Extra Seat Procedures
American has aligned its seating accommodation policies with other major airlines regarding customers who would like more than one seat.
The Extra Seat Policy applies to flights marketed and operated by American Airlines and American Eagle® for domestic and international flights.
A customer may elect to purchase an additional seat for privacy and comfort. The customer must present the boarding pass for the extra seat(s) to the gate agent upon boarding.
When a customer advises that they require an extra seat:
· Book the number of seats based on the request (1 extra seat = book 2 seats)
o There is no limit on the number of extra seats that a passenger may purchase; however, if booking 10 total seats or more, please contact American Airlines Meeting Services desk at 800-433-1790.
· Book the extra seat in the same PNR as the traveler to help airport automation and personnel in recognizing the customer with the extra seat.
o Travel agencies using Amadeus (1A) cannot book the extra seat in a single PNR. A new PNR for the extra seat must be created.
· For customers with existing ticketed PNRs who wish to purchase an additional seat, create a new PNR following the guidelines below, then cross-reference both PNRs using the Record Locators in the OSI via TCP (To Complete Party) or contact local AA General Reservations for booking and issue the Extra Seat ticket.
Name Field
Depending on the reason the customer is requesting an extra seat, the name for the extra seat should appear as:
· PAXLAST NAME/EXST (for additional space)
· PAXLAST NAME/CBBG (for musical instrument or other cabin baggage)
There is no limit to the number of extra seats that can be purchased. If a customer needs more than one extra seat, they can be booked as EXST A, B, C, D, etc.
Example: 2.1HOWELL/ EXST, 3.1HOWELL/EXST A, 4.1HOWELL/EXST B, 5.1HOWELL/EXST C etc.
OSI Field or SSR
SSR EXST (Free Text) EXTRA SEAT FOR PRIVACY
Example: EXTRA SEAT FOR PRIVACY
SSR CBBG (Free Text) CELLO (or Instrument traveling)
Example: CELLO
Note: If you need guidance on how to add the SSR or OSI, please contact your GDS or technology provider.
Secure Flight Passenger Data
You will be required to enter SFPD for Extra/Additional Seats. You may duplicate the same SFPD data that was entered for the passenger, even though the First Name is EXST. This information is necessary for ticketing only, it will not be sent to TSA.
Sabre example:
DOCS/DB/01JAN53/M/HOWELL/THURSTON/BACKUS-N1.1
DOCS/DB/01JAN53/M/HOWELL/THURSTON/BACKUS-N2.1
Note: If you need guidance on how to add the SSR or OSI, please contact your GDS or technology provider.
· Extra seats are not exempt from Main Cabin Extra (MCE) or Preferred Seat charges
o If a passenger purchases an extra seat, and requests two MCE (Main Cabin Extra) or Preferred seats or a combination of the two, the passenger will be charged for both seats, including taxes for both seats.
o If the agency is not on Direct Connect, the customer will have to contact American General Reservations or go on to aa.com to request these seats.
· Customers will be able to reserve or change seat assignments on aa.com
· If extra seat is for a large instrument/Cello (CBBG):
o Instrument must be properly strapped by the seatbelt with the customer seated next to it
o Not applicable to assign in exit row
· 100% of the applicable adult fare, including all applicable taxes/fees applies to the Extra Seat minus PFCs charges.
· PFCs (Passenger Facility Charge “XF”) does not apply.
· Basic Economy does not qualify for extra seat.
· If the customer qualifies for a discount, the same will apply for the Extra Seat, minus PFCs (passenger Facility Charge “XF”)
· AA* (codeshare) or OA prime flights
· Basic Economy fares
· Same Day Flight Change / Same Day Standby
· Only a portion of an itinerary (customer will need to purchase Extra Seat for entire PNR)
· AAdvantage mile accrual
· AAdvantage Upgrades
· Reissue an Extra Seat ticket to a regular customer’s name ticket
· Checked Baggage and Carry-on baggage policies apply to passenger's ticket only
o A customer who purchases an Extra Seat does not receive an extra baggage allowance for the Extra Seat purchased
o Includes if the Extra Seat is purchased to accommodate cabin baggage (i.e. a large instrument like a Cello)
· Additional baggage is subject to the applicable charges
· An Extra seat (EXST) ticket may be applied towards another EXST ticket based on the fare rules.
· Once a ticket has been issued as an extra seat (EXST), a name change to the customer’s name is not allowed on that ticket. It must be used as an EXST ticket.
· Trip Credit may be utilized to pay for Extra Seats. Please contact American Reservations for booking and ticketing using Trip Credits.
Extra seat tickets follow purchased fare rules for refunding purposes.
Customers may purchase an extra seat for a cabin pet:
· Customers are permitted to purchase an extra seat to stow a cabin pet kennel/carrier; the kennel is stored and should remain under the seat in front of the extra seat purchased.
· The kennel and/or pet should never be placed or remain on the seat cushion of the extra seat at any time.
· Applicable cabin pet fees apply in addition to the extra seat charge.
· Passengers traveling with a pet in cabin may not be seated in exit seat, even if they meet all other exit seat criteria.
Updated: May 2025