What is the difference between a reservation and a seat assignment?

Great question! By the time you board a plane you need three things: a reservation, a ticket, and a seat assignment. [The exception is Southwest which doesn’t have seat assignments.] However, this can be confusing as there are a number of different terms used to convey these concepts.

Reservation (aka seat or booking) – If an agent says you have or are holding a reservation, a booking, or a seat this means that you have a reservation for a non-specific place on the plane. Generally, you can hold a reservation for 24 hours before you have to purchase it or it will be cancelled by the airline. Depending on context, these terms may or may not reveal whether the ticket has been paid for.

Ticket (aka ticketed, confirmed, purchased, issued) – These terms all mean that your reservation has been paid for and the ticket has been issued.

Seat Assignment – This refers to the actual seat number you have been assigned to on the plane. Sometimes the seat can be assigned in advance of the flight and sometimes not. If the seat cannot be assigned in advance it will be assigned at the time of check-in or at the gate. Not having an advance seat assignment does not affect your reservation and ticket and does not mean that you are more likely to be bumped.