alaska air seat assignment name called at gate

What It Means If ‘See Agent’ Is Printed on Your Boarding Pass

By Ramsey Qubein

There’s more information than you think encoded on your airline boarding pass. One of those codes—"see agent" or “seat assigned at gate"—can be especially disconcerting. 

Contrary to popular belief, those words (the verbiage varies by air carrier) do not necessarily mean that you are about to be bumped from your flight. Provided you have a confirmed reservation, there can be several reasons for why it’s on your ticket. Here are a few explanations.

You bought a basic economy fare

Some airlines—like American, Delta, and United—do not assign a free seat for basic economy fares until the ticket counter or the gate. These ultra-restrictive fares are usually the cheapest and come with limitations. If you bought one of these fares and you see a note asking you to see the agent, you'll likely be assigned a seat before boarding. You won’t be able to choose where you sit, but you should have a confirmed seat on the plane. There is no need to even see the agent as many airports may display your seat assignment on the gate information screen allowing you to use the existing boarding pass to board.

If you change your mind, or didn’t mean to purchase this bargain-basement fare, most airlines let you “buy up,” paying either the fare difference or a small fee to upgrade to the next fare offering so that you can select a seat before getting to the airport.

You’re booked on a codeshare flight

Airlines sometimes partner with other carriers to allow them to sell seats on their own planes and vice versa. Airlines must disclose if your flight is operated by another carrier, and on occasion with a codeshare, it is not possible to assign a seat in advance. This could be because the airlines use different computer systems and don’t have access to each other’s seat maps. Or it could be because the airline didn’t receive advance information on the seat you selected. If you find yourself flying another airline than the one from which you bought your ticket, try calling that airline in advance of your flight to make a seat assignment. Typically, they assign one on their end to help you avoid the “luck of the draw” at the gate.

You need to show additional documents

Another reason that your boarding pass may say “see agent” is that certain travel documents need to be verified. If you had not previously selected a seat, some airlines cannot automatically issue a boarding pass with a seat assignment until the documents are checked. These can include everything from COVID vaccination checks to destination entry visas and passport expiration dates . If you have the right documentation, it shouldn’t be an issue to handle it at the gate and get a seat.

Your ticket needs to be re-issued

When you make a change to a reservation or there was a disruption to your travel plans, some tickets may need to be re-issued by the airline. If this is the case, you normally wouldn’t be able to print a boarding pass at all, but online check-in or an airport kiosk may print a document that says to see an agent. It may require some additional keystrokes by a ticketing agent on the phone or at the airport to correct any problems. If you changed voluntarily to a different flight, there may be a difference in fare you owe, but in most cases, it’s just a simple computer glitch that needs addressing.

The airline has blocked seats

Airlines often block seats to assign closer to departure. These are reserved for travelers that require infant bassinets (bulkhead seats), frequent fliers with elite status, are crew rest seats, or those with armrests that can raise for people with reduced mobility or passengers with requirements for additional space. On the day of departure, the airline begins to release these seats.

If you were not able to make an advance seat assignment, keep an eye on the seat map as these seats will begin to open up once check-in begins and then once the gate opens for the flight. If you see a note to see the agent on your boarding pass, you may be in luck. As these “preferred” seats get “unblocked,” you may be able to score one of them. Be friendly (but not pestering) to the gate agent, and you could be at the top of their list.

Another favorite hack of frequent fliers is to use subscription-based websites like Expert Flyer, which allow you to set a seat alert for a notification if a particular seat (window or aisle, for example) opens up before a flight—so you can grab it. If a seat were to become unblocked, the website would send you a notification. The site can also alert you if the aircraft changes or provide details on whether a flight is oversold before you reach the airport.

Your aircraft changed before departure

When airlines change the aircraft type to one with a new configuration, some seat assignments may get kicked out of the system or swapped. You may be automatically assigned a new seat or left with a note to see the agent. Sometimes, when an airline switches to a smaller plane, some passengers will have to be bumped (although the airline will ask for volunteers first). Keep an eye on the seat map of your flight to watch for any changes in advance so you can manage expectations before you reach the airport.

If you booked your ticket more than three months before the flight, it is common for airlines to make minor changes to the times or the aircraft as they tweak their schedule around demand closer to departure. It can pay off to be vigilant and monitor your reservations.

Your flight is oversold

Sometimes, airlines end up with too many passengers for a flight. Overselling flights is an accepted practice since airlines rely on historical data to account for passengers that do not show up for a flight. Still, if you have a note to see the agent on your boarding pass, it could (but does not always) mean there are no more seats to assign. If you are confirmed on the flight, you are entitled to a seat. If the flight is oversold, the airline will ask for volunteers to take another flight first. If no one agrees to do that, those left without a seat assignment could be among the first to be involuntarily bumped, which includes someone with the note “see agent” on their boarding pass. If that happens, you will be awarded compensation in the form of gift cards, airline vouchers, or cash.

While there are a lot of other factors involved, it is prudent to check in as soon as you are able to for a flight. If your boarding pass mentions seeing a gate agent, it does not mean you’re destined for a bump. While there is no reason for alarm, it helps knowing why it may appear and what you can do about it.

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.

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 .

Alaska Airlines Boarding Groups — Everything You Need To Know

Jarrod West

Senior Content Contributor

440 Published Articles 1 Edited Article

Countries Visited: 21 U.S. States Visited: 24

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

31 Published Articles 3100 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 45 U.S. States Visited: 28

Pre-boarding

First class, boarding notes, how to build up your alaska airlines miles balance, 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.

With flights to over 115 destinations and most of that traffic originating on the West Coast, Alaska Airlines is growing to be a favorite of many U.S. travelers.

Since its network is ever-expanding, its planes are comfortable, and its service is friendly, it’s reasonable to assume that many of us will end up on an Alaska Airlines flight at some point within the next few years. When that time comes, we want you to be ready with everything you need to know to start your trip off stress-free.

To make that happen, we’re going over all of the details of the Alaska Airlines boarding process so you can easily get ready to fly.

Alaska Airlines Boarding Groups

Alaska Airlines uses a group boarding procedure that is one of the most straightforward of all the airlines .

It starts with pre-boarding for a select group of passengers and then boards first class passengers before following with 5 lettered groups.

Alaska has streamlined its boarding pass, removing unnecessary information and increasing font size for important parts; the pass was reorganized so that finding what you need is easier to do with just a glance.

In addition to the boarding pass enhancements, Alaska Airlines added boarding information to the video monitors at the gate . As you can see below, the boarding video screen clearly shows exactly where in the boarding process the flight is.

Previously, if you walked up to the gate after boarding was started, you would need to ask other passengers which group was boarding or wait and try to hear the next announcement. This solves that in a simple and straightforward way.

The new video notifications are also great in a noisy gate area where it can be hard to hear a gate agent’s announcements.

Now that we’ve seen how easy Alaska Airlines has made it for its passengers to board by groups, let’s take a look at who is eligible for each group so you know just when to get on the plane.

• Guests with disabilities who need help or a little more time to board
• Families with children under the age of 2
• Active members of the military
• Guests seated in first class
• Mileage Plan Million Miler
• Mileage Plan MVP Gold 100K
• Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K
• Mileage Plan MVP Gold members
• Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members
• Mileage Plan MVP members
• Oneworld Ruby members
• Guests in premium class seats
• Remaining guests seated in the back half of the aircraft
• Remaining guests seated in the front half of the aircraft
• Guests in Saver seats

Hot Tip: Cardholders of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature ® credit card receive priority boarding for themselves and up to 6 companions when a ticket is bought with the card.

Alaska Airlines states that once boarding begins, groups will board in approximately 5-minute intervals. But in practice, we aren’t sure how accurate this timing will be.

The later groups of general boarding should have many more people than the first groups. If there are only a few elite members on a flight, will they really wait 5 minutes to board Group B? We don’t think so.

So although the planned 5 minutes between groups is a nice outline, you shouldn’t go wandering off to the bathroom if you are in Group D — it may not really be another 15 minutes until you board.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles are one of the favorite currencies of miles and points travelers due to their great redemption values on some of Alaska’s partner airlines .

Even if you are flying on one of its partners, you may find yourself on an Alaska-operated flight connecting to your departure city. Knowing Alaska’s boarding process will help start your trip off right.

If you want to earn lots of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles so that you can start booking some awesome award flights , there are several ways to do so.

Of course, taking paid flights is a simple way to earn miles, but Mileage Plan also has a shopping portal and the airline often sells miles at a heavy discount .

Hot Tip: Buying Alaska Mileage Plan miles during a sale can be a great way to top off a balance for an award you’ve been saving up for!

When you are ready to really turbo-charge your Mileage Plan miles earning, there is 1 clear way to go: Alaska Airlines co-branded credit cards . With sign-up bonuses that are easy to earn, you will have a lot more miles in very little time.

In conjunction with Bank of America, Alaska Airlines offers 2 credit cards that will help you earn Mileage Plan miles, and these cards are definitely worth getting.

The Alaska Signature card and the Alaska Airlines Visa ® Business Credit Card both have welcome bonuses that generally offer large chunks of miles. If you have a business and can get both of these cards, you can really build up your mileage balance quickly.

You could also opt to earn Marriott Bonvoy points with a card like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card , as Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to Alaska at a 3:1 rate and with 5,000 bonus Alaska miles when you transfer at least 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

The combination of a straightforward group boarding process, easy-to-read boarding passes, and gate video screens with clear directions make Alaska Airlines a leader when it comes to passenger-friendly boarding procedures.

Even if you don’t fly with the airline very often, matching up the clearly indicated group letter on your boarding pass to the green check or red dash on the video monitors is fairly obvious.

In busy airports, you no longer have to worry about hearing the muffled boarding announcements — if you walk up to the gate late, you’ll always know right where they are in the boarding process. Alaska Airlines really has made boarding easy for its passengers.

If you live on the West Coast, you are probably already familiar with how Alaska Airlines does things. For those on the East Coast, it might be a while until you find yourself on an Alaska Airlines flight. Either way, when it comes time to board, you should now know exactly what to do!

The information regarding the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature ® credit card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many boarding groups are there on alaska airlines.

There are 5 lettered boarding groups (A to E) on Alaska Airlines. In addition, Alaska Airlines allows certain passengers to preboard the plane, and it also allows its first class passengers to board ahead of the lettered boarding groups.

Are Alaska Airlines flights assigned seating?

Yes, Alaska Airlines flights have assigned seating. Seats can be selected when booking your ticket or anytime up until check-in. Premium seats are available for a fee, while other economy seats can be selected at no charge. Alaska Airlines agents at the airport can assist with seating assignments or changes after you have checked in for your flight.

Who is allowed to preboard on Alaska Airlines?

Alaska Airlines offers pre-boarding for guests with disabilities who need help or a little more time to board, families with children under the age of 2, and active members of the military. If you fit into one of these groups and would like to take advantage of pre-boarding, just let the gate agent know.

When does first class board on Alaska Airlines?

On Alaska Airlines flights, first class passengers board the plane after pre-boarding has been completed and before the lettered groups begin boarding.

Who is in Group A on Alaska Airlines?

Boarding Group A on Alaska Airlines includes Mileage Plan Million Miler, Mileage Plan MVP Gold 100K, Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K, Mileage Plan MVP Gold, and Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members.

Who is in Group B on Alaska Airlines?

Boarding Group B on Alaska Airlines includes Mileage Plan MVP members, guests in premium class seats, and Oneworld Ruby members.

Who is in Group C on Alaska Airlines?

Boarding Group C on Alaska Airlines includes the remaining guests who are not elite members or premium class passengers and are seated in the back half of the aircraft.

Who is in Group D on Alaska Airlines?

Boarding Group D on Alaska Airlines includes guests who are not elite members or premium class passengers and are seated in the front half of the aircraft.

Who is in Group E on Alaska Airlines?

Boarding Group E on Alaska Airlines includes guests who are not elite members and have booked a Saver class ticket.

Was this page helpful?

About Jarrod West

Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE ™

Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy and terms of service apply.

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.

• 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 Alaska Airlines Seat Selection

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. 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 .

These days, seating options on flights — and the related fees — can get confusing quickly. While Alaska Airlines offers its share of seating options, the airline makes it easy for flyers to view open seats before booking and select the seats they want while booking.

Here’s what you need to know about selecting a seat on Alaska Airlines, including which seats you can book and when you may need to pay extra for specific seats.

How Alaska seat selection works

The Alaska Airlines seat selection process is similar to other large U.S.-based airlines, like United and Delta, where you can view open seats before booking, then select your seat at booking or after paying for your flight.

The exact seat you may select on Alaska Airlines depends on several factors, including the fare class and whether you have elite status with Alaska or Oneworld alliance .

» Learn more: Is an Alaska Airlines credit card worth it?

Alaska seat selection fees

Seat selection fees vary based on the fare class purchased, your desired seat and class of service and whether you have elite status with Alaska or Oneworld alliance. Here are a few things to keep in mind when booking your flight:

Saver class . If you book a Saver class fare, seats are assigned at check-in. If you’d like to pick a specific seat, even as an Alaska or Oneworld elite, you’ll need to pay extra.

Non-elite flyers . If you don’t have status with Alaska or Oneworld and you book fares other than Saver class, you’ll have the option to select seats in the main cabin for free — or pay extra for preferred or premium seats, such as an exit row or in Alaska’s premium class .

Elite flyers . If you’re an Alaska or Oneworld elite member flying on a non-Saver fare, you’ll have the option to book any open seat in the main cabin free of charge, including seats in preferred rows that are available only to Alaska and Oneworld elites. As an elite status holder, you’ll also have the chance to be upgraded to premium class or first class for free if space is available. However, if you book a main class fare and want to be confirmed in a premium class or first class seat right away, you’ll need to pay extra for the upgrade.

If you need to pay for a seat, the cost will vary based on flight and route.

» Learn more: The guide to Alaska MVP Gold

Ticket types and seat selection rules

Alaska’s Saver fare — the airline’s version of basic economy — is the only ticket type that comes with restrictions on choosing seats. With Saver fares, even if you’re an elite member, the only way to book a seat in advance is to pay for one.

With all other ticket types, including main cabin, premium class and first class , you can select a seat at booking for free.

» Learn more: How to get cheap Alaska Airlines flights

Alaska seats for elite members

In addition to providing opportunities for upgrades, Alaska reserves certain rows for Alaska and Oneworld elite members.

For the flight below, booked by a non-elite member, you’ll see that rows 10 through 15 aren’t available and are labeled as “Alaska and Oneworld elites,” meaning non-elite members can't book them.

Not only do elite members have access to preferred seating, but both Alaska and American Airlines’ elite members can also have their seats upgraded to first or premium class.

Depending on the fare class you’ve booked, these upgrades will either be confirmed at booking or, if seats are available, at a specified time before departure.

» Learn more: The guide to Alaska 100K, its top elite tier status

Alaska plane seating chart

You don’t need to purchase a ticket before seeing the seating chart for an Alaska flight, which can be especially helpful if you prefer a certain type of seat, such as an exit row, a seat toward the front of the plane or a window seat.

To see the Alaska plane seating chart, visit Alaska’s website and input your flight search parameters. Below is an example from the results page for a flight from Los Angeles to Seattle:

Clicking the “Preview seats” link will show the current seating chart. The seats in gray are occupied, while all other colors indicate an available seat.

You’ll also be able to view seats during the booking process. You may even be given an opportunity to upgrade your seat to premium or first class. In the Los Angeles to Seattle example, the offer to upgrade to first class costs $65, while a premium class upgrade starts at $39.

» Learn more: What is Alaska Airlines elite status worth?

How to pick seats on Alaska

You can see which Alaska seats are still available before booking, but if you want to confirm a specific seat you’ll need to select it during the booking process or after buying your ticket.

During booking

We recommend selecting your seat during booking. The longer you wait to select a seat, the fewer options will be available since others are also booking tickets and choosing their seats.

During the booking process, after inputting your personal details, a seating chart will pop up that shows which seats are available. The chart will also display the price for any seating upgrades you might wish to purchase.

In our example flight to Seattle, premium class seats start at $39 and exit row seats will run you $35. Otherwise, a main cabin seat is free to select.

To select your seat, click or tap an unoccupied seat and choose “Save and purchase.” Note that you must click or tap “Save and purchase” even if your seat selection is free.

After booking

If you decided not to pick a seat during booking or you’d like to change your seat after making a reservation, you’ll want to navigate to your reservation on the Alaska website or in the airline’s app.

On the app, after finding your reservation, select the “Seats” icon to pick or change a seat for your flight.

» Learn more: Guide to Alaska Airlines baggage and other fees

Alaska Airlines seat selection recapped

Alaska Airlines has a straightforward process for viewing and picking seats and, unless you’ve booked a Saver fare, you can select a main cabin seat for free.

Whenever possible, we recommend selecting your seat at booking, as you’ll likely have more options than if you wait. If you fly Alaska Airlines often, it may be worth trying to get elite status so you have complimentary access to preferred seats and upgrades.

(Top photo courtesy of Alaska Airlines)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

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

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit 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

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

• Vacation Rentals
• Restaurants
• Things to do
• Things to Do
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

Seat assigned at gate procedure - Air Travel Forum

• Tripadvisor Forums    
• Air Travel Forums

Seat assigned at gate procedure

• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Vacation Rentals
• Air Travel forum

Anyway, as I have always flown on fares that allow advance seat assignment and usually check a bag, I've actually never had to have a seat assigned at the gate. Should she have done something more proactive?

As far as I can see she could have:

1. Gone to the bag drop desk and asked there (bad, as I assume there's a wait).

2. Gone to the same or a different gate with an agent and asked right after she got through security.

3. Gone to the gate right when the gate agent got there to open the flight .

What do you usually do in this situation?

It seems inappropriate for the gate agent to tell her that, as if she's a charity case.

She had paid for her seat, and had she been denied boarding (considering that she arrived on time) she would have been owed compensation.

"What do you usually do in this situation?"

I wouldn't choose one of these fares, but if I did I would look at the overhead monitor in the gate area to see if there were seats available. I guess I'd then ask the gate agent when I could expect a seat assignment.

well if one choose an Basic fare then seats are assigned at check in and that is determined by availability so none of that was surprising. And I don't think your daughter could have done anything different. You get a cheaper fare and have to take what comes with it. I agree the agent did not have to tell you that someone gave up their seat. They overbooked. Delta's fault and not your daughter's

I thought the gate agent's comment was inappropriate too, but I wondered if there was some procedure she was supposed to have followed that we didn't know about that might have caused him to say it.

She was there way ahead of time as we've heard so much about the TSA lines, so she got there (ATL) 3 hours early then had precheck and TSA took about 5 minutes, so she had plenty of time to ask someone if that's what she should have done. I've never paid attention to the monitors at the gates saying if there were seats available - when does that show up? When they open the flight ?

Seat assignments are done *after check in closes* (not at check in). That effectively means they're assigned at the gate and only from the available unassigned seats.

btgm, the only thing your daughter could do to minimize IDB here (apart from not buy the E bucket) is to get elite status, as I'd expect the usual priority for handling oversold flights would be followed. That's ask for VDBs, then assign seats based on elite status, fare bucket and time of check in. A non elite in the E bucket is going to be right at the bottom of that list. Daughter probably got on the plane due to both the VDB and having checked in at T-22.5.

And remember that both United and American are going to be introducing Basic Economy fares soon as well, with likely the same potential consequences.

The thing is, she had a basic economy fare in both directions (at least I think so - they're both fare class E), and she was able to choose a seat at check in on the way there. I just assumed that they had gotten to the point where they turn it over to the airport when the seats are mostly full.

Maybe they open it at check in if the flight isn't overbooked?

USBT, isn't it true though that the daughter would have received compensation if she had been IDB'd?

As for the GA's comment, not sure if I see an issue there, as it seems that the explanation was correct, and also see no need to mention compensation. I have had similar said about me, "Here's your upgrade to GFC sir. That nice gentleman just declined his upgrade, to sit with his wife in BFC." I have gotten smiles, whispered "thank yous," and a few knowing nods - but mention of my decision is usually not made. I am sure that I have been the recipient of similar, though never knew who to thank.

As far as what to do next time, not sure if I know an answer. The newish "Basic Economy fares," probably have several stipulations, and limitations. From what I gather, they have a little similarity to the old "Standby tickets," of yore. If one does OLCI, at T-24 (or whatever time is allowed), that is probably as good, as it gets. Then, it's the luck of the draw, on that particular flight .

While I am not a fan of airlines overbooking, I can certainly see their position. No-shows happen, and for myriad reasons. On an ORD - PHX flight Sunday, there was a long list of standbys, and the plane was showing full. As the boarding time approached, a dozen seats opened up (no-shows?), and all standby pax were seated. There were still about half a dozen vacant seats in E+, and that is something that I have not seen in a very long time. Unfortunately, we were #3 and 4 for FC upgrades, and only #1 and 2 got what was left up front. At least we were in Exit Row, and my RPU's (pledged) will be credited back to my account.

That's one of my little pet peeves with airlines . I've never found a way to go back and look at the T&Cs of a ticket once it's purchased, only when you check that little box when buying. For example, her confirmation says:

"This ticket is non-refundable unless the original ticket was issued at a fully refundable fare. Some fares may not allow changes. If allowed, any change to your itinerary may require payment of a change fee and increased fare. Failure to appear for any flight without notice to Delta will result in cancellation of your remaining reservation."

Shouldn't they just say it's nonrefundable since the ticket is already issued? (That's a side topic though.)

It does also say "/NONREF/NOCHGS/NOPRE RSVDSEAT" but there's nothing to link to the actual T&Cs.

On further research I did find this in the FAQs:

"When Can I Get A Seat Assignment On A Basic Economy Fare?

Your seat will be assigned after you check in for a flight via delta.com, a Delta airport kiosk or with a Gate Agent within 24 hours of departure."

"What If A Seat Is Not Assigned To Me At Time Of Check-In?

A seat request boarding pass will be issued and can be used to clear airport security. Your seat will be automatically assigned at the gate."

So presumably sometimes you get the seat at check in and sometimes you don't.

<<<Here's your upgrade to GFC sir. That nice gentleman just declined his upgrade, to sit with his wife in BFC." >>>

The ticket she purchased said that seat assignment would be made after check in. Not you'll get a seat if you're lucky. 😀

• Is Priceline reliable? 3:42 pm
• Kiwi.com safe & legit, but... 3:33 pm
• Help Asif get to Korea 3:30 pm
• Alitalia voucher refund 3:24 pm
• Kiwi.com 3:07 pm
• Lodging reimbursement question 3:05 pm
• Victim of bait and switch? 2:58 pm
• eDreams - Reliability 2:50 pm
• Booked with flightcatchers... what to do now? 2:43 pm
• Gotogate 2:40 pm
• eDreams SCAM 2:35 pm
• mytrip.com - FRAUD? 2:29 pm
• Beware of Lastminute.com hidden fees - No longer ABTA member 2:23 pm
• Stewart Airport Newburgh, NY/ Play Air 2:17 pm
• ++++ ESTA (USA) and eTA (Canada) requirements for visa-exempt foreign nationals ++++
• ++++ TIPS - PLANNING YOUR FLIGHTS +++++++
• Buy now or later? What's with these screwy ticket prices?
• Around-the-world (RTW) tickets
• All you need to know about OPEN JAW tickets
• Beware of cheap business class tickets (sold by 3rd parties)
• ++++ TIPS - PREPARING TO FLY +++++++++
• TIPS - How to prepare for Long Haul Flights
• TIPS - Being Prepared for Cancellations and Long Delays
• TIPS - How to survive being stuck at an airport
• Flights delays and cancellations resources
• How do I effectively communicate with an airline?
• Airline, Airport, and Travel Abbreviations
• Air Travel Queries: accessibility,wedding dresses,travelling with children.
• Connecting Flights at London Heathrow Airport
• TUI Airways (formerly Thomson) Dreamliner - Movies and Seating Information
• ++++ COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION ++++
• Covid-19 Coronavirus Information for Air Travel

What’s happening behind the scenes before your flight

• February 24, 2017
• Alaska Airlines
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

When you arrive at the airport for a flight, you probably have your routine down. To get to your gate with time to spare, you should be arriving two to three hours before your flight (depending on what airport you are departing from, whether you are checking bags, and whether your flight is domestic or international).  Maybe you check in at a kiosk and self-tag your bag to save a bit of time so you can grab a Starbucks once you clear security.

During that time, Alaska employees are working hard to prepare your flight. As the No. 1 on-time airline in North America , Alaska Airlines has it down to something of a science. So what is going on behind the scenes to make sure your flight gets off the ground safely and on time?

By the time you get to your gate, you may have already missed a lot of the magic, and a lot of the action happens out of view.

Here are just a few things going behind the scenes:

>1 hour before your flight

Customer service agents are staffed in the lobby and are ready to assist you, typically starting two to three hours before your flight. As your first in-person point of contact, they’re eager to answer questions and help you get your needs met, whatever they may be, as quickly as possible. Some lines are designated for those who just need to drop off their pre-tagged baggage—an agent will check your ID, scan your bag, and if all looks good, you’re on your way to security checkpoint in no time. Other lines are designated for those with questions or more check-in needs, like those traveling internationally or with pets and oversized baggage. Alaska knows there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, so this part of the process is designed to provide the speed, service and convenience you’re looking for.

Make sure you arrive about two hours early for a domestic flight (three for an international flight). Because there is so much to be done before your flight takes off, and because there are thousands of other travelers relying on on-time flights, the check-in and bag drop cut-off is typically 40 minutes before departure, without exception, with earlier cut-off times in certain locations and for international flights.   You should always check the specific recommendations and cut-off times for the airport you will be departing from for guidance. Alaska holds firm to these listed check-in and bag drop cut-off times to ensure that your flight will be ready to leave on time.

Agents can take your checked baggage as early as four hours before your flight. Checked bags get screened by TSA after they’re placed onto the belt. All oversized bags are hand-searched by a TSA agent behind closed doors after you check it. If you have large or unusual items (such as instruments, skis and snowboards, or even the occasional oversized box of cheese), it’s best to give yourself a little extra time at the airport.

While you’re checking bags, Alaska’s employees are also thinking about preparing your aircraft. Long before the plane lands and taxis to the gate, aircraft technicians know about any maintenance needs like oil servicing or pilot write-ups.Technicians are waiting at the gate when the aircraft arrives, ready to jump into action.

1 hour before your flight

Behind closed doors, there is a huge maze of belts and scanners that will carry baggage to the correct gate. From the point where you drop your bag to the aircraft, the average bag will travel over two miles of conveyer belt. Bags are on the move from the time you drop yours off at D-40 (40 minutes prior to departure) up until ten minutes before their flight is scheduled to depart.

This is also when the “load plan” is finalized for your flight. Agents at the gate call into the operations office to learn about any special instructions about where passengers can be seated on the plane or about baggage and cargo. Every flight’s load plan takes into account weight, balance, and fuel efficiency, among other factors. For example, if a flight is half empty, baggage handlers will strategically load bags to balance out the gaps in where passengers are sitting. If you’ve ever been asked to stay in your assigned seat and been confused because there’s a nice empty bank of seats five rows ahead of you, this is why. Loads are balanced down to every last seat for your safety and for the efficiency of the flight.

Once the load plan is confirmed, agents on the ground begin loading baggage into the cargo hold.

Inside the airport, agents update the monitors at the gate to display information about your flight and destination. They also monitor the temperature of the aircraft to ensure that it is comfortable for boarding.

Agents at the gate begin checking in with unaccompanied minors and attending to any special accommodations. These agents also process seat changes, upgrades, and list any standby passengers if there is room on the aircraft. If wheelchair support is needed, they’ll have someone sent to the gate to assist.

During this time, a crew cleans and restocks the aircraft with seatback materials like safety cards and magazines as well as supplies in the lavatories, including soap, toilet paper, and paper towels.

45 minutes before your flight

This is when the flight crew arrives at the gate—the captain, first officer, and 3-4 flight attendants, depending on the aircraft type. One of the agents at the gate will take attendance and check the crew in. Catering will stock the plane with the meals, snacks and beverages  for the flight.

The pilots will perform a pre-flight inspection of the aircraft, looking for any abnormalities or maintenance needs that need to be discussed with an aircraft technician.The technician may perform a walk-around of the entire aircraft. While this is done, the crew board the aircraft.

In winter weather, deicing will take place after the guest boarding door has closed.

The captain will have already begun to verify the route of the flight, the weather, fuel required, and any other items that may be a factor for that route. The first officer is simultaneously loading this information into the flight management system. Then, the captain and first officer run through the checklist together ensuring that each item has been accomplished.

Flight attendants, once onboard the aircraft, start their preflight safety checks including reviewing emergency procedures, verifying that all of the safety equipment (like flashlights, oxygen bottles, and first aid kits) are in working order, among other tasks.

Once the crew is through their checklists, it’s time to board the aircraft. Pre-boarding begins for guests with small children or those needing additional assistance, then active duty military, First Class, Premium Class and Mileage Plan elite members. The main cabin boards next, back to front.

About 13-15 minutes before your flight, agents at the gate will make last boarding call announcements.

10 minutes before your flight

All guests must be onboard and in their seats at this point to ensure an on-time departure. Here’s a little known fact—if every guest is on the plane and in their seat, flights can leave up to 30 minutes early (pending completion of the safety checklist).

Flight attendants complete the FAA-required check in with guests seated in the exit rows to make sure they are able to fulfill the needed responsibilities in the event of an emergency evacuation. When they get a verbal confirmation from each person, the process of closing the flight can begin.

To close the flight, agents print off the final manifest of the guests on the flight and deliver it on board to one of the flight attendants. Your flight cannot depart without this paperwork on the aircraft.

Once the manifest is on board, agents and crew close the jetway door. At this point, it will not be reopened even if the aircraft is still parked at the gate, so make sure you are at the gate well before this time.

The agent at your gate will call into the operations office with the final numbers—a requirement before take-off. Then the plane door can close.

Onboard, your flight attendants will demonstrate the FAA-required aircraft safety procedures. When cleared for take-off, you are on your way!

I want to thank you Alaska Airlines for your service. I flew quit a bit this last year and never had a problem. Want to thank you for extending service to Raleigh,N.C. my son and his wife live there now and makes it more convenient for us to visit. Also your agents make it very easy for those of us with special luggage to have checked thru. Looking forward to my next flight.

Forgot to mention that the ground crew goes onboard for that tiny space of time between deboarding and reboarding and cleans the inside of the aircraft, crosses all the seat belts, empties seat back pockets and picks up leftover trash before the next group of passengers board. A lot going on in a short time.

Being a ground crew member is a tough, demanding job, it appears. I have always wondered just how many hours flight attendants work per month. A normal average work month is 173.4 hours. And do not gloss it by telling me travel time to the airport, etc. We all have travel times to contend with. rc

To ensure efficiency and reduce delay during TSA checks and checks by Customs Border Protection Officers, the passenger details information could be shared in advance with them. If any concerns are identified with a specific passenger than he/she should be contacted in advance and give the opportunity to provide additional information to comply. In most cases passengers with concerns come to know about any issues at the time of check-in or during going through immigration. This process significantly delays the checks for other passengers.

You guys do awesome! My preferred way to fly. Thanks for the behind the scenes look.

Denise do you realize how many flights are departing an airport each hour? Each of those passengers on those flights need to check their bags and go thru the TSA check point, gates where your flight is leaving can be at a Tram ride or long walk away from where you check in. It is not all about just 1 flight departing the airport!!!

I think it is unfortunate you have to go the airport 2 hours early. It is a total waste of time. The airports should be more efficient

Please REread the blogpost.

Excellent operation congrats Alaska you’re the best.

Really interesting! Love the photos! Who is that handsome agent?

Comments are closed.

Email deals

The latest, lowest fares in your inbox every week.

Sign up now

Alaska listens

Tell us about your recent trip.

Give feedback

For iPhone and Android.

Get the app

Credit card

Alaska Airlines credit cards.

Travel with Grant

Transforming your frequent flyer miles into free trips around the world.

Contact AMEX if Alaska Airlines Seat Assignment / Upgrade Purchases Do Not Trigger Airline Fee Reimbursement Credit

Good afternoon everyone, I hope your week is going well.  Recently, I noticed that my Alaska Airlines seat assignment purchases on my American Express Business Platinum Card were not triggering the $200 Airline Fee Reimbursement Credit.  I paid for 4 premium economy seat assignments on Alaska Airlines in January and the credits had not posted in the following 2 months.  I went to Frequent Miler’s Amex Airline Fee Reimbursements. What still works? post and scrolled down to the Alaska Airlines section.  There was a note that said:

“Since 2022, there have been many reports of Alaska charges not being reimbursed automatically. It seems that many have had success getting charges for premium seat selection and things that ordinarily should be included (like lounge access, onboard purchases, etc) manually credited via the chat function, but only after 2 weeks has passed since the transaction date. Historical Alaska data included below, but beware that you may need to chat and hope for a friendly agent. See more data in this Flyertalk thread.”

I decided to reach out to American Express for help.

On Friday (4/12), I called the phone number on the back of my AMEX Business Platinum (1-800-492-8468) and spoke to the rep.  I explained to the rep that my Alaska Airlines premium economy seat assignment purchases from January did not trigger the $200 Airline Fee Reimbursement Credit.  The rep researched the transactions, said they were all eligible for the credit, and was able to manually apply the credits to my account.  I was told it would take up to 5 business days for the credit to post.  Fast forward to today (4/15) and I saw the $200 in credits posted to my account with a posting date of 4/13.

I also confirmed in the Benefits tab that the $200 Airline Fee Reimbursement Credit benefit was successfully completed,

I have never had an issue with the $200 Airline Fee Reimbursement Credit in previous years when I purchases Alaska Airlines premium economy seat assignments, so I’m not sure when this issue started.  Long story short, if it’s been more than 2-3 weeks since your qualifying purchase and you do not see the credits, reach out to American Express for help.  You can call or use the live chat feature to resolve this issue.  If you have any questions about the process, please leave a comment below.  Have a great day everyone!

Check Out These Related Posts:

Got something to say cancel reply.