Want a little extra room in coach?

[zzyzx409]

Wouldn't we all like a little extra room in coach.

I've found a way, you have to pay for it, but it (to me) is worth the price.

If you are traveling with just you and one other person (husband or wife or whatever) book three seats instead of two. Make sure to say that you want a row, not two seats one place and a third somewhere else (that wouldn't help).

We did this last trip and I've already done it for my upcoming trip.

That way you can put all your carry-on under the middle seat and have room to stretch out.

Since I have mobility issues, I always ask for the "handicap row" this row has an aisle seat with a moveable armrest. Really helps getting in and out for necessary trips while in flight.

I hope this helps someone else,

Andy

 

[helenk]

I have thought about doing this myself. Buying an extra ticket is cheaper than upgrading 2 people to 1st class. Can you do this when you book on line? How do you go about buying the extra seat?

 

[bavaria]

some travellers do this. To avoid your extra seat being reseated away from you (which makes buying the extra seat pointless) you need to link yourself and your extra seat on a PNR. The name format can vary - I would call the airline and ask how to enter it before buying online. (you would buy the ticket for 2 ppl, then enter your name and the 'dummy' name in the format required)

I would then follow up and call the airline to ensure that they note that the seats should not be seperated.

 

[zzyzx409]

I have thought about doing this myself. Buying an extra ticket is cheaper than upgrading 2 people to 1st class. Can you do this when you book on line? How do you go about buying the extra seat?

Yep, most times it is cheaper than FC, I have had some discount FC tickets for $725 - $750 (two times) ONT to MCO.

I find that three coach have more room than 2 FC. Look in the FC cabin, the aisle is wider so, two FC seats are not as wide as 3 coach.

I just call the airlines. I've looked online, and the airilnes always give me tha same price as third party online (I used to use Orbitz) and by having a person do the booking right then, charge CC then, get seat assignments then. All is taken care of.

IHTH

ANdy

 

[NotUrsula]

The risk that you run with this plan is that the airline may decide at boarding that you really do not need the add'l seat, and may insist on refunding your money and taking it away.

AFAIK, second seats for an individual are inviolable in 3 cases: disability, obesity, and carriage of a large musical instrument. If you don't fit in one of those categories and the flight is oversold, there is a high likelihood that the airline will try to take back your extra seat. (They have also been known to try to buy back seats purchased for children who are young enough to be lap babies, but in that case, on US carriers anyway, your child's right to occupy the seat is protected by federal law.)

 

[zzyzx409]

The risk that you run with this plan is that the airline may decide at boarding that you really do not need the add'l seat, and may insist on refunding your money and taking it away.

AFAIK, second seats for an individual are inviolable in 3 cases: disability, obesity, and carriage of a large musical instrument. If you don't fit in one of those categories and the flight is oversold, there is a high likelihood that the airline will try to take back your extra seat. (They have also been known to try to buy back seats purchased for children who are young enough to be lap babies, but in that case, on US carriers anyway, your child's right to occupy the seat is protected by federal law.)

Well, I guess I'm covered... AA knows I trave with a scooter and they have to wheel me down the ramp to the plane.

On the flights I was on in Dec, they were both full, the only empty seat was he seat between me and my wife.

I have a friend and wife who are large, but not obese. They always get an extra seat for flights over 3 or 4 hours. One time when they were coming home from Hawaii, the plane was oversold, and they had no problems, in fact, when they were in the air, the flight attendent told them they were smart to bok the extra seat as the plane was so full.

Maybe they can and someitmes to take away the seat, but it seems to me that they would need need to give a darn good reason.

I usually book 7 - 10 months in advance, the only time I booked later than that was for my last Dec trip, but it was a last minute decision to go.

I guess the airlines can take away the seat, but it wouldn't make sense to do it without permission. It is cheaper to fly an aircraft with an empty paid for seat than a full paid for seat that they have had to give a special deal for to buy back. Also, no luggage for spare seat.

Be aware, there may be no luggage allowance for the empty seat. The agent told me that I was only allowed 2 pieces for me and 2 pieces, for my wife, I asked about the empty seat and was told that there was no luggage allowance for that seat. If you want more luggage allowance, it would be best to ask about it.

IHTH

Andy

 

[NotUrsula]

I guess the airlines can take away the seat, but it wouldn't make sense to do it without permission. It is cheaper to fly an aircraft with an empty paid for seat than a full paid for seat that they have had to give a special deal for to buy back. Also, no luggage for spare seat.

It's not going to be cheaper for them if they have to pay bump compensation.
Most of the time when this happens, the passenger who needs the seat has paid more than the passenger who bought it far in advance, perhaps more than that passenger originally paid for both seats.

 

[autumnblue]

Wouldn't we all like a little extra room in coach.

I've found a way, you have to pay for it, but it (to me) is worth the price.

Since I have mobility issues, I always ask for the "handicap row" this row has an aisle seat with a moveable armrest. Really helps getting in and out for necessary trips while in flight.

Andy[/QUOTE]

What would happen if another person with a disability needed to use one of the seats in "handicap row".

I use a powerchair and really need the bulkhead seats to get in and out with help. My last flight, just yesterday, had about 5 people needing mobility assistance. I wonder if they would make you give up one of those seats.

Autumn

 

[NotUrsula]

Under the ADA, 50% of the rows on any aircraft have to have moveable armrests on the aisle seats. Older planes have been retrofitted to that standard, but on newer planes it is usually closer to 90%, since it is cheaper to build all the seats the same way.

 

[zzyzx409]

Since I have mobility issues, I always ask for the "handicap row" this row has an aisle seat with a moveable armrest. Really helps getting in and out for necessary trips while in flight.

Andy

What would happen if another person with a disability needed to use one of the seats in "handicap row".

I use a powerchair and really need the bulkhead seats to get in and out with help. My last flight, just yesterday, had about 5 people needing mobility assistance.

I AM disabled, maybe not as severly disabled as you, but disabled non-the-less so, that is why I request this (it's not a bulkhead row) row. If another person needs a HC row, there is another row designated as a HC row. I request this row because of need, not just want or because it would be nice. This is also why I book many, many months in advance, so I have a choice, sometimes I pay more for choice, yeah, I don't get the last minute deals that are frequently available, but I figure with my need I should plan far in advance to take care of my needs not expect that someone will take care of them for me, or someone who is in need and has planned in advance will "give up something so I can have it" and to make sure I have the accomodations I need, and with my advance planning I believe have as much "right" to the seat I had the foresight to plan for as anyone else.

I wonder if they would make you give up one of those seats.

Autumn

Which seat should I give up? My seat or the one my wife is in?

Why should I give up any seat?

What is being implied in your response?

Just MHO, YMMV

Andy

 

[PatMcDuck]

My husband went on a trip, he paid for 2 tickets. The 2nd person could not go at the last minute. They filled that seat, even though WE paid for it. There was no refund or anything. My husband argued that it should remain empty for his comfort, but did not win the argument.

I believe this was on Delta, it was a few years ago.

 

[bavaria]

Ah, but Pat that is a different situation. If the tickets were booked as Husband/MR and Husband/MR/EXTRA then he would be holding two seats under his name, linked on the PNR.

I suspect that by the sounds of your post, the tickets were booked as Husband/MR and Friend/MR. When Friend/MR couldn't travel, he was cancelling his trip and would receive a credit for the flight, minus a service fee (depending on the airline policy and the restrictions of the ticket)

For anyone planning to do as the OP has suggested, it is very important to ensure that the tickets are booked with the name to reflect that it is an extra seat - your airline can advise you how they recommend entering the name field.

 

[zzyzx409]

Ah, but Pat that is a different situation. If the tickets were booked as Husband/MR and Husband/MR/EXTRA then he would be holding two seats under his name, linked on the PNR.

I suspect that by the sounds of your post, the tickets were booked as Husband/MR and Friend/MR. When Friend/MR couldn't travel, he was cancelling his trip and would receive a credit for the flight, minus a service fee (depending on the airline policy and the restrictions of the ticket)

For anyone planning to do as the OP has suggested, it is very important to ensure that the tickets are booked with the name to reflect that it is an extra seat - your airline can advise you how they recommend entering the name field.

I believe it is implied here, but when booking extra seats, I believe one should go direclty through the airline and explain their situation. Talk to a "real live person", not a screen on a bargin web site. I tell them of my mobility issue and size and they make note of this and have it in a permenant profile under my name and such. I have even noticed that when booking on bargin web sites that they state that the seat choice is mearly a request from the airlines and that they (the bargin site) cannot reserve any specific seat. But, the airlies can, and that is reason for me to go directly to the airlines. I pay more for airline booking, (it costs me $10 extra per seat, total $30 just to have a person book my seats, but to me it is worth it). I try my best to insure that I get what I need.

My friend who books online, sometimes has to explain about the extra seat when he checks in at the airport, because it is not in that booking format, but has so far had no problem that caused him to lose his seat.

When I book, it is as if there are three people in my family, under the same reservation, and that is how they are listed,

Last Name/My name
Last Name/Extra Seat
Last Name/Wife's name

I have found American Airlines to be very helpful, in fact since they are aware of my mobility issues, they even call me a few weeks prior to flight to go over any details to make sure that all is set properly, and that they can accomodate me to the best they can.

I book early, I may not get the best price, but the airlines knows my situation and things ran fairly well last time.

I recommend that if anyone has any special needs that they book direclty with the airlines (or maybe through a travel agent who can talk directly to the airlines) and get it sorted out well in advance to avoid last minute problems. Also, if you have special needs, in order to make sure that those needs are met, it might be a good idea to book early. I may not always get the best price, but I look at what is most important to me... The best price, or having my needs met?

When I started this thread, I thought I might be helping some folks. I did not start this thread with the idea of starting a controversey, it was in the spirit of help. But judging from some of the responses, I am almost sorry I started the thread, it has turned into a can of worms. I feel that one person even accused me of taking something from them because I book early and make my special requests known in advance. I really, really hope that it is not all like this, I hope that I have helped others, I hope I have helped even one person have an easier time. If that is so, then maybe this is all worth it.

IHTH

Andy

 

[seashoreCM]

... is a different situation. If the tickets were booked as Husband/MR and Husband/MR/EXTRA then .

... then the friend, had he been able to go, would not be able to use the ticket.

 

[bavaria]

... then the friend, had he been able to go, would not be able to use the ticket.

I think that you have missed the point entirely. Pat's husband wanted to use the 'spare' seat, but that 'spare' seat was purchased for the friend, under the friend's name.

These are two different situations, as I noted in my post.

1) booking an extra seat as Andy has noted, and given instructions on how to do this

2) booking a ticket for a friend

When the friend is unable to fly the person who booked the ticket does not get to claim the seat.

Back to the OP - I'm sorry that you feel that your thread which you intended to be helpful has gone a little off the track you intended. Unfortunately that can happen here!

When you posted, I knew exactly what you meant. I do see the occaissional person on www.flyertalk.com who does exactly what you do, for whatever reason.

As to mobility issues and bulkhead rows, on many aircraft the bulkhead row has immovable armrests. On other aircraft, the 'bulkhead' or row with most legroom is an exit row (think row 9 on a 757) and mobility impaired travellers cannot sit there.

As Andy suggested, if anyone has special needs they are best off contacting the airline directly.

 

[zzyzx409]

As to mobility issues and bulkhead rows, on many aircraft the bulkhead row has immovable armrests. On other aircraft, the 'bulkhead' or row with most legroom is an exit row (think row 9 on a 757) and mobility impaired travellers cannot sit there.

As Andy suggested, if anyone has special needs they are best off contacting the airline directly.

The bulkhead row is very uncomfortable for me, no leg room, no place to store carry-on (except overhead). I avoid the bulkhead.

I would love the Exit Row, but I am not allowed to sit there, and I fully understand why I should not sit there, and I never ask for it, I just look at all that extra legroom (oh well, not mine).

On the American Airlines 757 (which is what I fly coast to coast) the row 15 aisle seats designated as HC accessible. AA clearly states that these are HC accessible, but anyone can ask for them, so as I need one, I book early so I can get one. It may cost more, but it is necessary for me to be able to get in and out.

One last thing I do, is I book only non-stop fights. I have to gate-check my scooter, and if he airplane is only going to one place I figure I stand a much better chance of my scooter getting to where I need it to be, same city and such. I can't book a NS out of the airport closest to me, so I have to travel to LA the night before I fly, stay in a hotel and then catch the flight in the AM (only one NS per day to MCO and it is at 8:30 AM). No way I could drive in and park and count on being on time, I would have to leave home at 2:00 AM just to get there, so I may as well leave the night before and at least sleep. Add another $150 to the cost of my trip to Orlando. For those of you keeping score, I am now up to between $1300 and $1500 to get myself and my wife to MCO in coach.

What I do is not cheap, it is not budget friendly, but it makes it so I can go on vacation.

Later,

Andy

 

[delilah]

The risk that you run with this plan is that the airline may decide at boarding that you really do not need the add'l seat, and may insist on refunding your money and taking it away.

AFAIK, second seats for an individual are inviolable in 3 cases: disability, obesity, and carriage of a large musical instrument. If you don't fit in one of those categories and the flight is oversold, there is a high likelihood that the airline will try to take back your extra seat. (They have also been known to try to buy back seats purchased for children who are young enough to be lap babies, but in that case, on US carriers anyway, your child's right to occupy the seat is protected by federal law.)

This almost happened to me while I was flying alone with my son when he was three. I had purchased a seat for him, and had checked the car seat (because I was alone, and had other carry on items). I had him belted in next to me, and the FA somehow thought he might be under two. I told her no, he was three and I had purchased a ticket for him. Lucky me. It would have been nearly unbearable to have been in the window (or middle) seat with a 35 lb toddler crammed in next to a stranger for two and a half hours.