Buying an empty seat on AirNZ international

[RailFlyer]

Hi All,

The wife and I are flying AKL to LHR via LAX on AirNZ 777-300 in May. I am aware they offer the SkyCouch product, but they want more $ for this return than the cost of a 3rd person's return fare. I was wondering if AirNZ will sell me a 3rd "comfort" seat at normal cost minus taxes (or below!) so we have have a whole row to ourselves? Don't care if it has Skycough features or not.

I can't find anything about this on their website, or google. They do offer a service to buy an empty seat next to you on check-in (is this available with online check-in?) but I'm willing to pay a reasonable amount to secure the space now rather than gamble that I can get it at the airport. I am only a Silver AirNZ FF.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Denali]

I bought a comfort seat on a domestic flight for Christmas.

I had to phone their office because I couldn't find anything online. EVEN then, was told to just buy a seat in a made up name.

After telling the person you just can't buy random made up tickets, and listed the many reasons why inc no shows/losing the seat, she insisted that's what I should do. So I hung up and phoned again and got the same response, buy a ticket in a dodgy name.

I asked for a manager who processed a comfort seat but charged me the phone fee.

I actually sent them an email saying it was unacceptable that their staff are telling pax to buy dodgy named tickets and they need a better system to book comfort seats and about a week later I got a phone call from AirNZ. Was told they listened to both recordings, agreed with me, will tighten up their comfort seat process training and gave me a refund.

Good luck!

 

[RailFlyer]

I bought a comfort seat on a domestic flight for Christmas.

I asked for a manager who processed a comfort seat but charged me the phone fee.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info. Out of interest, can you remember how much the comfort seat was relative to the fare you paid for your seat?

 

[Denali]

Same price less taxes by memory but it was a domestic Christchurch to Queenstown so not a lot.