grt2106

The real question though, do you get two bags of peanuts and two sodas still?

InkUnderNails

Yes, Yes.

Boraxo

+1 Also don't think the blue-sleeve pre-boarding is necessary though I gather it is the method for keeping COS from sitting in exit rows. FYI I understand WN will sell 2 tix to anyone travelling with Cellos, etc. so there are loopholes.

I don't buy the line that this would require significantly more inventory. The vast majority would still use CPs for spouses, etc. rather than to get a little more shoulder space.

Not being able to use exit rows would be a significant deterrent though personally I value the middle seat more than the legroom (and the sole exit row aisle seat with unlimited legroom is rarely avail when I board).

InkUnderNails

There has been a recent change and the blue sleeve is no longer required. I still preboard. There are two primary reasons. The first is so that it will provide the highest chance of two seats being together. I am A+ anyway, so I would not have to preboard except for reason 2. The boarding screen shows how may COS passengers are to be on the flight. These have to be accounted for when boarding and it is easiest to do this at the preboard time. It is the same time that jump seat riders LEO board as well. It gets us oddballs out of the way, so the regular boarding can proceed smoothly.

The COS policy is not in place to strictly benefit the COS. It is there to encourage us to take an opportunity to travel in a way that does not discomfort those that must travel with us. It is as much for the non-COS as it is for us. If everyone like me took advantage of the program, we all would get a comfortable seat and no one would have to sit by the occasional overlarge seatmate. WN gets the maximum revenue for every seat and everyone gets to their destination happier.

I appreciate the WN CP COS program. I am more comfortable and the people that must sit with me are more comfortable. The program is fair to the point that even if I did not have CP status, I would buy the extra seat. More of us should.

I also agree that if anyone wants to buy two seats, or even a whole row, they should have that opportunity. I see no reason to apply it only to COS, but there may be a reason of which I have not thought.

lougord99

Because, as usual, WN's policies only think about the bottom line.

In most situations, it is much cheaper to buy 2 WGA fares than BS. WN wants to force people to buy BS.

InkUnderNails

But would they not sell out the low fare bucket sooner, forcing more people into a higher bucket?

lougord99

Yes, but you and I are not in WN's money management division.

To the best of my knowledge, WN is the only airline that does not allow you to buy 2 seats on a flight unless you are COS or have a large musical instrument.

longhorn11

So could someone make their instrument a companion? Say you're a "musician" and you need to take your cello every time you fly.

jamesteroh

I agree people should be able to buy two seats or a row. Only problem I could see with that is how WN handles boarding. It would mean allowing the customer to preboard to assure all the seats together. The other problem is a tight connection. What happens if the PAX only has a 25 minute connecction and the first plane is late and they are boarding C by the time he gets to the gate?

InkUnderNails

As a COS, they know I am booked into two seats and that I am coming. Since it is a connection, the system knows that I am on the first flight and the time the flight arrived. They are supposed to hold two seats together for me until a certain time, I do not know what it is and it may be variable, after which they will release them. They could do the same with non COS, but if enough people did it, it could overwhelm the system making it all unworkable.

A COS is also linked to the second seat. In other words, wherever he goes the seat goes. If he does a VDB, both seats are released. Conceivably, a non COS with two seats might want to release just one seat on an oversell and get compensation. This would create a difficult to handle situation and would even facilitate speculative booking just to make a profit on an oversell, like scalping. There would have to be a rule that says if one seat VDB's all do and that the compensation may have to be modified.

As for the cello, it must fly in a bulkhead window seat, so the passenger gets the middle. Here are the rules:

jamesteroh

I didn't realize that about flying with a musical instrument. Hopefully the person with a cello is the first to board and the FA's are also aware of it so they can warn through passengers not to sit in the bulkhead.

I would still love to fly on a flight with the penguins. I can just see the DYKWIA's complaining about losing their upgrade to a penguin

longhorn11

Thanks Ink for the clarification.

This would absolutely make my day.