Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - Does AS Allow Purchase of "Extra Comfort Seat"

Does Alaska Air allow the purchase of an extra comfort seat (as it's known). I'm entertaining the thought of purchasing out an entire row in Y for the wife and myself. As an aside, how do musicians with delicate and/or irreplaceable instruments, that would like to carry-on, handle these situations nowadays?

Can anyone purchase an extra seat?

The option to purchase an extra seat is available only to those individuals who require this service based on our seat dimensions. The purchase of an additional seat is required for anyone who cannot comfortably travel with the armrests in the down position. Any customer who purchases a second seat, and who does not meet the criteria described in our second seat policy, will be ineligible for a refund of the second seat.

http://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/policies/seating-customers-of-size.aspx

Nope. Sorry.

As for the music instruments, you can carry them on and often the FAs would work with you to put them in one of the closets.

People have no respect for other people's properties in the overhead bin, so advise with the FAs once you get onboard and politely ask if you could put it in a closet.

Actually yes, at least in my time with AS. The EXST is available to anyone willing to pay for it. The "refundable if empty seats" part is only for the passengers of size, as Eastbay quoted.

Give customer service a call, as you will definitely need to book over the phone if it's still available anyway.

We had a thread on this about a month ago, which sadly I can't find. You can call up and book a second seat no problem. As dc333 points out, the "refundable if empty seats" clause is only for people of size buying a second seat because they don't fit in one. If the plane goes out with empty seats then they'll get a refund for the second.

If you just want to buy a second seat to sprawl out on or put your cello in, just call AS and buy one. But don't expect a refund on a flight with empty seats.

Neil

Just found the older thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alaska-airlines-mileage-plan/1278891-purchase-extra-seat.html.

What if the flight is overbooked? Will they deny boarding to someone with a paid ticket and let one seat go empty because someone paid for it?

What if the flight is overbooked? Will they deny boarding to someone with a paid ticket and let one seat go empty because someone paid for it?Unless the person with the paid extra seat chose to "volunteer" the extra seat, yes.

Thanks for all the useful links and replies.

What if the flight is overbooked? Will they deny boarding to someone with a paid ticket and let one seat go empty because someone paid for it?

If AS allows someone to purchase an extra seat, then that seat is treated like any other seat on the aircraft. If the person who purchased it is willing to "volunteer" their extra seat, then they would receive the appropriate VDB compensation.

Compare the fares for buying two seats in coach with one in F; depending on the route and if you are buying less than 2-3 weeks out, it may be cheaper to buy one seat in F as opposed to 2 in coach. Haven't looked at 3 seats in E vs. 2 in F (for a couple), but that tradeoff may also weigh in favor of going in F on some trips.

The option to purchase an extra seat is available only to those individuals who require this service based on our seat dimensions. The purchase of an additional seat is required for anyone who cannot comfortably travel with the armrests in the down position. well at the current size of aircraft coach seats that just about covers everybody over the age of 16. Who are they to judge or designate if I he or she is fat enough to buy an extra seat? I dont recall sitting "comfortably" coach seat since I was 12

Here's the info on the musical instruments question:

http://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/policies/cabin-seat-baggage.aspx

Here's the info on the musical instruments question:

http://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/policies/cabin-seat-baggage.aspx

Mileage Credit

Customers with Cabin Seat Baggage can earn mileage credit for both the customer's seat and for the Cabin Seat Baggage seat. Mileage credit for Cabin Seat Baggage does not count towards elite status.


Poor Cello. Never going to make Gold with highly-restricted upgrade coupons. :(