Ask a Gate Agent for Help Oftentimes, they have some flexibility to move seats around and open up space and will do their best to get people traveling together seated together. Gate agents are usually more willing to help families with young kids, she says.

To ensure you sit next to a friend, the most reliable method in 2026 is to book your tickets on a single reservation (PNR). When passengers are on the same booking, airline algorithms prioritize keeping them together during the auto-assignment phase. If you booked separately, you should immediately log into the "Manage My Booking" portal of the airline’s app and manually select adjacent seats; note that many "Basic Economy" fares now charge a fee for this privilege. On airlines like Southwest, which uses open seating, you simply need to check in exactly 24 hours early to secure a high boarding position (A or B group) and then physically save a seat for your friend (though this is a point of frequent debate among flyers). If all else fails, you can politely ask a fellow passenger to swap once on board, but "seat-switching" is increasingly difficult on full flights. Offering a seat that is closer to the front or is an aisle/window in exchange for a middle seat is the most successful social strategy.