Seat free fare paying passenger?

[Flanjam1]

Hi, Not so much a FF these days because of retirement thus posts are few and far between. Wondering if anyone knows if two travellers can purchase three seats to get extra space in lieu of more expensive J Class travel? Has it been done and is it a smart way to get a bit of extra space without the much bigger dollars?

 

[mannej]

This is called a comfort seat. There are a number of threads on here regarding comfort seats.

 

[serfty]

Certainly - Qantas refer to it as a "comfort seat". Industry refer to such as EXST.

You need to call to book.

More here: Qantas "Comfort" Seating [EXST]

 

[Flanjam1]

This is called a comfort seat. There are a number of threads on here regarding comfort seats.

Thank you for bringing me up to date. My question came now that Air NZ are now selling "that" seat for $19 at check in. On the back of that wondered if booking three seats when only two are required would stop the interloper. Cheers

 

[itchy feet]

This is called a comfort seat. There are a number of threads on here regarding comfort seats.

Given the wealth of knowledge on this site, am hoping someone can clarify for me.
When I saw this post referred to via a recent AFF newsletter, I asked my travel agent to look into my companion and I buying 2 seats each for a long haul QF or EK. Here’s what the airline told her:
1. For the extra seat, you pay the same fare & most of the taxes, so almost the same price but x 2
2. You & the extra seat are on one ticket
3. Seating can be pre-allocated but may be subject to a charge, depending on the fare-type
4. Extra seat can only be booked on an Emirates operated flight not codeshare, so you couldn’t do this with the QF codeshare flight.
5. If for any reason on the day, the flight is full & they need to recall the extra seat, you would be offered the choice of waiting for the next flight when they can honour the extra seat or if you insist on travelling that flight & day, they would not give you a refund.

So pay double, no guarantees and no refunds. The last part I really don’t understand. If I’ve paid, why can’t I have my seat? It’s not as if I’m a “no show”. To me it sounds like greed by EK. They can effectively sell seats twice and yet carry max one passenger per seat

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Interesting. On QF both seats come as a single booking, so you off-load one, you are effectively denying boarding to both seats. EK’s terms and conditions may allow that, but you’d have to check. But it sounds unusual (although i haven’t looked at their contract of carriage).

Any of these additional terms and conditions would need to be in writing (or available in writing) to the passenger at the time the additional seats were booked. For flights out of australia you’d be protected by consumer laws, so the ‘double fare, no refund’ would be illegal.

If you were to fly with QF you pay the base fare only, and the second seat is locked in.

 

[itchy feet]

Interesting. On QF both seats come as a single booking, so you off-load one, you are effectively denying boarding to both seats. EK’s terms and conditions may allow that, but you’d have to check. But it sounds unusual (although i haven’t looked at their contract of carriage).

Any of these additional terms and conditions would need to be in writing (or available in writing) to the passenger at the time the additional seats were booked. For flights out of australia you’d be protected by consumer laws, so the ‘double fare, no refund’ would be illegal.

If you were to fly with QF you pay the base fare only, and the second seat is locked in.

Thank you. I thought it sounded “illegal”. Certainly warrants further investigation

 

[juddles]

..., I asked my travel agent .......To me it sounds like greed by EK. ....

sounds to me more like the TA doesn't really know the full story.... which is not unusual as companion fares are not a common pax ask.

 

[itchy feet]

sounds to me more like the TA doesn't really know the full story.... which is not unusual as companion fares are not a common pax ask.

Yes, and yet this is what she said the airline told her. A very trusted TA.

 

[serfty]

Yes, and yet this is what she said the airline told her. A very trusted TA.

Sometimes these things can get lost in translation.

Maybe disceetly call EK yourself and ask. Outwardly it seems like someone is trying to put you off.

 

[itchy feet]

Sometimes these things can get lost in translation.

Maybe disceetly call EK yourself and ask. Outwardly it seems like someone is trying to put you off.

Thank you. Discreetly or not, I intend to phone the airline myself

 

[itchy feet]

Thank you. Discreetly or not, I intend to phone the airline myself

Hello and thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I have now spoken directly with EK.
FYI their "Extra Seat Policy" is the same regardless of the reason for purchasing - size and/or comfort of passenger, transporting a musical instrument etc:
1. Both seats are issued on the one ticket
2. Pax pays 2x base fare + 2x fuel charges + 1x airport taxes
3. If flight is full, pax will be offered the extra seat on the next available flight. If this offer is declined and the pax choses to travel on the original (ie full) flight, EK do not refund the costs associated with having purchase the extra seat.

So, if I want a comfort seat on my upcoming long haul flight, guess I have to find a carrier with a more pax-friendly policy.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hello and thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I have now spoken directly with EK.
FYI their "Extra Seat Policy" is the same regardless of the reason for purchasing - size and/or comfort of passenger, transporting a musical instrument etc:
1. Both seats are issued on the one ticket
2. Pax pays 2x base fare + 2x fuel charges + 1x airport taxes
3. If flight is full, pax will be offered the extra seat on the next available flight. If this offer is declined and the pax choses to travel on the original (ie full) flight, EK do not refund the costs associated with having purchase the extra seat.

So, if I want a comfort seat on my upcoming long haul flight, guess I have to find a carrier with a more pax-friendly policy.

Thanks for the update. bizarre! fly qantas!

It is doubly strange in that EK’s policy may also contravene discrimination laws... a large passenger buying two seats can’t really be denied service?

But i’d have to go read the contract of carriage regarding what they say on comfort seats. Otherwise it would seem to contravene both consumer law and contract law.

 

[equus]

3. If flight is full, pax will be offered the extra seat on the next available flight. If this offer is declined and the pax choses to travel on the original (ie full) flight, EK do not refund the costs associated with having purchase the extra seat.

That may be there policy, but it is likely to fall foul of Australian Consumer Law as an unfair contract term. If you purchased on a credit card, it would be grounds for a charge back of the extra seat cost on the grounds that the service was not provided.

 

[itchy feet]

Unfortunately can’t “fly” QANTAS. They’re not the carrier, only a codeshare with EK and thus we cannot book under QF flight#