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Can a person buy two seats on the same flight for just

Can a person buy two seats on the same flight for just

Old Sep 24th, 2017, 02:18 PM
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Can a person buy two seats on the same flight for just

no reason but just wanting the extra room?

I am going to put this on three different places, two forums and send a question to Ask The Aviator, and if I get an official or best answer I will post it. I recently through an inheritance which consisted of property in the S.F. bay area will net sums in the 500K range but having lived most of my life on 2 % of that, (yes, you read that right) still am somewhat parsimonious and the less I spend on unnecessary expenses like a fancy seat, the more I can spend traveling.

I want to travel in the airlines comfortably on long flights over eight hours, but am reluctant to pay the egregious prices for first. business class. Even an extra leg room seat in couch is not that much more comfortable as I still can not lay down as flat as I like. First I wish to state, I know about economy pluses which are not always available (AND about many airlines upgrade auction but that may be a no go as I may have to be an economy ticket in a higher fare class and still not be able to get an upgraded class seat) and Icelandic, Condor and Norwegian faux business class but if they don't go that route I can't use it (or with connections it takes too darn long) so for those of you about to suggest that, I spent a lot time researching alternatives) whereas if I buy two very cheap tickets (like from consolidators) on planes that have rows with only two seats in I would be guaranteed the space and have whole row to lie down in. If the fare difference between that and a premium seat with better service is less than $200, I will go with the higher class seat, I will also check the seating chart to see how full the plane is before I decide that. I do know that with Air New Zealand you can buy a whole row but it has to be two people.

I don't know if there may be a civil aviation law against it, especially if it overseas (based on the length of the flights most likely it would be) and the other country demands a passenger manifest and the passenger count is less than the number of people on the manifest, with the airlines it may be on a case by case basis and do not know if they will sell two seats for one person, I don't want to buy a cello to drag around but maybe I could buy one for a "teddy bear" if it has to show the seat is for someone else.

I can see the sarcastic answers coming but please keep those opinions to yourself I am VERY serious about this, does anyone know the civil aviation laws or has worked for the airlines where someone want besides an obese person was able to buy two seats (come to think of it if an obese person is required to buy two seats than perhaps I answered my question!)

Air New Zealand,lets you buy a whole row for two seats on certain long haul routers, I just out.
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Old Sep 24th, 2017, 02:29 PM
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Also I do know about transpositioning cruise and consolidators who sell first/bus class at a discount but think if Air NZ does all the airlines might.
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Old Sep 24th, 2017, 02:45 PM
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Here's what I'd ask: Airlines never guarantee seat selections. What happens if one of your seats gets moved and you find yourself with 6D and 27F?
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Old Sep 24th, 2017, 02:51 PM
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Don't over-sized passengers sometimes buy 2 seats? Are they ever assigned those seats in different rows? There is, apparently, a way to address the possibility. Then just tell you've since discovered a terrific diet.
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Old Sep 24th, 2017, 02:52 PM
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Sorry, eva, I didn't read your post to the end but I see we think alike.
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Old Sep 24th, 2017, 06:42 PM
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>>Air New Zealand,lets you buy a whole row for two seats on certain long haul routers,>if I buy two very cheap tickets (like from consolidators) on planes that have rows with only two seats in I would be guaranteed the space and have whole row to lie down in.
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Old Sep 24th, 2017, 06:45 PM
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Airlines DO sell two seats to one person, all the time, most commonly because the passenger is too big to fit into one seat safely. But I don't see why that should be a requirement. I think yours is actually a very good idea!

But...
<whereas if I buy two very cheap tickets (like from consolidators) on planes that have rows with only two seats in I would be guaranteed the space and have whole row to lie down in.>
Unless the airline knows you are one person with two seats, Jeff's point is a good one, you are not "guaranteed" your seat assignments.

Furthermore, airlines can and do change equipment occasionally, which means you might not get that two-seat row.


How about just calling 2-3 airlines and asking??
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Old Sep 26th, 2017, 09:25 PM
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Here's the thing.

Say an overweight person buys two seats for their own comfort. The flight crew can and will take one seat away if the flight is overbooked, if there is standby, if someone needs to be moved for some reason, if they think it's safe. It's based on safety not your own comfort. They might reimburse you somehow, but they probably wouldn't give you much choice. Maybe they'd back down if you put up a fight but they wouldn't back down if it was the choice between bumping one of your fellow passengers or bumping someone that doesn't exist. And that's if you actually selected your seats.

You get screwed most of the time if you're discount economy and you wouldn't be able to lay down at all if it's a flight where the seat belt light is on the whole flight. Business class or higher gives you leg room, sometimes flat seating, no painful armrests, and preferential treatment, better boarding position. I have no idea why you'd rather buy two seats in economy when that gets you none of those things plus comes with no gaurantees.
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Old Sep 27th, 2017, 08:08 AM
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You could get a more accurate answer specific to your situation by calling the airline you are going to fly and ask an employee your question and discuss how you could approach it (how a person buys two seats together to use for one person).

People all over the internet can toss out their experiences but that proves nothing more than how it worked for them. Does not guarantee you will have the same experience.
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Old Sep 27th, 2017, 08:31 AM
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She could, indeed, ask an airline employee. But I doubt it would be of any more value to her on that airline, on that day on her flight than from any other source. Airline employees are well known to have opinions in answer to questions and then we find it doesn't work that way when the time comes. I think the OP's only real hope for a certain outcome (or as certain as anything is in air travel) is to buy a business class seat.
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Old Sep 27th, 2017, 08:49 AM
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Maybe the OP thinks Business costs 'First Class $$$'. It doesn't, not nearly.

For international IME usually about 3 or 4 X a coach ticket and 2.5 to 3-ish X an economy plus seat, give or take. And one would get a lot more comfort, a lay flat bed, better food, better service, better drinks, etc than buying 2 coach tix . . . even IF that would work.

If talking about domestic. On some routes business (which is usually 'mis-named' First) often isn't even double coach.

This is just IME from the west coast -- might make a huge difference from different regions/different routes.
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Old Sep 27th, 2017, 11:17 AM
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And I think she'd have a better chance of getting an accurate answer from an airline employee than asking around on a bunch of internet travel forums.
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Old Sep 27th, 2017, 01:30 PM
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"...she'd have a better chance of getting an accurate answer from an airline employee..."

I doubt it. It's a crap shoot, rather than a given. I've been given conflicting information more than once. If I can't find it in writing, on the airline's website, for instance, I make sure I don't depend on what I'm told. For many years now, and if I don't depend on what I'm told I won't find myself brought up short. But if I can print it and show it to an airline employee, I feel better prepared.
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Old Sep 27th, 2017, 03:41 PM
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I agree -- call the airline three times and you'll likely get 3 different answers . . . none of which will help at check in at the airport.

Airlines are (almost) as bad as banks in that regard.
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Old Sep 28th, 2017, 11:41 AM
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Unless you're very short, you won't be able to lie down flat in two seats anyway - you might be able to curl up, but it may not be very comfortable. To add insult to injury, I've been on flights where the armrest is fixed, so it can't be lowered, and flights where the armrest lifted, but did not lift entirely, which would defeat the whole purpose of your plan.

If we're talking about Air NZ in particular, you might want to consider their premium economy product - it's pretty wonderful and still a fraction of the cost of Business Class. They also have Sky Couches, mentioned above - these are three seats, not two.

I think it'd be worth a call to Air NZ to see if one person could book an entire Sky Couch - I can't see them caring one way or the other if it's for two people or one, because they can't use the space for other passengers once it's reserved anyway.

https://www.airnewzealand.com/economy-skycouch
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Old Sep 28th, 2017, 11:42 AM
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..so it can't be lowered..

I meant raised.
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Old Sep 28th, 2017, 11:45 AM
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Just read the Air NZ site - you CAN book a Sky Couch for single use.
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Old Oct 9th, 2017, 01:53 PM
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I know you can buy an extra seat for a large musical instrument, so why not for a human being?
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Old Oct 13th, 2017, 12:47 PM
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Maybe shop for a credit card that's very expensive (like a $400 or $500 fee) and get enough points to get a biz class ticket on an airline to Europe that has lay flat seats.

I don't know if this will work but I got a lot of points for a cc deal with American Airlines, and had enough points to book two biz class seats to Rome. We used less points for cattle class on the way home.

It takes a little planning to score the award tickets, and a lot of flexibility, but it worked for me.
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Old Oct 13th, 2017, 04:33 PM
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I would never consider buying two seats in economy. It simply isn't that comfortable even if you can scrunch yourself to fit lengthwise into the seats. In business class BA ( the airline I fly internationally ) have flat bed seats which are comfortable. You won't get any extra leg room with two economy seats either. The current price at BA for an economy seat fron Denver to London is $2012 and $4298 for business class but a couple of hundred dollars more puts you in business class ( as compared to two economy seats ) and it's considerably more comfortable, the food a bit better and it's usually quieter. First class which is the best option if you can afford it runs about 20% / 25% more than business class.

You might check out Iceland Air if they fly to where you want to go. They don't have first class but their Saga Class ( business ) is very comfortable and their fares are competitive.
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