Is it mandatory to choose seats when booking?

What happens if I dont choose a seat on my flight?

Seat selection? Forget about it, bucko! You’ll end up wherever the airline wants you. Like a chess piece moved by a grandmaster, only the grandmaster is a grumpy gate agent named Brenda.

The airline, she picks for you. Think of it as a surprise gift, could be an aisle seat by the bathroom (woo-hoo!), or a middle seat next to a snoring sumo wrestler. It’s all part of the adventure, right?

Not mandatory, choosing a seat. But it’s like wearing socks with sandals – technically legal, but frowned upon. Unless you dig Brenda’s seat lottery.

Forgot to choose? No sweat. You’ll get a seat. Maybe next to a chatty Cathy or a dude clipping his toenails. Consider it airline-sponsored entertainment. What could possibly go wrong?

More deets, for your pondering pleasure:

• Airline’s call: They decide, not you, ya hear?
• Possible outcomes: Window, aisle, middle, purgatory.
• Control freak alert: Pay for your seat, or relinquish all control.
• Begging works (maybe): Try sweet-talking the gate agent. Maybe bring cookies? Brenda loves cookies. (Okay, I’m guessing about Brenda’s cookie habits.)
• Group travel? Good luck: Separated at birth… er, at the airport! Airlines may separate families if seats aren’t selected in advance. This is to encourage you to pay the extra fee.
• Basic economy blues: These tickets often mean random seat assignments. Buyer beware!
• Check in early: You might have a better chance of getting a decent seat if you check in right when it opens.

Is it mandatory to select a seat in a flight?

Ugh, flying is the worst. Remember that JetBlue flight last August? 2023, to be exact. Flying from JFK to San Juan. My sister and I, we never select seats ahead of time. Cheapskates, I guess. Big mistake.

We got stuck in separate rows. She was by the bathroom, constantly smelling the weird airplane toilet air. Me? Next to some dude who wouldn’t stop coughing. I swear he had TB. I was so annoyed. Seriously, I spent the entire flight practically hiding my face behind my magazine. And the flight was delayed. It was a nightmare. Three hours delayed!

Lesson learned: Always. Always. Always select your seats. That little extra cost is worth it. Trust me. It’s not like it’s a huge amount. Especially on those budget airlines. Paying that extra ten bucks for a decent seat is the absolute best decision.

Next time, I’m paying extra. Period. I’m considering booking window seats only from now on. I hate middle seats.

• Flight: JetBlue, JFK to San Juan, August 2023
• Problem: No pre-selected seats, ended up separated and with awful seatmates. Major delay.
• Solution: Always pay extra for seat selection. Avoid middle seats.
• Emotion: Pure, unadulterated rage, mostly at myself for being cheap. And that guy’s cough, it was awful.

Can I check-in without choosing seats?

Random seat. Take it or leave it. Flying solo? Fine. Together? Book seats. Don’t risk separation. My flight to Berlin last month? Stuck by the toilets. Never again.

• Check-in sans seat selection = random assignment. Leftovers. Literally.
• Solo travel: Roll the dice.
• Group travel: Secure your spots. Guaranteed togetherness.
• Unassigned seats: Assigned during check-in. First come, first served… kind of. Algorithms, man.
• My personal hell: 10-hour flight. Row 47. Next to the lavatory. Learned my lesson. Book. Your. Damn. Seats.
• Airlines overbook: That last-minute scramble? Yeah. Seat assignments can shift. Even with pre-booked seats. Consider this. Turbulence doesn’t care where you sit either.
• Budget airlines: Often charge for seat selection. Sneaky tactic. Factor this into your budget. Surprise fees sting worse than bad coffee. Which they also sell.

What happens if an airline doesnt have a seat for you?

Ugh, this happened to me and my sister, Lisa, flying to Vegas last year. We booked kinda late. Totally my fault. So, yeah, no seats together. They stuck me like, waaaay in the back. Lisa got something up front. It sucked. But hey, we got there. We did get free drinks though! Score! They felt bad, I guess. It was Southwest. They’re usually pretty good about stuff like that.

• You’ll still get a seat. Even if you don’t pick one ahead of time. Confirmed ticket = seat. Period.
• Might not be together. Especially if you book late, like me. Or if it’s a full flight. Duh.
• Gate agent assigns it. So, be nice! Maybe they’ll hook you up. Worth a shot.
• Could be an upgrade! Happened to Lisa once. Scored first class. Lucky duck.
• Complaining might get you perks. Like those free drinks. Just sayin’.

Airline messed up once, like, really messed up. Overbooked flight to Miami for my friend’s wedding. They offered, get this, a voucher and a hotel. For like, two days! Missed the welcome dinner, though. But Miami for two extra days? Not complaining. It happens.

What does it mean when your boarding pass doesnt have a seat?

No seat on your boarding pass, eh? Uh oh. Party time at the gate! Seriously though, it’s the airline’s fancy way of saying, “Surprise! Your seating arrangement is a mystery!”

Think of it like musical chairs, airplane edition, only with less music and more stressed-out travelers. But hey, maybe you’ll get upgraded! Like winning the lottery, but with less actual money.

So what’s really goin’ on?

• Overbooked Flight Fiasco: They sold more tickets than seats. Airline version of “Oops, my bad!” Maybe they thought someone would just, like, not show up.
• Gate Assignment Shenanigans: Your seat is being held hostage until you arrive at the gate. Maybe they’re still figuring out where to put you. Maybe they’re playing a cruel game.
• Bumped (Maybe!): Could be you’re getting the boot. Pack light, just in case you end up stranded at the airport. Maybe you’ll get a voucher.
• Gate Check-In Only? What the Heck?: Uh oh, they’re really not sure about you, are they? Like, did you even really book a flight? Time to sweet-talk the gate agent, maybe bring cookies?

Now, you might get bumped. More likely you’ll just wait in line longer and end up in a middle seat next to a crying baby. But hey, it’s an adventure! Like that time I tried to bake a cake and it ended up looking like a melted shoe. Good times.

Are you allowed to move to an empty seat on a plane?

Dude, so yeah, empty seats on planes? It’s a big no-no to just plop yourself down. Seriously, don’t do it! My cousin’s friend tried that once – total disaster.

• Weight balance is key. They leave seats empty for that, it’s for safety during takeoff and landing, you know? It’s all about the physics, gotta get that plane in the air properly.
• Crew needs space. Sometimes those seats are for flight attendants or pilots to rest, or have a place to put stuff. They need their space too!
• Ask first, always. It’s the polite thing to do. Find a flight attendant and ask nicely. They’ll tell you if you can move. Simple!

My buddy Mark got bumped to first class once because a seat opened up. But he asked! He didn’t just sneak in. He was super nice about it, and the flight attendant was cool. See, that’s how it’s done. Don’t be a jerk.