We bought three basic economy tickets for a trip with our eight-year-old daughter, but after check-in opened, our assigned seats ended up scattered across different rows in middle seats. I assumed the system would automatically keep young children next to at least one parent. What can parents do before boarding to fix separated seating arrangements?

Monitor your seat map periodically as other passengers change flights, because adjacent spots frequently open up closer to departure. Federal guidance encourages seating young children alongside an accompanying adult without extra fees, so quoting passenger reservation codes over the American Airlines phone number prior to online check-in typically resolves separated seating assignments. If telephone queues are long, approach the gate agent as soon as they staff the podium, since airport representatives manage unassigned cabin seats to keep traveling families seated together before general boarding begins.

Thanks for the advice! I'll keep checking the seat map and speak with the gate agent if adjacent seats are still unavailable.