Originally Posted by
CyBeR
That doesn't work.
Or more accurately, that only works in the case where both seats alongside such a seat were sold AND they both paid the premium for the empty seat.
But: why would I pay that premium if the other passenger already paid it, such that the seat will be left empty? You can't occupy half a seat. And if I were flying with a companion, I might pay the premium so we have three seats to ourselves. But then, again: there is no reason to pay the premium twice because I've already paid it once and a seat can't be 50% occupied. And in that case I can be sure of the seat being empty because I know the premium was paid.
Obviously if the airline were to offer such a program, it would block off a few rows and they would only be bookable by those paying the 50 percent upcharge. So your traveling companion would have to sit on another row.
Originally Posted by
pinniped
The only thing they could do is block the middle seat and charge premium prices for window/aisle, adjusting the cabin as necessary to account for demand. In other words, a business/economy cabin that flexes based on demand.
Many airlines do this on short-haul: I've flown several different Airbuses (319's and 320's, I think) that did this. But I don't see it on long-haul - that tells me that airlines have indeed run plenty of simulations if not actual live tests and have instead focused on enhancing the real business class with better seats and amenities, not creating more finely differentiated options in coach. Your best bet in coach ends up being the premium economy offerings on a few carriers... The offer to formally pay 100% for the second seat is not always accepted - it's a popular topic on the boards here where the airline has a POS policy. (Specifically, the short skinny guy can't always just throw down cash for the 2nd seat.)
Of course, the problem with premium economy is that most generally offer only more legroom, and most planes have plenty of legroom for the average person. It's the width and having to touch and constantly jostle a stranger that makes coach seats so awful.