Do you have to sit in your assigned seat on a plane

Emphatically, no. You will likely get assigned a seat during check-in (though you should still skip it if the airline tries to tack on a fee) or, at the very least, at the gate. Again: You don't have to select a seat in order to get a seat. You just might get stuck with a suboptimal one if you choose to skip it.

1. Do you have to sit in your allocated seat on a plane?
2. Are you allowed to sit anywhere on a plane?
3. What happens if you skip seat selection?
4. Why are plane seats assigned?

Do you have to sit in your allocated seat on a plane?

When booking tickets online, many airlines charge extra to choose a specific seat, meaning that people have to pay more to guarantee sitting with their companion or group. If passengers choose not to buy specific seats they may still be able to sit together but it is not guaranteed.

Are you allowed to sit anywhere on a plane?

They may offer you a choice of available seats then issue your boarding pass. You must occupy the seat indicated on your boarding pass unless you are offered or required to occupy a different seat after boarding.

What happens if you skip seat selection?

You can always skip seat selection and save the money, but do keep a few things in mind: Skipping seat selection doesn't mean you won't get a seat on the flight. You might get stuck in the middle seat if you don't pay for one.

Why are plane seats assigned?

Passengers who pay for a no-frills ticket will be assigned to the remaining seats. Seats are then often handed out at a first-come-first-served basis, which makes passengers more likely to show up early for boarding, reducing dwell times for the airline. That is exactly why those airlines implement this system.