From today's herald tribune: (www.iht.com)

I am 6 feet, 2 inches (188 centimeters) tall with a back problem and cramped seats in economy give me a lot of pain. So I was fascinated by your suggestion to buy two or three economy seats as an alternative to an expensive business-class fare (March 22). But do only British Airways and Delta accept such bookings?

I called Virgin Atlantic and Continental Airlines, which confirmed that they allow bookings of multiple seats for this purpose ("As many seats as you like," a Continental spokesman said.) But, as I pointed out, you must make sure that your seats are pre-assigned - and together. I did hear of a wide-bodied traveler (a true story) who found to his immense chagrin when he boarded that the two seats he had reserved for himself were on either side of the aisle!
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Carol Fitzpatrick in Hartford, Connecticut, strikes a cautionary note: "While it is standard industry procedure to sell extra seats to people with special needs, it is important to make sure that the assigned equipment for all flights has armrests that are not fixed in the down position." She warns that "specific airline seat assignments are never guaranteed for anyone, period." And that "airline personnel, and computers, often reassign seats. Many families with adjacent seating prearranged have found themselves split up because of such an occurrence. Or, you'll find a 'platinum executive' frequent flier who has been accommodated in one of your seats."
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In such cases, you can expect that the carrier will refund unavailable seats but will not follow bumping-denied boarding policies. Compensation for "split seating" fiascoes will probably be a test of your personal management style.
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Gopi Maliwal in Hong Kong aptly asks, "How many frequent-flier miles do I get if I buy two or four economy seats instead of one expensive business-class seat? Twice or four times the miles, or just for one ticket?" Logically, you should earn miles for every seat that you pay for and use. But we do not live by logic alone! Faced with a subversive threat to yield management, airlines may argue that miles can only be allocated for one seat as only one person was actually traveling.
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KLM specifically allows its Flying Dutchman members to claim miles for every seat they purchase on a flight under the multi-seat strategy. Would other carriers care to comment?

Actually you will only get award points, no status points.
But at least it's something for the extra seat.

Since a person who needs two seats would also have to book two awards to fly "free," it's only fair that he/she should get double miles for paid travel.

Unfortunately for those in that situation, my concept of what's fair does not obligate the airlines. (If it did, a lot of other things might change too. )

I would guess most airlines will not have a problem giving miles for every seat purchased... but bet they will not allow more than one seat to ever be STATUS miles.

Can you imagine someone finding a cheap fare and buying up 10 seats to get 1K status...

William

Pls enjoy this discussion from the UA board:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum50/HTML/012753.html

Greg-

Shouldnt you be asleep? ;-)


AFAIK everyone offers the option of buying extra seats for themselves, their pets, or their expensive musical instrument, and miles are given for each seat. Whether or not they are status miles I believe differs with each airline.

I am wondering... which airlines actually offer status miles for second seats?

William

I was on an American flight from CDG to LA last April (2001) I had upgraded using miles. As we were boarding I spoke with a woman behind me who had purchased three coach tickets. She said it was cheaper that buying a business class ticket and she got credit for all three. She had a row to herself middle of a 767. Being April it probably cost her about $1500.

So would this work for the 55,555 promo?
buy 2 return seats on 5 airlines, get credit for 4 programs?