If part of party doesn't show for flight?

[aubriee]

I booked airfare for my Sept 1st-8th trip last Dec when Spirit was having a sale. A couple of weeks ago, my mom decided she wanted to go with me, so I booked her on the same Spirit flight and prepaid for seats and carry ons, so we could sit together. Now she's decided she does not want to go after all. I know airfare is nonrefundable, but am wondering if since I paid for both tickets (including seat fees) with my credit card, is there anyway I could check us both in at the 24 hour mark, then when I arrive at the airport explain she is not going to be able to fly, but I want to keep her seat as a second seat, so I'll have more room on the flight? The ticket is obviously in her name, but I paid for it with my credit card and would like to have the use of it. I doubt it, but wonder if that's possible? She lives with me, so the address used for hers is the same as mine.

 

[deegack]

If they don't check in by a certain time the seat may be given away. It really depends on how full the flight is, are there standby passengers due to a canceled flight or missed connection etx

 

[Tara]

You can't keep her seat as empty. When she doesn't check in, it's going to go back into their inventory that they can assign to standby or last minute passengers. The reality is that unless there are standby passengers waiting for seats, that seat might end up staying empty, but you can't guarantee that. Who paid for the ticket, what address you used...none of that matters.

 

[Love2BinDisney]

How does it work then when someone buys two seats due to their size? They can't check in for both seats, can they?

 

[Tara]

How does it work then when someone buys two seats due to their size? They can't check in for both seats, can they?

This is the only instance where a single passenger is able to purchase two seats. They can in fact check in for both seats. I've never traveled with anyone who did this so I can't say exactly how it works, though.

 

[Hannathy]

The thing is she didn't buy 2 seats for herself. She "paid" for 2 seats but she only bought 1 seat for herself. She bought the other seat for her Mom. The airline doesn't care who "paid" the bill. I can pay for a seat for anyone but it isn't my seat it is the seat of whose name I bought it for.

Now if she bought 2 seats under her name then she would have 2 seats. This way she has 1 seat and Mom has 1 seat.

 

[chamonix]

I agree that it's technically not possible, but since it's nonrefundable anyway, you lose nothing in trying. (I do think you'd have more of a leg to stand on if the tickets had been purchased together at the same time though).

Check both of you in at the 24 hour mark, then go to the airport early (don't try this last minute!) and explain what you wrote here: that your mother is no longer coming, and that you would like to keep the seat for yourself as a second seat. The worst they can do is say no (which they most likely will say) and as written above, it can't hurt to try since you lose the $$$ either way. You miss 100% of the balls you don't take a swing at!

If the flight is not full, they may keep that seat empty for you anyway, but that's definitely a long shot. Again, no harm in asking! Make sure you bring all receipts, confirmation emails, and the credit card you used. Just go into this with the full acceptance that they can and will say no though, so you're not disappointed.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

On all the airlines that I fly on these days, it's certainly possible (and easy) to "check in" and print boarding passes online, ahead of time.

However, in the situation that the OP described, it's not a matter of checking in; it's a matter of having having the passenger present herself and having the boarding pass scanned to board the aircraft.

Boarding normally begins 30 minutes before scheduled departure. If a passenger has not boarded at least 15 minutes before departure, the passenger is considered a no-show, the seat is released, and the seat is assigned to someone else if needed.

Just about every flight that I've taken to Orlando over the past ten years has flown with all seats filled. But the OP might be lucky to be on a flight that is not 100% full by the time it departs. If so, the seat could remain empty.

But I wouldn't count on it.

I agree with the advice from chamonix above. It wouldn't hurt to ask. A sympathetic gate agent might be able to block the seat under the circumstances (so that other seats are assigned first) if the aircraft is anticipated not to be 100% full. But that's a long shot.

 

[aubriee]

Thanks! That's what I figured, but was hoping there was a way. I just hate to lose the money on that ticket and get nothing out of it. I could strangle my mom. She's 78 y/o (will turn 79 the day after the trip). Since I'll lose the money either way, I am not going to cancel her ticket. I will check us both in at the 24 hour mark, carry my email confirmation and will of course have the cc I used to purchase both tickets, and just take my chances on the seat being empty.

 

[sam_gordon]

If the gate/ticket agent won't guarantee you get to utilize two seats, I'd ask for a refund for the second seat. IMO, if you paid for it, you get to use it.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

If the gate/ticket agent won't guarantee you get to utilize two seats, I'd ask for a refund for the second seat. IMO, if you paid for it, you get to use it.

Unfortunately, it's the passenger named on the ticket who "gets to use it," but that passenger has decided not to use her nonrefundable ticket.

Thus the airline won't issue a refund.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

How does it work then when someone buys two seats due to their size? They can't check in for both seats, can they?

The KEY difference is you buy BOTH seats in YOUR name not in the name of someone else.

If you do this, due to size or just a desire for more space, I would call the airline and make sure it's NOTED on your record. Then be prepared to defend it!

I know folks who do this for economy flights to Europe just for more space, not because they are passengers of size.

And feel free to "ask for refund" You won't get it but at least you asked. The OPs mom purchased a "non refundable" ticket. It means just that. The fact that she chose not to use it was her call, the airline will have lived up to it's end of the deal by getting a plane there.

 

[NotUrsula]

Horace is right; the only way to do it for sure is to get that second BP scanned at the jetway door somehow, and even then you would probably lose it if the FA does a headcount before departure. I suppose you could hold out both BP's to be scanned and make vague gestures behind you at some other old lady, hoping that they would think you were holding her BP as well. (That's really tongue-in-cheek, but I routinely hand over multiple BP's to the scanning employee when I'm boarding with family, and they tend to just scan whatever I hand them.)

As to Customers of Size, the usual way that that is done is to purchase the second ticket as "Lastname, Firstname XS" instead of your real middle initial. (Only the airline cares about that BP, TSA does not, so it doesn't matter that it doesn't match your ID, because TSA will never see it.)

BTW, here is a tip for those of you who have family members or friends who are prone to backing out of trips and causing you to lose money: it is best to buy their tickets using miles rather than money. Even if you have to buy the miles to do it, it is still the best choice, because when you cancel a trip booked with miles they go back into the account of the purchaser rather than the passenger; it is the only way that I know of to get a full refund on an otherwise non-refundable fare that is purchased for someone else. (Spirit unfortunately does not sell miles at this point, but most airlines do.)

 

[Lewisc]

This is the only instance where a single passenger is able to purchase two seats. They can in fact check in for both seats. I've never traveled with anyone who did this so I can't say exactly how it works, though.

There are other circumstances, a large (expensive) musical instrument is a common example. Some airlines let a passenger purchase a second seat, for comfort.

Won't help the OP. Airlines won't let you transfer the ticket from one passenger (Mom) to another passenger (second seat for daughter).

Get the BP online. When you Mom doesn't show at final boarding (10-15 minutes before the flight) Spirit might release the seat to a standby passenger otherwise it will be empty.

 

[kerplop]

I know on SWA you have to have both seats with your name on them in order to utilize and check in for both at the airport. For example you'd check in as Jane B. Smith for one seat and Jane XS Smith for the other, which tells SWA that you're using two seats. You still have to check in at the counter when you get there, at which point I believe they issue your boarding pass with the extra seat voucher. So you could try, but I think you'll be at the mercy of the ticketing agent when you get there.

 

[Lewisc]

If you want to play games make sure your group is the last to board. Calling for final boarding early (15 minutes before departure). You could even stall and say one of your party (Mom) is in the bathroom. Board at the deadline, check maybe 10 minutes. You can probably time it so your extra seat will be the last seat released for a standby passenger. Won't help you if there are more standby passengers then available seats.

 

[HayGan]

Please do NOT try and check her in and then get the gate agent to scan her boarding pass to use her seat on the flight. FA's take a head count on EVERY single flight. The head count must match the roster of check-ins. It is a security measure! Think about it, if someone with not so good intentions checked themselves into a flight, was listed as being on the flight but then actually wasn't on that flight it sends up a HUGE red flag that something is wrong!!!! Save your self and your fellow passengers a ton of trouble and just don't try and play games with the check-in and boarding. Explaing your situation to the company (either via phone or the ticket agent at the airport) and see what they can do.

 

[elfbo]

BTW, here is a tip for those of you who have family members or friends who are prone to backing out of trips and causing you to lose money: it is best to buy their tickets using miles rather than money. Even if you have to buy the miles to do it, it is still the best choice, because when you cancel a trip booked with miles they go back into the account of the purchaser rather than the passenger; it is the only way that I know of to get a full refund on an otherwise non-refundable fare that is purchased for someone else. (Spirit unfortunately does not sell miles at this point, but most airlines do.)

Do miles (Rapid rewards points) work this way with southwest? If i book tickets for others in my party, and they back out, or the fare goes down, do the points go back into my rewards account?

 

[aubriee]

Please do NOT try and check her in and then get the gate agent to scan her boarding pass to use her seat on the flight. FA's take a head count on EVERY single flight. The head count must match the roster of check-ins. It is a security measure! Think about it, if someone with not so good intentions checked themselves into a flight, was listed as being on the flight but then actually wasn't on that flight it sends up a HUGE red flag that something is wrong!!!! Save your self and your fellow passengers a ton of trouble and just don't try and play games with the check-in and boarding. Explaing your situation to the company (either via phone or the ticket agent at the airport) and see what they can do.

This is what I planned to do. I had no intention of playing games trying to get the gate agent to scan her boarding pass. Heck, if I was going to do that, I'd just have my mom use her boarding pass and board with me, then immediately get off the plane. My mom lives with me and she and my husband are taking me to the airport, so she'll be there and with her boarding pass could actually go through security all the way to the gate with me, if she wanted to. I wouldn't do that though. My plan was to check us in online at the 24 hour mark, then just politely ask the gate agent if at all possible would they try not sell that seat at the last minute. If it works great, but if not it's not a big deal. I just wish I hadn't wasted the money on her ticket and prepaid for seat assignments and carry on for her. I hate that the airline gets to sell that seat twice and keep the money both times.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

BTW, here is a tip for those of you who have family members or friends who are prone to backing out of trips and causing you to lose money: it is best to buy their tickets using miles rather than money. Even if you have to buy the miles to do it, it is still the best choice, because when you cancel a trip booked with miles they go back into the account of the purchaser rather than the passenger; it is the only way that I know of to get a full refund on an otherwise non-refundable fare that is purchased for someone else. (Spirit unfortunately does not sell miles at this point, but most airlines do.)

While it is true that you can get your miles redeposited to your account for a cancelled FF ticket, there is usually a fee to do so and it's usually the same fee you would pay to change a ticket. On United, it's $150.00, unless you are a 1K or GS; then the fee is waved.

It would be best to buy a refundable ticket for iffy travelers.