Question

We were able to book a JB flight Boston/JFK/SXM and the thought was JB will still be blocking middle seats.
We are planning on AA on the way back. I called customer service last night and was told I needed to buy the middle seat to insure it being empty.
Does anyone know of a different avenue?
I will do it to stay safer but wanted to check before I did.
carib cheers,
doctorj

I don't know of any other way to do it. I'll add, I flew AA from O'hare to Tampa back in the middle of August and it was slammed full. Not an empty seat on the plane.

Wouldn’t you think an airline would be innovative and ask for $ to reserve space shy of a ticket.
Not all of their flights are full and people would pay for piece of mind.
carib cheers,
doctorj

Delta is blocking middle seats on our STT flight (from BOS) in October....but not sure how long they will do this

I did notice that JB has all seats available

Edit: until at least January 6th

Jet Blue had no middle seats open on our flights in November.
Thank goodness.
The airlines should just throw a number out. $100 for the flight to SXM I would pay in a heartbeat.
carib cheers,
doctorj

Book first class. No middle seat.

The Points Guy

ditto on the 100$ middle seat

We finally resolved the middle seat issue with AA.
We booked 2 seats at 15K per ticket in FF miles. The lady told me she would need to manually book the middle seat and to call back.
I called to wrap up the middle seat with points.
It was 27500 plus taxes and extra leg room etc for my empty seat.

It is still comforting to know my wife and I and our imaginary friend will have the row to ourselves.
The second lady I spoke to today was very nice and very accommodating.

carib cheers,
doctorj

Does that mean you can check extra bags and extra carry-on for your friend too?

Hopefully I can have his snacks.
I know he drinks what I do.
carib cheers,
doctorj

Are you positive that when your “friend” does not show, the airline will not put someone in that seat?

If a flight is overbooked they could do that.

I think the imaginary friend needs the cookies and snacks too!

I don’t think they can since it is a paid seat.
I asked that question and I was assured no.
Let’s hope .
carib cheers,
doctorj

Even though its a paid seat it could be bumped and refilled with a paying customer.

They can not use it if you purchased and show up. I purchased a whole row of seats a few years ago because I was going on a trip a couple of days after having a defibrillator installed. The doctor wanted no one next to me, jostling me, so soon after surgery. People tried to move to my row and the flight attendant let them know the seats weren’t available.

Scuba,

I think bdeeley is absolutely correct. If you bought it, you own it for the full duration of the flight. I’d be pretty ticked off if I paid for the seat and someone else was put there by the airline. Wouldn’t that be a form of double dipping on the airline’s part? Now if they negotiated with you first and offered you recompense........

I know from experience. No seat is guaranteed. I used miles to purchase first class on AA. Someone else with money wanted it. They were strong arming me to move me back to exit row and give this big shot my seat next to my wife. I had to exit the plane and flight was delayed 45 min while we sorted it out. I won but others missed connections because of this. I had 4 hrs layover and didn't care. So don't tell me it can't happen. Especially with a miles ticket.

I stand corrected. I think......! Generally speaking, when we fly Business or First we’ve purchased revenue tickets although we have done upgrades a few times, too, when they were easier to do. Not really all that certain about their protocols regarding FF tix. Truth is, neither of us drinks and with the exception of a few flights to Hawaii most of our flights are 3,5 hours or less so the need for those big seats isn’t really a deal breaker for us. Always nice but not a deal breaker.

The only time there was ever an issue for us we were politely asked by an AA Supervisor at check-in in SXM to give up our seats to a high ranking FF with supposed health issues and AA was very good to us for agreeing to do so.

They put us in a three across row with the center seat blocked and provided us with drinks and dinner as well as cash vouchers for accommodating their needs. Worked for me......

But I still think when the OP paid for that seat they’d be hard pressed to seat someone else in it without his okay. That’s my story and I’m sticking with it! 😊😊

If you reread the poster purchased the middle seat with miles. That changes things.

Suggestion. Print out the boarding pass for the middle seat and scan it as well as your own as you board. That should prevent them form seeing that the middle seat didn't check in and can be resold.

We will see. The lady I spoke with said exactly that to show the boarding pass. It would be some really bad PR from a Covid standpoint if after a flight they forced another passenger in we contracted the virus.

We are flying Jet Blue on the way down and they are blocking middle seats through 12/1.

Better days ahead!

carib cheers,
doctorj

We always fly first class when available but it's still a confined space well within the six foot guidelines so no real advantage there just prepaid for booze which in and of itself could pose a problem with conforming to the rules of this pandemic.A recent six month study by the military and I think Delta ? proved that when masks are worn on the plane, in compliance with established protocol, there is little chance of the virus being spread. The jetways and the rest of the airport a much different story due to the people who won't wear a mask.