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Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

economist.com

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Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#91

Post by mootothemax »

If you don't fancy the price of premium economy or business class, you can get some great deals at the literal last minute.

Go through with your flight as normal, check in, go through security, and find a member of staff for your flight. Ask how much an upgrade costs, and if they have the space available, they're open to offers.

For example, about 5 years ago I got economy+ on British Airways LHR -> LAX for $200, and business offered for $600 or $700 IIRC. Not bad for a 12 hour flight!

Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#92

Post by jgalt212 »

oostevo wrote: post #68
tptacek wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What agent are you talking to that has access to the names of all passengers and is willing to abuse it for you?

Generally, agents in legacy airline lounges (e.g. a United Club, Admirals Clubs, etc.) are willing to do things like this. Anecdotally, I've noticed that they tend to be more senior (so know what's possible / what they can get away with), less busy (so they're less frustrated and frazzled), and tend to deal with much more experienced travelers than a normal gate agent (so, again, they're less frustrated).

> legacy airline

Thanks to mergers and lack of DOJ anti-trust enforcement there are now only legacy airlines.

Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#93

Post by dave5104 »

nxc18 wrote: post #62
edw519 wrote: post #22

Another technology solution to a non-technical problem. 1. Fly Southwest. 2. Board earlier than most others. 3. When someone eyeballs the adjacent seat, yell into your phone, "The ointment works much better than the lotion when the boils open!"

You're getting downvoted but this is a good point - southwest does it right. For whatever reason, people dislike the back of the plane but if you can tolerate that, you typically have your choice of isle or window, even with crappy line placement.

The back of the plane is not ideal when you want to get off the plane sooner to catch your connecting flight.

Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#94

Post by bruce_one »

mootothemax wrote: post #91

If you don't fancy the price of premium economy or business class, you can get some great deals at the literal last minute. Go through with your flight as normal, check in, go through security, and find a member of staff for your flight. Ask how much an upgrade costs, and if they have the space available, they're open to offers. For example, about 5 years ago I got economy+ on British Airways LHR -> LAX for $200, and…

I think Seatfrog are now gamifying the last-minute-upgrade trick.

http://seatfrog.com/

Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#95

Post by robotresearcher »

clarkm wrote: post #28
tuna-piano wrote: post #9

My two tips for how to keep the adjacent seat empty on normal flights: 1. If you book when there are still many empty seats, choose a window/aisle seat near the back of the plane. Those middle seats are usually the last to be filled. 2. If you're traveling in a group of 2 and there are 3 seats per section, choose the window and aisle of an empty section (preferably near the back of the plane). Chances are good that i…

Likewise, whenever I book a last-minute flight with only middle seats available, I make sure to ask the agent to place me between two passengers with the same last name.

Like Ron and Reggie Kray?

Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#96

Post by robotresearcher »

ssambros wrote: post #65
r0m4n0 wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can’t help but share my slightly riskier plane seating hack as well... On any flight with assigned seating, wait until everyone has boarded. Wait until they call your name (or until you are the obvious last to board). Proceed to sit in any open seat within economy, with the most empty seats adjacent. Usually staff at the terminal desk will also tell you where the open seats are...

Don't forget to check in your carry-on while you are at it, since all overhead bins are already filled by the time 70% of the passengers are boarded.

Stick it in business class overhead bin on your way through.

Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#97

Post by sspiff »

johansch wrote: post #42
ryanmarsh wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

International flights are usually undersold. I pick the middle seat. People will just opt for another row with a window or isle open and the middle seat open so they can have some space. I often end up with a row to myself.

Really? What kind of international flights (src/dst/airline) have you seen being undersold the last five years or so? (I have seen so many flights that have been kinda the opposite. It was markedly different back in like 2008-2013.)

I've been on two Moscow-Tokyo flights (Aeroflot) that were less than one third full.

I've been on a couple of intercontinental flights using Etihad, Swissair, Lufthanza and British Airways between Europe and Asia, most of which were not fully filled for the long legs between major hubs.

I've also seen a few full flights, so I guess it depends on luck and the seasons.

Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#98

Post by robotresearcher »

kzrdude wrote: post #43
thedarkproject wrote: post #5

From an ecological point of view, this is very problematic. As far as it's value as a business idea goes, I'd say this an interesting idea.

Sure. At the bottom of it, it's subsidized by the relative inexpense of oil, and how much we can do with that energy. Which reminds me: Is there a name for and can I read more about the problem of economy, market and pricing of resources for sustainability?

> Sure.

No. The seats are not being made empty. You're just moving the empty seat next to you. Zero energy impact, save for moving the information around.

Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#100

Post by iak8god »

ryanmarsh wrote: post #75
dnh44 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm quite certain that they could have just taken one of the empty seats and you would have been powerless to prevent it. However the English are polite to a fault.

Nope, they were Americans. If I would have refused the flight attendants probably wouldn't have pushed the issue. Usually they won't.

How in the world can you refuse to have the plane's staff seat people in whatever empty seat they see fit? They are in the right to do so and you are in the wrong to act as if it's up to you to have any part in the decision. You are basically just taking advantage of the airline workers' aversion to having someone make a fuss.
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