United Airlines reported that over 18,000 travelers managed to secure alternate seating last month, even when they believed they had no options left.

In March, the airline introduced a new feature in its app that permits passengers to indicate their seating preferences during booking, enabling automatic transfers to better seats at no additional cost if such seats become available on their flight. Preferences can include window, aisle, exit, or bulkhead rows.

According to United\’s data, nearly 40% of those who submitted seating requests successfully relocated to their preferred seats before takeoff.

The airline will reassign passengers to their chosen seat type within the same service class as their original booking if it becomes available up to 12 hours before departure.

While many travelers actively seek to avoid middle seats, frequent flyers often have specific rows or seat types they prefer.

Resources like aeroLOPA can assist passengers in identifying which seats offer optimal window views and help inform their preferences in the United app.