Atcboy73 From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1100 posts, RR: 3 Posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 1 day ago) and read 4366 times:
Have you ever bought the seat next to you to keep it from being used by another passenger.
Maybe you had a feeling your flight was going to be full and you wanted a window seat, and to also have the middle seat stay unoccupied. Or maybe you were on a long cross country or an international flight and just wanted more room. Did your flight end up being full and did this cause problems.
Notdownnlocked From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 915 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 1 day ago) and read 4353 times:
I haven't but I have seen Richard Simmons do this first class on a DFW-LAX flight so nobody would sit next to him.
Ndebele From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 2895 posts, RR: 24 Reply 3, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 4192 times:
Imagine, you buy an extra ticket in order to keep the seat next to you free - just to find out that the flight is empty anyway. I have seen a case like this on an LTU A320, a passenger had bought an extra ticket, and in the end there were something like 20 passengers on board...
Aviaction From Germany, joined Nov 2003, 256 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 4035 times:
Ndebele already mentioned LTU, the German airline. When you buy their "Jahrescard" (Card valid for a year), which entitles the holder to unlimited travel on all flights between Germany and Spain (incl. Canary Islands) as well as Faro, for just EUR 10,000, you can get an "Extra-Seat-Card" (guaranteed free seat next to you) for EUR 5,000.
A very tempting idea indeed. Obviously there is a demand for such a service. Are they any LTU people on Airliners.net who might want to tell us how many of these Extra-Seat-Cards have been purchased so far?
GulfstreamGuy From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 628 posts, RR: 6 Reply 7, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 3949 times:
No.. BUT... I saw a violinist from Count Basie on a United LIT-ORD buy a first class seat for his "fiddle"
...strange... but true!
GG
"If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane. " -Jimmy Buffett
Aviaction From Germany, joined Nov 2003, 256 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 3945 times:
To answer Bmacleod's question: At least for me, a number of reasons spring to mind: It would definitely save you from having a very chatty neighbour, from having an obese neighbour (who leaves you hardly any space to breathe) or from having a very "smelly" neighbour.
All of this already happened to yours truly ... who would have very much preferred to have a free seat next to him on these flights. And, in a way, it gives you much more "intimacy" at a much lower total price than a biz seat, where all of the above might happen as well. Well, just my thoughts.
Markyboy From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 207 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 3904 times:
Would one of your seats not be classed as a no show and therefore your seat allocated either back for sale or to a stand by passenger if there was one?
markyboy.
P.S. Whilst working as a holiday rep I did sell a rather large passenger two tickets for himself to travel back to the UK. I was later told by someone from the airline if he was any bigger he would have had to go in the hold! lol
Gc From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2003, 356 posts, RR: 6 Reply 11, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 3834 times:
Eric Clapton often bought a seat for his now retired Stratocaster "Blackie" as it was too valuable / fragile to go in the hold. I suppose he didn't wan't to stick it in the overhead bin, with bottles of duty free, people's coats and carry on rolling around
Jessman From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 1506 posts, RR: 8 Reply 12, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 3776 times:
For the very large, two seats in coach where the armrest lifts up can be much more comfortable than one seat in first class with the solid armrests firmly implanting themselves into one's hindquarters.
Aviaction From Germany, joined Nov 2003, 256 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 3730 times:
To answer Leskova's question: yes, of course, miles are credited for both seats ... but keep in mind, for future reward travel you need double the miles as you want to stick to the "two-seats-for-your-just-one-single-bum" luxury Happy flights!
Nonrevman From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 1289 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 3659 times:
I once worked for reservations, and yes, a couple did want the middle seat empty in a section of 3, so they bought it. The flight was looking very full too. I can understand why some people would want to do this.
Futureualpilot From United States of America, joined May 2000, 2562 posts, RR: 8 Reply 16, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 3614 times:
I havent, it isnt worth it to me. I'd rather save the money and put of with someone for a few hrs.
FrequentFlyKid From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 1201 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 3580 times:
How exactly does one do this? Do they purchase two seats in their name? I only wonder because a person can have their reservation, and seat, cancelled if they do not present themselves at a certain time before departure. How would someone who bought an extra seat prevent that seat from being filled in an oversale situation.
Lj From Netherlands, joined Nov 1999, 4169 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 3549 times:
From what I've been told (haven't done it myself) you get two tickets in your name and you check-in for both seats. I've been told that if you have two seats you get double lugagge allowance but no two meals.
How would someone who bought an extra seat prevent that seat from being filled in an oversale situation.
You paid for the seat thus the airline must pay denied boarding compansation for the empty seat if they want to fill the seat if the flight is oversold. However, I'm not 100% sure about this as it's possible they pay 50% of the fare you used for the empty seat.
CO2BGR From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 558 posts, RR: 4 Reply 19, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 3499 times:
I was flying non-rev with my family once, and the agent went down to the a/c to count the number of empty seats, then told us there are 4 seats left (there were 4 of us) go find them. Well I got B*tched at by some guy that had bought an extra seat (this was on a M80 on the 2 seat side), My dad and an F/A came back to settle the dispute. I ended sitting with him. I was not one of my more enjoyable flights to say the least. Im not sure why he needed an extea seat as the flight was 1 hr long and he was not large by any means.
There are too many self indulgent weiners in this town with too much bloody money" Randal Raines- Gone in 60 Seconds
Leskova From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 6075 posts, RR: 72 Reply 20, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 3464 times:
If I remember correctly, an airline helpdesk once told me to book the second seat in the family name of the passenger, with the first name replaced by the code EXST (EXtra SeaT) - so, if I were booking two seats for myself that would be
1. Seat: LESKOVA/FRANK MR
2. Seat: LESKOVA/EXST
The problem with booking two seats in the same name is that some airlines cancel them, as they see a dupe booking in this...
Fortunately enough, since I've gotten my FTL (Star Alliance Silver) Status on Lufthansa, most airlines have been kind enough to at least try to keep a seat next to me free - as long as I'm travelling alone, that is - and as long as it's Economy Class...
Bucchinij From France, joined Aug 2000, 85 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 3379 times:
My mother bought round trip tickets for me and her from Paris to Washington, and back (the single way ticket was more expensive...) and on her way back, what would have been my seat was taken (I stayed in Washington, and she returned to Paris). If you don't check in, the seat will be taken by somebody else, especially if the flight is overbooked, and you can't check in twice.
PHXMKEflyer From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 289 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 3360 times:
Kathy Ireland did this once on a flight from PHX-SBA
Ryanb741 From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2002, 3219 posts, RR: 17 Reply 23, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 3292 times:
I bought 2 tickets (one for me and one for a companion) on LH LHR-FRA and he couldn't make it. When I told the check-in agent that he wasn't coming she said there was no refund. Fine I told her, but as I had paid for the seat could I have it empty next to me? I was told this wasn't possible as the flight was overbooked and they would put someone else there. OK, fair enough I am not going to deprive someone from a flight when there was an empty seat but I told them that if they wanted to use that seat they would have to buy it back from me as I had paid for it and was entitled to have it even if it was empty. I was told there would be NO refund and NO empty seat and basically that I could go jump off a cliff. Even when I spoke to the manager I was told there would be no refund for that seat, even though I was willing to give up my empty seat for another pax as long as I was accordingly compensated.
You can see now why I refuse to fly LH again!
I used to think the brain is the most fascinating part of my body. But, hey, who is telling me that?
TG992 From New Zealand, joined Jan 2001, 2910 posts, RR: 11 Reply 24, posted (9 years 7 months 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 3279 times:
Here's a copy/paste from the airline I work for's Reservations Manual:
EXTRA SEAT PNR ENTRIES
Book the total number of seats required and enter:
* The passengers name and, if two seats are booked, enter EXST/A as the second name
* the passengers name and, if three seats are booked, enter EXST/A/B as the second and third names
* an EXST SSR and in free format enter the number of fares paid
eg 2 FARES PAID
* Name Qualifying Data EXST related to the passenger's name
(when issuing tickets)
-
25 Leskova: Ryanb741, as annoying as your experience certainly will have been, I don't see a single airline on this planet reacting differently. The only advantag
26 FlyboyOz: You need to ask check-in staff to check your seat. They will help you to change your seat and then block the seat who sit next to you if they can cont
27 PHXMKEflyer: Ryanb741, Any airline not just LH would have done the same exact thing, as crappy as it may be there are a but-load of restrictions you agree to when
28 Philaboy: Here's a story, Earlier this year, flying Perth to Adelaide on a Qantas flight, I was put in seat 22D. A man, (presumably bussinessman as he was dress
29 Ar385: I read this anecdote. I can provide the complete sources later if anybody requires them. John Lennon and Yoko Ono were flying on a PAn Am 707 from GIG
30 Godbless: I would like to see the face of a passenger that booked two seats for himself on Germanwings oder Ryanair... Even better if he/she had to pay somethin
31 N754pr: You have to wonder if its the passenger you stopped getting the seat who's the lucky one.....
32 Cschleic: There's the good point of what if the plane is partly empty? For a Sunday evening or something, you could probably count on it being full. Reminds me
33 Starrion: I've done this for my flights from Boston to Narita and Boston to Hong Kong. Our company allows business class seating for flight over 10 hours. Those
34 MEA310: If it's a matter of more room,why spend money on buying the seat next to yours,buying a business or first class seat would be better;that makes more s
35 Bistro1200: I wonder if you could book a ticket on Southwest and tell them you are huge and need 2 seats. Their policy is that if there are seats open, you get it
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did this once on a flight from PHX-SBA
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