Is It Possible to Buy a Second Seat on a Flight Just Because?
When you fly on a crowded flight with your knees pressed against the passenger in front of you, you may start fantasizing about how you would feel if the flight weren’t such a miserable experience. On the Elliott Advocacy forums , Qorx had an idea: Why not buy a seat next to you so you can stretch out and make flying in such a tight space a little less heartbreaking?
Here’s the good news: it’s entirely possible if you’re willing to splurge and jump over a few extra hoops to get it done. In the past, several major airlines have traditionally required the purchase of additional seats for those travelers who cannot comfortably accommodate in their seats.
This is what United’s policy looks like, according to their website :
The customer must purchase an additional seat or upgrade the class of service if he does not meet one of the following criteria:
1. The customer must be able to properly fasten, buckle and fasten the seat belt, with one extension if necessary whenever the seat belt sign is illuminated, or as instructed by a crew member2. The passenger must remain in the seat with the armrests down throughout the flight. The customer should not strongly encroach on the adjacent seating position.
Other airlines’ policies are mostly in line with United standards. American requires the purchase of an additional seat, “if the client’s body protrudes more than one inch beyond the outer edge of the armrest and an extension of the seat belt is required …” Meanwhile, Delta does not directly require the purchase of a seat, but does recommend it for the comfort of these passengers. (The cost of purchasing an extra seat also varies; Alaska will reimburse these customers for the purchase of a second seat if your flight has at least one open seat. Otherwise, you can expect to pay only the fare for that extra seat.)
But what if you don’t meet any of these criteria? Well, this is a little less clear as several airline websites are not so willing to buy another seat just because you want to stretch out, but it should be feasible depending on the airline. (However, JetBlue does not require you to meet any of the above criteria to purchase extra seat, as does Alaska, which calls these seats “ luxury seats.”)
How do you book these second seats? Well, call your airline first to make sure it’s even possible; airlines such as Alaska require you to call as this cannot be booked online anyway. If not, visit the airline’s website to find relevant instructions. Typically, this is as simple as booking a nearby seat, paying the tax, and following that airline’s instructions on how to determine that it is an extra seat on your itinerary. JetBlue , for example, requires you to enter “EXST” as the second place name next to your last name.
Remember to check both boarding passes.
But here’s where it gets tricky: Obviously, when you arrive at the airport, traveling with two boarding passes, you might get a few anxious glances from the TSA or flight attendants. Regarding Rene’s Points , writer Rene de Lambert described his experience flying at the airport with two Delta boarding passes; she stressed the importance of registering for both seats and being prepared to answer many questions about your situation.
Of course, there is a fairly high probability that the flight attendant will ask you when there is a free seat next to you on a full flight. For this reason, it does not hurt to remind the service personnel of the reservation at the time of boarding; In fact, the United website explicitly mentions that you are “actively involved in maintaining your extra space.” In other words, bring your checks and be ready to show them.
At this point, you may be asking: is it worth it, just for the extra space? And the answer depends on your personal preference. If the extra seat is more expensive than just buying an upgraded seat with extra legroom, then it might be worth reconsidering your plan. If you’re on a long-haul international flight with an aisle seat and a friend is sitting in the window, you might want to consider booking an average if the seat is cheap or simply because you hate flying so much.