Photo: American Airlines American Airlines is launching a new feature in its app, designed to save passengers the need to repeatedly check the seat map before their flight.
The new feature allows eligible AAdvantage members to set their seat preferences after completing their reservation, with options including window, aisle, or middle seats.
After setting preferences, the system will monitor seat availability. If a seat that meets the conditions set by the passenger becomes available, the reservation will be automatically updated, and the passenger will receive a notification of the seat change.
The service is available to AAdvantage members traveling on a single-passenger reservation up to 24 hours before departure, provided they have already been assigned a seat.
The change will only be made to an eligible seat in the same class of service in which the ticket was booked, and no additional fees will be charged for the seat change.
However, the company emphasizes that the system will not move a passenger to a more expensive paid seat, even if one becomes available and meets the defined preferences.
The passenger determines the seat preferences and can choose whether to join the service and change the settings after booking.
American Airlines says the feature was developed in response to a common need among passengers who want to find a seat that suits their preferences but are forced to repeatedly open the seat map to check whether a seat has become available.
The company developed the feature as part of its ADEPT program, a two-year training and development program for early-stage technology employees. The project used artificial intelligence-based tools to streamline part of the development process.
According to the company, the system combines seat availability monitoring with passenger preferences and eligibility rules, and performs the process automatically instead of the passenger having to track the changes themselves.
American Airlines, one of the world's largest airlines, operates more than 6,000 flights a day to more than 350 destinations in more than 60 countries. In 2026, the company celebrates its 100th anniversary.