2 seats/ different cabin allowed?
 

I had purchased a biz class seat for myself Lax-Lhr. Now my partner wants to go but fares are way back up so here are my options / question if I use miles:

1) can I claim 2 coach awards (20k each) one in his name and the other in mine?
This way he will have an empty seat next to him and will be in MCE
If I can't do that then maybe option 2...
2) claim 2 awards both under his name and he can just sit in regular coach but with nobody next to him

To outright buy MCE is $157 so I would rather burn an extra 20k than pay that for a more comfy ride
Last resort is to use 110k for anytime award but that seems like a waste to me

Option #1 is an absolute no go. If you attempt it, one of your duplicate reservations will automatically be cancelled (if the system even allows the booking at all). It would most likely be the coach booking that would be cancelled, but it could just as easily be the business class booking and I don't think you want that.

As to option # 2, I know it is possible to buy an extra seat. I don't know if it is possible to do it using an award.

I know you can buy 2 seats, but you should also notify AA not to separate the seats. With flight/schedule changes etc, the last thing you want is to have the seating split across the plane.

On a separate note, I understand the need to be comfortable, however, numerous people fly long distance in coach and nothing has happened. Me personally, I wouldnt get the extra seat simply because there is no guarantee that I would have it. Might as well do one booking and get an aisle seat. Who know, maybe the flight is not full and you might end up with an empty seat anyway.

Im not sure option 1 is a no go: the seat in your name could be YOUR 'extra seat'.

As stated above there is a specific way AA allows a booking of an extra seat, the name in the booking must include the modifier XTRA SEAT. The info may have changed, but see: http://flyerguide.com/Extra_Seat_%28AA%29

You should call AA and ask. And know you can HUCA, as this is an odd one. While it appars to work for awards, it is silent on the second seat being in coach. But it doesnt prohibit it! You should gently point this out to the agent, with 'well could we try it?'. If the booking process lets it book, Id say the software will not cancel the seat if it complies with the name rules.

My 2 cents

How many miles would an award ticket in business cost for the flight? It might b reasonable compared to two coach award tickets, plus you'd be together and both get business class.

Or would the 110,000 miles for the AAnytime award be a business class ticket?

The extra seat is supposed to be beside the passenger, for example if the person is obese or must look after a delicate musical instrument. I would guess that the only choice is to book guest and extra seat guest together as two award tickets together on the same PNR, with this being done by phone.

Note that even at one cent per mile, 20,000 miles would be worth $200 versus only $157 to reserve a MCE seat.

I would double check, but I think you can get an MCE seat for your partner based on your status and the fact you are traveling together. I would call the EXP desk.

I know it is "supposed" to be. But I am not sure AAs booking software enforces this. Do you know?

It is worth the call to AA IMO.

Indeed, he can book two awards on AA.com, one in partners name, one in his name with the specified XTRA SEAT modifier, place it on hold, and then call.

And Id just pay for the mce.

If i were the OP i would just spring for a business award. Even AAnytime.

This (assuming an MCE seat is indeed acceptable).

I book family vacations with me on a paid ticket and the family on awards. The website does not let you put the awardees in MCE, but you can do it on the phone. An AAgent told me that the policy is that as long as the flyer with status is on the same itinerary, their travelling companions on award tickets get the same MCE benefits.

Lot of others have mentioned doing the same in various threads.

Tried 3 agents and all said no can do putting him in MCE since iam in paid biz class
I then asked ok can I just pay and was told no with saver awards you can "upgarde" with T class
This is also true when I tried to do online, all MCE/ exit rows are blacked out

I think I will just bite the bullet and claim the anytime award in Biz....will make the start of the vacation much smoother and less guilt feeling for me 😉