If you're unable to choose seats, don't want to pay for seats, or chose a Basic Economy fare, our system will detect that you're a family traveling. The system will search for seats together automatically before the day of departure.

To ensure your party sits together on American Airlines, the most reliable method is to select your seats at the time of booking. While most fares allow free seat selection, "Basic Economy" does not; for these fares, you should pay a small fee during the booking process to choose your seats rather than waiting for assignment. If you have already booked, use the American Airlines app to check the seat map frequently, as better seats often open up as elite members are upgraded to First Class. For families, American has an automated "family seating" system; if children are under 15 and on the same reservation, the system will attempt to seat at least one adult next to them at no extra charge, even for Basic Economy. If you find yourself separated, arrive at the gate early and speak with the agent; they often have "blocked" seats held for operational needs that they can release to keep a family or group together before boarding begins.