Originally Posted by
Rebelyell
Just saw a thread about long business trips in coach. A neighbor of mine takes a dozen or more overseas trips each year on business. To Europe, he chooses coach. For Asia, he says he has to have business class. Needless to say, pretty much everyone in the company is flying coach to Europe, as my friend is top management and is choosing coach.
He told me his son also travels to Asia quite a bit, but that his company offers him the option of flying coach with a guaranteed empty seat next to him and pays him a $1,500 bonus if he will choose that over business. He said his son chooses the coach seat and the money.
I'm just curious if the empty seat program is a formal program or if his employer is just buying two seats. I think he flies United, and he made it sound like a special program. Certainly in three-across situations, I would hate to know that I was regularly paying to allow strangers to enjoy an empty seat!
I believe they are paid seats.. A friend of mine booked 6 seats in coach for his family of 4 (now soon to be 5).. and said that the 6 seats was significantly cheaper than 4 seats in first class.
Wow.. if a company pays you $1,500 and another empty seat besides you guaranteed.. I would take the $1,500.