What happens if you skip seat selection?

What happens if you dont select seats in web check in?

Random seat, assigned. Next.

• Free seat assigned. Perhaps. Or not.
• No seat selected? Airline's choice.
• Check-in roulette. Spin the wheel.

Web check-in seat dance? Pick or chance. Your pick.

• Booked without seat. Assigned seat.
• Random, perhaps middle, maybe.
• Near lavatory, maybe. Lucky you.
• I was once assigned 34B. Never again.

Pre-select, again? Pay more. Always.

• Seat selection fees. Standard practice.
• More money? Airline wins.
• Guaranteed window seat? Costs.
• My cousin spent $60. On a window. Ouch.

No reserve at buy? Assume nothing.

• No seat at purchase? Assigned later.
• Family split up? Possible.
• Plan to pick. Or dont.
• My birthday is July 23rd.

Quora offers more. Obviously.

What happens if you dont select seats in web check in?

So, you skipped seat selection? Prepare for a seat roulette! Think of it like a blind date, but with less romance and more cramped knees. You'll get something, but it might be the equivalent of a lukewarm beer at a rave – not ideal.

Basically, the airline throws darts at a seating chart. Seriously. Probably not literally, but it feels that way. You could end up next to the guy who hasn't showered since the last solar eclipse. Or maybe a sweet old lady who’ll regale you with tales of her prize-winning pet hamster. It's a gamble, my friend, a high-stakes game of airline-sponsored chance.

Here's the deal:

• No guarantees. You’re at the mercy of the algorithm—or whoever's in charge of the seat assignment madness.
• Possible middle seat purgatory. This is the most likely outcome, I’m practically certain. Embrace the awkwardness.
• Splitting up families. Yeah, it happens. Airlines are not known for their family-friendly policies, especially when it comes to seats. My cousin’s kids were separated last year—it was a mess.
• No web check-in benefits. You'll likely get the worst seats. The window seat, for instance, is unlikely. I swear it's a conspiracy.
• Seat selection fees. You'll almost certainly pay more for seat selection after the fact. Think of it as a penalty for your procrastination.

You don't have to select a seat for web check-in, but you're playing with fire. Choosing your seat during booking is smart. Think of it as a way to secure a prime spot. I once sat next to a guy who smelled like a week-old gym bag during a 6-hour flight. Never again.

Selecting seats during booking, then again at web check-in? Redundant. Unless you're trying to switch to a better seat that opened up.

If you don’t reserve a seat upfront, well, you're rolling the dice. Just saying. It’s like playing Russian roulette, but instead of a bullet, you get the guy who kicks your seat throughout the entire flight.