Seat assignments are a great concern to airline passengers. As airline seats continue to shrink, it becomes even more important that you get your preferred seat type. Covington understands this, so we always attempt to confirm the seat assignments that our travelers desire.

Several factors come into play in determining whether a traveler will be able to obtain his or her preferred seat:

• Membership status – Most airlines reserve a significant portion of their seats for their higher-level frequent flyer members. These are typically the seats in the front of the aircraft, and/or most aisle seats.
• Fare paid – Many times, the fare paid for the ticket dictates access to a subset of seats. You may (or may not) be able to secure a seat by paying an additional fee to the airline. Travel Maestro tip: Newer, no-frills-type Basic Economy tickets don’t allow any seat to be preassigned.
• Load factor – These days, airlines are operating at a very high load factor. With aircraft at or near full capacity, it’s inevitable that some passengers will be forced to accept the dreaded middle seat. Travel Maestro tip: Book your itinerary early whenever possible.

Your Covington travel counselor can advise you regarding your individual situation. Rest assured we will always assign the best possible seats at the time of booking.

Sometimes it’s not possible to secure a seat assignment at all, even if your ticket type allows it. Airlines withhold a certain percentage of seats for airport assignment. Your reservation is still valid, but your seat will be assigned by the airline gate agent when you check in for your flight. Travel Maestro tip: Check in early for your flight(s).

Keep in mind that as seat inventory changes through cancellations and no-shows, there may be better availability on the day of departure. You may be able to change your seat when you check in online, or you can always inquire at the gate. Travel Maestro tip: Airline gate agents have the final say regarding these newly-available seats.

Whether you’re very tall and need extra legroom or traveling with a companion and need to sit together, your Covington travel counselor will work within the airline parameters to get you the seat assignments you want.