ET Adjacent Seat Block for *G Passengers?
 

I'll be flying ET in Economy next month for the first time since pre-pandemic and just realized that upon selecting seat for each flight (4 international segments to be precise), the adjacent seat is still showing available - typically not the case previously.

In the past, as a *G status holder the adjacent seat was shown blocked once the seat selection was complete, unless the flight was full. Not any more. Just for curiosity, have they stopped this service? That was one huge advantage on flying Ethiopian so comfortably...

It hasn't been in place for about 3 years now (pre-pandemic). However, they will sell you the adjacent seat if available (and at a discount for *G I believe).

Thanks. It was April 2019 last time I flew with them and they still offered the service. That explains.

Keep in mind that *G can usually (on narrow-bodies at least) select "premium" seats for free that regular passengers are charged for. That means you will almost always have an empty seat next to you anyway.

An update:

Checking the seatmap, I could confirm that the outbound and the connecting flights both have my adjacent seat blocked. It happened 72hrs before departure. Now I remember that even in the past, the adjacent seat block only took place during this time frame, not before that. So yes, the practice is still observed!

Late last year when I was due to be flying in Y, after selecting my seats right at the very back, when I looked at the seatmap on the ET App, the seats next to me had ‘been taken’. This was in a row of three with me being in an aisle seat. When I checked on Expertflyer, the seat was actually blocked. Thought that was quite a nice touch but not sure if it’s a standard *A ET Silver perk. In the end I had to cancel the flights so didn’t see if it would have stuck.

Interesting. I guess I haven't flown alone in Y on ET (my solo trips have all been in C and I've always had someone with me when in Y) for the last few years. :D

In economy I can usually see the seat block next to me on Ethiopian. I’ve usually had luck asking agents to block the seat next to me in business too..

Just a quick additional data point on this based on recent flights OSL-ARN-ADD-DAR-ADD-ARN in the past 3 weeks.

My wife and I are both A3 Golds and, in Y, the middle seat between us was blocked on all 5 legs. Nice poor man's business class, especially on the final ADD-ARN leg which had just 4 open seats in Y on the flight.

Happy to see that this benefit is still there.

I've had this not only on ET. TP used to do the same as well. Not sure if this is still the case.