DaveInLA

GNALUZU

Pretty sure the answer is, no.

Gig103

No, there are no ways to get a pre-selected seat with BE. it is not the right product for everyone's circumstances.

clbish

Usually the fares are only $50.00 more to be able to choose your set.

cagcag

azepine00

Edit: as pointed out below op case is for travel with lap child so the following is irrelevant..
...
On every single carrier i have flown with kids i was seated together with them without paying extra for seat assignment. This month ir was westjet and air canada. Last month scoot and air asia.
i have not tried aa basic economy but they state rhe following:

guv1976

The OP's situation involves two parents traveling with one lap infant. Obviously, the lap infant will be in the same seat as one of the parents. What the OP is asking is whether the second parent can expect to be seated next to the first parent and infant. That's a very different situation than a parent who is traveling with, say, a four-year-old.

azepine00

good point - this is indeed a different scenario

DaCus3

OP is simply asking if there is a policy that allows them to sit together, seems like a pretty reasonable question to ask especially considering many times airlines do make special exceptions for people traveling with infants. See: United and Delta auto upgrading to Economy+ or Premium Economy for free when you request bassinet seating (from econ).

Considering the OP is hardly coming across as entitled, and is simply asking a question, maybe don't make a snarky reply that contributes nothing.

As far as I know, they do their best to keep you seated together, however it is not guaranteed so perhaps booking regular economy is the best option for you and the family.

Often1

Rather than debating the issue, why not just look at the website,. It provides a plain English and simple answer:

1. International: Yes, seat selection at time of booking. But, there is a fee.
2. Domestic. Yes, at T-48 for a fee. Otherwise assigned by AA at check-in.

OP should review the rest of the chart for the specifics of BE and what Gold does and does not get.

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ic-economy.jsp

MarkOK

The quick answer of course is no to the questions the OP asks for. BE's seat restrictions are irregardless of credit cards and statuses. Now, with a ticketed kid, AA has a policy to seat the minor with at least one parent and will most likely assign seats so that the kid sits with one (and often both) parents (to seats of AA's choosing), but as a lap infant, I don't know how AA sees the situation of sitting -both- parents with the lap infant. They are certainly under no obligation to seat the parents together by hard policy, and I am not aware of any soft policy or common practice with regards to two parents with a lap infant.

You could and should pay for seat assignments together at check in (if available) if it is a huge deal to sit together and you just want to be sure of it. With airline travel, you should always buy what you really want -- asking for special treatment is bad practice and often doesn't work. Still, if seat assignments are not available together for payment, and if you are given seat assignments apart (or none at all until at the gate), you could (and I would) ask kindly to the gate agent that if possible that you get seated together so both of you can handle the infant as needed -- AA sits aside certain rows for accomodating situations and if these seats aren't needed for other things already it may be 'easy' for the gate agent to do so. (But, you very well may be out of luck, these seats could be needed already for other parents with accompanied ticketed minors on BE fares that don't yet have seats -- like I mentioned, AA does have a policy to try to sit together ticketed kids with 1 parent). Best of luck though, good gate agents would recognize that logistically for the parents, and for the comfort of other passengers, there is a benefit towards putting two parents with the infant and AA has some decent gate agents, but it is completely unreliable that your flight will have one (which is why if you can pay for seats together at check in, you should just do so).

MSPeconomist

JDiver

Please refer to https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...er-thread.html. The Wikipost at the top of the page defines Basic Economy restrictions and exceptions.

Overly personalized comments and dilatory or off topic content have been deleted.

Moderator

boss315

read the rules before you book!

carlosdca

No.
The seat selection restriction applies to all passengers including:
-AA Gold
-Citicard holders
-Couples

With Basic Economy you can select seats for a fee 48 hours prior to departure (But then why not pay upfront regular economy/Main Cabin).

With that said, the system will try to get you two seats together, but many times that's impossible as at check-in, only middle seats are left.
At the gate, you can request the GA to change your seats so you and spouse are together. BUT, several things will come into play for the GA to honor your request: 1) That there are actually two seats together available 2) That the flight is not too busy (as opposed to a flight with dozens of people on standy/IRROPS, etc that have the GA working hard trying to get the flight out with no time for special requests) 3) You might not be the only couple/family on Basic Economy requesting seats together and 10 other groups/people have already made a seat request with the GA and they probably have issues just as reasonable (or more) as yours (having a lap infant); and 4) ultimately, it will depend on the GA's mood, as the GA has absolutely no obligation to try to accommodate your request.

If it is really that important to you, just pay for Main Cabin. You will be able to pick a MCE seat at check in (as GLD, I have always found those available as higher status pax clear their upgrades and move to First Class).