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Emirates Seat Selection
Important notice
Fly in your favourite seat
Settle into a seat that’s right for you when you join us on board. Choose where you want to sit before you fly and relax in your favourite spot, whether it’s a seat on the aisle, extra legroom, or a seat with a window view.
Book your seat with your flight, or later through Manage Your Booking or on the Emirates App. You can also select a seat when you check in online.
Not sure where to pick? Get a feel for where you want to sit by exploring our seating charts and immersive 3D seat maps.
Economy Class seat selection
There are a few seating options when you fly in Economy Class. Have a look at the different types of Economy Class seats so you can find the right one for you.
Regular seat: Relax in one of our regular seats designed for ultimate comfort, whether it’s by the window, in the middle, or on the aisle.
Preferred seat: Be one of the first to disembark by choosing a preferred seat at the front of the plane or on the upper deck of some of our A380 flights.
Twin seat: Sit in a row of two with just a window and an aisle seat. These are at the back of our Boeing 777 flights and on the upper deck of some of our A380 aircraft.
Extra Legroom: Enjoy more space to stretch out in our extra legroom seats on the exit row*.
Check out our seat maps to see our First Class and Business Class seat choices.
*These seats are allocated according to safety requirements.
First Class and Business Class seat selection
It’s free to choose your seats in First Class, and when you fly on a Business Class Saver, Flex, or Flex Plus fare.
If you are travelling on a Business Special fare you can select a complimentary seat when check-in opens 48 hours before you fly.
Seat selection fees
We’ll automatically allocate you a seat free of charge if you have specific needs, for example if you’re travelling with an infant or if you have medical requirements.
In Economy Class, it may be free to choose your seat in advance or there could be an extra charge depending on the type of fare you booked or your Emirates Skywards membership tier.
Book ahead to secure your favourite spot, or you can select your seat for free when online check-in opens 48 hours before your flight.
| Fare type | Regular | Preferred | Twin | Extra Legroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Special | Paid | Paid | Paid | Not available |
| Economy Saver | Paid | Paid | Paid | Paid |
| Economy Flex | Complimentary | Paid | Paid | Paid |
| Economy Flex Plus | Complimentary | Complimentary | Paid | Paid |
These are the indicative prices ranges for Economy Class seat selection. The seat selection fees vary according to the season, route, and destination.
| Seat type | Fees in EUR |
|---|---|
| Regular | Between 10 and 30 |
| Preferred | Between 25 and 75 |
| Twin | Between 30 and 115 |
| Extra Legroom | Between 50 and 175 |
Seat selection for Emirates Skywards members
Enjoy more benefits as a member of our Emirates Skywards and Skysurfers loyalty programmes or as a Qantas Frequent Flyer.
Emirates Skywards Members
| Emirates Skywards tier | Regular | Preferred | Twin | Extra Legroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platinum: | Complimentary | Complimentary | Complimentary | Complimentary |
| Platinum (accompanying passengers): | Complimentary | Complimentary | Complimentary | Paid |
| Gold (and accompanying passengers): | Complimentary | Complimentary | Paid | Paid |
| Silver: | Complimentary | Paid | Paid | Paid |
| Silver (accompanying passengers): | Paid | Paid | Paid | Paid |
| Blue: | Paid | Paid | Paid | Paid |
Qantas Frequent Flyer members
| Qantas Frequent Flyer tier | Regular | Preferred | Twin | Extra Legroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman's Lounge member (and accompanying passengers): | Complimentary | Complimentary | Complimentary | Paid |
| Gold, Platinum and Platinum One (and accompanying passengers): | Complimentary | Complimentary | Paid | Paid |
| Silver: | Complimentary | Paid | Paid | Paid |
| Silver (accompanying passengers): | Paid | Paid | Paid | Paid |
| Bronze (and accompanying passengers): | Paid | Paid | Paid | Paid |
*For group bookings, seat selection benefits will only apply to the Skywards member.
Terms and Conditions
Read more about our seat selection terms and conditions.
Seat Selection FAQs
Frequently asked questions
To qualify for an Extra Legroom seat you will need to meet the following safety criteria:
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Be able to read and understand English instructions related to emergency evacuation provided in printed or graphic form and be able to understand oral crew commands.
- Be fully able-bodied and capable to identify, reach and operate the exit doors in the event of an emergency.
- Be able to speak well enough to adequately impart information orally to other customers.
- Be able and willing to assist the crew and other customers in the evacuation of the aircraft.
- Not be travelling with infants, children under the age of 18, caregivers, persons who require safety assistant for emergency evacuation, or travelling with a guide dog or any other assistance animal.
- Not be using medical equipment, an extension seat belt nor requiring any assistance due to reduced mobility.
Extra Legroom seats will be re-assigned before or during the journey without any refund if customers do not meet any of the above safety criteria.
Extra Legroom terms and conditions must be expressly accepted at the time of purchase.
Customers travelling on Economy Special tickets who are not Emirates Skywards members are not eligible to select Extra Legroom seats.
Some exit row seats ending in A or K may not be located next to a window due to the emergency exit door placement, and leg space might be partially restricted. Additionally, armrests cannot be raised on extra legroom seats.
Important:
The information below applies to standard operations. Please read our updated information specific to operation services during the coronavirus pandemic.
Specifically relating to seat selection, it’s still possible to choose your seat. However, due to current circumstances and for operational reasons we may need to change your seat before departure or on board. If this happens and you have paid to select your seat, you will be eligible for a refund in line with our terms and conditions.
If you're travelling in First or Business Class you do not need to pay for seat selection.
If you’re travelling in Economy Class on a Flex Plus fare, you can select a regular or a preferred seat (except on A380 upper deck) through Manage a Booking at no extra charge, from the moment you purchase your ticket. You can also pay to select a Preferred Upper Deck on A380, Twin or an Extra Legroom seat.
If you’re travelling in Economy Class on a Flex fare, you can select Regular seats through Manage a Booking at no extra charge, from the moment you purchase your ticket. You can also pay to select a Preferred, Twin or an Extra Legroom seat
If you're travelling in Economy Class on a Special or Saver fare, there is a charge for seat selection. You can use the Seat Selection tool available through Manage a Booking to select, view the cost, and pay for your chosen seat.
Alternatively, you can also wait until online check-in opens 48 hours before your flight, and then select a seat of your choice for free. Please be aware that the ability to choose and reserve seats of your choice may be limited at this point. Extra legroom seats may be restricted and are chargeable at online check-in and on-board. If you don’t pre-select a seat, we will allocate you one before your flight.
We automatically seat passengers with specific needs, for example people travelling with babies, in suitable seats. Read our FAQ on seat selection for customers requiring special assistance.
Seat selection charges are only applicable on Emirates operated flights. You can check if you're exempt from seat selection charges in our other FAQs in this section.
Emirates reserves the right to change seat assignment in the case of operational changes or for safety reasons.
If you selected and paid for your seat, you can change to another seat of equal value for free or choose a higher value seat by paying the difference. If you changed to a higher value seat and were charged the full amount, our team will automatically refund the difference.
If you’ve made changes to your flight number or flight date, but are travelling on the original sector, you can choose new seats of equal value for free. However, we will not be able to refund you if you’ve made changes to your sector, if seats of the same value aren’t available, or if seat selection isn’t available on your new flight.
To change your seat, please go to Manage a Booking.
Seat selection charges for passengers travelling in Economy Class are only applicable to flights operated by Emirates. If you’re travelling on a flight with one of our codeshare partner airlines, please check with the partner airline.
We’ll do our best to provide the seats you reserve. However, we may have to move you to a different seat in case of disruption, aircraft change, or for any other operational, safety or security reasons. Seat reservations are subject to change up until flight departure. Therefore refund requests can only be submitted after your flight departs.
In case of involuntary changes to your seat due to operational, safety or security reasons, you are eligible for a refund only in the following cases:
- Regular seat re-seated on a different type of Regular seat (window, middle or aisle);
- Preferred seat re-seated on a different type of Preferred seat (window, middle or aisle);
- Preferred seat re-seated on a Regular, Twin or Extra Legroom seat;
- Twin seat re-seated on a Regular, Preferred or Extra Legroom seat;
- Extra Legroom seat re-seated on a Regular, Preferred or Twin seat;
- Preferred seat on the upper deck re-seated on the lower deck;
- Twin seat on the upper deck re-seated on the lower deck.
Refunds will include the total amount paid for seat selection minus taxes (where not refundable). For flights already taken, the refund will be compared to your last selected seat before involuntary changes.
Customers are not eligible for seat selection refunds if:
- They’re travelling in a higher cabin class due to voluntary or involuntary upgrade;
- They selected a lower value seat after buying a higher value seat;
- They added their Emirates Skywards membership to the reservation after booking seats;
- They've made voluntary flight changes to their itinerary (including flight dates, inbound or outbound destination, or if their changed flight is operated by another airline.)
Seat selection refunds for compassionate reasons follow ticket rules on compassionate refunds.
