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Maybe you could call the airline? It's probably just a game-day decision and you can tell them to gate check it if the seat is not empty before you start boarding.

I definitely wouldn't bank on it. Every domestic flight I've been on in recent memory has been completely booked.

Every domestic flight I have been on in the last 3 years (around 8 flights) has been completely booked. I would be very surprised if there are any empty seats.

@daniellemybelle: I say there is no harm in asking. I'd take it and ask when checking in. If there aren't open seats then check it.

@daniellemybelle: btw, we don't have a special car seat bag. We like to be super classy and use a huge black garbage bag. We have always gate checked since we wanted to try for the empty seat first.

Bring it and if it's full you can gate check it. Btw this is a super brilliant idea!

I have better luck than PPs, I guess. When I haven't bought a seat, I've been able to bring the seat and use an empty seat 4 of 6 times. It's always been Southwest so that I could set up wherever. I call a day or two before and they tell me how many seats are left as of then so I have a general idea, and then I confirm at check in and at the gate. I do have a bag for the infant seat in case I have to gate check it, and I buy a ticket when I want to bring a convertible, but I've had good luck bringing the bucket on board! I hope you do too!

Yes, you can try, but no guarantee. However then your only option is gate checking which can cause damage to your seat. If they won't let you put it in an empty seat I would ask them if there was anywhere to store it on the plane instead of gate checking. You may be faced with the seat being damaged in the gate check process and then you would not have a seat when you get to your destination.

You can try, but the seat doesn't have to be next to you and they are under no obligation to rearrange seating.

Sucks that they don't do more to accommodate passengers with children, but I guess they do it on purpose to enforce the lap child policy.

Like PP said, most flights we've been on have been completely full. We've also had a couple flights where we were told no for the car seat even if were full flights, and I think once we were able to bring the car seat on when we didn't pay for the seat (Like once out of 10xs).

I've had pretty good luck w this. Southwest is the best given their seating position assignments rather than actual seats. Out of 12 flights that my LO has been on, we have been able to use the seat 8 times. So that's a pretty good success rate Go for it! If no extra space, just gate check it

I too have only been on 100% full flights, many with standby customers, in recent years but you could try and then gate check it.