Two Seats
 

Has anyone ever bought two seats ...to have that extra seat for comfort or just as a buffer from other passengers?
If so, tell us about it. How is it specified on your ticket? Has anyone remarked on it? Would you do it again? Any other comments?
Thanks.

Depends on the airline.

SW lets you keep. I have heard stories that other airlines "bump" your mythical passenger (without compensation) to give your seat away.

I would call and ask the airline before I did it.

Wow...bumping without comp.! Thanks.

Recently lots of us were delayed into Newark on CO and rebooked on various flights to eventually get us to our final destinations in Europe. The fellow who was seated in the middle seat by me had purchased 2 seats to Glasgow for himself (football player build), but was offered the one middle seat on the plane to Edinburgh to get to Scotland with no compensation for the second seat (I assumed he had the two seats on his Memphis-Newark leg)and refusal to place him in open business class seat. He had taken the seat because he was meeting up with a group and planned to ask for some compensation afterward. He was not a happy camper for what he paid.

Wouldn't they at least refund the price he paid for the second seat, even if they didn't give "bumping" compensation?

I only saw it once on Southwest. His double-seat was reserved (SW does not assigned seats). The attendant brought him a belt extention. Nobody paid attention (I was sitting close).

Thanks for all the replies.

A robust lady I know bought two tickets on her trip to Europe and back and it worked without incident; that was several years ago, though, and before the planes have gotten so packed. I think I would ask the specific carrier what the policy was and get it in writing to print and take with you.

Why not just stump up for Business Class

The fellow I met on the flight to Europe had gotten his two seats on the first leg, but not the second leg if he wanted to get on a plane that night. The customer service and gate agents at Newark didn't promise him anything--no refund for the second seat on that leg (he would have 4 legs total on the ticket), no upgrade to business, etc., just a chance to get on a plane to Scotland that night to meet up with his companions for his golf tour, so he took what he could get (one seat with seat belt extension) and would ask again for compensation later.

He said that buying 2 discounted coach seats totaled less than buying 1 business class seat. He had never tried this before.

I'm with the idea above, to just spring for business class instead. Seems a safer bet.

In biz class you will not only get a bigger seat but better food, better service and free booze regardless of the coach policy on drinks. Biz class usually has it's own bathrooms so there aren't long lines. If you're going to spend the extra money biz class seems like a much better buy.

I've priced this before though and it seems like two coach tix are frequently less costly than one biz class, though of course it would depend on specials.

For example, a rt economy on Air France SFO-CDG in September is $1439. x 2 = around $2880.

Current price listed for same trip biz class is some $9300.

Personally I buy upgradeable economy and then upgrade with miles.

YIKES, that is a big difference. I hope the OP has FF miles.

I also did not know it was that HUGE a difference. Sorry. Obviously I've not flown business or 1st class myself ;-)

Me neither suze. The only time I ever get biz class is when the airline screws up and this is their way of making amends. I have to admit it works, my anger ends when they say, "would you like an upgrade to business class?" :-D

try indirect flights using expedia

£2,379.30 = $3900
07:35 Depart San Francisco (SFO)
Arrive Paris (CDG) 06:55 +1 day Thu 17-Sep
Duration: 14hr 20mn Lufthansa 9369 / 9377
Connect in Washington (IAD)

Return

13:00 Depart Paris (CDG)
Arrive San Francisco (SFO) 19:10 Wed 30-Sep
Duration: 15hr 10mn Lufthansa 4245 / 458
Connect in Munich (Franz Josef Strauss Intl.)

I don't have experience with buying 2 tickets for one person, but yes the difference between 2 eco seats and 1 biz can be huge. But if you can get a sale, which several airlines offered this past summer (and often do for the fall) that difference shrinks considerably. So it's worth checking out various options.

<i>For example, a rt economy on Air France SFO-CDG in September is $1439. x 2 = around $2880.

Current price listed for same trip biz class is some $9300.</i>

I'm finding lots of options in the $3500-3900 range if you can take a 1 stop. And if you look further out than September, there are less expensive options. Some of the discounted business fares have advance purchase requirements.

Agreed, as mentioned in my post it depends on specials, but also as Patty points out also on whether you are willing to add stops.

For me, from $2880 to $3500 I'd spring for biz; much more than that I'd be back to the 2 seat option.

(or wait for my miles to add up :) )