Does Alaska Airlines Let You Pick Your Seat?

If you’re looking to lock in your Alaska Airlines seat assignments well before takeoff, you’re asking one of the most common questions in air travel today. The short answer is yes, absolutely—but with a crucial, cost-saving caveat. Knowing how to secure the best Alaska Airlines seats is all about understanding their fare structure and being ready to click at the right time.

For most passengers, choosing your Alaska Airlines available seats is a free, straightforward part of the booking process. However, if you opt for the budget-friendly “Saver” fare, the rules change dramatically, and you’ll need a strategy to get the best Alaska Air seat assignment.

Can you pick your seats when booking Alaska Airlines flight?

Yes, when booking a flight, you can pick your Alaska Airlines seats for free if you purchase a Main Cabin, Premium Class, or First-Class ticket. During the online booking process on the Alaska Air website or app, you will be directed to a seat map where you can review and select your desired seat from the available inventory. It’s truly a seamless process designed to help you Alaska Airlines pick seats with ease.

The main exception is the Saver fare. If you buy a Saver ticket, you generally cannot choose your seats at the time of booking. Your seat will be automatically assigned to you at check-in, often resulting in a middle or back-of-the-plane seat.

How long before Alaska Airlines flight can you choose your seat?

For Main Cabin and premium fares, you can select your seats immediately after booking and any time up until check-in. This is the best way to secure your preferred Alaska Air seat selection (like a window or aisle).

If you are on a Saver fare, you can first get your seat assignment when you check in for your flight, which is 24 hours before your scheduled departure time. This is when the system automatically assigns your seat from the remaining options. This is why booking a non-Saver fare is often the only way to lock in your Alaska airlines seat assignment early.

How to avoid paying for seat selection on Alaska Airlines?

The excellent news is that for Main Cabin, you generally don’t have to pay extra for standard Alaska Airlines seat selection. Main Cabin is their standard economy offering, and selecting any standard seat is free.

If you are trying to avoid paying for an upgrade to Premium Class seats (which offer 4 extra inches of legroom), your best bet is to be an elite status member (like MVP or MVP Gold). Elite members often receive complimentary upgrades to Premium Class when available. If you don’t have elite status, just stick to the Main Cabin and select your seat for free during booking.

Does checking in early get you a better seat on Alaska Airlines?

For Saver fares, checking in exactly 24 hours before departure is a crucial part of the strategy to get the best Alaska Airlines flight seats. When the 24-hour check-in window opens, the system begins assigning seats. While it won’t guarantee you a prime spot, being one of the first to check in from the Saver pool ensures you get first dibs on whatever non-reserved aisle or window seats may be left. This is definitely better than waiting until the gate!

How much does Alaska charge to pick a seat?

For standard Main Cabin seats, Alaska Airlines does not charge an additional fee for seat selection—it’s included in the price of your ticket.

The only time you pay extra to select a seat is when you choose to upgrade:

• Premium Class: These seats offer extra legroom and complimentary drinks. The cost to select a Premium Class seat usually starts around $15 and varies based on the route and demand.
• First Class: This is a separate fare class. The price of your First Class ticket includes your seat selection.

What is the three seat economy trick of Alaska Airlines?

While not officially endorsed by the airline, the “three seat economy trick” is a long-time travel strategy that is useful when you want to keep an adjacent seat empty. The trick involves two passengers in a group booking a window seat and an aisle seat in a row of three (leaving the middle seat open). The hope is that most passengers avoid selecting the middle seat, leaving it empty. If the flight is not full, you get a whole row to yourselves!

This tactic is most effective on less crowded flights, but be warned: if the flight is full, the airline will simply assign a solo traveler to that middle seat. It’s a gamble, but a fun way to use the available Alaska Airlines flight seats to your advantage.

What is the 311 rule on Alaska Airlines?

The “3-1-1 rule” is not an Alaska Airlines policy related to seats or delays; it is the TSA’s rule for carry-on liquids at airport security checkpoints.

The 3-1-1 Liquids Rule stands for:

1. 3-ounce (or 100-milliliter) containers or less.
2. 1 quart-sized, clear plastic, zip-top bag.
3. 1 bag permitted per passenger.

It’s an industry-standard security measure and has nothing to do with your Alaska Air seat selection or getting a better seat. Stick to the 24-hour check-in rule for seat-related advantages!

FAQs

How to get a free seat upgrade on Alaska Airlines?

The most reliable way is to achieve Alaska’s elite status (like MVP). Upgrades to Premium or First Class are complimentary for elites, prioritized by status level and fare class, and often confirmed days before departure.

What is the 3-3-3 rule for flying?

The “3-3-3 rule” is not a formal airline or security policy. It typically refers to the seating configuration (three seats, an aisle, three seats, another aisle, three seats) found on many large wide-body aircraft.

What row to avoid on a plane?

Generally, avoid the last row (no recline, high galley/lavatory traffic) and the rows directly in front of the exit row (these often have limited or no recline).

How to get an empty seat next to you on Alaska Airlines flight?

Try the “middle-seat trick”: book a window and an aisle in a three-seat row. The middle seat is usually assigned last, hoping it remains empty, giving you extra space.

Where not to sit on Alaska Airlines plane?

Avoid Saver fare seats (assigned at check-in, often middle/back) and seats near the lavatories or galley due to frequent noise, light, and foot traffic throughout the flight.

What is the secret button on the airplane seat on Alaska Airlines?

The “secret button” is under the aisle-side armrest. Pressing it allows the armrest to lift fully, helping with boarding/deplaning (its primary function) or creating more horizontal space.

How does Alaska Airlines determine who gets upgraded?

Upgrades are prioritized by elite status tier (Titanium is highest), then by the fare class purchased (higher-priced Main Cabin fares are better), followed by the time of booking.

Is premium seating on Alaska worth it?

Yes, often. Premium Class gives you four extra inches of legroom, early boarding, and complimentary alcoholic beverages—a solid upgrade for longer flights, especially if the cost is minimal.

What is main preferred seating on Alaska Airlines?

Main Preferred seating is essentially standard Main Cabin seats located in the front of the cabin. They offer no extra legroom but allow for faster deplaning, and they are usually reserved for elite members.