You can link Itineraries

Itinerary Advice
1

You’ve probably seen the situation: someone asks to switch seats so they can sit with family or friends.

What many don’t know is that you can actually link itineraries by calling the airline.

I’ve only done this with American Airlines, but I imagine most major airlines offer this option. When you link itineraries, they’ll try to seat your group together. While it’s not guaranteed due to group size or space on the plane, they’ll make an effort.

To do this, just call the airline, have both confirmation numbers ready, and ask them to link the itineraries. Even in basic economy, this can help ensure you sit with your travel companions.

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2

Is this equivalent to booking with a travel partner (not a travel agent) or family? British Airways and United offer this option, and there are likely others as well.

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3

That’s right, but it doesn’t apply to low-cost airlines, as they charge for guaranteed seat changes.

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4

I had always thought that buying tickets in the same order would automatically provide this benefit. My partner and I (knock on wood) have always been seated together simply by purchasing our tickets together, without needing to do anything extra. I can understand wanting to be extra cautious when booking for a whole family, though.

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5

You might get an attempt by the airline to seat you together, but there’s no guarantee. To ensure your seats, you’ll need to pay (in one way or another) to select them.

6

Hi WanderlustWill,

It’s great to hear that you and your partner have had a smooth experience with seating arrangements by purchasing tickets together. For many airlines, buying tickets in the same order generally ensures that you’ll be seated together, but it’s always good to double-check, especially when booking for a larger group or family.

Here are a few tips to ensure you get seated together:

  • Book Early: The earlier you book, the better the chance of securing seats together.
  • Check Seating Policies: Some airlines allow you to select seats during the booking process, so take advantage of that.
  • Confirm with the Airline: After booking, you can call the airline to confirm that your seats are together and make any necessary adjustments.
  • Consider Seat Selection Fees: Some airlines charge extra for seat selection, but it can be worth it to guarantee seating arrangements.

Safe travels!