Alaska Airlines Seat Selection Complete Guide

Enhance your comfort with Alaska by selecting your preferred seat for your trip. With Alaska Airlines, the passengers gets an option to select their choice of seat before boarding the flight. However, there are charges included for a preferred seat. In case a passenger do not select a seat, the airline automatically assign them one for free. Understand the policy, charges, and procedure to select a seat and travel with your loved ones. 

This blog covers everything from seating options, policy, and charges. So, continue to read this blog and learn the insights of seat selection with Alaska Airlines. 

What Is Alaska Airlines Seat Selection?

The Alaska Airlines seat selection enables passengers to choose the preferred seats during booking, through the My Trips portal, or on online check-in, starting 24 hours prior to departure. The choices differ by fare type: Saver (basic economy) has automatic seat reservation at check-in with no free advance reservation, and Main Cabin and fares above it are given free standard seating. Premium Class or exit row seats will cost $15-45, or the elite members will be free of charge and will have 1st choice at the upgrade. 

The seats are shown on a map that interacts, allowing the user to select them and automatically assign them if no seats are selected. The airline can also make changes at any time prior to check-in, either on its app or via its webpage, using a confirmation code. This policy will be flexible, and paid upgrades will give priority to a higher level of comfort.

How the Alaska Airlines Seat Selection Fee Works

Alaska Airlines has the option of premium seating that comes with a fee, unlike simple jobs, and the fees depend on the type of seat, route, and fare. Most fares usually include free Standard Main Cabin seats except Saver, with high-end Next-level seats such as Preferred or Extra Legroom seats sold between $15 and $100, among others. The charges supplement the income and provide passengers with options to visit particular destinations. 

Factors Affecting Cost

1. Seat Type: Free Basic, Preferred (front/Main Cabin) 15-50, Extra Legroom/Exit Row 30-100+. 
2. Route/Distance: Long-haul (e.g., transcontinental) is more expensive than short domestic (e.g. $50 vs. $15). 
3. Fare Class: Saver/Basic Economy no choice (there is a fee); Main/First Class has some free choices. 
4. Schedule: Early booking is less expensive; last-minute at the entry door is more expensive. 
5. Status: MVP elite free Preferred/Extra Legroom; companions can be eligible. 

When You Pay

1. Choice of Preferred or Extra Legroom seats in any fare (except elites). 
2. Advance seat reservation fare. 
3. Alterations to paid positions after the selection. 
4. Premium seats at airport booths. 

When You Don't Pay

1. At check-in, automatic optimization of seat assignments (all fares). 
2. Normal Main Cabin seats, Main/First/Premium fares. 
3. Preferred/Extra Legroom elite status (MVP/Gold/75K). 
4. Children below two on lap (Designated bassinet where possible). 
5. Elite booking of partner airlines.

Alaska Airlines Seat Selection Cost by Fare Category

Alaska Airlines is a carrier that differentiates the cost of seat selection based on the fares, with free basic seats available on higher fares and premium seats charged on most classes of the carrier. The fee is between $15-100+, depending on the type of seat, route distance, and time, and the elites are usually excluded. Any advance selection is quite expensive as saver fares. 

Main Cabin Seat Selection Cost

Main Cabin fares also feature free standard seat assignments (as opposed to Saver, which charges for any advance pick). Prices are incurred in case of early choice of preferred locations. 

Main Cabin Extra Seat Costs

Main Cabin Extra legroom seating costs more due to the added comfort provided and cannot be free as it is in Saver fare. The longer routes increase the prices. 

Preferred Seats Cost

Preferred seats come with boarding/deplaning priority in the front cabin, and charges to non-elites on fares. Early selection is recommended to secure. 

Alaska Airlines Preferred Seats: What They Really Mean

The Alaska Airlines Main Cabin Preferred seats are ordinary economy seats, which are, in most cases, located at the front of the Main Cabin, right behind the Premium Class. They do not provide additional legroom but provide quicker deplaning and a more convenient cabin position, at a relatively low charge as compared to Premium Class or exit rows. 

Benefits of Preferred Seats

• The seats are in the forward portion of the Main Cabin, which means that it is faster to disembark the plane. 
• Equal seat and legroom to regular Main Cabin, hence comfort is very familiar and predictable. 
• Frequently, a more convenient use of overhead bin space than of seats at the very back. 
• This is on offer on most non-Saver fares at a minor additional fee; it may be a priority with the elites. 

Preferred Seats vs. Main Cabin Extra

How to Select Seats on Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines allows flexibility in seating at the time of booking, after booking, or check-in, with options being available depending on the fare, such as Saver (automatic assignment only). An interactive seat map on the site, app or kiosk at the airport provides free and paid options. The preferred seats are frequently waived as part of the elite status or higher fares. 

Seat Selection During Booking

Choose seats immediately when adding passenger information at the point of flight booking to have the best variety, leaving Saver fares out. There is a seat map showing upgrade prices. 

• Enter alaskaair.com or the app and book.
• Enter travel information; seating plan follows personal information.
• Click the available seat, check any fees there may be and confirm by clicking Save and purchase.
• Full payment; seats are booked instantly. 

Seat Selection After Booking

Make changes to trips or make initial selections before 24-hour check-in through my trips, a good idea in case one forgets during booking. 

• Go to alaskaair.com, click on My Trips or manage trip.
• Confirmation code of input and the last name to get the reservation.
• Check seating plan, select/change seats, pay (where price charged).
• Change saved; confirmation emails changed. 

Seat Selection at Check-In

Check-in opens 24 hours earlier; auto-assignment may be chosen/accepted in this step when no previous option is made, but only a few premium choices remain. 

• Well, 24 hours prior to departure, go to alaskaair.com or the app.
• Enter confirmation code/surname to check in.
• Seat plan of any available seats; pick and book.
• Save or print a digital boarding pass; kiosks at the airport make it possible to make last-minute adjustments.  

How to Avoid Seat Selection Fees

The Alaska Airlines seat selection fees are avoided largely because of your choice of fare and flexibility. Advance seat pick is a charge applied to Saver fares, though standard cab Main Cabin and higher fares typically provide a free standard seat of choice, provided you do not select premium or extra-legroom seats. 

• Book Main Cabin rather than Saver so that you can still have the option of free regular seats but just not paid Premium Class or exit rows.
• Booking Skip seat choice and allow the system to auto-allocate you a free seat at check-in unless you are picky on location.
• Become an Alaska member; the elite status with the company frequently includes free preferred seating and some upgrades.
• Sit on your own or be flexible on middle seats, which are not likely to have a fee.
• Make seat choices early so that one can get the remaining unoccupied seats before paying options remain the only option.

Tips for Choosing the Best Seats on Alaska Airlines

1. Before the last minute, the sooner you book, the more window, aisle, and front-cabin space you will have when you see the live seat map. 
2. Don?t book Saver fares when it matters to have a seat choice; book in Main Cabin or above so that you can choose seats at the time of booking instead of being randomly assigned one. 
3. Research the aircraft seating chart and, where necessary, third-party seating-review websites to identify rows to book in, good recline, and desirable exits. 
4. Choose your priority: more legroom, exit speed, or minimum turbulence (usually over-wing seats), and then filter by that.  
5. As a family, refer to the family seating policy in Alaska and book the grouped-together seats at the earliest opportunity so that there would be no need to switch seats at the last moment. 
6. Look into Premium Class or exit seats on longer flights as they have more legroom and comfort in case the upgrade fee is affordable based on your trip length. 
7. Keep on checking the seat reserve map; the better seats become available when some other passengers cancel their flights, particularly in the days leading to the departure. 

How Much Does Alaska Airlines Seat Selection Cost?

The price of Alaska Airlines seat selection depends on the type of fare, type of seat, and route, with no charge to most non-Saver fares but premium versions, such as Preferred, Exit Row or Premium Class, costing $4 to $450. Any advance booking costs $3545 in saver fares. 

Domestic Routes Pricing and International Routes Pricing

Family and Group Seating on Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines ensures that on the Saver fares, children under the age of 13 who have at least one adult accompanying them are provided with family seating at no premium, provided that they are booked together in the same reservation and on the same class, as their seats are adjacent. This policy favors groups because it emphasizes togetherness at no charge, although bigger families might require an early reservation. 

• Reserving together all the family members on one reservation will activate automatic adjacent seating assurance of children 13 years and below. 
• Book the seats of the entire group at once; do not make changes part by part to draw the attention of the policy. 
• Board early (Board via family pre-boarding or with the highest group priority) to relax. 
• Reserve by contact when the seats are not available at the time of booking; the agents can help with availability. 
• Take notice of aircraft swaps or other record locators, which can cause guarantees to be disrupted--check in advance. 
• Main Cabin or higher fares should be booked by larger groups in advance to have more free selection options. 

Seat Selection Policies for Elite Members & Loyalty Benefits

Elite Member Policies & Loyalty Benefits with regard to Seat selection. Elite members of Alaska Airlines' mileage plan (MVP, Gold, 75k, Gold 75k) are free to access Preferred seats, Main Cabin Extra, as well as priority upgrades, which are not free to non-elite members of the program.

1. MVP (Silver): Booking Free Preferred seating; oneworld Ruby benefits on partners such as priority boarding. 
2. MVP Gold: Free Main Cabin Extra and Preferred seats; one day changes; oneworld Sapphire benefits such as lounge access. 
3. MVP Gold 75K: All Gold benefits and higher upgrade priority, and free meals in the Main Cabin, which companions frequently share. 
4. MVP Gold 75K Million Miler: Premium with upgrades assured and premium seats throughout oneworld. 
5. Companions: Free same itinerary elite seats up to 2-8 guests (by tier). 
6. Partners: American, oneworld flights, S-3 extra legroom selection.