Choosing an airline seat can be a frustrating experience. Window or aisle seat? Preferred or standard seats? Is it over the wing? Choosing your seat or hoping to get a good seat at check-in?
Sometimes, your ideal seat may not be available when you book. Who has the time to manually check the seat map multiple times a day before a flight in hopes of finding a better seat?
Fortunately, ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG parent company Red Ventures) can do this automatically. Best of all, you can set reminders for window or aisle seats with ExpertFlyer’s free membership.
Below is information about using the program.
Related: Where is the best seat on the plane? Here’s how to choose your seat when flying
What is ExpertFlyer?
ExpertFlyer is free to join, but it also includes two paid membership levels that unlock expanded features and functionality. The following are ExpertFlyer’s three membership levels:
- free:Set a reminder to be notified when a more desirable seat becomes available on your flight. You can only get one free reminder at a time, but you can add more for 99 cents each.
- basic ($4.99 per month or $49.99 per year): This program offers additional features such as award and upgrade inventory search and flight availability. You can set up four seat alerts at the same time, but the number of queries per month is limited to 250.
- high quality ($9.99 per month or $99.99 per year): This plan includes flexible search options, unlimited queries, and the ability to create aircraft change and flight alerts. You can have up to 200 combined flight and seat alerts at the same time.
Alternatively, if you are a new member, you can sign up for a free five-day premium trial on the ExpertFlyer website.
For more information on using this tool, check out our ExpertFlyer guide.
Reward your inbox with the TPG daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers and get breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive offers from TPG experts
Related: Should you ask to change seats on a plane?
How to set up ExpertFlyer seat reminders
After registering with ExpertFlyer, you can set seat reminders even if you choose the free membership level. Collect your flight information before visiting ExpertFlyer to set seat reminders. Specifically, you’ll need the following information about your flight:
- Departure airport
- Arrive at the airport
- date
- Airline name or two-letter IATA code
- flight
- Service level
Once you have this information, log into your account and click “Create Seat Reminder” on the homepage.
Next, enter your flight details and click “Search.”
The seat map for your flight should load; you then need to click on “Create Seat Alert”. In the box that appears, give your alert a name and select your conditions, then click Create.
If you are a free ExpertFlyer member using free alerts, you can only set alerts for aisle or window seats.
If you are a paying member, you can select any exit row seat, select two seats together, or select a specific seat. For example, you can set a reminder for any of the window seats in row 9, which offer extra personal space in Air France Business Class.
After you create a reminder, ExpertFlyer will send you an email if your desired seat becomes available. If you receive an email, visit the airline’s website or app immediately to update your seat selection.
Open seats tend to fill up quickly, so taking prompt action when you receive an alert will increase your chances of getting a better seat.
RELATED: 8 Reasons Why You Should Sit in an Aisle Seat on a Plane
When to set ExpertFlyer seat reminders
There may be times when you find yourself in need of a better seat, including the following situations:
- Your preferred seat type (aisle or window) is not available.
- You’re stuck in the middle seat and would prefer a window or aisle seat.
- You won’t be able to find seats for you and your spouse, friends, or family members together.
- You prefer a seat in a different part of the plane (e.g. closer to the front for easier deplaning or closer to the back for better access to the restroom).
- You want a specific seat, such as an exit row seat or one of the two rows of seats.
In any of these situations, the ExpertFlyer seat reminder feature can help you switch to a more ideal seat.
bottom line
If you can’t select the seat you want for an upcoming flight, consider starting a free ExpertFlyer membership (or a free five-day Premium trial) and setting up seat alerts to search for a better seat. It’s quick and free, and may get you a window or aisle seat.
If you’re traveling with friends or family and can’t find two seats, consider upgrading to a Basic or Premium ExpertFlyer membership, as it allows you to create seat reminders for any two seats.
Related reading:
