Will I lose my seat selection if I book separately?

Not necessarily, but you won't be able to easily manage seats for everyone in one view. You will have to log in to each PNR individually to select seats, which makes it harder to ensure you are sitting near one another.

Can I use points for some family members and cash for others?

You generally cannot mix payment methods on one PNR. You will have to book these separately and link the reservations via customer service.

What happens if a flight is canceled and we are on separate bookings?

The airline will rebook you based on availability for each PNR. This puts you at risk of being put on different flights or having one booking confirmed while the other remains waitlisted.

Booking family flights: Together vs. separately

Always book your family on a single reservation if possible to ensure you are treated as a single unit during disruptions or seat changes. Only book separately if your party is too large to fit in one transaction or if you are using multiple disparate frequent flyer point pools.

Check the PNR limit. Most airlines limit a single Passenger Name Record (PNR) to 9 passengers. If you are a family of 10 or more, you must book in two separate batches; contact the airline's group booking department instead to ensure your reservations are linked.
Link your reservations. If you are forced to book separately, call the airline's customer service line immediately after booking. Provide both PNR codes and ask the agent to 'link' or 'cross-reference' them in the notes so ground staff know you are traveling together.
Prioritize single bookings for infants. If traveling with a lap infant, never book separately. Airlines struggle to reconcile 'infant-in-lap' tickets across different PNRs, which can lead to boarding issues at the gate.
Use a single credit card. Even if you must book two separate transactions, use the same credit card and account if possible. This simplifies refund processing and documentation if the flight is canceled.

Will I lose my seat selection if I book separately?: Not necessarily, but you won't be able to easily manage seats for everyone in one view. You will have to log in to each PNR individually to select seats, which makes it harder to ensure you are sitting near one another.
Can I use points for some family members and cash for others?: You generally cannot mix payment methods on one PNR. You will have to book these separately and link the reservations via customer service.
What happens if a flight is canceled and we are on separate bookings?: The airline will rebook you based on availability for each PNR. This puts you at risk of being put on different flights or having one booking confirmed while the other remains waitlisted.