Spirit Airlines- Extra Seat?

[emma'smom]

We have reservations for four on Friday for a non-stop flight to Florida. My high school age daughter has decided not to go on the trip due to school exams. The flight only cost 98 bucks total and it's a 90.00 fee to change the ticket---so it's not worth it. We'd love to just take advantage of her empty seat (which right now is a booked middle seat between me and her sister) for more space since we've paid for it. How can we assure they just don't count her as a "no show" and fill the seat with a stand-by passenger?

 

[SMD]

We have reservations for four on Friday for a non-stop flight to Florida. My high school age daughter has decided not to go on the trip due to school exams. The flight only cost 98 bucks total and it's a 90.00 fee to change the ticket---so it's not worth it. We'd love to just take advantage of her empty seat (which right now is a booked middle seat between me and her sister) for more space since we've paid for it. How can we assure they just don't count her as a "no show" and fill the seat with a stand-by passenger?

I don't think you can. This is one of the reasons that they oversell flights. You could just chance it, but you may want to ask at check-in about having the 3rd person in your party moved to that seat, just in case.

 

[SharonZ]

That seat is considered bookable, because your daughter is a no-show.

 

[Eighty8Keys]

If possible, I would call Spirit and ask about keeping that middle seat as an extra seat. I have no experience with Spirit, but we’ve purchased an extra seat multiple times on JetBlue when the fare was low enough that is was worth the extra cost to have the row to ourselves. Alaska Air allows you to convert a non-refundable ticket for someone who is not able to fly into what they call a Comfort Seat. This is different than airlines requiring a customer of size to purchase the adjacent seat. In JetBlue’s case, they issued a boarding pass for the extra seat so it wasn’t a no-show. It seems like if you paid for the seat, you should be able to use it. I’m not sure how seat assignments work with Spirit and how you would guarantee that you got all three seats together. But I wanted to at least point out that it might be possible.

 

[Texans_loyal]

Spirit will cancel the ticket when your daughter doesn't show up, I have had it happen before. it's spirit, they are out for money. there is no such thing as spirit "customer service"

 

[CookieGVB]

No-show means they will fill the seat if they need to.

 

[cats mom]

Per Spirit Airlines: You can purchase an extra seat by using your name for both tickets and selecting the desired seat assignments.

So they do have a procedure for purchasing an extra seat.

Whether you can get them to consider the seat purchased in your DD's name an extra seat instead of a no show may depend on the mood of Spirit employees, and as has been mentioned, customer service is not something they're known for. I'd have no problem trying, but would be prepared for the answer to be no.

We just ate the cost of a ticket on Allegiant under similar circumstances, and they did leave the seat we paid for and didn't use vacant, but only because the flight wasn't full. They flat out told us they would have re-sold it if they could have.

 

[MillauFr]

What if you just check her in when you get to airport, board the plane last, and then mention that your daughter got sick and had to go home. It might be too late for them to board someone else there if you are boarding right before they are going to close the door.

 

[Westcoastwild]

What if you just check her in when you get to airport, board the plane last, and then mention that your daughter got sick and had to go home. It might be too late for them to board someone else there if you are boarding right before they are going to close the door.

That seems...sleazy to me. You aren't screwing Spirit. You're screwing the poor soul that spirit sold a nonexisting ticket to, if it oversold this flight. They should be able to get on the flight if there is an empty seat (and yes, this is an empty seat. If you don't pay the change fee, it's a no show). Not to mention unlikely. They close the doors not when the last people board but when they are sure they have everyone aboard, including standbys. Last flight, they held us late to find room for the stand bys and their luggage, so I don't think those tactics would work anyway.

I'd just be happy if you are lucky enough to have that empty seat. And your chances are pretty good- most people don't want a middle seat, after all. If the flight is oversold, well, bad luck. For less than 100, it can't be a long flight. You aren't actually supposed to have stuff lying around anyway- for much of the flight, most of your stuff is gonna be stored overhead or underneath your seat, so the extra seat is not all that useful except in terms of extra wiggle room.

 

[MillauFr]

It is Spirit who is sleazy for selling the pour soul a nonexistent seat. You paid for the seat you should get to use it. Spirit's whole business practice is based on screwing people over.

 

[PatMcDuck]

My husband had this and wanted that empty seat to spread out. He paid for both on his CC. NO GO. they filled the seat, no refund for him (of course). It was not Spirit. May have been United.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Is there any harm in checking her in? Gives Spirit less time to fill the seat before they'll realize she's not there.

 

[Tinkerbell58]

Is there any harm in checking her in? Gives Spirit less time to fill the seat before they'll realize she's not there.

When I check-in at Spirit, I have to show ID.

 

[MillauFr]

When I check-in at Spirit, I have to show ID.

Don't you just check in on their mobile app? The only time Alaska asks for ID is when you are checking bags. Isn't Spirit the same?

 

[Texans_loyal]

Don't you just check in on their mobile app? The only time Alaska asks for ID is when you are checking bags. Isn't Spirit the same?

Spirit doesn't have a mobile app. even when you check in online, you have to go to the counter.

 

[tuckerkeys]

Spirit doesn't have a mobile app. even when you check in online, you have to go to the counter.

You can check her in 24 hours before the flight online. If she were just flying with no bags, the only ID she shows is at the security check. Technically, she could check in online and get " sick " for a no show. The only thing they do with an oversold flight tho is have the standby people wait when barding. Do a count then allow extra on.

 

[LovesTimone]

A girlfriend paid for a extra seat for her wedding dress. They did ask her if she would give up her extra seat for stand by, its not extra I paid for it, so no...

Another friend paid for her infant to have a seat, they tried to force her to hold her and she was like no I paid for it, so no way and I'm not giving up the seat.

 

[Westcoastwild]

A girlfriend paid for a extra seat for her wedding dress. They did ask her if she would give up her extra seat for stand by, its not extra I paid for it, so no...

Another friend paid for her infant to have a seat, they tried to force her to hold her and she was like no I paid for it, so no way and I'm not giving up the seat.

Yep. The key point is that they "asked" and "tried to force" your friends. But your friends had valid reasons and seats under their own names unlike the OP. If the airline was in the right in either case they WOULD had forced your friends. Proabably would have reimbursed the money, but still would have forced the issue.

I am rather surprised they even had the nerve to ask your friend with an infant. I could understand the wedding dress but I honestly thought flight crew preferred no lap babies.

 

[LilyWDW]

Your daughter would be a no show. That seat is then used for those that are waiting standby due to whatever reason. The seat will be used as the ticket is NOT in your name.

 

[ronandannette]

A girlfriend paid for a extra seat for her wedding dress. They did ask her if she would give up her extra seat for stand by, its not extra I paid for it, so no...

Another friend paid for her infant to have a seat, they tried to force her to hold her and she was like no I paid for it, so no way and I'm not giving up the seat.

When these passengers were approached were they offered a refund of the fares they paid for the seats? If not, why on God's green earth would they give them up?