What It Means If 'See Agent' Is Printed on Your Boarding Pass

"Each airline's boarding pass has a different design, but the basics are all there. Your seat number, departure time, airline and flight number, frequent flyer number, and class of service are all standard practices to provide the information travelers and airline staff need. A lot of that is stored within a scannable bar code. The first thing that most travelers look for when handed their boarding pass, though, is their seat assignment."

"If you see language along these lines on your boarding pass, there's no need to be overly concerned. This doesn't necessarily mean that you are getting bumped from your flight-even if the flight is oversold, airlines will first request volunteers to give up their seats before bumping people involuntarily, and in both cases, the airline will pay you compensation for the inconvenience."

Boarding passes display seat number, departure time, airline and flight number, frequent flyer number, class of service, and often a scannable barcode. Travelers commonly check seat assignments to determine window or aisle or upgrades. Occasional messages like "see agent" or "seat assigned at gate" do not automatically indicate involuntary bumping; airlines seek volunteers first and provide compensation when passengers are involuntarily denied boarding. Confirmed reservations can prompt "see agent" for several procedural reasons, typically resolvable within minutes. Basic economy fares on some carriers often delay seat assignment until check-in or the gate and include restrictive conditions even for elite flyers.

Read at Conde Nast Traveler