What happens if I don't pay for a plane seat?

Lost Your Seat Selection? Don’t Worry, Airlines Will Assign You One

Pre-selecting your seat on a flight can be a convenient way to ensure a preferred spot, but what if you forget or choose not to? Don’t fret – most airlines have a built-in system to automatically assign you a seat at check-in.

This complimentary service applies whether you’ve paid for a specific seat in advance or not. There’s no extra fee for this last-minute seat assignment. The airline will simply allocate a seat to you and confirm it on your boarding pass.

So, if you’re unsure about your seat selection, or prefer to leave it to the airline’s system, rest assured that a seat will be assigned to you. This eliminates any potential anxiety about not having a reserved spot when you arrive at the gate.