In case you missed it, Southwest Airlines’ “customer of size and extra seat” coverage got here to the forefront on the finish of 2023 after a self-described plus-size journey influencer applauded the service’s coverage permitting passengers to request an additional seat free of charge.
Southwest is among the many main carriers which have lengthy allowed vacationers to buy a second adjoining seat on their planes for “passengers of size” requiring extra room.
However, most airways, excluding Southwest satirically, present the choice for all passengers requesting extra space to ebook a second seat for the only objective of doing so.
Regardless of the explanation, whether or not it’s a performer with a big musical instrument or a passenger who simply needs extra space despite the fact that they might safely match into one assigned seat, here is how every extra-seat coverage varies by service.
Alaska Airlines
All Alaska Airlines passengers should buy a further seat, known as a consolation seat, by way of telephone. Standard ticketing charges are waived for consolation seats, and Alaska recommends buying it on the similar time you ebook your first seat, however you are able to do so anytime earlier than departure.
Note that you need to use a companion fare voucher (such because the one accessible with the Alaska Airlines Visa bank card) or your Alaska Airlines MileagePlan miles to pay for the second seat. Just know that to make use of a companion fare certificates, you have to ebook the second seat on the identical reservation as the primary.
If you spend money to buy the consolation seat, you’re eligible to earn redeemable miles on that seat, although not elite-status credit score. To request this credit score, contact Alaska’s Customer Care Center as soon as journey is full.
Lastly, in case you are buying the consolation seat as a “passenger of size” and all your flights departed with an unsold seat, you are eligible for a refund for the second seat should you contact Alaska after your flights.
Standard checked baggage costs and waivers apply for every bought seat.
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Read extra: Alaska Airlines’ ‘consolation seat’ coverage
American Airlines
American Airlines permits clients wanting extra area to ebook a second seat.
To ebook two seats on American, clients should name reservations instantly and buy a second seat on the similar fare and in the identical fare class as the primary seat. You can redeem AAdvantage miles for the second seat should you redeem miles for each seats in the identical fare class. However, you can’t earn miles on the extra seat buy even should you pay money. Additionally, should you want a second seat, you have to ebook it for the total itinerary — not only one section.
Read extra: American Airlines’ coverage on ‘further area throughout journey’
Delta Air Lines
Like American and Alaska, Delta Air Lines requires passengers to name their reservations line to ebook an additional seat for any cause.
Although you possibly can redeem Delta SkyMiles for the second seat, this system prohibits incomes miles on “tickets purchased to carry excess baggage such as musical instruments and pets or to provide extra space for the primary passenger.”
Since Delta Basic Economy tickets do not include advance seat assignments, you will wish to keep away from that kind of fare in case you are reserving two adjoining seats to have some further area.
Read extra: Delta Air Lines’ Additional Assistance web page
Frontier Airlines
Low-cost service Frontier Airlines advises clients who’re “unable to lower both armrests and/or who compromise any portion of adjacent seat or aisle” to ebook two seats previous to journey. Passengers can inquire about doing so on-line by way of the airline’s chat system, which has changed their customer support telephone line.
Read extra: Frontier Airlines’ ‘further seat area’ coverage
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines provides visitors the chance to ebook further seats on-line on the time of reserving however notes that these seats aren’t assured to be adjoining.
To assure seats subsequent to at least one one other, buy an additional seat in the principle cabin (excluding primary economic system tickets) via the reservations staff.
You can use HawaiianMiles to buy a further seat, together with the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard eCertificate — legitimate for journey between North America and Hawaii solely. Note that the eCertificate can solely be used on paid bookings, not award bookings. If you buy the second seat with money, it’s eligible to earn redeemable miles.
Read extra: Hawaiian Airlines’ Guests Needing Additional Room web page
JetBlue
JetBlue allows you to buy an additional seat and full the transaction on-line.
The course of with JetBlue is fairly straightforward — merely choose two adults (or nevertheless many you want) for the flights you need, and when it asks for the second grownup’s info, you do not present extra names. Instead, you click on the choice that reads, “This is an extra seat for traveler one.” It’s that straightforward. In our assessments to try to make use of JetBlue factors for each tickets, the transaction failed, so it does not appear you are able to do that — not less than not on-line.
Read extra: Booking further seats on JetBlue
Southwest Airlines
Southwest famously does not supply superior seating assignments, so it’s all the time potential that you just will not have somebody sitting down within the center seat subsequent to you so long as the flight is not full.
Unfortunately, in contrast to the opposite carriers on this record, the Southwest coverage “does not allow the purchase of more than one seat for use by a single passenger for the sole purpose of ensuring additional personal space,” per an airline spokesperson. (So, no designating your self as your individual companion on that Companion Pass.)
However, in case you are buying a second seat since you want it as a passenger of measurement or comparable cause, as talked about earlier, you are able to do so on-line or can request it free of charge on the airport forward of your flight. Travelers who buy the seats prematurely can request a refund for the additional seat after the flight.
To buy a second seat on-line, choose one extra grownup should you want one extra seat. Under “who’s flying,” you will put your title for the primary passenger after which “XS” as the center title for the second ticket.
If you’re buying a pricier Business Select or Anytime Fare for the primary seat, you should buy the second seat on the discounted Child’s Fare by telephone.
Read extra: Southwest’s ‘buyer of measurement and further seat’ coverage
Spirit Airlines
The guidelines for low-cost service Spirit Airlines are fairly easy and easy in order for you a second seat. The line allows you to buy an additional seat by utilizing your title for each tickets and deciding on the specified seat assignments. This is allowed whether or not you want the additional seat for your self, need some respiratory room or for every other cause.
You can use your Spirit miles for the extra seat, however you will not earn miles on its buy.
Read extra: Spirit Airlines’ web page on buying an additional seat
United Airlines
United lets you buy a second seat for further private area by way of telephone, and you’ll redeem United MileagePlus miles for the extra seat whereas incomes miles on the extra seat should you resolve to pay money. Note that the miles are redeemable and never elite qualifying miles.
The miles earned for the additional ticket ought to seem within the Airline Activity part of your MileagePlus account with the outline “Extra Seat Credit.” United permits a doubled checked baggage allowance if you are going to buy an additional seat, although it can additionally cost you a double change charge in case your plans change.
While that is doubtless true for all airways, notice that the United web site spells out that you just have to be an energetic participant in preserving your further seat and, if needed, you possibly can ask a crew member for help.
Read extra: United Airlines’ coverage on further seats
Bottom line
We all hope for an empty center seat once we board the airplane. When the boarding doorways shut and that center stays empty, it feels a little bit like profitable the seatmate lottery.
However, should you do not wish to depend on luck, know that the majority main U.S. airways make it potential to ebook a second seat to make sure you’re not sharing that armrest with a stranger.
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Source: thepointsguy.com”