MilesBuzz! - You Purchase Two or More Airline Seats For Yourself. Are You Entitled to More Miles?

In the Help me create the first class experience while traveling economy (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=297812) thread, the following exchange occurred during the discussion:Is there anyway to book three seats under my name in Y (or anybody's name?). Make the seat reservation next to each other - ensure arm rests are movable (i.e. seatguru.com) and then have a flat bed that way in Y, by only paying three times Y fare From what I've read, the flaw in this strategy is that you are not really guaranteed those exact seats, even if you preselect 3 together. All you are guaranteed are 3 seats in Y, but an FA can decide to shift people into one or more of those seats for whatever reason. You may also have trouble fending off interlopers who see those empty seats. It is highly unlikely that an FA would intervene on your behalf.Hang on. If you've paid for them, have boarding passes for all three, there shouldn't be a problem - right?...which sparked an interesting question in my mind to really get everyone thinking on this topic: should one also receive three times the amount of frequent flier miles to their account — as well as three times the bonuses and three times the Elite Qualification Miles — if one purchases three reservations for oneself on the same flight?

Also, as an aside: should one also receive three meals and/or snacks and drinks, as well as three amenity kits if they are offered in the Economy Class cabin on international flights?

I don't know about the miles and bonuses but I booked two seats on BA going from LHR to CBG. I checked both in at the kiosk and procedeed to board the plane. After a significant delay I found out we were waiting because the head count on the plane didn't match the ticket count checked in. Then becuase the flight was full they tried to give my spare seat to someone else, I told the FA that I had paid for the extra seat, to which she informed me she could re-book that seat to a later flight.

She didn't and it ended up fine, but still a pain!

should one also receive three times the amount of frequent flier miles to their account — as well as three times the bonuses and three times the Elite Qualification Miles — if one purchases three reservations for oneself on the same flight?

I think I have read somewhere (on FT???) about a cello or some other instrument being a frequent flier. But I guess the miles of the cello are personal, so they don't help the owner of the cello to reach a particular elite level any faster. But the instrument should be able to book award tickets for the cello player's holiday. :)

I don't know of any airline that would give you 3x the EQM's for this, though they will probably give you 3x of redeemable miles. Giving multiple EQM's goes against the whole purpose of having a frequent flier program. What FTer wouldn't buy three seats on any inexpensive flight if they got triple EQM's?

QF allows earn of both status credits and points on the second seat (http://qantas.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/qantas.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=120&p_created=1120578881&p_sid=iRBXuHai&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX 3Jvd19jbnQ9NSZwX3Byb2RzPSZwX2NhdHM9MCZwX3B2PSZwX2N 2PSZwX3BhZ2U9MSZwX3NlYXJjaF90ZXh0PWV4dHJh&p_li=&p_topview=1) - but apparently only if booked by phone directly with QF (thus incurs phone booking charge). The other advantage is that only 1 lot of taxes (and fuel surcharge) is charged.

I think I have read somewhere (on FT???) about a cello or some other instrument being a frequent flier. But I guess the miles of the cello are personal, so they don't help the owner of the cello to reach a particular elite level any faster. But the instrument should be able to book award tickets for the cello player's holiday. :)

Here's the link to that thread. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=552585)

Ah frequent flyer dilemmas.

I think not. Miles are based on miles you travel with a bonus if you spend more, not on how much money you can blow. Allowing miles for double seats just depreciates the value of status and a mile.

I don't know about the miles and bonuses but I booked two seats on BA going from LHR to CBG. I checked both in at the kiosk and procedeed to board the plane. After a significant delay I found out we were waiting because the head count on the plane didn't match the ticket count checked in. Then becuase the flight was full they tried to give my spare seat to someone else, I told the FA that I had paid for the extra seat, to which she informed me she could re-book that seat to a later flight.

She didn't and it ended up fine, but still a pain!
the traveler that had to wait another flight appreciates it.

see:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6273867&postcount=5

I've bought two seats before...one for me and one for my fat butt. I was told I could fax in copies of the stubs to get credit but I never bothered.

For some flights you can find discounted first for cheaper than coach. That's what I've done as well.

...as an aside: should one also receive three meals and/or snacks and drinks, as well as three amenity kits if they are offered in the Economy Class cabin on international flights?I don't know about meals, you can ask and will probably get - but amenity kits are usually placed on the seats or in the seatback pockets ahead of time, so if you have more than one seat you should get more than one of them.

I don't know about the miles and bonuses but I booked two seats on BA going from LHR to CBG. I checked both in at the kiosk and procedeed to board the plane. After a significant delay I found out we were waiting because the head count on the plane didn't match the ticket count checked in. Then becuase the flight was full they tried to give my spare seat to someone else, I told the FA that I had paid for the extra seat, to which she informed me she could re-book that seat to a later flight.

She didn't and it ended up fine, but still a pain!

My gosh, I would never have anticipate such a threat! Thanks for sharing. And welcome to FT! :p

I think I have read somewhere (on FT???) about a cello or some other instrument being a frequent flier. But I guess the miles of the cello are personal, so they don't help the owner of the cello to reach a particular elite level any faster. But the instrument should be able to book award tickets for the cello player's holiday. :)

I remember the cello thread...seems like the cello and owner were traveling domestic F. Interesting, but I do not recall if the cello owner received extra RDMs. Anyone?

Here's the link to that thread. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=552585)
Ops, I just posted below...thanks for the reference!

Maybe someone should call CO or NW and ask them.

On a side note, I recall reading a UA thread a few years back where someone used a companion pass & booked the seat next to them in coach class on a transatlantic flight to give themselves more room. Not sure if they got mileage credit for it, but I believe they were able to keep it unoccupied.

I have a friend who at least twice booked two econonmy class seats in coach for his transatlantic flight. Much cheaper than business class and it got him more leg room. One one of the domestic legs, the airline did try to occupy one of his seats with another passenger since the flight was full. He insisted both seats were his and the airline (US) finally relented. IMHO, if he paid for both seats, he should get two seats. The only way the airline should take it back is if they paid him denied boarding compensation. I am serious.

I can't find it now, but I read somewhere that at least some if not most US airlines do not give miles for the second seat. However, as was previously mentioned, for some flights (especially international) you don't pay all the taxes on the second seat.

IF i can bet EQM for both seats.
and if i even can get for both seats my benefits i would be able to transport 100Kg on Star.

i would immediately try to get a job as a transporter :)

or book two seats in high season , for example on BKK-SYD on jan. 3- 7 and than let the airlines pay you a compensation if they need your seat :).

anyway, i think status should be only give once, same in hotels where you only get one stay count normally.

dp

I know a couple who each booked a row in Jet Blue on a Long Beach-JFK flight I was on. They had to keep telling people who tried to move to their rows that they bought out the whole thing. I never asked them if it was worth the hassle.

Will I be entitled to the checked baggage allowance for both seats?

I know a couple who each booked a row in Jet Blue on a Long Beach-JFK flight I was on. They had to keep telling people who tried to move to their rows that they bought out the whole thing. I never asked them if it was worth the hassle.

Would it have been worthwhile to bring a cello, something long and skinny along just to avoid people sitting there? You could fill it with your carryon items.

What other long items have people bought seats for.

Short

Will I be entitled to the checked baggage allowance for both seats?

Now that is a very good question, to which I don't have an answer. I would be curious to know airlines' answer to that (it may vary by airline). If you don't get miles for both tickets, can you at least get checked baggage allowance for both? I think you could make a good argument for it.

Now that the checked luggage allowance has been reduced on most airlines to 50 lb/piece, this is a relevant topic. I know a lot of people traveling to/from Europe who counted on that higher 70 lb/piece allowance.