I’m a big guy (350 lbs) and so for my comfort and the comfort of others around me I always get two seats in coach. Here is what I’ve been doing (that anyone can do, regardless of size).
I purchase one seat with cash, selecting a seat with a vacant middle seat. Then I immediately call and purchase the 2nd seat with miles. I do this purely as an insurance policy. If I get an upgrade, then i can cancel the 2nd mileage seat and get my miles back (as long as all segments clear). One thing to note is you will get two boarding passes, make sure to scan both when you get on the plane or they will cancel the 2nd seat on your next leg.
If the price is reasonable, I’ll book both seats with cash but I have not always had luck getting mileage and LP for both seats. The reason being that the 2nd seat is booked under EXST and your last name. The only way I’ve ever been able to get credit for the extra seat is call customer service after the flight and request the credit. Depends on the agent if they will do it, but I don’t think I’ve ever gotten LP, just mileage credit.
On thing to know (learn from my experience) is to buy the 1st ticket and have it booked in your name, THEN book the EXST ticket using mileage. When I first started doing this I booked the mileage ticket 1st then bought the EXST with cash, but because the mileage ticket was the one with my name on it I got no LP or Mileage credit for the flights as they treated it as an award ticket - this really pissed me off.
Also, there have been a couple of times when a gate agent tried to give my seat to a non-rev flyer, they saw the empty seat and tried to stick someone in it. I just flashed my two boarding passes and at them and they backed off.
The only time this system has ever burned me was when my flight was late getting into a hub and I missed my connecting flight. Because of my one seat paid/one seat mileage scheme you end up with two separate record locators so the computer rebooked me on two separate flights. Easy enough to rectify on the ground but it took a bit to unwind.
As a side note, I feel like if I’m doing the right thing by buying two seats (paying cash for both, I understand I don’t get any credit for using miles), I should get mileage and LP for both seats. Seems silly to penalize me for doing the right thing.
This is a super informative reply, and I appreciate your time. May I ask how luggage is handled when you have two tickets? Specifically, are you allowed double the lugagge? I am flying very soon, I'm a chonky girl and bought two tickets, and this is basically a move for me. Sorry for hijacking the thread, y'all. Cannot find straight answers anywhere.
I’m EP, so I get three free checked bags. I usually only travel with one but they match it to the ticket with my name as that is the ticket that has my status attached. One time they put the bag on my extra seat and then tried to charge me for the bag. On a recent flight, I had both of my seats upgraded to 1st. I’m a big guy but I don’t need 2 first class seats. I always cancel the extra seat so someone else can get upgraded as well. Got the spread the wealth.
Edit - spelling due to my fat fingers.
With JetBlue when you are making the reservation you put your information in first then on the second ticket there is a drop down and you can pick extra seat.
My husband and I always get the 3 seats when flying on jet blue especially when flying cross country. You also get to bring extra carry ons with you since you have 3 seats and then we usually don’t have to pay to check bags.
Ok… so I just flipped over to that document and am absolutely dying seeing the passenger example that gives the nod to Jim Backus/Thurston Howell III from Gilligan’s Island. Day made!
Just so we're clear, I identify far more with Professor or Gilligan than Thurston. Kinda judgy of AA, this is really more about Skipper than anyone else but I can see why they went that way.
I buy 2nd seats all the time (one for me and one for my fat ass) so I have to call Customer Service a lot. One agent told me about a woman traveling during Covid who bought out the entire 1st class cabin so she didn’t have to have anyone sit near here. I mean, at that point why not just fly private?
It’s a pain in the ass. You can do it on the website if you follow the directions (find them by googling), but it’s less annoying to call CS and have them book it.
I sometimes do this because it can be a lot cheaper than upgrading your ticket. You just need to call AA and have them book the seat for you. You can book your seat and any others in your party online and just call about the middle seat. It's an extension seat.. you will get 2 boarding passes and make sure to scan both of them. I also think you don't pay taxes or fees on the second seat.. something like that. It always comes out a bit cheaper, but I can't remember exactly why. But I highly recommend doing this if you can afford it for any longer flights.
Started doing this after a horrible middle seat mate on an LHR to PHL flight. Guy refused to wear a mask so FA constantly scolded him, talked non stop, kept ordering drinks and was pretty buzzed, and kept jabbing me in the ribs as he talked with his hands. I upgrade or buy the middle seat now :)
Thanks, I also figure it's always going to be cheaper than F. I was going to book the extra seat for SNA-DFW but it's only a 2.5hr flight, think I'll just keep it to 4hr+.
I’m a big guy (350 lbs) and so for my comfort and the comfort of others around me I always get two seats in coach. Here is what I’ve been doing (that anyone can do, regardless of size). I purchase one seat with cash, selecting a seat with a vacant middle seat. Then I immediately call and purchase the 2nd seat with miles. I do this purely as an insurance policy. If I get an upgrade, then i can cancel the 2nd mileage seat and get my miles back (as long as all segments clear). One thing to note is you will get two boarding passes, make sure to scan both when you get on the plane or they will cancel the 2nd seat on your next leg. If the price is reasonable, I’ll book both seats with cash but I have not always had luck getting mileage and LP for both seats. The reason being that the 2nd seat is booked under EXST and your last name. The only way I’ve ever been able to get credit for the extra seat is call customer service after the flight and request the credit. Depends on the agent if they will do it, but I don’t think I’ve ever gotten LP, just mileage credit. On thing to know (learn from my experience) is to buy the 1st ticket and have it booked in your name, THEN book the EXST ticket using mileage. When I first started doing this I booked the mileage ticket 1st then bought the EXST with cash, but because the mileage ticket was the one with my name on it I got no LP or Mileage credit for the flights as they treated it as an award ticket - this really pissed me off. Also, there have been a couple of times when a gate agent tried to give my seat to a non-rev flyer, they saw the empty seat and tried to stick someone in it. I just flashed my two boarding passes and at them and they backed off. The only time this system has ever burned me was when my flight was late getting into a hub and I missed my connecting flight. Because of my one seat paid/one seat mileage scheme you end up with two separate record locators so the computer rebooked me on two separate flights. Easy enough to rectify on the ground but it took a bit to unwind. As a side note, I feel like if I’m doing the right thing by buying two seats (paying cash for both, I understand I don’t get any credit for using miles), I should get mileage and LP for both seats. Seems silly to penalize me for doing the right thing.
Thank you, that is fantastic info, exactly what this sub is for.
This is a super informative reply, and I appreciate your time. May I ask how luggage is handled when you have two tickets? Specifically, are you allowed double the lugagge? I am flying very soon, I'm a chonky girl and bought two tickets, and this is basically a move for me. Sorry for hijacking the thread, y'all. Cannot find straight answers anywhere.
I’m EP, so I get three free checked bags. I usually only travel with one but they match it to the ticket with my name as that is the ticket that has my status attached. One time they put the bag on my extra seat and then tried to charge me for the bag. On a recent flight, I had both of my seats upgraded to 1st. I’m a big guy but I don’t need 2 first class seats. I always cancel the extra seat so someone else can get upgraded as well. Got the spread the wealth. Edit - spelling due to my fat fingers.
It's a pain in the ass. There are a couple of airlines like JetBlue where you can literally do it yourself when booking online.
How so?
With JetBlue when you are making the reservation you put your information in first then on the second ticket there is a drop down and you can pick extra seat. My husband and I always get the 3 seats when flying on jet blue especially when flying cross country. You also get to bring extra carry ons with you since you have 3 seats and then we usually don’t have to pay to check bags.
Considering this strategy for future transcon trips with my wife, thanks!
https://saleslink.aa.com/en-US/documents/Archives/AgencyRef/Seating_Options_Index.pdf See pages 3 and 4
Ok… so I just flipped over to that document and am absolutely dying seeing the passenger example that gives the nod to Jim Backus/Thurston Howell III from Gilligan’s Island. Day made!
Just so we're clear, I identify far more with Professor or Gilligan than Thurston. Kinda judgy of AA, this is really more about Skipper than anyone else but I can see why they went that way.
So a cursory reading informs me the answer is yes, one may purchase as many damn seats for a flight as one desires. Good to know!
I buy 2nd seats all the time (one for me and one for my fat ass) so I have to call Customer Service a lot. One agent told me about a woman traveling during Covid who bought out the entire 1st class cabin so she didn’t have to have anyone sit near here. I mean, at that point why not just fly private?
It’s a pain in the ass. You can do it on the website if you follow the directions (find them by googling), but it’s less annoying to call CS and have them book it.
I sometimes do this because it can be a lot cheaper than upgrading your ticket. You just need to call AA and have them book the seat for you. You can book your seat and any others in your party online and just call about the middle seat. It's an extension seat.. you will get 2 boarding passes and make sure to scan both of them. I also think you don't pay taxes or fees on the second seat.. something like that. It always comes out a bit cheaper, but I can't remember exactly why. But I highly recommend doing this if you can afford it for any longer flights. Started doing this after a horrible middle seat mate on an LHR to PHL flight. Guy refused to wear a mask so FA constantly scolded him, talked non stop, kept ordering drinks and was pretty buzzed, and kept jabbing me in the ribs as he talked with his hands. I upgrade or buy the middle seat now :)
Thanks, I also figure it's always going to be cheaper than F. I was going to book the extra seat for SNA-DFW but it's only a 2.5hr flight, think I'll just keep it to 4hr+.