Why do I see availability but only one seat is bookable?
When you search for multiple award seats, especially in premium cabins like business or first class, you may see results showing availability but only one seat is actually bookable when you try to reserve. This can definitely be confusing, but here’s why it happens.
Some Airlines Do Not Share Seat Quantity
Certain airlines do not provide data on the number of award seats available for a flight. They only signal that a cabin has availability without telling us how many seats are actually open.
Because of this, when you search for multiple seats, Seats.aero will display results based on general availability, not the exact number of seats that can be booked.
Airlines Where This Is Common
Programs that often do not share seat quantity include:
- Air Canada
- American Airlines
- Emirates
- Qantas
- Qatar Airways
- Turkish Airlines
What This Means for You
A search may show availability for several seats, but in reality, there may be only one seat available to book.
If you need multiple seats:
- Try searching one seat at a time to confirm what is available.
- Consider booking separately if at least one award seat is available, then looking for a paid or additional award seat to pair with it.