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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

#71

Post by madcaptenor »

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.

But your plan will fail and seat you between me and my wife, since we don't have the same last name.

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

#72

Post by ryanmarsh »

robjan wrote: post #58
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.

Industry standard is to overbook economy by about 110% (there's a whole department dedicated to calculating this figure) and sometimes business class too.

Domestically, sure. The margins are better on international flights which might be why there tends to be more empty seats.

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

#73

Post by ryanmarsh »

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.)

LHR IAD

IAH LHR

IAH DXB

DXB PER

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

#74

Post by lorenzhs »

acchow wrote: post #66
tptacek wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You did this, and the agent agreed? What airline?

Why do airlines expose the last names?

Well they're not going to ask "Is the seat between Mr and Mrs Jones all right?", there's no need to expose the name to you when you ask to be placed between people with the same last name.

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

#75

Post by ryanmarsh »

dnh44 wrote: post #15
ryanmarsh wrote: post #10

Flew back to the states from London yesterday. Had the whole row to myself (planned it that way). People in front of me were upset that I wouldn't give up one of my seats. Nope. Slept like a baby.

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.

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

#76

Post by mannykannot »

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…

3. Resist the urge to boast about your most effective techniques in public.

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

#77

Post by clarkm »

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).

Yep, a United Club agent is where I got the idea originally.

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

#78

Post by bonzini »

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.

I often check in my bag anyway if I have a long flight and a layover long enough that I can have lunch at my connection airport. I only bring a light backpack that can fit under the seat in front of me.

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

#80

Post by uhhfcuvv »

nolok wrote: post #64
foota wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just did Bangkok to Muscat on Oman and the fight was amazingly empty. We were on a 787 and I'd guess we had about a third to half the seats booked.

Combined with their decently low price, recent fleet and good services, they're really becoming one of my favorite airlines for EU->Asia. Now if only muscat airport could be a bit better ...

You do realise they won't be around for much longer if their flights are half-empty?
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