Buying two Y seats if you're not fat

[justinbrett]

Next year I plan to fly HNL-LAS on HA. I am travelling solo, one way.

The Y fares are very reasonable (about A$400). I don't want to spring for J as I have no use for their status and it's a day flight; however I contemplated the idea of buying a second seat so I could have two seats together by the window, which would be nice.

HA have a policy to buy a second seat (Guests Needing Additional Room) - will there be issues if they see I don't actually need the extra seat?

I would normally fly AA/AS but I'm connecting straight from QF103 and there's no way I can get to LAS same day, only an overnight flight (and definitely don't want to do double red eye flights!).

 

[Ade]

will there be issues if they see I don't actually need the extra seat?

I'd think if you were to do OLCI and print/wallet your BP, which will show the EXST purchased, you might not even see an airline agent ... during flight if the FA asks someone to sit next to you, you may say that have purchased an extra seat and show your BP .... I'm guessing the last bit here btw, the, FAs might, be it real or perceived, quote safety as a reason and seat someone next to you, then I'd assume that you can contact the airline and request a refund ? May be the FA/CM can give you proof that the EXST was occupied and not available for use by the pax who paid for it?

 

[justinbrett]

I'd think if you were to do OLCI and print/wallet your BP, which will show the EXST purchased, you might not even see an airline agent ... during flight if the FA asks someone to sit next to you, you may say that have purchased an extra seat and show your BP .... I'm guessing the last bit here btw, the, FAs might, be it real or perceived, quote safety as a reason and seat someone next to you, then I'd assume that you can contact the airline and request a refund ? May be the FA/CM can give you proof that the EXST was occupied and not available for use by the pax who paid for it?

It would be ironic if someone was moved due to an obese person needing an extra seat!

 

[Pushka]

It would be ironic if someone was moved due to an obese person needing an extra seat!

That was my immediate thought as well. Or the FA directing someone to the empty seat if their seat or IFE was broken.

 

[wenglock.mok]

I'd think if you were to do OLCI and print/wallet your BP, which will show the EXST purchased, you might not even see an airline agent ... during flight if the FA asks someone to sit next to you, you may say that have purchased an extra seat and show your BP .... I'm guessing the last bit here btw, the, FAs might, be it real or perceived, quote safety as a reason and seat someone next to you, then I'd assume that you can contact the airline and request a refund ? May be the FA/CM can give you proof that the EXST was occupied and not available for use by the pax who paid for it?

There shouldn't be an issue as you've paid for the additional seat. However, because this isn't very common, the FAs may not know how to deal with it, which happened to me on a QF flight from PEK to SYD. Because no boarding pass could be issued for the additional seat and there is merely a very small EXST service note on the original boarding pass, the FAs kept asking me where my boarding pass for the additional seat was, as a stranger unilaterally decided to plonk himself in the additional seat. Be sure to make it clear to the FAs if that happens that you've paid for two seats.

However, the additional seat will definitely show up as such on the Cabin Manager's manifest and because you've paid for the seat, they cannot decide to just seat someone else there without at least a refund of the cost of the additional seat being offered.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'd think if you were to do OLCI and print/wallet your BP, which will show the EXST purchased, you might not even see an airline agent ... during flight if the FA asks someone to sit next to you, you may say that have purchased an extra seat and show your BP .... I'm guessing the last bit here btw, the, FAs might, be it real or perceived, quote safety as a reason and seat someone next to you, then I'd assume that you can contact the airline and request a refund ? May be the FA/CM can give you proof that the EXST was occupied and not available for use by the pax who paid for it?

According to the link in the original post you have to call web support at HA to have adjacent seats assigned… so there should be a note somewhere in the booking or on the manifest… one would hope!