requesting spare seat for two people in three seater

[parsonstrish]

How does one go about requesting one of the seats to remain vacant when travelling with another person, especially on o/seas long hauls. On my ret. trip from states I saw this occurring in two situations in front economy area I sat in? many thanks, trish

 

[aus_flyer]

QF usually seat their premium passengers at the front, and if capacity permits, they will often have spare seats between passengers sitting at the front.

You cannot, however, request a spare seat, as this is entirely at QF's discretion.

 

[Dave Noble]

I have requested it when Flounging a number of times;

If there are 2 people travelling, the simple thing to do is select an aisle and a window; unless the flight is v full the middle seat will almost certainly stay empty ( come on, who is going to request a centre seat ( excepting for a exit row ). If the flight is v full and you end up with someone next to you, if you ask them if they would care to move to their choice of aisle or window, they are likely to be accommodating to your request and you'll be no worse off .

Dave

 

[aus_flyer]

Very clever thinking, Dave

 

[NM]

Qantas, and I assume most airlines, are reluctant to allow pre-allocation of an Aisle and Window seat with an empty centre seat when the two seats are on linked itineraries. If you want to pre-allocate say A/C or D/G seats, then you may have to ensure the itineraries remain unlinked.

Additionally, they will not block out the middle seat until check-in has commenced. So if you have FF status or some justifiable need, you should ask at check-in time or in the lounge and you request will be considered against the prevailing conditions.

 

[Dave Noble]

Qantas, and I assume most airlines, are reluctant to allow pre-allocation of an Aisle and Window seat with an empty centre seat when the two seats are on linked itineraries. If you want to pre-allocate say A/C or D/G seats, then you may have to ensure the itineraries remain unlinked.

Additionally, they will not block out the middle seat until check-in has commenced. So if you have FF status or some justifiable need, you should ask at check-in time or in the lounge and you request will be considered against the prevailing conditions.

They are sometimes reluctant , but when pressed I have never had them refuse the request ( even when doing bookings for non status ppl ). There is no requirement that 2 people on the same PNR sit together and could even request seats in different rows if they so desired.

Some staff have realised what I am up to straight away and have just said that there is no guarantee that the seat will stay empty, but I would say that ( unless you are choosing exit rows ) the risks are v low of unwanten separation

Dave

 

[NM]

They are sometimes reluctant , but when pressed I have never had them refuse the request ( even when doing bookings for non status ppl ). There is no requirement that 2 people on the same PNR sit together and could even request seats in different rows if they so desired.

Some staff have realised what I am up to straight away and have just said that there is no guarantee that the seat will stay empty, but I would say that ( unless you are choosing exit rows ) the risks are v low of unwanten separation

Dave

I have been flatly refused to have non-adjacent seats allocated. But I did not press hard. I guess as with many things it depends which agent you get and how much they want to write their own rule book.

 

[Dave Noble]

I have been flatly refused to have non-adjacent seats allocated. But I did not press hard. I guess as with many things it depends which agent you get and how much they want to write their own rule book.

Just need to press, or use the 10* approved method of just asking for the supervisor and asking where such a rule exists

Dave

 

[NM]

Just need to press, or use the 10* approved method of just asking for the supervisor and asking where such a rule exists

Dave

hehe. I will need to remember that one. I have used the question about rules with regards to fares and routings 8) .