MilesBuzz! - Double Mileage Run: buying two tickets for a single flight

My plan: I want to purchase two tickets for a single codeshare flight, one with each airline's flight number (i.e. one with the operating airline's flight number, and another with the codeshare airline's flight number). I would like to credit each ticket to the corresponding airline frequent flyer program.

Is this possible? Does it depend on the airline combination? How do security people treat this sort of thing? Will they even allow me to hand them two boarding passes at the gate?

All comments/thought will be appreciated.

My plan: I want to purchase two tickets for a single codeshare flight, one with each airline's flight number (i.e. one with the operating airline's flight number, and another with the codeshare airline's flight number). I would like to credit each ticket to the corresponding airline frequent flyer program.

Is this possible? Does it depend on the airline combination? How do security people treat this sort of thing? Will they even allow me to hand them two boarding passes at the gate?

All comments/thought will be appreciated.

On one hand I'd like to say "great in theory, but they'll snag you for this", but when I think about it, it doesn't seem like it'd really be a problem. There is no rule against buying more than one seat for oneself and so long as you aren't trying to get miles for the extra seat *from the same carrier*, I see no reason why you couldn't do this. To be on the safe side, I'd recommend not inputting your FF#s up front for either seat, but requesting credit for them seperately afterwards. If you do that, you should be in the clear (as in it will work - as far as the airlines policies are concerned, I'm less sure, but I don't see how you could get nabbed for it). I'm sure other folks will chime in on this. Good thinkin'!

peace,
~Ben~

The problem will be that you will only check in once for the flight and only one person will be on the flight. If you do try to check in twice you will probably have a problem with TSA. Remember, they do a check to make sure the number of people on the aircraft is the same as the number of tickets that have been taken.

In my estimation trying this could get very sticky.

So how is this different from the large passenger that needs to buy 2 seats? Do the airlines have a policy that they only give single mileage credit?

If you try this, please let us know how it went.

i've actually heard of this working, although i won't try it myself.

Buying two tickets aside, I've heard of not crediting a flight to any frequent flyer program initially and then sending copies of boarding passes in to more than one program. In theory there are processes in place to prevent this from succeeding...

I don't advocate it and don't do it, but there are some folks who have done so and have reported success.

Buying two tickets aside, I've heard of not crediting a flight to any frequent flyer program initially and then sending copies of boarding passes in to more than one program. In theory there are processes in place to prevent this from succeeding...

I don't advocate it and don't do it, but there are some folks who have done so and have reported success.

As long as you have two seats (next to each other would be good), I don't know why this wouldn't work. I wouldn't do it myself, of course.

There are safeguards to make sure the SAME ticket isn't given double credit, but I think not for two seperate ones.

As long as you have two seats (next to each other would be good), I don't know why this wouldn't work. I wouldn't do it myself, of course. There are safeguards to make sure the SAME ticket isn't given double credit, but I think not for two seperate ones.

Precisely - there have been numerous times I've seen threads on FT on why someone shouldn't/couldn't try to get credit from two programs (or from the same program twice) for one ticket and I think that it is pretty well established that if you get snagged trying to pull that crap that your entire account(s) could be put into jeopardy. However, in the OP's case, he/she is buying two seats - like some overweight pax or simply people who want/need the space sometimes do - so I think that it is a fundamentally different question. On the other hand, I am fairly certain that the airlines do not give double mileage credit for an overweight pax using two seats as a point of policy, so one could run into a similar problem there (likewise you can't request credit for a musical instrument you have occupying a seat, though there have been tales on here of the musical instruments themselves sometimes having FF accounts).

What it comes down to is that you will probably not get caught trying to do this, but if you do, I don't think you'll have a leg to stand on in your own defense. It will be obvious to the airlines if they find this out that you are trying to scam a way into more mileage - whether you've bought the other seat or not - in a way that goes against the spirit of similar/parallel policies even if this case isn't explicitly excluded. If you want to risk it, you'll prolly be fine is my guess, but you should weigh if its really worth jeopardizing your account(s). If you want to play it safe, call the airline and ask them to give you written confirmation of some sort that this is OK. In this day and age, I would think that most of the majors would LOVE to sell an extra seat in exchange for mere miles, but logic obviously doesn't rule the decision making process in the industry. Good luck and let us know!

peace,
~Ben~

So let me get this straight, if I were to do this (unlikely). I would buy two tickets in my same name, get 2 seats assigned next to each other, print 2 boarding passes for each flight, aand present BOTH boarding passes when boarding (so they got checked in). Then I'd submit one set of passes to each carrier and wait for the miles to post?

If that were going to work, doesn't it also seem likely I could put in my FF # on ONE of the tickets (in order to take advantage of chance to upgrade, pre boarding, etc.) then submit passes for the other seat that I was not getting credit for to the other airline? Sounds pretty fair and reasonable, although I don't think I want miles enough to pay for a second ticket.

If that were going to work, doesn't it also seem likely I could put in my FF # on ONE of the tickets (in order to take advantage of chance to upgrade, pre boarding, etc.) then submit passes for the other seat that I was not getting credit for to the other airline? Sounds pretty fair and reasonable, although I don't think I want miles enough to pay for a second ticket.

Just imagine if you got upgraded on one ticket and not the other. You'd have to go back and visit your lonely vacant seat. :)

So let me get this straight, if I were to do this (unlikely). I would buy two tickets in my same name, get 2 seats assigned next to each other, print 2 boarding passes for each flight, aand present BOTH boarding passes when boarding (so they got checked in). Then I'd submit one set of passes to each carrier and wait for the miles to post?

If that were going to work, doesn't it also seem likely I could put in my FF # on ONE of the tickets (in order to take advantage of chance to upgrade, pre boarding, etc.) then submit passes for the other seat that I was not getting credit for to the other airline? Sounds pretty fair and reasonable, although I don't think I want miles enough to pay for a second ticket.


How are you going to hand BP to the agent and not get a weird look. Every time I have done that, it is becuase my wife is behind me and they wave her through. If I am traveling allone and hand two, aren't they going to be confused that the person behind me has their own BP?

How are you going to hand BP to the agent and not get a weird look. Every time I have done that, it is becuase my wife is behind me and they wave her through. If I am traveling allone and hand two, aren't they going to be confused that the person behind me has their own BP?

Well if you get Eddie Murphy's makeup guy from The Nutty Professor - then you might not get a strange look at all for having two boarding passes!

Ja_user,

Lots of peeople get two seats, and no just fat people. It's not common, but it's not unheard of. I've heard it referred to as a comfort seat, although in the old days some airlines wouldn't let you do it. Now that they require fat people to get two seats, it shouldn't be as much problem.

I've never done it, but if you do you would certainly need to check in both seats so that you don't lose your return trip on the empty seat.

Some people buy an extra seat for a musical instrument. You could carry a fake cello on board. The airlines are used to that.

Reading through the posts, I was going to suggest an empty musical instrument case, but the person above beat me to it. This would work.

If you did purchase two seats, you would need a boarding pass and you would need to show it when you board the plane, otheriwse they would not know that the ticket had boarded the flight and they could give the seat away to a standby passenger.

Considering the financial plight of most airlines, you would think they would be thrilled to have an extra paid seat, whether or not a passenger's butt was parked in it. :)

take it one step further. They need vols for that flight. Tell the GA heres my 2 bps, you can bump me twice

It will be obvious to the airlines if they find this out that you are trying to scam a way into more mileage - whether you've bought the other seat or not - in a way that goes against the spirit of similar/parallel policies even if this case isn't explicitly excluded. If you want to risk it, you'll prolly be fine is my guess, but you should weigh if its really worth jeopardizing your account(s). If you want to play it safe, call the airline and ask them to give you written confirmation of some sort that this is OK.I would recommend against such seeking of a written "opinion letter" from the airline on the propriety of seeking credit from another carrier that has sold a second (code-shared) seat. Why should that be any concern of theirs? Indeed, how could it be their concern, absent any alliance agreements incorporating by reference their partners' frequent-flyer terms, which has not been done to date, or an express provision in the rules addressing this situation?

If nothing in the rules prohibits it, they have no legal basis to confiscate any miles or do anything whatsoever. Hence, there is no reason for "jeopardy."

I recommend CAREFULLY reading the rules of both partner airlines with this scenario in mind!

While some may perjoratively refer to this tactic as a "scam," the purchaser is buying a second seat, through two different vendors. This scenario is a logical result of the code-share marketing philosophy and practices.

This is the genius of FlyerTalk!

If too many people "take advantage" of this tactic, it may eventually be proscribed in the rules. Until then, use it in moderation.

As for specific techniques, some airlines allow one to receive online credit by simply entering the ticket number online a certain number of days after the flight. Obviously, the computer would check against cheating, that is, attempting to claim credit for a ticket that had already been credited to another carrier's program. If one program does not have such automatic credit-seeking capability, that would be the one to use in advance.

As for "explaining" the second boarding pass to the gate agent, it should be easy enough to say, "I bought myself a second seat." This is good to flag, so the pre-departure seat-counts aren't off.

I would also do my best to get the two seats together! :)

Reading through the posts, I was going to suggest an empty musical instrument case, but the person above beat me to it. This would work.


Should be an interesting conversation with TSA if you're carrying an empty case.... :)

It seems that you should go for it. Check in online for both. Clear TSA with one. (OT - it would be strange if you got SSSS on one but not the other,)

Give the GA your first one. Then be honest at boarding and say that you have two seats. Hand them the second they should swipe it through the reader. If the don't swipe it asked them to. Tell them that your second one has your FF number from that airline on it and you want to ensure credit .

In a worse case scenario you might have to wait until you complete your trip and mail in for credit.

Good luck!

Mapsgl

Should be an interesting conversation with TSA if you're carrying an empty case.... :)

You're going to pickup your musical instrument (for whatever reason -- repaired), and you dropped-off your muscial instrument (for whatever reason -- for repair) and need to use the case for your backup instrument.

Some airlines run programs to check if someone has booked twice for the same flight. I once got a phone call from LH when I had booked the same flight once on a non refundable award ticket in Y and once on a fullfare C ticket. My plans had changed. They said they needed the seat in Y to sell. I said I paid for both. They then cancelled my award ticket without refund saying they need it for someone who paid.

Miserable behaviour by the airline, which I complained about later. But the point is that they will try and sell the seat if they notice you have two bookings.

Another story: my GF & I once got bumped by LH from Y into C on BCN-MUC flight which was heavily overbooked. A row beside us a medical rescue guy paramedic was accompanying a patient flying back to germany. They had purchased a seat just for the medical kit (a backpack full of stuff with a big red cross on it). LH put someone into that seat two minutes before the doors closed. The medic protested and said he had paid for the extra seat. The gate agent requested him to understand that they airline had oversold the flight and needed the seat so that the 'poor' old man who needed the seat could get home. The medic relented as his patient was pretty fit anyway.

Regards Oliver

Some airlines run programs to check if someone has booked twice for the same flight. I once got a phone call from LH when I had booked the same flight once on a non refundable award ticket in Y and once on a fullfare C ticket. My plans had changed. They said they needed the seat in Y to sell. I said I paid for both. They then cancelled my award ticket without refund saying they need it for someone who paid.

Miserable behaviour by the airline, which I complained about later. But the point is that they will try and sell the seat if they notice you have two bookings.

Another story: my GF & I once got bumped by LH from Y into C on BCN-MUC flight which was heavily overbooked. A row beside us a medical rescue guy paramedic was accompanying a patient flying back to germany. They had purchased a seat just for the medical kit (a backpack full of stuff with a big red cross on it). LH put someone into that seat two minutes before the doors closed. The medic protested and said he had paid for the extra seat. The gate agent requested him to understand that they airline had oversold the flight and needed the seat so that the 'poor' old man who needed the seat could get home. The medic relented as his patient was pretty fit anyway.

Regards Oliver

Interesting...did you not even get the miles and taxes/fees for that award ticket back, then?? And the medic should have gotten a full refund for that seat he paid for!

"Fat" people...actually anyone who buys 2 seats only gets mileage credit for ONE of them..

If that were the case mileage runners would buy 3 or 4 seats and get elite status on ONE flight...it just doesn't work...at least as far as getting multiple tickets on same flight from SAME ff program...I don't know about the original idea of getting it from 2 different programs???

In the past, when FTers have purchased two seats for other reasons, they have reported that the second BP has a passenger name of EXTRA SEAT or something similar.

If one were to check in for a flight and declare that he had purchased himself two seats, might the agent opt to change the second boarding pass or flag it in some way to signify it is an extra seat?

Reading through the posts, I was going to suggest an empty musical instrument case, but the person above beat me to it. This would work.

You're a lot tamer than I am -- I was going to suggest an inflatable friend... ;)

In the past, when FTers have purchased two seats for other reasons, they have reported that the second BP has a passenger name of EXTRA SEAT or something similar.

If one were to check in for a flight and declare that he had purchased himself two seats, might the agent opt to change the second boarding pass or flag it in some way to signify it is an extra seat?This might be the fly in the ointment.

I so seldom fly codeshares (CO-NW cannot codeshare in Micronesia for competitive reasons; my last was an inadvertent UA codeshare in 2002 on NH for which I checked in airside at NRT at the NH gate) that I forget, does one normally check in at the operating carrier's ticket counter?

I think checking in separately at the issuing carrier's ticket counter (if permissible) would cause more problems than it would be worth due to two different-colored boarding passes.

You want this to appear as an "extra seat" situation as much as possible, and as always in such situations, you are at the carrier's mercy for an oversold flight.

For doing this Double Mileage Run, it would help if you were a Customer of Size (CoS) or Passenger of Size (PoS). :cool:

See generally Politically Incorrect: The "fat" pax policy (11-page thread — so far — in Continental forum)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=370139

Considering the financial plight of most airlines, you would think they would be thrilled to have an extra paid seat, whether or not a passenger's butt was parked in it. :)

I agree. If that seat would have otherwise gone out empty, better to receive some revenue for it.

do a search on "cello" and you will see that this has been talked about before... check out http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9568&goto=nextoldest

Say you're in a hurry and can't check bags, but have too much for just one person's carry-on allowance.

On edit: this also gives you a reason to use both boarding passes when you board the plane: so you don't lose your second return leg since you'll need the extra seat then, too.

This seems to be a perpetually popular theme! ;)

See Double Dip Milage Run (AA & NWA)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=381987