A colleague of mine is flying FRA-GIG-FRA next month. It will be she, her mother and her 9-month old baby. She has purchased round-trip tickets for all three of them (no seat for the baby), and has reserved their seats for both flights.

Her mother, however, is not returning with her from GIG-FRA, but staying in Brazil. She only booked the RT ticket as it was cheaper than a one-way.

Since she has paid for her mother's seat and has the seat reserved on the return flight, will she be able to hold the seat empty and use it to stretch out with the baby? If a GA or FA try to insist on seating someone in that seat (since her mother won't actually check-in for the flight, thus the seat will become 'free'), does she have the right to claim that she's paid for the seat and is entitled to it?

Susan