Book Emirates Flights with Preferred Seats: Compare Seat Selection Options

Choosing a seat before departure can make a difference to your flying experience, particularly on long-haul journeys. If you prefer sitting near the front of the Economy cabin, want a window seat, or need additional legroom, Emirates offers several seat selection options.

Emirates Economy Class passengers can choose from Regular, Preferred, Twin, and Extra Legroom seats. However, advance seat selection is not always included in the ticket price. The cost depends on your fare type, seat category, flight, and Emirates Skywards membership benefits.

If you are planning to book Emirates flights with preferred seats, compare the available options and fees before confirming your reservation. This guide explains the seat categories, published US-dollar prices, complimentary selection conditions, and ways to reserve your preferred seat.

What Are the Different Emirates Seat Selection Options?

Emirates offers four main seat categories in Economy Class. Each category has a different location or seating arrangement, so compare them according to your travel preferences.

1. Regular Seats

Regular seats are standard Economy Class seats available in window, middle, and aisle positions.

• Window seats: Suitable for passengers who enjoy the view or prefer sitting against the cabin wall.
• Aisle seats: Convenient if you want to get up without disturbing other passengers.
• Middle seats: Standard seats located between the window and aisle.

Regular seats may be available for advance selection at no additional charge, depending on your Economy fare and loyalty programme benefits. If you do not select a seat in advance, Emirates will assign one without an additional seat selection fee.

2. Preferred Seats

Preferred seats are located towards the front of the Economy Class cabin. They are also available on the upper deck of selected Airbus A380 aircraft.

These seats can be useful if you prefer sitting closer to the front or want to leave the aircraft earlier, subject to the aircraft layout and airport arrangements.

Preferred seats are not necessarily free, even when you purchase an Economy Flex fare. The applicable charge depends on the fare brand and seat location.

3. Twin Seats

Twin seats are arranged in rows of two, generally with a window and an aisle seat rather than a three-seat configuration.

They are available towards the back of selected Boeing 777 aircraft and on the upper deck of some A380 aircraft.

This arrangement may suit couples or passengers who prefer a two-seat row. Availability depends on the aircraft configuration and the selected flight.

4. Extra Legroom Seats

Extra Legroom seats provide additional space to stretch your legs. They are generally located near emergency exit rows.

These seats have specific safety requirements. Passengers must:

• Be at least 16 years old.
• Understand written and spoken emergency instructions.
• Have sufficient mobility, strength, and dexterity to operate the emergency exit.
• Be able and willing to assist the crew and other passengers during an evacuation.
• Meet all other emergency exit-row safety conditions.

Passengers who cannot meet these requirements cannot occupy an Extra Legroom seat. Emirates may reassign a passenger if they do not qualify under its safety rules.

Emirates Seat Selection Fees: How Much Does It Cost?

The cost of selecting an Emirates Economy seat depends on the fare brand and seat category. Emirates publishes the following indicative seat selection prices in US dollars.

Seat category	Economy Special and Saver	Economy Flex	Economy Flex Plus
Regular	$7-$40	Free	Free
Preferred, excluding A380 upper deck	$15-$100	$15-$100	Free
Preferred on A380 upper deck	$25-$100	$25-$100	$25-$100
Twin	$20-$135	$20-$135	$20-$135
Extra Legroom	$30-$260	$30-$260	$30-$260

These are indicative published price ranges, not guaranteed prices for every flight. The actual charge can vary according to the season, route, origin, destination, aircraft, and seat availability.

Seat selection fees generally apply per passenger per flight sector. If your itinerary includes separate connecting flights, you may need to pay for seat selection on each eligible sector.

Which Emirates Economy Fare Includes Free Seat Selection?

Your Economy fare brand affects which seats you can select without paying an additional advance selection fee.

• Economy Special: Advance selection of all four seat categories generally requires payment.
• Economy Saver: Advance selection of all four seat categories generally requires payment.
• Economy Flex: Regular seats are complimentary. Preferred, Twin, and Extra Legroom seats generally require payment.
• Economy Flex Plus: Regular and eligible Preferred seats are complimentary. Twin and Extra Legroom seats generally require payment. Preferred seats on the A380 upper deck remain chargeable.

If you are comparing two Emirates fares, include the potential seat selection charges in your calculation. A lower ticket price may not represent the lowest overall cost if you also plan to pay for a Preferred or Extra Legroom seat.

Is Emirates Seat Selection Free?

Yes. Emirates provides a seat without an additional selection fee if you do not reserve one in advance. You can also select certain seats free of charge when online check-in opens, subject to availability.

Here are the main situations where complimentary seat selection may apply:

• During online check-in: Regular, Preferred, and Twin seats can generally be selected without an additional fee when online check-in opens 48 hours before departure. Extra Legroom seats remain chargeable.
• With Economy Flex: Regular seats are complimentary for advance selection.
• With Economy Flex Plus: Regular and eligible Preferred seats are complimentary for advance selection.
• With eligible premium-cabin tickets: Seat selection is complimentary in First Class and Premium Economy, and on Business Class Saver, Flex, and Flex Plus fares.
• For eligible passengers requiring assistance: Emirates assigns suitable seats without charge under its special-assistance policy.

Your Emirates Skywards membership tier can also affect the seat selection fee. Check the membership benefits section below before paying for an advance seat reservation.

Emirates Skywards Seat Selection Benefits

Emirates Skywards members may receive complimentary seat selection depending on their membership tier. The benefits can also extend to accompanying passengers on the same booking, subject to the applicable conditions.

Skywards membership tier	Regular	Preferred	Twin	Extra Legroom
Platinum member	Free	Free	Free	Free
Gold member and accompanying passengers on the same booking	Free	Free	Paid	Paid
Silver member	Free	Paid	Paid	Paid
Blue member	Paid	Paid	Paid	Paid

Additional conditions apply to accompanying passengers. For example, Platinum members receive complimentary selection across the listed seat categories, but accompanying passengers may still need to pay for Extra Legroom seats. Silver members receive complimentary Regular seat selection, while their accompanying passengers do not automatically receive the same benefit.

Check the current Emirates Skywards conditions and your booking details before paying for a seat. Eligible benefits can vary by passenger status and seat category.

How to Book Emirates Flights with Preferred Seats

You can select your preferred seat while purchasing a flight or after booking your ticket. The available options and charges depend on your fare and the aircraft configuration.

Step 1: Search for Emirates Flights

Start by checking available Emirates flights for your preferred travel dates. Compare departure times, routes, cabin classes, and fare options before selecting an itinerary.

Step 2: Compare Economy Fare Types

Review Economy Special, Saver, Flex, and Flex Plus fares. If advance seat selection matters to you, check which categories are included in each fare.

For example, Economy Flex includes Regular seat selection, while Economy Flex Plus also includes eligible Preferred seats. Twin and Extra Legroom seats generally carry additional charges under both fares.

Step 3: Review the Seat Map

Open the available seat map and check the location of Regular, Preferred, Twin, and Extra Legroom seats.

Aircraft configurations differ, so a Preferred or Twin seat may not be available on every flight. Check the map for your specific aircraft and itinerary rather than assuming that every Emirates aircraft has the same layout.

Step 4: Select Your Preferred Seat

Choose the seat category and location that suit your requirements. Check the displayed price before proceeding.

If you are traveling with another passenger, look for adjacent seats. Selecting seats in advance can help you plan to sit together, but availability and final assignments remain subject to airline conditions.

Step 5: Review the Total Cost

Check the passenger fare, seat selection charges, taxes, and other applicable fees before completing the reservation.

If the seat selection fee is separate from the ticket price, include it in your overall travel budget.

Step 6: Save Your Booking Details

Keep your booking reference and seat selection confirmation. You can use these details to review or manage your reservation later.

How to Select an Emirates Seat After Booking

If you have already purchased your ticket, you can check available seats through Emirates' Manage Your Booking service.

Follow these steps:

1. Visit the Emirates website or open its app.
2. Select Manage Your Booking.
3. Enter your booking reference and last name.
4. Retrieve your itinerary.
5. Open the seat selection option.
6. Review the available seats and applicable charges.
7. Select your preferred seat and complete payment if required.
8. Check your updated booking details.

You can also select or change your seat during online check-in, which opens 48 hours before departure for eligible Emirates flights.

If you have already paid for a seat, certain changes to an equal-value seat may be made without an additional charge. Selecting a higher-value seat may require payment of the difference. Other changes are subject to Emirates' seat selection terms.

Can You Choose Seats on Every Flight in an Emirates Connecting Itinerary?

Yes, you can select seats on eligible connecting flights, but the process and charges may differ for each flight sector.

For example, if your itinerary includes a flight from New York to Dubai followed by a separate connecting flight to another destination, you may need to select a seat independently for each flight.

If a flight has a technical stop where passengers do not leave the airport and the journey continues under the same flight number, one seat selection may apply to the full journey covered by that flight number.

If another airline operates a segment of your itinerary, check its seat selection policy separately. Emirates' Economy seat selection charges apply to flights operated by Emirates. Partner-operated flights may have different arrangements and fees.

Emirates Seat Selection Rules for Families and Children

Passengers traveling with children or infants should review the seat selection conditions before booking.

• Infants: Passengers traveling with an infant in the same booking are exempt from charges for Regular seats, bassinets, and adjacent seats on bulkhead rows, including eligible seats in a Preferred area. Other Preferred and Twin seats may still carry charges before online check-in.
• Children traveling with adults: Eligible children aged 2 to 11 can receive a 50% discount on Regular and Preferred seat selection fees when seats are selected before online check-in opens. Twin seats and Extra Legroom seats are not covered by this child discount.
• Children under 13: Emirates guarantees a seat next to an accompanying adult at no additional charge, subject to applicable conditions. For travel to or from Brazil, the stated guarantee applies to children under 16.
• Unaccompanied minors: Emirates assigns suitable seats without an additional seat selection fee.

Children cannot select Extra Legroom seats because they do not meet the airline's minimum age requirement for emergency exit-row seating.

If you are traveling as a family, check the available seating arrangement before completing your reservation. Emirates aims to seat families together, but advance seat selection and availability remain subject to the airline's conditions.

What Happens If Emirates Changes Your Selected Seat?

A seat reservation is subject to availability and operational requirements. Emirates makes an effort to provide the seat you selected, but it may change the assignment because of an aircraft change, disruption, or safety or security requirements.

If Emirates involuntarily changes a paid seat assignment, you may qualify for a refund under its seat selection terms. Eligibility depends on the original seat category, the replacement seat, and the reason for the change.

For example, if you paid for a Preferred seat and are moved to a Regular seat, you may be eligible for a refund. Similar conditions apply when a Twin or Extra Legroom seat is replaced with another category.

Refund requests are generally handled after the flight departs. For eligible journeys to or from the United States, applicable US regulations may also require an automatic refund in qualifying circumstances.

A refund is not guaranteed for every seat change. Review Emirates' current terms and conditions before purchasing an advance seat reservation.

Book Emirates Flights with Preferred Seat Assistance from Zeptotravel

Want to compare Emirates flight options before choosing your seat? Zeptotravel can help you search for available itineraries, compare flight options, and get assistance with booking-related queries.

When requesting booking assistance, share your preferred travel dates, route, passenger details, cabin class, and seating preference. If you want a Preferred, Twin, or Extra Legroom seat, mention it before confirming your booking so the available options and applicable charges can be checked.

Zeptotravel is an independent flight booking service provider. We do not own, operate, or manage Emirates, its aircraft, or its airline operations. We facilitate flight bookings and assist customers with booking-related queries. Seat availability, selection fees, eligibility, final seat assignments, and changes to reserved seats are determined and confirmed by Emirates.

If you book through Zeptotravel, one separate Zeptotravel service fee applies to the booking in addition to applicable airline charges. Review the complete booking total before confirming your reservation.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much does it cost to book a Preferred seat on Emirates?

Emirates' published US-dollar price range for Preferred seats, excluding A380 upper-deck seats, is $15-$100. Preferred seats on the A380 upper deck are listed at $25-$100. The final amount depends on your fare type, route, and seat availability.

2. Are Preferred seats free on Emirates Economy Flex fares?

No. Preferred seats generally require an additional fee on Economy Flex fares. Eligible Preferred seats are complimentary with Economy Flex Plus, but A380 upper-deck Preferred seats remain chargeable.

3. Can I choose my Emirates seat after booking?

Yes. You can retrieve your reservation through Manage Your Booking and check available seats. You can also select a seat during online check-in, which opens 48 hours before departure for eligible flights.

4. Is Emirates seat selection free during online check-in?

Regular, Preferred, and Twin seats can generally be selected without an additional fee when online check-in opens 48 hours before departure. Extra Legroom seats remain chargeable. Seat availability may vary.

5. Does Emirates charge for window and aisle seats?

Window and aisle seats fall under the Regular seat category in Economy Class. Advance selection is generally chargeable on Economy Special and Saver fares, while Regular seats are complimentary on Flex and Flex Plus fares. Eligible Skywards members may also receive complimentary selection benefits.

6. Can I book two Preferred seats together on Emirates?

Yes, you can select two adjacent Preferred seats if they are available. The applicable selection fee may be charged for each passenger, depending on the fare type and membership benefits. Seating together is subject to availability.

7. Can I get a refund if Emirates changes my selected seat?

You may qualify for a refund if Emirates involuntarily changes your paid seat assignment and the replacement meets the conditions specified in its refund policy. Eligibility depends on the original and replacement seat categories and the reason for the change.

8. Can I select an Extra Legroom seat for a child?

No. Emirates requires passengers to be at least 16 years old to occupy an Extra Legroom seat. Passengers must also meet the airline's emergency exit-row safety requirements.

9. Can I book Emirates flights with seat selection through Zeptotravel?

Zeptotravel can help you search for Emirates flight options and assist with booking-related queries, including your seating preference. However, seat availability, selection charges, and final seat confirmation are subject to Emirates' rules and confirmation. One separate Zeptotravel service fee applies to bookings made through the service.