Blocking Seats

As a Star Alliance Gold I routinely do this when travelling on SQ and nine times out of ten I'm successful providing economy is not fully booked.

Mind you I always book an aisle seat in the centre row on the 747 or 777 flts and that always seems to increase the chances. From my experience the check-in counter doesn't have the authorisation to block seats and they politely ask me to go across to the ticketing agent counter where the SQ rep is and it's they that have the authority.

 

I routinely get an empty seat next to me when flying QF unless plane is full.

My experience with CX is that they block and won't release a seat next to one of their Platinum passengers, even under duress.

Recently I was flying in CX J and my colleague was in CX Y and they wouldn't let him have the seat he wanted as "the Platinum next to that seat wouldn't like it".

 

I always ask if the flight is heavily booked, and if no, I ask if they can please block the seat next to me.
Always say yes.
Though as far as I am aware, this is a priviledge reserved for Platinum.

 

Nope, any one can request it, I used to all the time when I was Silver even. As others have said it depends on the PAX load and as always it pays to ask nicely and be courteous to the checkin staff.