the methods the airline offers to complete the process. These processes can be completed within a specific time. You have to check the availability of the seats you wish to book. Read the steps below for the methods that are offered by American Airlines for seat selection

Select an American Airlines Seat Online

  • Go to the official website of American Airlines at www.aa.com.
  • Click on the My Trips option. 
  • Fill out your booking details, including the confirmation code and last name. 
  • Select the reservation from the itinerary for which you must select a seat. 
  • Look for the seat that you want and select it. 
  • Pay for the seat that you have chosen. 
  • You will get a confirmation email. 

Select an American Airlines Seat at the Airport

With American Airlines, you can also select a seat at the airport. The airline will automatically give you a seat if you have not completed the selection process. You can also ask the agent at the airport to help you with the seat selection process. You must reach the airport and locate the American Airlines counter before the flight departs. You have to provide all the necessary details of the booking to the agent and the seat you want to travel on. Pay the fees for the same. The agent will notify you via email. 

What is the American Airlines Seat Selection Fee?

American Airlines charges a fee for seat selection, which varies according to the flight, route, and seat availability. However, if you select a standard seat, you can also choose your seat for free. If you select a wider seat with extra legroom, you will be charged almost $160. The seats in the middle are comparatively cheaper than the ones next to the aisle or close to the window. So,  if you want to select the seat, you will have to pay, and to confirm the fee, you should reach out to the American Airlines customer service. 

How do you contact American Airlines for seat selection?

American Airlines offers multiple ways to contact customer service directly to resolve issues. If you want to select your seat with American Airlines, you can contact a live person to do it for you. It is better to get it done with the help of an agent because you will get the preferred seat without any hubbub. There are three different processes by which you can reach out to the American Airlines agent for seat selection. You can read about them below: 

Call American Airlines for Seat Selection

You can contact the agent for American Airlines' seat selection at the customer service number. The agent will clarify any questions and complete the process if you have any. Read the steps written below: 

  • Dial the customer service number of American Airlines: 800-433-7300
  • You have to select the language to speak in. 
  • Click on the digit that links your query. 
  • Share your seat selection request with the agent. 
  • Provide your booking details and the seat to the agent.
  • You have to pay for the selected seat. 
  • You will get a confirmation email at your registered address. 

By Emailing American Airlines for Seat Selection

If you choose to skip directly calling the American Airlines agent and leave them an email, you must fill out a form. You can read the steps below for writing an email to American Airlines for seat selection:

  • Go to the official website of American Airlines at www.aa.com
  • Scroll down to the Get in Touch option. 
  • Click on the Email us option. 
  • Select the topic of Contacting American Airlines. 
  • Select the subject from the list. 
  • Share your request and details. 
  • Submit the email. 
  • The agent will revert to you. 

By Live Chat with American Airlines for Seat Selection

American Airlines also has a live chat option to let you chat for seat selection and related queries with an agent. You can read the steps below:

  • Visit the official website of American Airlines at www.aa.com
  • Click on the Chat Bubble in the right corner. 
  • Share your request with the agent. 
  • Provide the booking details. 
  • You have to pay for the seat selection service. 
  • You will receive a confirmation email. 

Things to Keep in Mind When Selecting a Seat on American Airlines

Most of the time, people choose their seats just when booking the flight, so there is a chance that you won't be able to get the desired seat. For this reason, you should know some tips that will help you to be prepared for situations like this. You should keep these in mind when you are booking your American Airlines flight ticket. Read the list of things to consider when selecting a seat on American Airlines:

  • If you want to choose an American Airlines seat but compromise on a more comfortable seat due to the unavailability of your desired seat, you should try to book the fare type that offers premium seating to all passengers. 
  • To get a comfortable seat on an American Airlines long-haul flight, you should try to complete the process online. If not done online, you should try reaching the Airport two to three hours before the flight's departure. 
  • You should try to join the loyalty program of American Airlines, AAdvantage. The airline gives complimentary upgrades to its members, so if you enter the loyalty program, you will also be prioritised for the seat selection over the general passengers. 
  • You can upgrade your cabin instead of selecting the seat with American Airlines. This will offer you wide seats, extra legroom, and many other additional services. This will cost more than seat selection. 

How can I select a Seat on American Airlines with AVTickets?

When you book your American Airlines flight ticket with us, AVTickets, you will be showered with many facilities and services. Making your trip smooth will become our priority. You can even complete the American Airlines' seat selection process with us. We are available throughout the day for the people who have booked their American Airlines ticket with us, so feel free to contact us. There are two ways in which we cater to our customers: by calling us or by emailing us. You should continue reading to know about the steps of both ways of contacting AVTickets for the seat selection process. 

By Calling the AVTickets' Representative

When you contact us at AVTickets using the calling agent method, your issue will be resolved within a few minutes. If you booked your American Airlines ticket from us, the first step is to dial this number: +1-888-520-9972. You have to pick the language of your choice to communicate with the agent. Afterward, you can follow the prompts and select the digit for your query. Our agent will ask you to provide your booking details for the seat selection process. After selecting your preferred seat, you can pay the fee to confirm. We will send you a confirmation email to your email address. 

By Emailing AVTickets

You can email our customer service team at AVTickets with any request. AVTickets's email address is care@avtickets.com. Our agent will need all the booking information to check your reservation for your seat selection request, so you should write a draft email with all the necessary information highlighted. After sending the email, our agent will respond. You can pay for the service to complete the process, and we will send you a confirmation email.

FAQ

Yes, you can select the seat after completing the American Airlines check-in process.

Yes, American Airlines will ask you to pay for the seat selection process even if completed online.

American Airlines will not transfer your seat to anyone else, even if you are not travelling.

Yes, you can contact the American Airlines agent 24 hours before your flight's departure to ask for assistance in seat selection.

No, American Airlines will not refund you for the amount paid for the seat selection even if you cancel the booking.