Bed Length
50 flat bed seats
Pitch | Width | Seating details | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Premium Plus | 38 | 18.5 | 24 recliner seats | ||
Economy Plus | 34 | 17.05 | 46 standard seats | ||
Economy | 31 | 17.05 | 156 standard seats |
In-flight amenities
Audio entertainment is available for all classes on this plane.
More information .
Seatback on-demand and personal device entertainment is available for all passengersAllie .
Power outlets are located at every seat.
USB power ports are located at every seat.
United Airlines offers access to internet service. Connectivity is available for laptops and mobile devices. The service is available once the aircraft reaches 10,000 feet cruising altitude.
Full service meals, snacks, and beverages are available on all United Airlines flights. Type of service depends on class and length of flight. Additional information may be accessed by clicking here .
The United Boeing 777-200 is a long-range wide-body twin-engine jetliner with a cruise speed of 550mph and a wingspan of 199 feet and 11 inches. This plane offers several inflight amenities such as music, video, power, internet and food. The 777-200 is configured into four classes; United Polaris business, Premium Plus, Economy Plus and Economy.
Read user reviews for United Boeing 777-200 (772) Layout 5
See all featured user comments
Seat map key
United flies 5 versions of Boeing 777-200.
Please choose the correct version from the list:
Boeing 777-200 (772) Layout 1 (Most Common) |
Open Suite Polaris (frmly First) (Rows 1-2) Flat Bed Polaris (frmly Business) (Rows 6-10) Standard Economy Plus (Rows 19-31) Standard Economy (Rows 33-46) | |
Boeing 777-200 (772) Layout 2 |
Flat Bed Polaris (Rows 1-11) Standard Economy Plus (Rows 16-22) Standard Economy (Rows 23-45) | |
Boeing 777-200 (772) Layout 3 |
Flat Bed Polaris (Rows 1-4) Standard Economy Plus (Rows 16-26, 39-40) Standard Economy (Rows 27-37, 41-53) | |
Boeing 777-200 (772) Layout 4 |
Flat Bed First (Rows 1-4) Standard Economy Plus (Rows 16-23, 39-39) Standard Economy (Rows 24-37, 40-53) | |
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SeatGuru was created to help travelers choose the best seats and in-flight amenities.
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United ticketing options, united frequent flyer program, united airlines baggage fees & other fees/add-ons, how to avoid paying excess fees & travel expenses, united seat specs & inflight amenities, united customer satisfaction, charity partnership, final thoughts.
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There’s no doubt you know United Airlines (and may have even flown with them before), but are you aware of their different fare types, the ins and outs of their baggage allowances, and all of their extra fees/add-ons? What about their seat specs and their consumer satisfaction ratings?
This helpful guide covers all you need to know about this large U.S. carrier so you hopefully won’t be caught unaware on your next flight.
In this post you’ll find a general company overview, ticketing/fare options, extra fees/add-ons (including baggage allowances ), cabin class amenities, seat specs, and more.
Airline: United Airlines
Alliance: Star Alliance
Category: Legacy domestic and international airline
Frequent Flyer Program: MileagePlus
Tag Line: “Fly the Friendly Skies”
About/Mission Statement: “We are committed to providing a level of service to our customers that makes us a leader in the airline industry. We understand that to do this we need to have a product we are proud of and employees who like coming to work every day….” (source)
Daily Flights: 4,700
Main Hub: Chicago-O’Hare International Airport ( ORD )
Destinations: 356 (including 125 international)
United’s fare types are pretty standard for a large U.S. carrier. But with stiff competition from lots of low-cost airlines, United recently introduced a Basic Economy fare — which pretty much just gets you a seat on the plane.
Handy for those traveling light, this reduced and restricted fare does not include any standard carry-on or checked luggage.
And for anyone part of United’s frequent flyer program (covered later on in this article), you won’t be eligible for premier qualifying miles that go toward your elite status when flying in this class.
Below are the additional differences in fare types and cabin classes, with inflight amenities covered later on in this article:
Basic Economy (most restrictive fare):
Economy (standard):
Economy (flexible):
Premium Plus:
The availability of certain cabin classes is dependent on the route and plane type. We’ve also covered how you can upgrade to business or first class on United Airlines .
Economy Plus
If you’re looking for a little extra legroom, you can upgrade your booking to Economy Plus. This will also seat you closer to the front of the aircraft so you can disembark quicker.
You can upgrade as a one-off, or subscribe to yearly upgrades when booking a regular economy ticket (where Economy Plus is available).
MileagePlus is United’s frequent flyer loyalty program where you can earn miles to redeem against reward flights and work your way up membership tiers to gain elite benefits, such as priority check-in and additional luggage.
These reward miles can also be used against flights with other Star Alliance members. You can earn miles through flying, shopping, dining out, and spending on certain credit cards.
Hot Tip: For more information, check out our article on United’s MileagePlus frequent flyer program .
United Airlines Carry-On Allowance:
1 personal item: FREE 1 standard carry-on bag: FREE (including Basic Economy Transatlantic flights but excluding all other routes for basic economy)
United Airlines Checked Allowance:
Max weight: 50lb (23kg) for all economy and premium plus fares and 70lbs (32kg) for business and first class fares.
Max size: 62 inches (158cm) linear
United recommends that passengers check their official baggage fee calculator tool to view baggage costs associated with their specific fare type.
We ran some basic route searches, and the fees appeared as the following (do a check on your specific fare before booking to confirm):
Domestic U.S. & Canada
U.S. to/from Mexico
U.S. to/from Europe
Additional and Excess Baggage Fees:
Oversized Fee: $200 per bag (up to 115in/292cm)
Overweight Fee (route dependent):
MileagePlus Status weight allowance:
Hot Tip: See our post on United Airlines baggage policy which details specific baggage allowances for all types of cabin class, status and personnel such as the military.
Service Fees
All reservations on United.com can be made without incurring a service fee. For other methods of booking made within the U.S. or Canada, the service fees are as follows:
By Phone: $25
City Ticket Office: $30
At the Airport: $50
Reservations Made Outside of the U.S.: Fees vary according to country
Cancellation and Change Fees: (Cash Tickets)
We’ve also gone into detail on United’s award flight change & cancellation fees .
Seat Selection Fees
There is no charge to select a seat with United (where available), but you can opt for “Preferred seating” (closer to the front of the economy section) from $9 each way.
Economy Plus Upgrade: $16-$169 each way
Unaccompanied Minor Fee: $150 each way
Pet in Cabin Fee: $125 each way
Fare Holding Fees
If you’re not ready to book at the time of searching, then you can pay to reserve your fare using “Farelock.”
The fee varies by destination, but ranges from $5-$20 with the ability to hold a fare for either 3 or 7 days.
United Airlines Annual Subscription Fees
Economy Plus: From $499
Benefit from additional leg room and being closer to the front of the plane for quicker exiting when you reach your destination.
United Bundle Options
Bundles are offered during the reservation process combining different options, such as an Economy Plus upgrade and United Club trip pass. Prices vary per route, but United states that savings can be had by buying these bundles.
Wi-Fi: From $49
United Club Membership: From $550
Get access to all of the United Club locations and select partner lounges.
Onboard Refreshments
For flights over 3 hours (within the U.S. and to/from Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America) customers can order from the “Bistro on Board” menu serving items such as a chorizo breakfast sandwich, pepperoni deep dish pizza, or a mezze sampler with prices ranging from $6.99-$9.99 . Menu choices depend on the flight route.
On flights over 1.5 hours (within North America, including select Latin American destinations and the Caribbean, in addition to Singapore , Australia , and New Zealand ) customers can order from the “Snack Shop” serving sweet and savory nibbles and snack boxes. Prices range from $3.99-$9.59 .
Beer and wine are $8, while premium spirits range from $8-$9 and specialty cocktails will run you $10.
Onboard entertainment
Available on select Boeing 737 and 757-300 aircraft, customers can purchase access to DIRECTV with more than 100 TV channels plus movies.
This is complimentary for United first passengers, and $5.99 for United economy passengers on flights less than 2 hours ($7.99 for flights more than 2 hours).
Many travel rewards cards come with an annual airline credit and can be used to offset fees such as baggage fees, such as The Platinum Card ® from American Express.
Cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® come with an annual $300 travel credit that can be used to offset almost any travel expense.
The cards below allow you to redeem Capital One miles for 1 cent each as a statement credit for previous travel purchases (within 90 days):
The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.
Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.
Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.
Capital One Miles
Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.
Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.
The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.
Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.
But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?
In addition, if you have the United Explorer℠ Card you can get 1 free checked bag for you and a companion on your itinerary.
United Airlines has 14 different types of aircraft with varying cabin classes and seat specs.
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| Seat pitch | n/a | 6’6″ (198cm) sleeping area | 38″ (97 cm) (10 Dreamliner only) | 34″/35″ (86 cm/88 cm) | 31″/32″ (79 cm/81 cm) |
Seat recline | n/a | 180° | 6″ (15 cm) (10 Dreamliner only) | 4″/6″ (1o/15cm) | 3″/5″ (7 cm/12 cm) | |
Seat width | n/a | 20.5″/20.6″ (52 cm/52.3 cm) | 19″ (48.3 cm) (10 Dreamliner only) | 17.3″ (43.9 cm) | 16.3″-17.3″ (41.4 cm-43.9 cm) | |
| Seat pitch | n/a | 6’4″-6’6″ (193 cm – 198 cm) sleeping area | n/a | 34″ (86 cm) | 31″ (78 cm) |
Seat recline | n/a | 180° | n/a | 5″ (12 cm) | 4″ (10 cm) | |
Seat width | n/a | 18.8″-22″ (47.7 cm-55.8 cm) | n/a | 18.1″ (45.9 cm) | 17.2″ – 18.1″ (43.6 cm – 45.9 cm) | |
| Seat pitch | n/a | 6’6″ (198 cm) sleeping space | 38″ (97 cm) | 34″ (86 cm) | 31″ (78 cm) |
Seat recline | n/a | 180° | 6″ (15 cm) | 4″ (10 cm) | 3″ (8 cm) | |
Seat width | n/a | 22″ (55.9 cm) | 18.5″ (47 cm) | 17.05″ (43.3 cm) | 17.05″ (43.3 cm) | |
| Seat pitch | n/a | 6’3″ (190 cm) sleeping area | n/a | 18.5″ (46.9 cm) | 31″ (78 cm) |
Seat recline | n/a | 180° | n/a | 35″ (88 cm) | 5″ (12 cm) | |
Seat width | n/a | 20.6″ (52.3 cm) | n/a | 6″ (15 cm) | 18.5″ (46.9 cm) | |
| Seat pitch | n/a | 6’4″ (193 cm) sleeping area | n/a | 37″ (93 cm) | 31″ (78 cm) |
Seat recline | n/a | 180° | n/a | 6″ (15 cm) | 5″ (12 cm) | |
Seat width | n/a | 20.6″ (52.3 cm) | n/a | 17.1″ (43.6 cm) | 16.3″-17.1″ (41.5 cm-43.6 cm) | |
| Seat pitch | 38″ (96 cm) | n/a | n/a | n/a | 30”-31″ (76-78 cm) |
Seat recline | 5″ (12 cm) | n/a | n/a | n/a | 2″ (5 cm) | |
Seat width | 20.4″ (52 cm) | n/a | n/a | n/a | 16.3″-17.3″ (41 cm-44 cm) | |
| Seat pitch | n/a | 38″ (96 cm) | n/a | 36″ (91 cm) | 31″ (78 cm) |
Seat recline | n/a | 6″ (15 cm) | n/a | 5″ (12 cm) | 3″ (7 cm) | |
Seat width | n/a | 20.7″ (52.7 cm) | n/a | 17.1″ (43.4 cm) | 16.1″-17.1″ (40.8 cm-43.4 cm) | |
| Seat pitch | 38″ (96 cm) | n/a | n/a | 37″ (93 cm) | 31″ (78 cm) |
Seat recline | 7″ (19 cm) | n/a | n/a | 5″ (12 cm) | 3″ (7 cm) | |
Seat width | 20″ (52 cm) | n/a | n/a | 17″ (43 cm) | 16″-17″ (40 cm-43 cm) | |
| Seat pitch | 37″ (93 cm) | n/a | n/a | 34″ (86 cm) | 30″-31″ (76 cm-78 cm) |
Seat recline | 5″ (12 cm) | n/a | n/a | 3″ (7 cm) | 2″ (5 cm) | |
Seat width | 20″ (52 cm) | n/a | n/a | 17″ (43 cm) | 16″-17″ (41 cm-43 cm) | |
| Seat pitch | 37″ (93 cm) | n/a | n/a | 34″ (86 cm) | 30″ (76 cm) |
Seat recline | 6″ (15 cm) | n/a | n/a | 5″ (12 cm) | 3″ (7 cm) | |
Seat width | 19″ (48 cm-50 cm) | n/a | n/a | 17.7″ (45 cm) | 17.7″ (45 cm) | |
| Seat pitch | 39″ (99 cm) | n/a | n/a | 35″ (88 cm) | 30″ (76 cm) |
Seat recline | 6″ (15 cm) | n/a | n/a | 5″ (12 cm) | 3″ (7 cm) | |
Seat width | 19″ (48 cm – 50 cm) | n/a | n/a | 17″ (43 cm) | 17″ (43 cm) |
United Express operates a further 5 aircraft through its partner airlines. You can view the aircraft and seat specs here .
United Business & First
Polaris Business & First
Premium Plus
Economy (Basic and Standard)
Hot Tip: Check out our post on United Airlines’ boarding policy so you’ll know what to expect from the boarding process as almost all airlines have a different procedure!
Customer satisfaction is a real mixed bag with United Airlines. Their social media channels and Tripadvisor reviews seem to attract many compliments from loyal customers, which is unusual as these outlets are often utilized to rant and rave about poor service!
Additionally, their PR team is pretty genius, sponsoring a number of great causes and shouting about their good deeds on social media — so even if the service was only mediocre for a customer, their philanthropic ways may improve consumer brand impression.
Lost baggage is a real gripe for United customers, being one of the most prominent issues on review sites. Also, inconsistencies of aircraft age can lead to disappointment in inflight amenities.
One customer complaint we found said they had experienced a seat-back entertainment system on once international flight and not on another. That’s going to disappoint any traveler.
United prides itself on their personal device entertainment, but this does rely on the customer having a smartphone/tablet at their disposal.
United Airlines had 1,169 complaints lodged against them from January-September 2018 according to the September 2018 Air Travel Consumer Report . The chart below represents the complaints by category.
There are a number of different review websites out there when it comes to airline ratings. Here are a few of the most popular so you can see the general consumer opinion for United Airlines.
Skytrax Ranking: 3 Star Airline (out of 5)
Skytrax Customer Rating: 3/10 (average from 2,594 reviews)
TripAdvisor Airline Review Rating: 3/5 (average from 36,791 reviews)
Kayak Customer Rating: 7/10 (average from 61,414 reviews)
AirHelp.com Overall Rating: 7.59/10 (departure/arrival performance, service, and satisfaction of claims processing)
Airlineratings.com Safety Rating : 7/7 (takes into consideration whether the airline has an IATA Operational Safety Audit Certification, government and crash records, plus information from the World’s Aviation Governing Body).
United Airlines supports numerous charities across their main hub locations and across the globe. It strives to be a more sustainable airline supporting environmental charities and operations such as Clean the World and Conservation International.
United also supports many youth projects, including Youth Guidance with the goal of inspiring future leaders.
Overall, customer satisfaction seems to be somewhere in the middle for United — and as with other legacy U.S. carriers, there will always be a place for the airline with reasonable fares and route availability.
United will never have the sass and style of Virgin Atlantic or the service and luxury of the Middle Eastern airlines, but it serves its purpose and does have a loyal customer base (although this may be dwindling slightly, with many referencing the “good old days” when United was great).
Their current focus seems to be on revamping their premium cabins, with their Polaris offering in business and first — but we’re hoping they don’t neglect economy for too much longer either.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .
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This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
As a mom of three, I'm no stranger to the ins and outs of flying with family .
I know how to disassemble and reassemble my double stroller with ninja-level precision so it will fit through the baggage scanner at security. I also throw screen time rules out the window on travel days. Most importantly, I don't take any chances when it comes to getting my family's seats together when we fly.
Because I know how turbulent flying with kids can be, I happily gave up my seat on a recent solo flight when a father asked if I would switch seats so he could sit with his young son.
I was also quick to say yes because he had a window seat a couple of rows in front of my own window seat. (Had he been in the middle seat, I might have needed an adult beverage thrown in to sweeten the deal, but I digress.)
Related: Should you ask to switch seats on a plane?
The crux of the issue is that it can be costly and confusing to find seats together when traveling with young kids. Some parents assume they will automatically be seated with their kids. Others may end up separated from their families if they are rebooked due to a cancellation. Regardless of the reason, airlines are not legally required to seat families together.
In November 2022, the Department of Transportation began monitoring airline seating policies to determine if federal regulation was necessary regarding family seating.
After months of monitoring, the DOT launched an online dashboard that displays, among other things, which airlines guarantee free family seating. This is part of a larger initiative by the Biden administration to improve consumer protections in the airline industry.
So far, only three airlines – American Airlines , Frontier Airlines and Alaska Airlines – comply with the DOT's guideline that airlines guarantee "adjacent seats for children 13 and under and an accompanying adult at no additional cost for all fare types."
That doesn't mean you are completely out of luck in guaranteeing your family sits together if you are flying on another major airline. Here is a guide to each airline's family seating policy and tips for ensuring your family members can sit together on your next flight.
Like most major airlines, American allows you to choose your seats when booking or at any time leading up to your flight.
There is no fee to choose your seats if you book a first-class, business-class, premium economy or main cabin fare. However, you will have to pay a fee to choose your seats if you choose basic economy tickets — American's least expensive (and most restrictive) fare type.
If you're traveling with children under 15 on any fare type, American's system will detect that you are a family traveling together and automatically search for seats together if you don't choose them yourself. If adjacent seats are unavailable for your entire family, American guarantees children under 15 will be seated next to at least one adult.
Related: Here's what it's really like flying business class with little kids
It's important that you do everything in your power to choose seats for your entire family at the time of booking. This is the only way to guarantee your entire family will sit together during your flight.
To do this, American advises the following :
Related: Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage
To select your seats at the time of booking on an Alaska flight, you'll need to book either a first-class, premium or main-cabin ticket. Only a limited number of advance seating assignments are available to customers who purchase Alaska's Saver fare tickets.
If no advance seats are available, the seats will be assigned at the gate; this is not ideal for a family wishing to sit together.
The good news is that Alaska Airlines' family seating policy does guarantee that children under 14 will automatically be seated with at least one parent or guardian at no additional charge, including on Saver fares. So, even if you can't find adjacent seats for your entire family, you can rest assured that your children won't be seated separately from an adult.
To guarantee your family sits together on an Alaska Airlines flight :
All but one of Delta's fare types allow you to select your seats when you purchase your tickets.
If you want your family to sit together, steer clear of Delta's basic economy fares because they do not include advanced seat selection. If you purchase first class, Comfort+ or main cabin tickets, you'll have the option to select your seats during the booking process.
Delta's has other tips for getting your family's seats together :
Delta does try and seat family members together but only upon request.
Flight attendants will sometimes ask for volunteers to switch seats. The airline also blocks a handful of rows in the main economy cabin on most flights to accommodate groups and families. Still, there are no guarantees unless you reserve your family's seats together before arriving at the airport (preferably at the time of booking).
Frontier's base fares can be alluring to budget-conscious flyers. However, you'll have to pay extra if you want the luxury of advanced seating assignments.
Luckily, Frontier updated its family seating policy to be in compliance with the DOT's recommendations and guarantees that children under age 14 will be seated automatically with at least one parent or guardian at no additional charge.
Unless you have elite status with Frontier , seat selection fees run between $17 and $90 per passenger per flight segment. There are no fare types that include complimentary seat selection for non-elite members if you want your entire family to sit together.
However, you could potentially make up the extra cost by joining Frontier's Discount Den and choosing a Kids Fly Free flight .
Frontier also recommends that families:
JetBlue offers complimentary seat selection with all fare types except Blue Basic, meaning Blue and Blue Extra fares include free advance seat selection. However, for Blue Basic fares, there is a fee of between $5 and $40 each way to choose your seat more than 24 hours before departure (Seat selection is available for free at check-in).
With JetBlue's family seating policy , however, the airline guarantees that children ages 13 and younger will be seated next to at least one adult traveling with them on the same reservation without an additional fee. This applies to all fare types, including Blue Basic fares. At the time of booking, JetBlue's system will assign seats together for at least one accompanying parent as long as adjacent seats are still available when you book your flight.
Other tips from JetBlue :
JetBlue does its best to keep families together and blocks a limited number of rows until the day of travel for passengers with disabilities and unaccompanied minors . If any seats are available after accommodating these passengers, JetBlue may be able to use them to seat families together.
Southwest Airlines is the one airline on this list that does not assign seats in advance, so you cannot purchase a specific seat assignment ahead of time.
With Southwest's open seating policy , you will be assigned a boarding group (A, B or C) and a position within that boarding group (1 through 60-plus) at check-in. Essentially, A1 is the best boarding position and you'll have the most seating options available to you when you board the plane.
Because of this, the strategies for getting your family's seats together on a Southwest flight differ from other airlines.
To get as high of a boarding group as possible, you'll need to check in exactly (like, to the second) 24 hours prior to your flight. This should land your family in an A or B boarding group, and most of the time, you won't have an issue getting your family's seats together. You may have to venture to the back of the plane to find those seats, though.
If you have a B or C boarding group and are traveling with a child 6 years old or younger, you will have the option to board between the A and B groups during "family boarding."
Southwest's policy states that up to two adults can board with a child age 6 or younger during family boarding. If you have more adults than this in your party, speak with a Southwest gate agent to determine your best strategy for finding seats together once on board.
Related: Southwest Airlines offers expanded family boarding ages on some flights
You can also purchase EarlyBird Check-In , which gives you the convenience of automatic check-in 36 hours before your flight. (Southwest's regular check-in process begins 24 hours prior to your flight.) This means you'll automatically receive an earlier boarding position and more available seats to choose from than if you'd done it yourself.
EarlyBird Check-In pricing starts at $15 per passenger per flight segment, and you must purchase it for everyone in your party. Depending on availability, you may also be able to purchase Upgraded Boarding at the gate for between $30 and $50 per person per flight segment to secure an A1-A15 boarding position.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card holders can receive two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year, which can bring the total cost for your family down a bit. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card also has a benefit of four Upgraded Boardings per year.
Rapid Rewards A-List and A-List Preferred members (and those traveling on the same reservation) automatically receive a boarding position 36 hours prior to departure, though you will still need to check in within 24 hours of your flight to receive your boarding pass.
The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Finally, you have the option to purchase a Business Select fare, which, among other perks, includes priority boarding in the A1-A15 group.
If you don't heed our advice and find yourself at the airport with a less-than-desirable boarding group, Southwest advises that you speak with a gate agent or flight attendant. They will see if any passengers are willing to move to accommodate your family if you aren't able to get seats together.
Spirit Airlines keeps its family seating advice plain and simple: The only way to guarantee you'll be able to sit with your family is to purchase your seat assignments ahead of time.
Seat assignments start at $5 per person per segment and vary by route and seat location in the aircraft. You can purchase your seat assignment when you book your flight, during check-in or anytime in between. However, the earlier you choose the seats, the better chance your entire family will be able to sit together.
Spirit currently has no official family seating policy. It only states that it "can't guarantee that you'll sit with your friends and family" if you don't purchase seat assignments; it says that gate agents will work to provide adjacent seats for guests flying with children aged 13 and under whenever possible.
There are ways to save money when purchasing your seats, though. Spirit Saver$ Club members receive low fares and discounted prices for add-ons like bags and seats. There is an annual fee, but if you have a large family or plan on flying Spirit Airlines often, the cost may be less than purchasing seats for your entire group.
Speaking of frequent flying, members of Spirit's Free Spirit loyalty program at the Gold level receive, among other perks, free seat selection at the time of booking. Unlike Frontier's program, Spirit's elite status perks, such as seat selection, do not confer to other members on the reservation.
United is also among the few airlines committed to helping families sit together on flights. United's family seating policy guarantees families with children under age 12 in certain cabins can sit together for free, regardless of fare type.
Now, United's new "dynamic seat map feature" will enable passengers to book two seats together for travelers under 12 and an adult companion for free, including on basic economy fares.
You'll probably want to avoid basic economy on United if you want your party to stay together. United explicitly states on its website that it's not able to guarantee your entire party will be able to sit together if you purchase a basic economy fare and do not purchase advance seat assignments.
Here are a few more helpful tips for families flying United :
There is a lot of overlap with the guidance for getting your family's seats together on most U.S. airlines (with Southwest being the exception).
You want to do everything possible to:
Related: Where to sit on a plane with 2 small kids
Sometimes kind travelers will help parents who end up in a bind onboard, but there's no guarantee. Luckily, airlines are falling in line and making it easier for families traveling together to sit together.
Southwest airlines has been known for its unique "open boarding" model for more than 50 years., published july 25, 2024 • updated on july 25, 2024 at 4:12 pm.
One of the most famous features of Southwest Airlines is about to change.
In an announcement Thursday, the company said it will "redesign the boarding model" by eliminating open seating and instead move forward with assigned seats and premium seating options. The airline also plans to add overnight redeye flight routes, the announcement said.
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"After listening carefully to customers and conducting extensive research, Southwest decided it will assign seats and offer premium seating options on all flights," the announcement said. "The airline has been known for its unique open seating model for more than 50 years, but preferences have evolved with more customers taking longer flights where a seat assignment is preferred."
Officials began studying customer preferences and expectations around the onboarding process in April, the announcement said, with the new changes designed to "elevate the customer experience, improve financial performance, and drive Shareholder value."
The airline said it will release more details about the plan, including a timeline, during an investor meeting in September.
Following the announcement, here's what we know right now.
The decision was based on customer preference, the airline said.
"The research is clear and indicates that 80% of Southwest Customers, and 86% of potential Customers, prefer an assigned seat," the announcement said.
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The announcement went on to say that customers who stopped flying Southwest and instead chose to fly with a competitor citied open seating as the top reason for the change.
"By moving to an assigned seating model, Southwest expects to broaden its appeal and attract more flying from its current and future customers," the announcement added.
The company also said the changes were part of "modernization efforts" part of already implemented improvements, including faster Wi-Fi, in-seat power chargers and larger overhead bins.
According to the announcement, Southwest Airlines will move forward with assigning seats "on all flights."
The airline will also begin offering "premium extended legroom" in some parts of the cabin, the announcement said, though cabin layout details were still in design.
Officials in the announcement said a "refreshed" cabin design was underway, with "new, more comfortable RECARO seats ."
More details about the changes regarding product designs, cabin layout, timing and more will be announced in late September, the airline said, adding that the move to assigned seating will be "significant."
"In addition to incorporating new technologies and procedures for a seamless transition, the new cabin layout will require approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration," the airline said.
According to the announcement, Southwest expects to make bookings available on the new layouts in 2025.
Booking on initial routes for overnight flights begins Thursday, the announcement said, with the first overnight flight set to land on Valentine's Day of 2025 in five markets: Las Vegas to Baltimore and Orlando; Los Angeles to Baltimore and Nashville; and Phoenix to Baltimore.
The plan is to phase in additional overnight flights in the coming schedule's officials said.
Southwest airlines announced plans thursday to begin assigned seating on its flights, a change to its longstanding, much-talked-about open seating policy, by nbc new york staff • published july 25, 2024 • updated on july 25, 2024 at 9:14 am.
In a change to its longstanding policy of open seating, Southwest Airlines announced on Thursday , it will begin assigning seats and offering additional legroom for a fee.
The airline also said it plans to start selling overnight flights in February and expanding its 24-hour operation. The premium legroom offering is expected to be available for flights sometime next year.
Southwest said its hopes these changes meet customer expectations and demands while driving additional revenue. The airline said it plans to release additional details at an investor day event in September, according to CNBC .
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Below, you can find the full section of the Southwest Airlines press release announcing the change to assigned and premium seating:
"As the next step in a continuing strategic transformation, Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the "Company") is announcing several new initiatives designed to elevate the Customer experience, improve financial performance, and drive Shareholder value. As part of its ongoing focus on product evolution, the airline is moving forward with plans to assign seats, offer premium seating options, redesign the boarding model, and introduce redeye flying.
Southwest continually reviews Customer expectations. During its quarterly financial results in April, the airline shared that it was studying product preferences and expectations, including onboard seating. In addition to meeting Customer demand, the new amenities are expected to produce additional revenue and strengthen financial performance. Southwest will provide more details on its comprehensive plan to deliver transformational commercial initiatives, improved operational efficiency and capital allocation discipline during its Investor Day in late September.
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Assigned and Premium Seating
After listening carefully to Customers and conducting extensive research, Southwest decided it will assign seats and offer premium seating options on all flights. The airline has been known for its unique open seating model for more than 50 years, but preferences have evolved with more Customers taking longer flights where a seat assignment is preferred. Additionally, Southwest conducted robust operational testing that included live and over 8 million simulation-based boarding trials. The airline is confident that these Customer enhancements will meet expectations and not compromise the airline's operational efficiency. The research is clear and indicates that 80% of Southwest Customers, and 86% of potential Customers, prefer an assigned seat. When a Customer elects to stop flying with Southwest and chooses a competitor, open seating is cited as the number one reason for the change. By moving to an assigned seating model, Southwest expects to broaden its appeal and attract more flying from its current and future Customers.
In addition to assigning seats, Southwest will offer a premium, extended legroom portion of the cabin that research shows many Customers strongly prefer. While specific cabin layout details are still in design, Southwest expects roughly one-third of seats across the fleet to offer extended legroom, in line with that offered by industry peers on narrowbody aircraft. The decision to update the seating and boarding model is part of Southwest's ongoing modernization efforts. During the past two years, Southwest has enhanced its onboard offerings with improvements such as faster WiFi, in-seat power, and larger overhead bins. Work is well underway on a refreshed cabin design, including new, more comfortable RECARO seats. The addition of assigned and premium seating will give Customers more choice and is expected to further enhance the all-in value Southwest Airlines is known for.
'Moving to assigned seating and offering premium legroom options will be a transformational change that cuts across almost all aspects of the Company," said Bob Jordan, President, CEO, & Vice Chairman of the Board. "Although our unique open seating model has been a part of Southwest Airlines since our inception, our thoughtful and extensive research makes it clear this is the right choice— at the right time—for our Customers, our People, and our Shareholders. We are excited to incorporate Customer and Employee feedback to design a unique experience that only Southwest can deliver. We have been building purposefully to this change as part of a comprehensive upgrade to the Southwest experience as we focus on Customer expectations – and it will unlock new sources of revenue consistent with our laser focus on delivering improved financial performance. '"
COMMENTS
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United Airlines practices kangaroo seating of late. Should you buy two seats at the same time (Economy or Basic Economy - makes no difference), they will separate you as a matter of principle. I was on a four-seats-abreast plane with a family member - we were assigned 'A' and 'C', while another couple was assigned 'B' and 'D'.
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UA should (probably) be able to assign a seat if you call them. They should also be able to tell you your UA record locator, which should (probably) allow you to manage it yourself. The only wildcard would be if you have a codeshare -- an LH flight number on your UA-operated flight. That can throw a wrench into the situation.
"The airline has been known for its unique open seating model for more than 50 years, but preferences have evolved with more customers taking longer flights where a seat assignment is preferred."
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The airline has been known for its unique open seating model for more than 50 years, but preferences have evolved with more Customers taking longer flights where a seat assignment is preferred.
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