Why Frequent Fliers Hate Seeing This Code on Their Boarding Pass

There’s more information than you think encoded on your airline boarding pass. One of those codes—"see agent" or “seat assigned at gate"—can be especially disconcerting.Contrary to popular belief, those words (the verbiage varies by air carrier) do not necessarily mean that you are about to be bumped from your flight. Provided you have a confirmed reservation, there can be several reasons for why it’s on your ticket. Here are a few explanations.You bought a basic economy fareSome airlines—like American, Delta, and United—do not assign a free seat for basic economy fares until the ticket counter or the gate. These ultra-restrictive fares are usually the cheapest and come with limitations. If you bought one of these fares and you see a note asking you to see the agent, you'll likely be assigned a seat before boarding. You won’t be able to choose where you sit, but you should have a confirmed seat on the plane. There is no need to even see the agent as many airports may display your seat...