Buy 2 seats for yourself, claim on two different programs?
 

Was wondering if this is possible?

Assuming UA will let you buy two tickets on one flight - Can you buy two tickets in your own name and then put one ticket in one ff program and the other in another program?

I don't see why not, but the challenge would be getting both BPs scanned ;)

I do not think GA is going to scan two BPs

Large people, and people traveling with large musical instruments can buy two seats. Are both of those seats reflected on one boarding pass, or are two issued?

If you purchase an extra seat for comfort, the extra seat has all the same benefits as another passenger would (checked bag allowance, mileage accrual, VDB compensation etc). I don't see why you couldn't earn miles with a 2nd carrier on the 2nd ticket.


And GA's do scan both BP's if a person has bought 2 seats. You'll have a BP that says Smith/John and one that says Smith/Extra Seat or something like that, with two separate ETickets.

I thought you get only EQMs for one seat, though.

Anyone can buy 2 seats... you don't need a reason. I don't know if 2 BP's are issued but you earn double RDM's if you buy 2 seats...but only single EQM's. No idea if you can split programs for earning purposes.

I think op wants to know if you can get eqms for ua on 1 seat and say eqms on co on he other...... I mean this would be logical but I would like to know if anyone has done it....

^

I did not realize one can get RDMs for both tickets.

Of course, doing this may also throw the headcount off!

The thought behind this question is vacation packages by United that offer discounts for 2 people, but not 1. In some cases, its cheaper to book for 2 people than it is to pay the single supplement.

I don't think this is true, unless you get lucky.
Most airlines explicitly do NOT award miles for a second seat.

If it WERE generally true,
mileage-runners would double up on the best runs.
But they don't.

It very much depends on the program/airline.

As for claiming the second seat in another program, the ticket is generally booked as LastName/ExtraSeat rather than LastName/FirstName so making a claim for that seat will be difficult. Airlines generally do not permit the same passenger to hold two bookings under their real name on the same flight.

Do not think it is possible. As others point out, the second seat generally reads 'other seat' or something similar and 'other seat' and your number would not match-up. If an agent tried, it would come back 'invalid'.