• 23 Aug, 2025

How much does United Airlines charge for seat selection?

United Airlines connects several cities with its flights and ensures passengers have smooth air travel. Whenever travelers require additional space on a United flight, as per the rules, they must submit a service cost. Seat selection costs for United flights will vary according to class, routes, ticket types, and other factors. So, before selecting any seat on United Airlines, they must check the associated service fees for the provided routes. Here are some seat selection costs offered in the listed form for travelers' convenient journeys.

       Services                                                                     Price

  • Preferred seating                                               Around $24 per seat for United Standard Economy tickets

                                                                          Approximately $36 for single-seat when they have United Basic Economy tickets

  • Advanced seat assignment                          Starts at approximately $15 and goes up to $25 per passenger under Basic Economy class.   

Further, travelers can also visit the United Airlines website and check the exact seat prices before selecting the preferred seats.

How to select seats on United Airlines?

United Airlines offers three seat selection opportunities, each described in the online steps. Depending on your eligibility and United Airlines seat selection conditions, you can use any method to select the desired seats.

  • Seat selection is allowed during flight reservations through the United official page or the Mobile App.
  • After the successful reservation, you can also choose the spacious seat on a United flight under the "My Trips" section.
  • Finally, United Airlines offers seat selection options during online or kiosk check-ins before the original trips.   

How do I select my seats on United flights after reservations?

After confirming United tickets for any particular destination, you can still select the preferred seat from the available options before using the Airline's services. However, after booking, you can stick with the instructions mentioned for swift seat selection at United Airlines. 

  • Open the United Airlines official page: https://www.united.com/en/us/.
  • Click on "My Trips" and enter your booking reference number and last name.
  • You can go with the modified or seat selections tab when the airline details are available.
  • Refer to the 3D-seat map to choose the correct preferred seats from the available options.
  • Pay the applicable seat selection fees to complete the procedures.
  • When seat selection procedures are completed, you will get notifications for them over your registered email ID. 

Is it mandatory to pay for seat selection?

Yes, passengers who have the Basic Economy tickets can travel with preferred seats only after purchase during reservation or later up to check-in. Further, suppose passengers who booked United tickets in Basic Economy skip the seat selection procedures while booking after that. In that case, they can only choose the "Economy Plus seat" at check-in when the seats are available in enough quantity. Further, they can go for the preferred regular seats under the United Economy class. The preferred seat is even closer to the front row of the plane behind the Economy Plus.

How do I really avoid paying for seat selection?

While traveling to any international destination, travelers often demand comfortable seats without any additional cost. Generally, when travelers select the preferred seat on a United flight, they must submit some service cost depending on their routes, class, and seat types. However, travelers can still avoid any seat selection fees on United Airlines by becoming MileagePlus Members, offering desired seats without additional cost. So, as per the rules, only United MileagePlus members with Premier status can get the desired seat without paying any additional amounts.

What are the seat selection rules for United Airlines?

United flights have specific rules regarding seat selections, and passengers must follow these rules when choosing a seat for a convenient journey. However, some of United Airlines' seat selection policies are mentioned underneath.

  • United Airlines allows seat selection or changes before the original departure for all passengers except Basic Economy. However, passengers in Basic Economy can later pay the additional cost for seat selection during booking or until check-in for available seats.
  • Sometimes, United flights hold seats for operational reasons, and later, the Airline offers them seats at the departure gate or at check-in time.
  • United does not guarantee seat assignments, and to avoid any issues, they should always visit the Airport on time.
  • Similarly, as per policy, United Airlines does not charge any amount for a seat if passengers are active MileagePlus members with Premier status.
  • United seat selections are subject to availability, and passengers always prefer 3D-seats for desired vacant seats. 

 

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