Dec 10, 2015, 9:45 am
Last edit by: Prospero
Booking an extra seat on for POS (Persons Of Size) or other reasons
American Airlines sells adjacent seats for various reasons; the most common one is for persons of size who can't comfortably occupy a single "Main Cabin" (Economy) seat, though others might consider purchasing an extra seat for comfort or to protect items of exceptionally high value. This seat was referred to by AA as "XTRASEAT" or “EXST”, and this JOHN BROWN
EXST BROWN
is how it will reflect in some documentation. There is no discount for the second seat, which must be purchased in advance; walk up purchases of extra seats will incur full "walk up" fares, if available.
As these can not be booked online, calling will work best; no telephone service charge will be made.
The extra seat does not earn Elite Qualifying or Redeemable miles or earn extra baggage allowances, etc. EQ instruments can only be earned by the individual person occupying a seat on AA (not an empty seat, a "proxy passenger" or animal or inanimate object). In the example above, EXST BROWN will have no AAdvantage earnings.
Other reasons for purchasing extra seats would be for allowed musical instruments, objects of high value such as art works, or materials for human transplantation.
American Airlines sells adjacent seats for various reasons; the most common one is for persons of size who can't comfortably occupy a single "Main Cabin" (Economy) seat, though others might consider purchasing an extra seat for comfort or to protect items of exceptionally high value. This seat was referred to by AA as "XTRASEAT" or “EXST”, and this JOHN BROWN
EXST BROWN
is how it will reflect in some documentation. There is no discount for the second seat, which must be purchased in advance; walk up purchases of extra seats will incur full "walk up" fares, if available.
As these can not be booked online, calling will work best; no telephone service charge will be made.
The extra seat does not earn Elite Qualifying or Redeemable miles or earn extra baggage allowances, etc. EQ instruments can only be earned by the individual person occupying a seat on AA (not an empty seat, a "proxy passenger" or animal or inanimate object). In the example above, EXST BROWN will have no AAdvantage earnings.
Extra space during travel Link
For the safety and comfort of all customers, if a customer’s body extends more than 1 inch beyond the outermost edge of the armrest and a seat belt extension is needed, another seat is required. We encourage customers to address all seating needs when booking.
For the safety and comfort of all customers, if a customer’s body extends more than 1 inch beyond the outermost edge of the armrest and a seat belt extension is needed, another seat is required. We encourage customers to address all seating needs when booking.
- When you call to book, Reservations will make sure you get 2 adjacent seats at the same rate.
- If you didn’t book an extra seat in advance, ask an airport agent to find out if 2 adjacent seats are available.
- You may be offered a seat in a higher class of service that may provide more space; in this case, you’ll be responsible for the fare difference.
- If accommodations can’t be made on your original flight, you can buy seats on a different flight at the same price as your original seats.
Booking two seats / extra seat for person or object (EXST, XTRASEAT)
Feb 20, 2021, 11:17 pm
#286
Join Date: Dec 2014
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Ah, that's very interesting. So the key is to either not scan XTRSEAT when boarding the plane, or to ask the gate agent to deplane XTRSEAT when she walks on the plane to give you your upgrade after you are already sitting in coach.
And then I guess if you are already on the plane you would need to call AA and ask them to cancel the XTRSEAT reservation. If you are at the gate when you receive your upgrade, should you ask the gate agent to cancel the XTRSEAT ticket, or would it still require a call to AA?
Or, can cancelling XTRSEAT be done online?
And, then as an earlier poster said, the question is whether or not you can use XTRSEAT's ticket value later.
And then I guess if you are already on the plane you would need to call AA and ask them to cancel the XTRSEAT reservation. If you are at the gate when you receive your upgrade, should you ask the gate agent to cancel the XTRSEAT ticket, or would it still require a call to AA?
Or, can cancelling XTRSEAT be done online?
And, then as an earlier poster said, the question is whether or not you can use XTRSEAT's ticket value later.
I think a friendly and knowledgeable gate agent should be able to help you with everything, but I wouldn't bank on that.
Feb 21, 2021, 10:25 am
#287
In memoriam
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If you can manage to get upgraded then just leave the extra seat alone. You can enjoy the peace of mind while sipping your drink in first class that there is still one less breathing soul on your plane
Feb 21, 2021, 11:53 am
#288
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Wanting First. Buying First.
Programs: Lifetime Executive Diamond Platinum VIP with Braniff, Eastern, Midway, National & Pan Am
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XTRSEAT is not a fare; it's not a fare rule. It is a passenger name (LASTNAME/XTRSEAT).
Again, you are overthinking this to the extreme. Cancel the ticket whenever you want to according to the rules of the underlying fare. The only interesting question is, again, can residual value of a ticket booked for LASTNAME/EXST be applied to a ticket in the name of LASTNAME/REALFIRSTNAME?
Friendly AND knowledgeable? Good luck with that!
Feb 21, 2021, 11:22 pm
#289
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 532
The other information was mostly to lay out the facts to ensure I had them straight. I will try to ask simpler questions next time. 
You can cancel XTRSEAT according to the fare rules of the fare for which it was purchased.
XTRSEAT is not a fare; it's not a fare rule. It is a passenger name (LASTNAME/XTRSEAT).
Cancel the ticket whenever you want to according to the rules of the underlying fare. The only interesting question is, again, can residual value of a ticket booked for LASTNAME/EXST be applied to a ticket in the name of LASTNAME/REALFIRSTNAME?
XTRSEAT is not a fare; it's not a fare rule. It is a passenger name (LASTNAME/XTRSEAT).
Cancel the ticket whenever you want to according to the rules of the underlying fare. The only interesting question is, again, can residual value of a ticket booked for LASTNAME/EXST be applied to a ticket in the name of LASTNAME/REALFIRSTNAME?
Feb 22, 2021, 8:27 am
#290
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
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Feb 23, 2021, 2:49 pm
#292
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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So, the core question remains unanswered: can one reboook a ticket originally issued in the name of LASTNAME/EXSEAT for LASTNAME/REALFIRSTNAME?
May 1, 2021, 7:53 pm
#294
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,659
I have a flight tomorrow and I've purchased the seat next to mine for actra space. I won't be able to travel and I wonder if the EXST seat will keep the residual value like mine will to use in the future? Any experiences with a similar situation? Thanks!
Aug 3, 2021, 10:02 am
#295
Join Date: Nov 2009
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Programs: AA LT Plat, 6.0 MM, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 1,002
Empty Seat - Oversold/Standby
I've got 3 tickets on hold BOS-ORD-PSP for the Monday after Thanksgiving, with an empty exit row seat between me and my wife. If either flight is oversold or has standby passengers (quite likely after Thanksgiving?) what options does the agent have for taking that paid-for empty seat?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Aug 3, 2021, 10:41 am
#297
Join Date: Jan 2011
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Do you mean that the seat between you is just unoccupied? Or do you mean you paid for an Extra Seat (typically used by passengers of size, but can be purchased by anyone)?
Aug 3, 2021, 10:45 am
#299
Suspended
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Posts: 13,913
I'm assuming the pax paid for the seat next to him in the way a POS would. I would think a GA couldn't put a pax in that seat but I'll let others chime in.
Is paying for a 3rd seat that much cheaper than 2 F seats?
Is paying for a 3rd seat that much cheaper than 2 F seats?