travel extra seat

More elbow room in the sky: How to buy a second seat for yourself on US airlines

Editor's Note

In case you missed it, Southwest Airlines ' "customer of size and extra seat" policy came to the forefront at the end of 2023 after a self-described plus-size travel influencer applauded the carrier's policy allowing passengers to request an extra seat for free.

Southwest is among the major carriers that have long allowed travelers to purchase a second adjacent seat on their planes for " passengers of size " requiring additional room.

However, most airlines, excluding Southwest ironically, provide the option for all passengers requesting more space to book a second seat for the sole purpose of doing so.

Regardless of the reason, whether it be a performer with a large musical instrument or a passenger who just wants more space even though they could safely fit into one assigned seat, here's how each extra-seat policy varies by carrier.

Alaska Airlines

All Alaska Airlines passengers can purchase an additional seat, called a comfort seat , via phone. Standard ticketing fees are waived for comfort seats, and Alaska recommends purchasing it at the same time you book your first seat, but you can do so anytime before departure.

Note that you can use a companion fare voucher (such as the one available with the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card ) or your Alaska Airlines MileagePlan miles to pay for the second seat. Just know that to use a companion fare certificate, you must book the second seat on the same reservation as the first.

If you spend cash to purchase the comfort seat, you are eligible to earn redeemable miles on that seat, though not elite-status credit. To request this credit, contact Alaska's Customer Care Center once travel is complete.

Lastly, if you are purchasing the comfort seat as a "passenger of size" and all of your flights departed with an unsold seat, you're eligible for a refund for the second seat if you contact Alaska after your flights.

Standard checked baggage charges and waivers apply for each purchased seat.

Read more: Alaska Airlines' 'comfort seat' policy

American Airlines

American Airlines permits customers wanting additional space to book a second seat.

To book two seats on American, customers must call reservations directly and purchase a second seat at the same fare and in the same fare class as the first seat. You can redeem AAdvantage miles for the second seat if you redeem miles for both seats in the same fare class. However, you cannot earn miles on the additional seat purchase even if you pay cash. Additionally, if you desire a second seat, you must book it for the full itinerary — not just one segment.

Read more: American Airlines' policy on 'extra space during travel'

Delta Air Lines

Like American and Alaska, Delta Air Lines requires passengers to call their reservations line to book an extra seat for any reason.

Although you can redeem Delta SkyMiles for the second seat, the program prohibits earning miles on "tickets purchased to carry excess baggage such as musical instruments and pets or to provide extra space for the primary passenger."

Since Delta Basic Economy tickets don't come with advance seat assignments, you'll want to avoid that type of fare if you are booking two adjacent seats to have some extra space.

Read more: Delta Air Lines' Additional Assistance page

Frontier Airlines

Low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines advises customers who are "unable to lower both armrests and/or who compromise any portion of adjacent seat or aisle" to book two seats prior to travel. Passengers can inquire about doing so online via the airline's chat system, which has replaced their customer service phone line .

Read more: Frontier Airlines' 'extra seat space' policy

Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines offers guests the opportunity to book extra seats online at the time of booking but notes that these seats are not guaranteed to be adjacent.

To guarantee seats next to one another, purchase an extra seat in the main cabin (excluding basic economy tickets) through the reservations team.

You can use HawaiianMiles to purchase an additional seat, along with the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard eCertificate — valid for travel between North America and Hawaii only. Note that the eCertificate can only be used on paid bookings, not award bookings. If you purchase the second seat with cash, it is eligible to earn redeemable miles.

Read more: Hawaiian Airlines' Guests Needing Additional Room page

JetBlue permits you to purchase an extra seat and complete the transaction online.

The process with JetBlue is pretty easy — simply select two adults (or however many you need) for the flights you want, and when it asks for the second adult's information, you don't provide additional names. Instead, you click the option that reads, "This is an extra seat for traveler one." It's that simple. In our tests to attempt to use JetBlue points for both tickets, the transaction failed, so it doesn't seem you can do that — at least not online.

Read more: Booking extra seats on JetBlue

Southwest Airlines

Southwest famously doesn't offer advanced seating assignments , so it is always possible that you won't have someone sitting down in the middle seat next to you as long as the flight isn't full.

Unfortunately, unlike the other carriers on this list, the Southwest policy "does not allow the purchase of more than one seat for use by a single passenger for the sole purpose of ensuring additional personal space," per an airline spokesperson. (So, no designating yourself as your own companion on that Companion Pass .)

However, if you are purchasing a second seat because you need it as a passenger of size or similar reason, as mentioned earlier, you can do so online or can request it for free at the airport ahead of your flight. Travelers who purchase the seats in advance can request a refund for the extra seat after the flight.

To purchase a second seat online, select one additional adult if you desire one additional seat. Under "who's flying," you'll put your name for the first passenger and then "XS" as the middle name for the second ticket.

If you are purchasing a pricier Business Select or Anytime Fare for the first seat, you can purchase the second seat at the discounted Child's Fare by phone.

Read more: Southwest's 'customer of size and extra seat' policy

Spirit Airlines

The rules for low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines are pretty simple and straightforward if you want a second seat. The line lets you purchase an extra seat by using your name for both tickets and selecting the desired seat assignments. This is allowed whether you need the extra seat for yourself, want some breathing room or for any other reason.

You can use your Spirit miles for the additional seat, but you won't earn miles on its purchase.

Read more: Spirit Airlines' page on purchasing an extra seat

United Airlines

United allows you to purchase a second seat for extra personal space via phone, and you can redeem United MileagePlus miles for the additional seat while earning miles on the additional seat if you decide to pay cash. Note that the miles are redeemable and not elite qualifying miles .

The miles earned for the extra ticket should appear in the Airline Activity section of your MileagePlus account with the description "Extra Seat Credit." United permits a doubled checked baggage allowance if you purchase an extra seat, though it will also charge you a double change fee if your plans change.

While this is likely true for all airlines, note that the United website spells out that you must be an active participant in preserving your extra seat and, if necessary, you can ask a crew member for assistance.

Read more: United Airlines' policy on extra seats

Bottom line

We all hope for an empty middle seat when we board the plane. When the boarding doors close and that middle remains empty, it feels a little like winning the seatmate lottery.

However, if you don't want to rely on luck, know that most major U.S. airlines make it possible to book a second seat to ensure you're not sharing that armrest with a stranger.

Related reading:

• Southwest in the news for its generous 'customer of size and extra seat' policy — here's how it works
• How to snag the best seats on Southwest Airlines
• Plus-size flying: Tips for a more comfortable flight from a 'passenger of size'
• Best travel credit cards

Updated as of 4/18/2024.

Enable JavaScript

Please enable JavaScript to fully experience this site. How to enable JavaScript

• Travel experience

Main Cabin Extra

A little more of everything

Enjoy more space with Main Cabin Extra seating, starting at $20. Seats are located in Main Cabin and offered on most flights, subject to availability.

Early boarding

Be one of the first to board after AAdvantage ® status members with Preferred Group 5 boarding and get easier access to overhead bin space.*

Boarding process

Extra legroom

Sit back and relax with more room to stretch out at the front of the Main Cabin.

Free carry-on

You can bring 1 personal item and 1 bag with you for free. See all the restrictions before you board.

Checked bag policy

Complimentary snacks and drinks

Enjoy complimentary beer, wine and spirits; plus free Biscoff cookies or mini pretzels and soft drinks. Additional food may be available for free, depending on your route.**

Main Cabin food

Free entertainment

Enjoy free movies and TV shows – on screen or your device.

Inflight entertainment

You can buy Wi-Fi on select aircraft so you never miss a beat while you’re on board.

Wi-Fi and connectivity

*Overhead bin space availability varies by aircraft.

**On flights with full drink service. The number of drinks served may be limited.

Book your seat

Look for the Main Cabin Extra icon when you choose your seats.

Book a flight and buy Main Cabin Extra

If you've already booked your flight, you can still buy a Main Cabin Extra seat. If you bought a Basic Economy ticket, boarding restrictions still apply.

Change your seat

AAdvantage ® members can now use miles to reserve Main Cabin Extra seats.

• Reserve seats with miles
• Find your trip

You can buy Main Cabin Extra through Reservations, select travel agencies and airport self-service kiosks. If you have a credit card stored in your AAdvantage ® profile, you can also buy on our mobile app.

American Airlines app

AAdvantage® status member access

Who gets complimentary main cabin extra seats.

• AAdvantage Executive Platinum ® , AAdvantage Platinum Pro ® and AAdvantage Platinum ® members
• one world ® Sapphire and Emerald members with elite status on Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Qatar Airways or Japan Airlines

All listed members are allowed complimentary access for up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation.

AAdvantage Gold® and one world® Ruby members*

Enjoy complimentary access within 24 hours of departure when seats are available.

* one world ® Ruby members with elite status on Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Qatar Airways or Japan Airlines

Seat assignments

• We make every effort to ensure you get your chosen seat, but seat assignments are not guaranteed.
• We reserve the right to change seats for operational, safety or security reasons.
• You must check in at least 60 minutes before departure for international flights and 45 minutes for domestic flights within the U.S. Also, make sure you arrive at the gate 15 minutes before departure or you may lose your seat.

Main Cabin Extra seats

• Main Cabin Extra seats are on select flights operated by American Airlines and American Eagle and subject to availability.
• Seats are non-transferable and valid only on the flight purchased.
• We reserve the right to discontinue the sale of seats or refuse to sell seats to a passenger.
• Fees for seats are non-refundable with some exceptions.

Refunds issued for seats

We'll issue you a refund if:

• You pay to upgrade to First or Business
• You pay more for another seat on the same flight (but not if you change to a lower priced or free seat)
• You cancel your flight within 24 hours and booked at least 2 days before departure
• You cancel, rebook and buy seats on your new flight
• We cancel your flight and we're unable to get you a comparable seat on another flight rebooked by us*
• We delay your flight causing you to miss a connection and we're unable to get you a comparable seat on another flight*
• You’re denied boarding on an oversold flight and we're unable to get you a comparable seat*

*Unable to get you a comparable seats is defined as moving from Main Cabin Extra to a preferred or other Main Cabin seat or from an aisle / window Main Cabin Extra seat to a middle Main Cabin Extra seat

Receipts and refunds

Request a refund

You can request a refund online if you paid for seats and you make changes to parts of your reservation, and you lose your paid seats on the unchanged segments.

Keep in mind you need to submit separate refund requests for your flights, seats and other purchases.

Request a refund Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility guidelines

You may also like...

• Admirals Club ®

UponArriving

Extra Seats on Southwest Airlines: What You Need to Know (Booking & Refunds)

Are you thinking about buying an extra seat on Southwest Airlines?

Perhaps you are a customer of size who needs extra space or you have some other type of need that could require an additional seat.

In this article, we will show you exactly how you go about booking an extra seat and explain some key things you need to know about (like how to get a refund).

Table of Contents

How to purchase an extra seat on Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines allows you to book an extra seat online. If you choose to do this online, there is a specific way to add the extra seat to your reservation.

Basically, you will go through the normal booking process but you will select the number of passengers based on however many extra seats you need.

So if you were traveling with one other person and you need one extra seat, you would choose three passengers.

Then comes the most important step: inputting your name.

For your actual ticket, you would input your name as you normally do. So if your name is John Smith then for your first name you put “John” and for your last time you put “Smith.” Simple stuff.

But for your extra ticket, you will need to make a slight alteration to your name and the alteration depends on whether or not you have input a middle name.

If you do NOT input a middle name for your main ticket, then for the extra passenger you will input XS for the middle name like this:

“John XS Smith” (first name: John, middle name: XS, and last name: Smith). 

If you DO input a middle name for your main ticket, then for the extra passenger you will input XS after the middle name like this:

“John Robert XS Smith” (first name: John, middle name: Robert XS, and last name: Smith). 

You can also call reservations and make your booking online. Try to add the extra seat at the same time as your booking so that you can end up paying the lowest price.

And finally, you can also book your extra seat whenever you arrive at the airport. You could do this at the check-in counter or at the gate.

The plus side of doing this is that you don’t have to pay anything. But the problem with doing this is that the flight could be full so there may not be extra seats.

But, here’s the deal….

Even if the flight is full Southwest has a reputation for doing what they can to keep the customer of size on board. For example, if the flight was oversold Southwest will try to get a volunteer to give up their seat so that the customer of size will have a seat.

If no volunteer comes forward then it’s possible that Southwest could involuntarily deny boarding to a passenger (probably the last person to check in).

This will probably be a very rare outcome but something to be aware of.

How much will the extra seat cost on Southwest Airlines?

The cost of your extra seat or seats will be whatever the cost of that current ticket is for your specific route.

If you are purchasing the original seat at the time of booking, then you can expect to pay the same price as your actual ticket. You can also use Rapid Rewards for the extra ticket.

Also, if you purchase a Business Select fare , you can purchase an extra seat as a Wanna Get Away fare so you don’t have to pay for the expensive fair twice (you probably want to call in to do this).

The major thing to know with Southwest is that they will refund you for your extra seat purchase.

In an attempt to be extra customer friendly, Southwest Airlines has decided that people that need extra seats should not have to pay extra for those seats, so they offer this refund policy.

How do you get the refund for the extra seat?

To get a refund for your extra seat you can email or call Southwest.

You can find the email information here .

Or, if you would like to call here’s the phone number: 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792). 

Will you be required to get an extra seat?

So you might be wondering when would you be expected or required to get an extra seat when flying Southwest.

Southwest makes it pretty clear when you will need an extra seat when they state that , “If you’re unable to lower both armrests and/or encroach upon any portion of a seat next to you, you need a second seat.” 

For Southwest, the “armrest is the definitive gauge for a Customer of size.”

So the first test is can you sit in a seat with the armrests down?

Unlike other airlines, Southwest does not mention that you have to keep the armrest down the entire flight. So in theory, if you can at least put the armrest all the way down then you should be okay for this.

The other question is whether or not you are encroaching upon “any portion” of the seat next to you. So if any portion of your body is occupying space next to you, you are technically required to purchase another seat.

Usually, this would mean taking up space beyond the armrest.

But just keep in mind that airplane etiquette dictates that the middle seat passenger gets both armrests. So if a middle seat passenger cannot utilize the armrest because your body is taking up that space, that’s going to be an issue for some people.

What if I need a seatbelt extension?

If you need a seatbelt extension in order to properly use the seatbelt, that does not mean that you are required to get an extra seat.

So why would I purchase an extra seat if it’s free and I could do it at the gate?

The biggest reason for purchasing your extra seat in advance is to allow Southwest to get a sense of how many passengers (or seats) will be needed on the plane.

This will help them to avoid overselling the flight and having to ask people to give up their seat and move to another flight.

This can also prevent you from having to work this stuff out at the airport or deal with agents at the gate which can make your life easier. So it is strongly recommended that you purchase an extra seat in advance to make things easier for everybody.

You can do the normal check-in process online to secure your boarding position but when purchasing an extra seat Southwest states that “you must see a Customer Service Agent to receive the required documents and be eligible for a refund after the flight.”

In other words, you need to see an agent to get your boarding pass and your “seat reserved” document.

Presumably, an agent would also make sure that you appear to be a customer of size.

While this seems like it could get tricky, I’m assuming an agent could deny you the extra seat if you were a petite person looking to take advantage of an extra seat without a valid reason.

Some airlines will offer double the baggage if you purchase an extra seat but Southwest is not one of those airlines.

If you have an extra seat boarding document then you can take advantage of preboarding . This will allow you to board the plane before the standard Southwest boarding process .

Typically, preboarding is designed for people who need assistance or extra time to board (those with mobility problems) but in the case of an extra seat, it can make it easier for a customer of size to find a seat with an open seat next to it.

If you need a seatbelt extension then you can request that when you get on the plane (remember, you cannot use your own seatbelt extension) and preboarding can make that a little bit easier.

If you use preboarding, you will be able to select any seats available on the plane except for emergency row exit seats which are typically off-limits to people who use preboarding.

Emergency exit row seats may also be off-limits if you have mobility issues so keep that in mind.

Customers of size sometimes prefer to sit in the very back of the plane because they find it easier to deal with potential passengers trying to poach their seat. If you’re seated in the back near a flight attendant, that crewmember may be more likely to help keep people from taking your extra seat.

Window seats can also be a great option because you can utilize the extra room along the window and the fuselage.

After you check in, you should have a “Seat Reserved” document that you can place on your seat during boarding but these are small documents that look similar to a boarding pass so they don’t stand out.

Flight attendants also have larger “do not occupy” placards that are harder to miss. So feel free to request one of those from a flight attendant to make it easier for passengers to tell that your extra seat is reserved.

Can you purchase an extra seat simply for extra comfort?

Unlike some other airlines, Southwest does not allow you to purchase an additional seat just because you want extra space.

Instead, extra seats are reserved for oversize customers and people who have other special needs such as traveling with certain pets.

You can find a relevant language in the contract of carriage where it states:

Purchase of more than one seat for use by a single Passenger for the sole purpose of seeking additional personal space is prohibited, except in limited circumstances when the Carrier, in its discretion, permits it.

This is kind of a let down because having an extra seat can be beneficial for a lot of people, even if they are not customers of size.

However, I understand how allowing passengers to purchase extra seats could make the Southwest boarding process more difficult to sort out.

Southwest is very friendly to customers of size.

First, they allow you to book online and to receive a refund for the extra seat or seats that you need. They will even bump people off flights if you failed to you book your extra seat in advance (which is why you always want to book it in advance). And finally, you can also get preboarding which will allow you to select from a wide variety of seats.

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo . He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio .

Interesting article. I am 100% disabled through the VA/Military. For me, riding in a wheelchair, is too painful for my back. I walk slower, and use a cane because I have poor control at times of the right leg. I have had a challenge on occasion from some gate agents because I don’t use the wheelchair however. A few times I have been told to wait until A has boarded. This puts me further back on the plane, and an issue if I have to use the facilities. What do you suggest?

I’m not an expert, but I’m relatively young (aka I “look healthy”) and have a number of health issues that rise to the legal definition of a disability (check the ADA’s definition of you’re still a citizen of the USA to see if this applies to you as well). I travel fairly frequently, with an additional carry-on bag filled with my necessary medical accoutrements (I bring 3 bags into the plane’s cabin, not 2). I let the airline know in advance that I’m chronically I’ll and traveling with medical supplies, and they indicate on my ticket that I need to preboard.

Perhaps if you let them know in advance you’re struggling with medical issues (you could even reach out in advance and schedule a TSA Cares agent to help you through security) then you could ensure that preboarding was marked on your boarding pass, and you (and one companion if you desire) would have extra time to get on the plane and get situated. Good luck!

Comments are closed.

Privacy Overview

• Travel info
• MileagePlus® Program

United flights

Seating options

Which United seat is right for you?

• Better Seats

Upgrade now

Ready to experience the best way to travel? Book your next trip with United now

Enjoy the experience.

Frequently asked questions about our seating options

For all fare classes except Basic Economy, you’ll be able to pick your seat or change your seat assignment. If you have a Basic Economy ticket, you’re able to purchase a seat assignment during booking and up until check-in opens. Learn more about Basic Economy restrictions.

You can choose a seat or change your seat assignment for most United- and United Express®-operated flights on united.com , on the United app or through your travel agent. If no seat assignments are available, you can check back closer to departure to see whether seats have become available. Learn more about seating options .

Seat assignments, no matter the fare class you purchase, aren’t guaranteed and could change without notice because of schedule changes, equipment swaps or other unforeseen circumstances.

We’ll always try to assign you the same or similar seat type and location and keep you with your traveling companions when you’re booked in the same reservation, unless you’ve purchased a Basic Economy ticket without purchasing advance seat assignments. We know that your seat assignment is important, so we’ll do our best to keep your original seat preference.

We may briefly hold some seats for operational reasons, and don’t allow seat selection or changes for Basic Economy tickets. If you’re unable to choose a seat, we’ll assign you one at check-in or at the departure gate.

All customers with Basic Economy tickets, including United MileagePlus® Premier® members, are eligible to purchase Economy Plus seating at check-in only.

Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market.  See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our  credit card rating methodology .

American Airlines: Main Cabin Extra vs. Preferred Seating – What Are the Differences?

James Larounis

Senior Content Contributor

567 Published Articles 1 Edited Article

Countries Visited: 30 U.S. States Visited: 35

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

41 Published Articles 3375 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 50 U.S. States Visited: 28

Table of Contents

American airlines — classes of service, main cabin extra benefits in detail, how to access main cabin extra seats, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Key Takeaways

• Main Cabin Extra seats offer more legroom, early boarding, and complimentary alcoholic beverages on most flights, providing a more comfortable experience compared to standard economy seating.
• Preferred Seating primarily offers better location within the main cabin, such as closer proximity to the front or near the exits, without additional legroom or extra amenities.
• Both options allow passengers to select their seats in advance for a fee, but AAdvantage elite members can choose for free.

When it comes to seating on American Airlines, not all options are alike. For those in the back of the plane (the “Main Cabin”), there are 3 seating options: standard Main Cabin seats, Preferred seats, and Main Cabin Extra.

Here’s a look at the differences between Main Cabin Extra and Preferred seating, the best ones on each type of aircraft, and the perks that come with where you sit.

No one loves sitting in economy, but if you’ve got to be in the rear part of the plane, you can definitely be a savvy traveler and pick seats that improve your onboard experience .

Here’s a look at all of American’s different seat types, as a brief reference, before diving into your economy options:

Flagship First

Flagship First is American’s top class of service and is only available on 3-class aircraft, including the 777-300ER and the A321T , that fly transcontinental from coast to coast. Flagship First includes access to the Flagship First Dining area at select airports and the Flagship Lounge . Onboard, you’ll find personal “pods” for every passenger without being near others.

It’s worth noting that Flagship First is being retired and will slowly be phased out over the next few years.

Flagship Business

Available on wide-body international flights or transcontinental A321T flights, Flagship Business is American’s standard business class offering , complete with upgraded dining, Flagship Lounge access, and additional amenities on select routes. On wide-body aircraft, seats are staggered in a 1-2-1 configuration or a 2-2 arrangement on cross-country planes.

You can pay to upgrade to Flagship Business Plus to receive additional free checked bags, Flagship check-in, and Flagship First Dining on select itineraries.

Premium Economy

Premium Economy is the middle ground between Main Cabin and business class. Here, you’ll find seats similar to first class on domestic flights, which are larger leather recliners. With seats in a 2-3-2 or 2-4-2 configuration, this cabin provides more legroom, recline space, and amenities than the economy cabin. Customers will receive premium-style meals and inflight entertainment on larger seatback screens.

Domestic First Class

On 2-class narrow-body planes, first class is situated at the front of the aircraft and arranged in a 2-2 seating style . With additional recline and pitch over Main Cabin in the rear, first class is certainly a more comfortable area to sit. Amenities include pre-departure beverages, coat hanging, and meals, depending on flight length.

Hot Tip: Fly American often? See our in-depth article on the best credit cards for frequent AA flyers to help you maximize your miles, as well as benefits such as lounge access, priority boarding, and more!

Main Cabin Extra  

Located in prime areas of the main cabin, Main Cabin Extra seats receive 3 to 6 inches of additional legroom. These seats are in the bulkhead, the first few rows of the plane, or in exit rows. In addition to extra legroom, Main Cabin Extra customers receive free alcoholic beverages.

Preferred Seats

Preferred seats don’t receive any extra legroom, but they are in better locations of the Main Cabin that are closer to the front of the plane, allowing you to access your seat quicker when boarding and exit more quickly when getting off.

Standard Seats

Standard Main Cabin seats are located throughout the Main Cabin but are mostly concentrated in the rear. These seats have no additional amenities and only standard pitch and recline.

Differences Between Standard Seats, Preferred Seats, and Main Cabin Extra Seats

For reference, here’s a chart that summarizes the difference between your coach options:

Preferred Boarding

American has 9 boarding groups , so it’s important to understand where you fit in the boarding picture. If you’re not an elite and you purchase a Main Cabin Extra seat, you will board with Group 5 .

Here’s what that will look like:

• Pre-Boarding: ConciergeKey (invite-only) members
• Group 1: Uniformed military plus first class (on a domestic 2-class plane, transcontinental, or international 3-class plane) or business class (on an international 2-class plane), Executive Platinum members
• Group 2: Platinum Pro members , business class on a 3-class plane, and Oneworld Emerald customers
• Group 3:   Platinum members  and Oneworld Sapphire customers
• Group 4: Premium economy (international-equipped flights), AAdvantage Gold members , Oneworld Ruby customers, Citi ® / AAdvantage ® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard ®  cardmembers, travelers who purchased Priority boarding outright, and AirPass members
• Group 5: Other qualifying American Airlines cardholders and Main Cabin Extra
• Group 6 to 7: Main Cabin customers in no particular order; all AAdvantage members, at a minimum (including Basic Economy)
• Group 8: Basic Economy to and from Europe
• Group 9: Basic Economy customers on U.S., Canada, Central America, Mexico, and Caribbean flights

If you’re seated in Main Cabin Extra but are an elite passenger, you’ll board ahead with your elite boarding group. So, for example, an Executive Platinum seated in Main Cabin Extra will board with the higher Group 2.

Hot Tip: If you’re an elite member, make sure you board with your dedicated boarding group and don’t wait until Group 5! There will be fewer people boarding with you and more room for your luggage if you board earlier.

Keep in mind that Group 5 is a fairly large boarding group — you’ll be boarding with a sizable chunk of the Main Cabin, including American credit cardholders. Be aware that there can be quite a few on a hub-to-hub route.

Complimentary Snacks and Alcoholic Beverages

Along with receiving a small snack of either Biscoff cookies or packaged pretzels, those in Main Cabin Extra will receive unlimited complimentary beverages, both non-alcoholic and alcoholic.

Note that snacks are offered to all customers, not just those in Main Cabin Extra. Unlike Delta Air Lines, which offers a dedicated snack basket to its extra legroom seat customers, American only offers the complimentary alcoholic beverage as an extra onboard amenity.

This said, you can certainly purchase any of the snacks on the onboard menu. If you’re an Executive Platinum or ConciergeKey, you can choose your fresh meal on select longer flights.

If your flight features a full beverage service, you can select from any of American’s onboard alcoholic drink selections. You’ll be able to have as many of these drinks as you wish, within reason — this is subject to flight length and flight attendant discretion depending on how many you’ve had.

Your selections may include:

• Aviation American Gin
• Ayrum Granacha Rose
• BACARDI Rum
• Bailey’s Irish Cream
• Barone Montalto Vino Spumante
• Bottega Millesimato Brut Spumante
• DISARRONNO Amaretto
• Dewar’s White Label
• Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey
• Les Marins Merlot
• Mini Cellar Airen-Verdejo
• Tito’s Handmade Vodka
• Vina Albali Red Blend
• Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Hot Tip: Most flight attendants on longer flights will make a second pass for drinks, at which time you may be able to select another; otherwise, feel free to ring your call button to request another.

If you’re an AAdvantage Executive Platinum or ConciergeKey member, you will still be able to select your complimentary alcoholic beverage as well as a snack or fresh food item, so there’s no difference if you’re sitting in a Main Cabin Extra seat.

Seat Location

Main Cabin Extra seats are the best places to sit if you have to be in or near the rear of the plane. Sure, everyone likes those fancy lie-flat or recliner first class seats up front, but reality says that at least some flights will probably be in economy.

In economy, Main Cabin Extra seats have the advantage of being located in the most prime spots, including:

• Bulkheads — You may be seated directly behind a wall or other divider between classes
• Emergency Exit Rows — On some planes, there may be more than 1 emergency exit row
• First Few Rows of Main Cabin — Additional legroom and a better location to put you among the first few coach passengers to exit the airplane

Hot Tip: SeatGuru and Expert Flyer are excellent tools to use for figuring out what type of plane you’re flying on , seat maps, and more. 

Depending on your aircraft, Main Cabin Extra seating can look slightly different. Keep in mind that there can be aircraft swaps at any time throughout your journey, as well, so even if you book your ticket on 1 plane, it can be substituted with another at the last minute.

As you can see, most planes in American’s fleet have Main Cabin Extra seating and a decent number of those seats to choose from. Depending on the route and time of day, however, these Main Cabin Extra seats may be consumed by elite passengers who can select them for free. Even if you’re willing to pay for them, there may be fewer to choose from.

The chart below is the list of all Main Cabin Extra seats on specific aircraft. Keep in mind that some different seating arrangements may be available on different models of planes, so you may notice some slight variations.

Occasionally, American also updates what it classifies as a Main Cabin Extra seat, so you may find that some seats are labeled as extra legroom on one plane whereas the same seats on a similar aircraft may not be. This is most often the case on smaller regional aircraft.

Dedicated Overhead Bin Access

On all planes with dedicated Main Cabin Extra sections, you’ll be able to stow your bags in overhead bins marked “For Main Cabin Extra customers only,” which reduces the amount of non-Main Cabin Extra bags that get stowed there.

Still, as the plane begins to fill up, customers tend to put their bags in any open bin they find. And sometimes, customers elect to put their bags farther forward even though they are seated in the back so that they can access their bags quickly as they exit the plane.

The designated placards will help prevent this, but they aren’t necessarily a guarantee — there’s not a ton of policing, though savvy flight attendants will close the bins over these seats to help preserve space.  

Bottom Line: Main Cabin Extra seats come with dedicated storage , which gives you a place to stow your bags without having to fight for overhead bin space.

There are a few ways to access Main Cabin Extra seats — some at a cost and some for free.

American Airlines Elite Status

Platinum, Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum, and ConciergeKey members on American Airlines can select Main Cabin Extra for free at the time of booking (for themselves and up to 8 companions on the same reservation). Gold members can select these seats for free 24 hours before departure.

This can be phenomenal savings: Main Cabin Extra on transcontinental flights can cost $100+ and can be double that on international flights.

Oneworld Frequent Flyer Status

If you’re a Oneworld Sapphire or Emerald member and have status with British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, or Japan Airlines, you can select Main Cabin Extra and Preferred seats for free at the time of booking for yourself and up to 8 travel companions on the same reservation. Oneworld Ruby members of the previously mentioned airlines also have access to book these seats within 24 hours of departure.

Wait Until the Last Minute

On some flights, fewer people are willing to purchase Main Cabin Extra seats, or there aren’t enough elites to grab them for free. If you can’t select a seat in the rear, are on a Basic Economy ticket, or don’t have a seat assignment, wait until you get to the airport before checking in.

At the counter or the gate, you may be assigned a Main Cabin Extra seat for free, simply because it is one of the only remaining seats on the plane. This actually happens quite a bit — certain routes aren’t elite-heavy and the regular seats fill up.

If no one is willing to purchase Main Cabin Extra, American still has to assign those seats to accommodate everyone — so by waiting until the last minute, you may get lucky. It’s worth noting that even if you receive a Main Cabin Extra seat for free, you still receive all of the perks that come with it  (namely the alcoholic beverages).  

It’s the most expensive option, but for those without elite status or who aren’t targeted for some sort of reward, it’s one of the only ways. When you purchase a seat assignment in Main Cabin Extra, the cost depends on the seat you want — even in Main Cabin Extra, middle seats cost less than their aisle or window counterparts in the same area.

As mentioned above, these seats can come at a hefty price tag, so you’ll want to grab a really good seat if you have to pay up. The bulkhead and exit rows will usually get you the most bang for your buck since they have the most legroom.

Monitor Upgrades

Here’s a trick that not many people know about. On all of American’s domestic routes, including Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean flights, American offers complimentary or earned upgrades to elites. On the vast majority of these flights, there will be some sort of upgrade list at the gate. While some passengers may have been upgraded before this point, inevitably there will be some passengers who haven’t cleared yet and are waitlisted at the gate.

If there are still seats open in first class, ask the gate agent which seats the first few people on the upgrade list are in. If the gate agent is willing to tell you, you may be able to ask to swap into their seat (which is usually a Main Cabin Extra seat) as soon as their upgrade is processed. This isn’t a sure-fire way but can be useful in last-minute situations.

A Word About Upgrades

To upgrade on American (whether complimentary, using instruments like systemwide upgrades , or miles/copay), American considers Main Cabin Extra to be in the same cabin as Main Cabin. This is important because when upgrading, you are moving from 1 cabin to the next.

Here are some examples of how this can look on a domestic/Canada/Mexico/Caribbean flight if you’re using some sort of instrument, such as a systemwide upgrade:

• Basic Economy to business/first
• Main Cabin to business/first
• Main Cabin Extra to business/first
• Premium Economy to business/first

And if you’re on an international 3-class plane, it will look like this:

• Basic Economy to business
• Main Cabin to business
• Main Cabin Extra to business
• Premium Economy to business
• Business to first

There are some airlines, such as Delta, that consider an extra-legroom economy seat to be a true upgrade, and its elite program solidifies this with requests to be able to be upgraded to such a seat.

American doesn’t have this type of system — so, regardless of where you’re sitting in the economy cabin, your next upgrade could truly be to business/first.

Bottom Line: Main Cabin Extra is considered part of the economy class cabin, and it’s not a separate area for the purposes of using miles or instruments to upgrade.

As you can see, Main Cabin Extra seats really are some of the best economy class seats on American Airlines flights — there’s no doubt about it. If you can’t secure one of these seats, Preferred seats offer a great location on the plane, but without the additional legroom.

When you’re flying American, try to find ways of sitting in Main Cabin Extra — whether using elite status or a buy-up. If not, be selective about where you sit in the Main Cabin, grabbing a Preferred seat if you can.

The information regarding the Citi ® /AAdvantage ® Executive World Elite Mastercard ® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Related Posts

UP's Bonus Valuation

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.

Get Daily Travel Tips & Deals!

By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use .

Airline Passenger of Size Policies: Will You Be Forced to Buy an Extra Seat?

Ed Hewitt started traveling with his family at the age of 10 and has since visited dozens of countries on six continents. He wrote for IndependentTraveler.com for more than 20 years, producing hundreds of columns on travel and offering his expertise on radio and television. He is now a regular contributor to SmarterTravel.

An avid surfer and rower, Ed has written about and photographed rowing competitions around the world, including the last five Olympic Games.

He's passing his love of travel on to the next generation; his 10-year-old son has flown some 200,000 miles already.

Travel Smarter! Sign up for our free newsletter.

As airlines continue to cram more and more people into each plane, the flying experience gets less comfortable for all passengers, especially passengers of a heavier weight. But is there a point where seat sizes restrict someone’s ability to fly? Most carriers now have some sort of policy in place to ensure that all passengers have adequate room for both comfort and safety, but policies differ in degree and detail.

Most airlines recommend that if you think you will be too large for your seat, you should purchase a second seat at the time you make your original booking (or, of course, buy a ticket in first or business class). Some airlines will offer a discount on the second seat or refund the cost if the plane isn’t full, but in many cases larger passengers simply have to pay twice the price as other flyers.

Are Airline Passenger Weight Policies Fair?

Airline seating policies surrounding passenger weight bring up some sensitive issues. Who decides if someone fits in the seat, and when do they decide? Is the decision left up to a flight attendant after the entire plane has boarded? Is it somebody at the gate? At check-in? Will there someday be a BMI (Body Mass Index) field on booking sites? Might we eventually have to sit in a test seat, much like the metal cages that measure the size of your carry-on bag?

Over the years, some of these questions have moved out of the realm of the rhetorical—though there have been very few cases where the airlines’ policies have been tested or disputed in public (not surprisingly, due to the very sensitive nature of the issue). Most overweight travelers have simply taken the abuse, or made their case without going too public.

On a broader level, is it fair or logical for the airlines to keep shrinking airplane seats while requiring those left behind to, oftentimes literally, pay the price? This makes things awkward for everyone—including the large passengers themselves. (See the moving essay What it’s like to be that fat person sitting next to you on the plane .)

There is a simple solution, of course: wider seats on planes. In the same way that airlines offer “economy plus” sections with more legroom, they could have rows that have fewer and wider seats. (There’s always the option of business class in this case, but airlines could do the same thing in economy class, just without the free booze, dedicated loo, and big upcharges.)

The airlines argue it would be too costly to retrofit planes to include larger seats—so for now, the traveling public is stuck with the status quo. Below is a run-down of seating policies regarding passenger weight on several major airlines in the U.S. and abroad.

The 14 Best Flight Search Sites for Booking Cheap Airfare

Alaska Airlines’ Customers of Size Policy

Alaska Airlines requires the purchase of a second seat for any passenger who can’t “comfortably fit within one seat with the armrests in the down position.” If you purchase a second seat in advance, and your flights all take off with at least one seat available, you can get a refund for the cost of the second seat. For those who haven’t purchased a second seat in advance, you may do so the day of your flight; if two seats aren’t available together, you might need to take a later flight.

Allegiant’s Passenger of Size Policy

Allegiant recommends that passengers who are unable to lower their armrest purchase a second ticket at the time of booking. If the passenger waits until the day of travel to request a second seat, “the agent will be unable to sell a second ticket unless two seats are available side-by-side,” says the airline website. If an extra seat is unavailable, the passenger will not be able to fly.

American Airlines’ Extra Space Policy

American requires passengers to purchase a second seat if they need a seatbelt extension and “extra space outside a single seat to travel safely.” The airline recommends that you buy both seats during your original booking (at the same rate). If you don’t book two seats in advance, you will be responsible for any fare difference on a second seat purchased the day of your flight or a larger seat in a higher class. If the airline can’t accommodate you on your scheduled flight, the airline will let you purchase two seats on a later flight for the same price as your original seats.

Delta Airlines’ Extra Seat Space Policy

Delta does not require larger passengers to purchase an extra seat, even if a seatbelt extender is required. However, the website notes that “if a passenger impedes on another passenger, they may be asked to move to another location that provides additional space, or in the event of a full flight, be asked to take a later flight with available seating.” and therefore recommends passengers who require extra space to purchase a second seat at the time of booking.

First Class for Free: How to Get an Upgrade

Frontier’s Customer of Size Policy

Frontier requires that customers who are unable to lower both armrests purchase a second seat “prior to travel.”

Hawaiian Airlines’ Policy for Guests Needing Additional Room

Hawaiian recommends that flyers who can’t sit comfortably with both armrests lowered call in advance to reserve a second seat. If you don’t do this, the airline “will try to find a suitable alternative,” but if this isn’t possible, you may not be able to fly on your originally scheduled flight.

JetBlue’s Extra Seating Policy

I was unable to find an official policy on JetBlue’s website, however JetBlue has a process in place for booking a second seat for any reason, found here . JetBlue seats are between 17.8 and 18.4 inches.

Southwest Airlines’ Customer of Size Policy

Southwest encourages larger passengers to purchase an extra seat in advance to guarantee that sufficient space will be available on their flight; the airline promises to refund all extra seat purchases, even if the flight is oversold. Passengers can also wait until the day of their flight to speak with a customer service person at the gate, who will give them a complimentary additional seat if it’s available.

Spirit Airlines’ Extra Seat Policy

Spirit requires that any passenger who “encroaches on an adjacent seat area and/or is unable to sit in a single seat with the armrests lowered” purchase an additional seat. Travelers who need a seatbelt extension are not eligible to sit in a seat with an inflatable seatbelt.

United Airlines’ Extra Seating Policy

If you can’t buckle your seatbelt (with an extension if necessary) and fit into a seat with the armrests down—without encroaching “significantly” on the adjacent space—you must purchase an additional seat or pay for an upgrade to a roomier seat on United . The carrier recommends buying two seats at the time of booking, at which time you’ll pay the same fare for the second seat; if you wait until the day of travel, you’ll pay the fare available that day. If no additional seats or upgrades are available, you’ll have to rebook on the next flight with availability. (United will, however, waive the change fees.)

The 7 Most Affordable Transatlantic Carriers for 2023

Airline Passenger of Size Policies Outside the U.S.

There are too many airlines around the world to enumerate every single policy, but below is a sampling.

Under the One Person One Fare program in Canada, “carriers may not charge more than one fare for persons with disabilities who…require additional seating for themselves, including those determined to be functionally disabled by obesity.” This applies to domestic service within Canada. For flights to destinations outside of Canada, you might have to purchase an additional seat.

In Europe, Air France offers a 25 percent discount on your second seat if purchased in advance, with a full refund if there are unoccupied seats on your flight. If your flight is full, you haven’t booked an additional seat, and you can’t fit comfortably into a single seat, you may not be permitted to board. Meanwhile, British Airways requires passengers to be able to fully lower both armrests; if you can’t fit into the seat under these conditions, you must purchase an extra seat.

In the Southern Hemisphere, Qantas and LATAM suggests travelers needing extra space book an extra seat. Qantas encourages passengers to book both seats at once, as an extra seat cannot be added to an existing booking and will need to be booked separately. LATAM notes that “Passengers that due to their size must out of necessity occupy the immediately adjacent seat, can only travel in Economy in order to use this service” due to the configuration of the armrests in their other cabins.

Looking for a carrier not listed above? Airline seating policies are often difficult to find on carriers’ websites. Sometimes you can pull them up by searching “extra seat” or “customer of size,” but the best strategy is to call the customer service number—if you need to purchase an extra seat, you’ll likely end up calling the airline anyway.

You Might Also Like:

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Top Fares From

Don't see a fare you like? View all flight deals from your city.

Today's top travel deals.

Brought to you by ShermansTravel

Germany: 8-Night Christmas Markets Tour w/Daily...

TripCompanion Tours

Poconos: 2-Nt, All-Incl. Stay at Upscale...

ResortsAndLodges.com

10-Night Mediterranean Cruise From Barcelona to...

Norwegian Cruise Line

Trending on SmarterTravel

On These Airlines, Extra Legroom Is Actually Worth the Money—Starting at $15 Per Upgrade

Want to travel in comfort without forking over big bucks for  business or first class ? There's another way.  You can still score a few extra perks (even those without  elite airline status ) without breaking the bank. Many U.S. airlines offer a  premium economy product on long-haul flights, but this can cost quite a bit more than the standard economy class ticket. However, there is a subset of “preferred” seats that costs only a fraction more than economy—and we’re not just talking about  exit-row seats .

These extra-legroom seats sometimes even come with supplemental goodies that are quite valuable. And if you do have elite status, you may even be able to get these seats for free, both for yourself and companions on your reservation. Here’s what you need to know about choosing the best seats in the main cabin for extra legroom from five top U.S. airlines.

JetBlue Even More Space (up to 38 inches)

While not all planes have the same configuration, JetBlue’s Even More Space seats have as much as 38 inches of extra legroom, easily putting them at the top of their class. The airline already offers free Wi-Fi to all passengers, and those booking this slight upgrade receive priority boarding as well as fast-track security in airports that offer it. The cost for these seats varies based on the length of the flight, but keep an eye out for upgrade offers on your reservation. TrueBlue Mosaic members, as well as top American Airlines elite members, can enjoy access to these seats free of charge. For everyone else, the additional cost can be between $15 and $200 on most flights.

Delta Comfort+ (up to 35 inches)

When flying Delta Air Lines, Medallion members get early access to Comfort+ seats, which come with extra legroom and free alcoholic drinks on most flights. On flights over 900 miles, there’s even a snack basket with more choices available here than the rest of the plane, similar to some options you might find in first class. These seats are available for a surcharge with the price depending on the flight length, typically between $20 to $150. Delta says these seats have up to three more inches of legroom compared to the standard economy seat, although the exact amount varies by aircraft. On most Delta planes, it’s between 34 and 35 inches of legroom (although some aircraft have exit rows with a few more inches). 

United Economy Plus (up to 37 inches)

These seats are located toward the front of the economy cabin and can have as much as six inches of legroom more than regular economy. United was one of the first domestic airlines to offer these more spacious seats, which it makes available to its elite status members at no extra charge. Others can pay a small fee, often between $20 and $200, depending on the length of the flight. Like other airlines, passengers who do not pay for these seats (or do not qualify to sit there with elite status) aren’t allowed to move there without paying, and United’s  basic economy fares are not eligible to upgrade to these seats. Other than the extra leg room, there aren’t any other tangible perks for Economy Plus. If you fly United often enough, it may make sense to purchase an annual subscription pass to Economy Plus (starting at $599) giving you unlimited access on all your flights for a year, with an option to buy a pass that allows up to eight companions on the same reservation.

American Main Cabin Extra (up to 39 inches)

These extra legroom seats are available on all flights, with prices starting at an additional $20 and usually reaching around $200 more on the longest flights. Not only will you get as much as six inches of more space for your legs, but on flights with standard beverage service you’ll get a free alcoholic drink, too. Earlier boarding is another benefit giving those in Main Cabin Extra a head start to find space for their carry-on bag. The amount of leg room varies based on aircraft type, with only a handful of planes offering up to 39 inches in certain exit rows. Elite status members (including members from airline partners like JetBlue and Alaska) get free access to these seats and can bring along companions traveling on the same reservation, too.

Alaska Airlines Premium Class (up to 38 inches)

With as much as four extra inches of legroom, Alaska's Premium Class is available on most flights. It comes with free wine, beer, or spirits (on flights over 350 miles) and early boarding privileges. Alaska and American elite status members get free access to these seats at varying times before departure, depending on the fare they purchase. The uptick to these seats for everyone else starts at just an additional $15, with the price going up based on the length of the flight and often capping out at about $150. 

Editor's note: Because airlines are constantly updating their cabins and fleets, the figures listed are subject to change after publishing. In addition, some aircraft may have certain exit rows that have more room than other extra legroom flights, and the prices charged for any of these seats can vary.  

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

How to book an extra seat on a flight

• Posted March 13, 2023
• by Alex Hermann

Travelers looking to block an additional seat on a flight might be a niche audience, but I don’t think it’s an option many folks consider and there might be good reason to do it. I’ve booked an extra seat a handful of times, and I thought I’d share my experience and how to do it here.

Why book an extra seat?

There could be many reasons why a traveler would want to book an extra seat to guarantee it stays empty for their flight. Here are just a few: 

• Travelers of size may be more comfortable with the seat next to them empty.
• COVID or health conscious travelers might feel more comfortable with more space between them and strangers.
• Solo, couples or families might want the space that business class provides but not want to pay for business class. In some instance, booking multiple economy seats might be less expensive.

What airlines allow you to book extra seats?

All US carriers allow you to book extra seats, but I have the most experience with United. Each airline has different rules so be sure to check with your specific airline before booking an extra seat.

Why I booked an extra seat

Throughout our pregnancy, my husband and I became very cautious when it came to traveling because of COVID and other sickness that could be floating around because we were in constant contact with our surrogate. During this time, we took a trip to Mexico and when researching fares, business class fares were astronomical. We liked the idea of being around less people in a cabin with a 2-2 configuration, but we weren’t willing to shell out the big bucks for it. Booking an entire row of 3 seats in economy for the 2 of us was significantly cheaper. We each booked our own seats and then I booked the middle seat as an extra seat to guarantee we’d have that space during the flight. If you didn’t know already, intra-European business class is this exact set up…. an economy seat with a blocked middle seat.

How to book an extra seat on United

To book an extra seat, select 2 seats when booking. The first seat you can book for yourself and fill out the fields like your normally would. Airlines can’t have 2 seats assigned to the same person, so for the extra seat you will have to make the airline aware it is an extra seat. For United, this would be booked by putting “ExtraSeat” in the first name field and your last name in the last name field. So in my case, it would be “ExtraSeat Hermann”.

Different airlines have slightly unique ways of doing this, so be sure to check with your airline of choice to make sure you’re following their protocol. On Delta for example, the extra seat would be booked at EXST and then last name. So on Delta, my extra seat would be booked as “EXST Hermann”.

Interestingly, policies also appear to differ with respect to mileage credit as well. With United, the extra seat will get you miles, but not elite qualifying miles. On Delta, in most instances, you don’t get any extra miles.

Would you ever consider booking an extra seat for a flight? Comment below!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if your purchase through my link. This does not cost extra for you, and helps keep this blog running! You can read my full privacy policy here.

14 Responses

Yes and this is the reason I exclusively fly Southwest. I am a “customer of size” and for my comfort and that of my seat mate, I always get two seats. SW has a COS policy that makes it super easy to get that extra seat for free. Their reimbursement process is outstanding. If SW doesn’t fly there, I don’t go there. Sure SW will take me in the opposite direction to get where I want to go (Clt to TN to NY or Clt to TX to FL or Clt to BWI to SAT) it’s okay, I got time, lol

LOL, Fatty!

You are so rude!

Disgusting people on here making comments like that. I suppose you nasty ones are perfect !

I have ocd and do not like sitting next to strangers thats why I usually drive but if flying this is a great information.

Thank you for doing this. It would be great if you could do other airlines like Spirit and Frontier and Norse now too. I usually do two seats or get business class.

All.. think about this.. 1) there is no price on comfort.. no need to be rude on people PAYING to be comfortable. 2) what if you are trveling with a child. want some extra room for them to stay buckled and lay down.. yes indeed.. way less than first class but gets the job done!!

I will be doing this next flight purely because one flight i had a very smelly person sitting next to me and yesterday flew back from my holiday with a very loud no filter woman sitting next to me her comments made me very uncomfortable I hope noone thought we were travel buddies. Id happily pay for the three seats to sit alone.

Heard of dieting? Then saving money on food AND an extra seat Maybe its just your glands…

Wow! Not a nice person

You’re a butthole

Hi thanks for the info!

Do you know anything about Norse Atlantic airlines ?

I have cancer and don’t need someone breathing down my neck while I have to be in a plane so an extra seat is great choice. Also, saying nasty things about someone who’s is larger and wants an extra seat does NOT require nasty opinions from you haters out there. You probably treat your pets better than people in your orbit. I’m sure you are not “perfect”. Can’t we just be kind to one another??

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Latest Posts

Review: akelarre hotel in san sebastian, spain, review: six senses douro valley, review: intercontinental porto.

• Review: Air France Business Class 777-300ER (SFO-CDG)
• VIP Lounge Los Cabos International Airport review

you might like these too

Subscribe for Updates

• ©2024 Planely Alex
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service
• Site Design by Georgia G. Kaye

All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Planely Alex with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.

Travel extras for your trip

Enjoy your trip to the fullest with our travel extras – for example, you can pick out your preferred seat, rest at a Finnair Lounge or savour a delicious meal during your flight. When you take care of everything in advance, you can just sit back and relax during your travel.

You can add travel extras to your trip when booking your tickets or later in Manage booking or the Finnair app. You will see the exact prices while purchasing.

Also, remember to check our ticket types and Finnair Plus benefits to see what's already included in your ticket.

Seat selection

Sit next to your travel companion, secure your favourite seat or enjoy some extra leg space – choose where you want to sit in advance and enjoy your time in the air.

Get to know our seat selection

Select your seat in advance

Extra baggage

When you need to take more bags than what is included in your baggage allowance, you can conveniently handle your extra bag charges online.

Buy extra baggage

Read more about extra baggage

Meals and snacks

Choose our menu of Nordic flavours and tastes from all around the world. For our European flights, you can pre-order a delicious meal.

Read more about meals on long-haul flights

Read more about meals on short-haul flights

Pre-order your meal

Internet on board

With our on-board internet connection, you can access your favourite apps and surf the web on your own mobile device. Simply select the package that best suits your needs and stay connected during your flight. Purchase an internet access package when booking your flight, during online check-in or on board your flight.

Read more about internet connection on board

Start your journey with a relaxing visit to a Finnair Lounge at Helsinki Airport. If you’re not entitled to a free entrance, you can purchase lounge access at the time of booking, during online check-in or from Finnair ground crew.

Find out more about Finnair Lounges

Travel class upgrade

Wish to upgrade your travel class? Simply check the availability and request the upgrade conveniently online. If you are a Finnair Plus member, you can also pay with your Avios or upgrade benefits.

Upgrade your travel class

Use Avios on travel class upgrade

Sports equipment

Travelling for sports? Pay for the fee in advance online and take your sports equipment with you as checked baggage. 

Add sports equipment to your trip

Read more about transporting sports equipment

Pet in cabin

Travel with your beloved travel companion in the cabin. Add your pet to your booking and pay the fee in advance while booking your flights or later in Manage booking.

Pets on Finnair flights

Add a pet to your booking

Special assistance

Let us know in advance about any disabilities, medical conditions or need for assistance, and we will help you with the arrangements for your journey.

Read more about special assistance services

Explore an extensive selection of Finnair plus awards and products, such as award vouchers. You can also order premium home delivery products to your doorstep. Finnair Plus members can use Avios on special Avios offers and purchase Finnair Plus award vouchers. 

Visit Finnair Shop

Car rentals and airport transfers

Skip the extra hassle and rent a car or book airport transfers online before your trip. You can also collect Avios from your purchase.

Book airport transfer

Finnair Cancellation Cover

Prepare for the unexpected and buy Finnair Cancellation Cover for your trip. You can select your cover plan conveniently at the same time when booking flights.

Read more about Finnair Cancellation Cover

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

The Guide to American Airlines Seat Selection

Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Table of Contents

American Airlines seat selection fee

How to select seats on american airlines flights, how to avoid paying american airlines seat selection fees, when can you get a refund of american airlines seat selection fees, final thoughts on american airlines seat selection.

Seat selection is complimentary for many seats on most American Airlines tickets. However, as you can tell by that convoluted sentence, American Airlines seat selection isn't free for all passengers.

So, how much does American Airlines charge for seat selection? We’ll answer this question and explain how you can avoid paying an American Airlines seat selection fee.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

The cost to select a seat on American Airlines ranges from free — for standard seats except when booking basic economy fares — to over $160 for an extra-legroom seat on a long-haul international flight.

American Airlines seat selection fees vary based on several factors — including the flight length and what type of seat you want. Window and aisle seats are generally the most expensive. Meanwhile, a middle seat in between two preferred seats might not cost anything.

» Learn more: The complete guide to American Airlines partners

American Airlines travelers can select seats during the flight booking process or after purchasing a flight. If you're just starting a flight search, we recommend logging into your AAdvantage account first. That way your information will be auto-filled, and you'll be able to maximize any frequent flyer perks you have. More about that below.

Say you want to travel from Denver to London. First, you'll need to select your flights. During the search process, you can preview available seats by selecting the "seats" link in the search results. This can give you an idea of the number of available seats for your group. However, the price for selecting seats won't be listed yet.

After selecting your flights, reviewing fare upgrade options, entering your information and declining the option to buy miles, you'll finally be able to select seats for your flight.

If you booked a basic economy fare , you'll have to pay for a seat selection no matter the type of seat. In the example below, prices to choose a seat range from $9-$24 depending on which one you select.

If you booked a standard economy fare, you can select any standard seat for free. Or you can pay for preferred and extra-legroom seats — in this example, the cost ranges from $10-$22 for a preferred or Main Cabin Extra seat.

You won't be able to select seats on flights operated by partner airlines — even if the flight has an American Airlines flight number. Instead, you'll have to complete the booking to get the partner confirmation number (also referred to as a PNR or record locator). Then, you can contact that airline for seat assignment.

If you booked an American Airlines flight through another airline, you’ll need your American Airlines confirmation number. Once you have this, head to the American Airlines homepage and click the "manage trips/check-in" tab.

Enter your last name and the confirmation number to find your trip. Then, you'll see your seat selection options.

The most reliable way to avoid paying a seat selection fee is to have elite status through American Airlines or through an eligible partner airline, such as Alaska Airlines or British Airways . Additionally, you can redeem AAdvantage miles to pay seat selection fees.

Preferred Seating

All tiers of AAdvantage elite status get complimentary access to preferred seating — standard-legroom seating in preferred areas of the cabin — from the time of booking. Similarly, elite members of oneworld Alliance partner airlines get complimentary access to preferred seating on American Airlines, even at the lowest Ruby tier.

Main Cabin Extra

In addition to extra legroom, Main Cabin Extra seats also grant travelers early boarding and complimentary snacks and drinks — including beer, wine and spirits.

AAdvantage Platinum, Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum elites get complimentary access to Main Cabin Extra seats from the time of booking. Gold elites can select Main Cabin Extra seats free of charge within 24 hours of departure.

Similarly, Alaska MVP Gold, Gold 75k and Gold 100k elite members can select Main Cabin Extra seats from the time of booking. Alaska MVP members must wait until 24 hours before departure to select Main Cabin Extra seats for free. However, basic economy fares aren't eligible for this benefit.

» Learn more: The guide to American Airlines elite status

Using AAdvantage miles

If you can't use elite status to avoid American Airlines seat selection fees, you may be able to redeem AAdvantage miles to pay for them. Like the cash cost, the mileage cost depends on factors such as the length of the flight and the location of the seat in the cabin.

The redemption rate for seat selection fees is typically about 1 cent per mile. That's not a great rate. NerdWallet values American Airlines miles at 1.7 cents each. Still, this could be an appealing redemption option if your mileage balance is too low to redeem miles for flights.

You'll need to have enough AAdvantage miles in your account to cover the entire cost of the seat selection fees. Otherwise, you'll either need to select a seat that costs fewer miles or buy more miles. Travelers don't have the ability to buy a single seat with a combination of miles and cash.

» Learn more: Easiest ways redeem American Airlines miles

Upgrading to a Main Plus ticket

Travelers who pay for a Main Plus ticket get complimentary access to preferred and Main Cabin Extra seats. This option isn't free. However, the extra cost may be worth it to get an extra checked bag, preferred boarding and complimentary seat selection.

American Airlines seat selection fees are generally nonrefundable. However, you can get a refund of your seat selection fees in a few specific situations.

For example, American Airlines will refund your seat selection fees if you opt to upgrade to business or first class, pay more for another seat on the same flight, cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking (if you booked at least two days before departure) or cancel your flight and purchase seats on a rebooked flight.

You'll also get a refund when American Airlines cancels your flight — or if American delays your flight long enough to miss a connecting flight on which you purchased seats — and doesn't provide a comparable seat on the new flight.

American Airlines seats can generally be selected during booking or after booking your flight. However, you'll need to avoid basic economy fares to get free seat selection. And you'll only get free preferred or extra-legroom seat selection if you have elite status or use miles to pay the fee.

If you’re having trouble making your American Airlines seat selection, check to see if your flight is operated by a partner airline. If so, you'll need to retrieve the confirmation code for that airline and contact the airline to choose a seat.

(Top photo courtesy of American Airlines)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Earn 3% cash back when you choose online shopping plus earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Bus from New Haven, CT to Frisco, CO

More travel options, enjoy free onboard entertainment, reserve a seat, need to make a change, on this page, bus stations and stops in new haven, ct.

View this address on Google Maps

To view more info about this station, visit our page New Haven

New Haven Bus Stop

To view more info about this station, visit our page New Haven Bus Stop

Bus stations and stops in Frisco, CO

Frisco transit center.

To view more info about this station, visit our page Frisco Transit Center

Discover all the places you can go

Choose from almost 2,300 destinations with Greyhound, FlixBus and our connecting partners!

Frequently asked questions

With Greyhound and FlixBus, you can conveniently reach 16 destinations from Frisco, including Denver, Houston, Great Falls.

Yes, night trip options are available from New Haven to Frisco. Check out the route's schedule and choose the best option to suit your plans!

The bus trip from New Haven to Frisco is about 2041 miles long. The quickest trip with Greyhound takes 48 hours 50 minutes.

The New Haven to Frisco bus starts from $214.99. Booking in advance, whether on the app or website, is the best way to get the most affordable bus travel. If you book online, you can choose to pay with a debit card or credit card on the Greyhound app or website. If you prefer, you can also pay in person with cash.

You can track the status of your New Haven to Frisco bus using Greyhound's bus tracker . With this tool, you can see the real-time location of your bus and get updates on its departure and arrival times.

When traveling on the bus from New Haven to Frisco with Greyhound, you can bring one carry-on bag with you (maximum 25 lbs, 16x12x7 inches). You can store one bag under the bus for free, and if you have a Flexible fare, the second bag stored under the bus is also free. You can also carry additional or bulky baggage for a supplementary charge. You can reserve extra baggage while booking your ticket on our website or app. Alternatively, you can add bulky items later through the 'Manage My Booking' section. If your departure is from a location with Greyhound personnel, you can book and pay for your extra luggage there. For more information, please refer to our baggage policy page here .

Traveling by bus from New Haven to Frisco with Greyhound is a convenient and environmentally responsible choice, as bus travel reduces traffic and emissions compared to traveling by car.

Greyhound runs up to 1 ride per day from New Haven to Frisco. You can search for your preferred departure date and check the schedule using the search bar above.

The first Greyhound bus to Frisco from New Haven leaves at 12:05 pm.

Onboard services available on Greyhound buses from New Haven to Frisco include free Wi-Fi for all passengers, personal power outlets near every seat, reclining leather seats with footrests, extra legroom, overhead storage, and an on-board restroom.

Yes, on this website you can book both Greyhound and FlixBus tickets from New Haven to Frisco. You can check both the Greyhound and FlixBus ride schedules once you select your departure city, destination city, and desired trip date.

The last Greyhound bus to Frisco from New Haven leaves at 11:10 pm.

You can easily find the bus stops in New Haven and in Frisco on this page: check the address and their location on the map!

Greyhound buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts to assist passengers using wheelchairs or mobility scooters. Each bus has space for two passengers with these devices. It's recommended to book your bus from New Haven to Frisco in advance to ensure a spot. If you'd like to transfer to a regular seat, our drivers will stow your device for you. Service animals are also welcome on board our buses. For further details on accessibility and service animal policies, please check this link .

Planning Your Greyhound Bus Trip from New Haven to Frisco?

How to book your bus ticket to frisco from new haven, discover more popular bus connections.

• New York, NY - New Haven, CT
• New Haven, CT - Boston, MA
• Boston, MA - New Haven, CT
• New Haven, CT - New York, NY
• New Haven, CT - Philadelphia, PA
• New Haven, CT - Washington, D.C.
• Washington, D.C. - New Haven, CT
• Newark, NJ - New Haven, CT
• New Haven, CT - Hartford, CT
• New Haven, CT - Baltimore, MD
• New Haven, CT - Syracuse, NY
• Philadelphia, PA - New Haven, CT
• New Haven, CT - Newark, NJ
• Hartford, CT - New Haven, CT
• Albany, NY - New Haven, CT
• Baltimore, MD - New Haven, CT
• New Haven, CT - Providence, RI
• Portland, ME - New Haven, CT
• Atlanta, GA - New Haven, CT
• New Haven, CT - Albany, NY
• Frisco, CO - Grand Junction, CO
• Frisco, CO - Rock Island, IL
• Frisco, CO - Denver, CO
• Frisco, CO - Mobile, AL
• Dallas, TX - Frisco, CO
• Oklahoma City, OK - Frisco, CO
• Denver, CO - Frisco, CO
• Frisco, CO - Minneapolis, MN
• Tucson, AZ - Frisco, CO
• Fort Worth, TX - Frisco, CO
• Frisco, CO - Kansas City, KS
• Frisco, CO - Nashville, TN
• Frisco, CO - Shreveport, LA
• Frisco, CO - Jackson, MS
• Houston, TX - Frisco, CO
• Sacramento, CA - Frisco, CO
• Frisco, CO - Pueblo, CO
• Frisco, CO - Colorado Springs, CO
• Frisco, CO - Las Vegas, NV
• Frisco, CO - Wichita, KS

Onboard services are subject to availability

The Blog of Dimi

A Road Trip in Primorsky Krai

Dimitrios Fanourios Pischinas Filed Under: My Travel Stories Published: October 1, 2018 - Updated: December 19, 2021 Leave a Comment

Day #1: Tokarevsky Lighthouse & Land of the Leopard National Park

After some really epic adventuring in Kamchatka for a month and a half, we met again the Russian mainland in Vladivostok . We had to get back to Europe soon, and we found a cheap flight from Khabarovsk in order to do so. We had about a week to spare before heading there. During my previous visit to Vladivostok, local friends had made me aware of the many beautiful places surrounding their city. So we thought that a road trip around Primorsky Krai would be a much better way to spend this time than staying in the city. We were in need of a vehicle…

We searched the internet thoroughly for car rental agencies in Vladivostok. Out of the many providers we found, few would rent to holders of foreign driving licenses; and the options given by those few were somewhat upscale. We, after all, called that one bloke we bumped into deep down on the Google result page. He was apparently just starting out and our inquiry made him sound super excited. He had for us a Honda Fit for some €15 per day. We agreed on passing by the following morning to pick it up.

There we were at his garage by late next morning. We checked the car, did all the paperwork, and were given the keys. “Where are you guys going to drive to?” he asked to know. “Just around the city” we gave him the answer he wished to hear. The road infrastructure of Primorsky Krai is not so… small-car-friendly, to put it so. He wouldn’t be very happy to know our real intentions. But I placed confidence in the Japanese engineers and was positive that we’ll not destroy their work…

Before we leave the city for good, there was that one place we’d heard of and wanted to visit. Down south from Vladivostok, at the tip of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, there lies Tokarevsky Lighthouse : one of the oldest operating lighthouses in the Russian Far East, built in 1876.

It was Friday; and it was a brilliantly sunny one. Lots of Vladivostokians had already come there since early morning to chill on the beach and lunch at the crab restaurants. The closer we approached, the more saturated the narrow road was getting with cars and girls in bikinis moseying down to the beach (of course, with guys, too; but when you are a guy, you notice the girls more – especially when they are in bikinis).

Eventually, we managed to park the car and started walking down to the tip of the promontory as well. There started a half-km-long land corridor leading to a tiny – possibly artificial – islet hosting a massive power mast. On either side of the corridor were beaches where most of the bikini-girls settled. After the islet, there started a narrow pebblespit leading to an even tinier islet where the lighthouse stood. At low tide, one supposedly can cross without getting their feet wet. When we were there the water level was at ankle height. We took our shoes off and started wading along the spit while gentle waves coming from either side were crashing against each other right underneath our feet.

We took a seat on the shaded side of the lighthouse and remained for some time gazing at the beautiful environs. Like small green patches appeared the hills and the islands in between the sea-and-sky blue immensity. Vladivostok and its towering cable-stayed bridges were faintly visible amid the dazzling sunshine.

We got back to the car by early afternoon and drove straight back to Vladivostok. We made two stops for buying cooking gas and some food to cook with it, and left the city. The heat by then was inexorable. We thought of having a dip before, by the lighthouse, but judged it better to wait and make it earlier to some beach or another where we’d camp for the night. Sweating like a pig in the air-condition-less car, by now, I had regretted it. It would be much longer than I expected to reach the ocean again.

We drove north on the highway for a good distance along the swampy delta of Razdolnaya River . We finally crossed the river at the point where Razdolnaye town is situated and headed down south again. After a couple of hours altogether, we reached a town named Barabash , at about the same latitude with Vladivostok, on the opposite side of the bay. About 15 km separated us from the coast from there. It was getting late and we decided to make for it.

That was the longest 15-km drive I ever did – if not for a traffic jam. I was expecting the road to be bad, but not so bad. It was more of a succession of potholes than a road, basically. We were slowly proceeding from one pothole to the next, hoping that the chassis will not break apart every time it forcefully bumped on the ground. At some points, we even had to cross straight through streams interceding with the road, praying that the water is shallow enough to allow the poor Honda to the other side, and not carry it downstream together with it instead. Every time we encountered some big jeep or pickup along the way, their drivers would throw a contemptuous, where-the-hell-are-you-guys-going-to-with-this-car kind of glance at us. I would smile at them and immediately close the windows so as to keep the dust they raised out of the Honda’s interior.

The road we were driving on was passing right in between the Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve and the Land of the Leopard Natural Park. The latter is named so for obvious reasons. The rare Amur Leopards that inhabit the region numbered an estimated 30 individuals when the national park was established in 2012. Now they exceed 100. Nevertheless, we didn’t see any. I’m quite sure those cats are smart enough to meticulously avoid humans; so that it must be extremely difficult to spot them.

We drove past a tiny settlement named Primorsky and, a little before dusk, finally met the ocean once again at Perevoznoye Bay . A neat, quiet, narrow pebble beach occupied the entire length of the bay. We soon spotted a little clearing on the littoral vegetation and – with due effort – drove and parked the car on the beach. We had found a home for the night.

A swim in the refreshing waters of the Pacific was what I mostly craved for throughout the day; thus it was the first thing I did. We then pitched the tent, made tea, prepared dinner, and remained attending the night’s advancement.

It was a magical night. Vladivostok’s lights and flashing bridges were visible across the bay, but still too far and unaided to interfere with the countless glowing worlds of the Milky Way overheads. It was a new moon. Both the firmament and the sea remained pitch-black throughout the entire night. The placid undulation kept splashing mellowly against the pebbles of the shore with nothing to render it visible.

Day #2: Bezverhovo, Lotus Lake, North Korean Border & Andreevka

After a long, delightful sleep we got up early the next morning. The sky was by then leaden with a thick layer of clouds which was to remain in place for all the rest of the day. Though, strangely, not a single drop fell. And even more strangely, a torrid heat – even worse than yesterday’s one – kept torturing us until late in the evening.

We packed everything up quickly and drove away. Our first destination for the day was clearly defined. But before that, there was an imminent urgency that needed to be taken care of. We were almost out of fuel. According to the map, there was a petrol station in the nearby Bezverhovo village. But if it for any reason didn’t work, we’d be in rather big trouble. When we made it to the place, we found out there was indeed such a reason: there was a blackout in the village… Fortunately, it didn’t take long before the power was back. We fueled the Honda full and were ready for the day’s long tour.

We drove a little around this picturesque village and took another bumpy track leading back to the main road. My back and the car experienced a great relief upon the instant we met the asphalt again. We headed straight south. Our destination was the North Korean border .

It was a long way. The sceneries we beheld along it were splendid. Lofty forested hills were interchanged with wide, vacant, green plains again and again; while the Sea of Japan appeared in all its vastness and greatness every time the road approached the coast. We then drove through a village called Kraskino which was the last and only hub of civilization we encountered along the way. After that village, almost every remainder of being situated in a 21st-century civilized country, together with the asphalt, gave out. There was only endless wilderness and desolation. The landscapes were even more splendid than before. We only encountered finger-countable other vehicles using the road, which still made me wonder where the hell they drive to.

The North Korean mountains finally became visible in the distance, and they were gradually bulging in our view as we were approaching the Tumen River which defines the border between the two countries. It was only then it suddenly flashed on me that, theoretically, as a foreigner, I should have special permission to come too close to the border. I had heard about this special regulation prohibiting non-Russian nationals from accessing areas within a certain, few-km-long range from the country’s borders. I had, though, never put this regulation to the test, and I now had good faith that there would be nothing like a checkpoint amid such a remote wilderness… But I had only faith and no permit.

Sure enough, there was a checkpoint. Just about 2 km before the riverbank, right by the entrance of Khasan settlement, where the only bridge allowing commuting between the two countries is located, a fat, bored, uniformed authority-dude, standing by the side of a half-ruined hovel, extended his arm for us to pull up. No Russian National and no permit – not to proceed any further.

We had to turn back. It was quite disappointing we made it all this way without being able to reach our desired destination. At least, we got to stop and have a walk by the shore of Lotus Lake which is located there. This lake is so named for obvious reasons. I never remember having seen so many lily pads clustered together. More than half of the lake’s surface was occupied by these noble flowers. It was a very picturesque spectacle to behold.

We drove back the same way in search of a new home by the coast. We picked out in random a village called Andreevka . Upon getting there, we expected to see a place very similar to the one of yesterday: an empty, quiet beach. But driving down the bumpy road to the coast, we figured out that there must be considerable human activity taking place down there. The traffic was getting denser and denser the closer we approached. It turned out to be a popular holiday destination for Vladivostokians. There were restaurants, souvenir shops, beach bars, bungalows, and all sorts of stuff you normally expect to see at some beach in the Mediterranean or in Southeast Asia, but not in Primorsky Krai.

We slowly managed to get the car moving among the rest of the cars, people, and potholes found on the narrow, coastal dirt road of the village. We drove past a number of too crowded beaches and eventually settled on a relatively uncrowded one by the south verge of the village. We spent a leisurely beach evening, and then we were sound asleep amidst the profundity of the dark night.

Day #3: Russky Island

All the rain that was supposed to fall but didn’t on the previous day fell throughout the entire night. By early morning, it kept falling strongly; so that it made us remain in the tent for the while, snoozing sweetly under its soothing harmony. The tone of the falling raindrops changed from constant to discontinuous, giving out a clue that they only fell from the foliage of the tree above and not from the sky anymore. A brief spell of sunshine was soon diffused over the soaked sandy beach. We took advantage of it for the last dip in that sea and packed everything up.

The road out of Andreevka was now muddy and filthy and slippery. It was a little tricky but the tenacious Honda brought us triumphantly out of there and back to the main road. The rain kept falling on and off for the rest of day. Apart from a few brief stops for ingesting and smoking, we drove straight back to Vladivostok non-stop. By late afternoon, we were crossing the world’s largest cable-stayed bridge onto Russky Island.

It was a gorgeous island; much more scenic than I would have guessed. I became kind of regretful that we hadn’t come here earlier. We could have spent a good number of days exploring the place with our interest not fading out the least. The whole island was full of hiking trails leading to numerous isolated beaches, cliffs, hilltops, old forts, and lighthouses. But now we only had a few hours.

We ended up at a beautiful, remote beach on the southeastern coast of the island and camped. We needed to drive through some more ridiculously rough tracks and walk quite some distance in order to get there. It was dusk by then. The rainfall was having a brief break at the moment. We took advantage of it for a refreshing swim under the gagged twilight. Darkness befell, the rainfall started once again, and we nested in the tent.

Day #4: Back to Vladivostok

The rain was still falling forcefully and incessantly out of the black sky in the morning. There was absolutely no hint given that it may fall in any lesser intensity for all the rest of the day. Sure enough, it didn’t.

We put our raincoats on and packed everything up hurriedly. Then we scurried back to the car as fast as we could and drove to the city. We needed to return the car by noon; but, poor thing, it was in a mess: it was silver, now it was brown with all the dirt it’d accumulated during the hard, off-road use it’d been through these last days. Its owner wouldn’t be happy to see it in such a condition. We had to look for a car wash.

The car got back its shiny silver color, but there was yet another thing which was in a mess: we and our backpacks. We drove to a petrol station which, besides fueling up, we also needed to get some cover from the rain. We parked right in front of the store’s entrance – the only roofed part we could stop at without hindering the traffic – and got to change clothes, wring the water out of the wet ones, tidy up the backpacks, have breakfast… and all sorts of stuff you normally don’t expect to see someone doing outside of petrol station – especially when you are a casual guy going to work on Tuesday morning. I understand why all those people were casting such perplexed glances at us while entering and exiting the service store.

We were back to the garage right on time to return the car. The bloke was satisfied to see it clean. Unlike what I expected, he did not check the odometer. So I didn’t have to explain to him that ‘yes, we drove a loooot around the city’ as I thought I’d need to. That was it. We’d soon bid farewell to Vladivostok and Primorsky Krai. We got on the bus and headed to the railway station. We had a train to Khabarovsk to catch.

Stays and Activities in Primorsky Krai

Stay22 is a handy tool that lets you search for and compare stays and experiences across multiple platforms on the same neat, interactive map. Hover over the listings to see the details. Click on the top-right settings icon to adjust your preferences; switch between hotels, experiences, or restaurants; and activate clever map overlays displaying information like transit lines or concentrations of sights. Click on the Show List button for the listings to appear in a list format. Booking via this map, I will be earning a small cut of the platform's profit without you being charged any extra penny. You will be thus greatly helping me to maintain and keep enriching this website. Thanks!

Hi! I'm Dimi and this blog is my creativity's outlet. I post a wide variety of content such as my books , stories and photographs from my trips around the world, my thoughts , my music , and more. Take a minute to read about the site or start exploring it .

Subscribe for periodical (1 per month at most) newsletters with my latest stories. Or get specific RSS feeds for the site's categories you are interested in.

If you've found this website informative, entertaining, or valuable in any way, please consider supporting my efforts to maintain and enhance it while keeping it ad-free. You can help in any of the following ways...

•Share its content.

•When relevant, use affiliate links displayed throughout the site or in the Partners page .

• Buy my books.

• Buy me a coffee.

Thank you! 😊

Money Talks News

2024's Hidden Tax Rebates: Is Your State on the List?

Posted: August 28, 2024 | Last updated: August 28, 2024

State-level tax rebates continue in Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Learn about the programs, deadlines, and how much money you could receive.

More for You

Nvidia earnings top forecast, but Blackwell delay signal hits stock

4-year-old accidentally shatters Bronze Age jar at museum

20 Scary Movies That Left Us Traumatized for Life

Here's Where Brown Recluse Spiders Are Most Likely To Be Lurking In Your Home

The Best Dishes At Texas Roadhouse, Ranked

The IRS Just Updated the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Rules. 3 Things Everyone Needs to Know.

Burning Man kicks off with hundreds of private jets descending on the Nevada desert

Kroger Executive Admits Company Gouged Prices Above Inflation

Lead singers who are also exceptional musicians

Electric car boss quits after sales plunge 40pc

The Wasp-Killing Bird You Should Attract For Easy Pest Control

10 Makeup Hacks To Make Your Eyes Look Bigger

The 5-Minute Cabbage Recipe I Make At Least Once a Week

How a Trump visit sparked turmoil at America’s most sacred cemetery

How to clear the cache on your iPhone (and why you should)

If you have this much money in your 401(k), you're doing better than most—here's how to save even more

How To Deal With Snake Holes In Your Yard

5 Labor Day Electronics Deals To Take Advantage of at Costco

What Is An Uncured Hot Dog (And How Is It Different From A Regular One)?

11 Easiest Dogs to Train That Make Obedient Pets