How do alerts work?
Alerts are one of the most powerful ways to use Seats.aero. They help you track award availability and pricing changes without needing to constantly rerun searches yourself.
Airlines regularly open, close, and reprice award seats — sometimes with little notice. Alerts watch for those changes and notify you when something matches what you’re looking for, so you can act quickly.
Alerts work best as a safety net alongside manual search, especially for hard-to-book routes, premium cabins, or flexible travel plans.
How alerts work
When you create an alert, Seats.aero monitors award availability for the route, dates, cabins, and filters you choose.
Once availability matching your criteria is detected, we notify you via:
- Push notification (via the Seats.aero mobile app)
- SMS (Pro, where supported)
Alerts use the same award data you see in search results on Seats.aero.
Alert types: one-off vs. continuous
Seats.aero offers two types of alerts, designed for different planning styles.
One-off alerts (default)
One-off alerts are best when you have a specific target in mind.
- Triggers once when availability appears or pricing drops
- Automatically stops after it fires
- Ideal for firm dates or time-sensitive bookings
Example:
A flight is currently pricing at 90k points. You set a one-off alert for ≤85k points and get notified if the price drops.
Continuous alerts (Pro)
Continuous alerts are best when you want to monitor a route over time.
- Stays active until the departure date passes
- Can notify you multiple times as availability changes
- Great for rare premium cabin space or flexible plans
Example:
You’re waiting for business or first class seats to open on a popular long-haul route and want to be notified whenever something becomes available.
Choosing the right alert
A simple rule of thumb:
- Use one-off alerts for specific trips where speed and precision matter
- Use continuous alerts to watch broader opportunities or long-term availability
Most experienced users use a mix of both.
Pro features for alerts
Pro members get more control and flexibility when creating and managing alerts, including:
- Advanced filters (direct flights only, specific airlines, max points, max fees)
- SMS alerts in addition to email
- Push notifications via the Seats.aero mobile app
- Easier alert management (edit, cancel, bulk actions)
- Pre-filled alert forms (no captcha)
- Specific-date alerts that prioritize freshness for that date
Best practices for effective alerts
- Use filters to keep alerts relevant and avoid noise
- Install the Seats.aero iOS or Android app for the fastest notifications
- Pair alerts with manual search when booking is urgent
- For premium cabins, consider broader filters and continuous alerts
✅ Best practice:
Use one-off alerts for specific trips and continuous alerts for monitoring broader availability or rare space. This gives you both speed and coverage without constant searching.
When alerts shine
Alerts are especially helpful for:
- Hard-to-find routes
- Premium cabin availability
- Price drops
- Long-term planning
- Monitoring availability without constant refreshes
When manual search is still helpful
Manual search is best when:
- You’re ready to book immediately
- You want to compare multiple options side-by-side
- You’re exploring destinations or dates quickly
Alerts and search work best together.
Final note
Alerts are designed to help you stay informed and act faster, not replace every manual search. Used well, they remove a lot of guesswork and help you catch opportunities that are easy to miss.
If you ever feel unsure about why an alert behaved a certain way, our support team is always happy to help.