If you’re like me, you probably think that one of the worst parts about flying is the people. Especially the ones sitting next to you on the plane. I’m sure they’re wonderful, caring individuals in the real world. But put them in the seat next to me, and these globetrotters somehow transform to heaving, coughing, chatty wart hogs whose only reason for living is to ooze into my personal space, impeding my sleep and glaring at any personal work projects I might bring up on my laptop screen.
Well, I’ve found a cheap solution. Spend $25 to $35 and block off the two seats next to you. It’s one of the most amazing and cost-efficient ways I’ve ever upgraded my flight experience. The problem is, it’s only available on a small number of airlines. But here’s how it works.
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THE ROUTE: I recently flew an Airbus A320 between Guadalajara, Mexico (GDL) and New York’s Kennedy airport (JFK) on Volaris, a fast-growing Mexican discount carrier. The flight was to take four hours and 30 minutes, and I was flying economy class (like everyone else, since Volaris only offers one class of service). I paid just $203 roundtrip for this Mexico vacation, so I was already pretty excited.
HOW THE “EMPTY SEAT” OPTION WORKS: When I booked my ticket and went on the Volaris Website, I noticed a curious optional add-on: something called “Empty Seat.” Upon clicking, I learned that for $35 on the GDL-JFK flight (and $25 on the flight from JFK), I could block off not just one empty seat (which was half that price), but two — giving me an entire row of three seats to myself. How could I resist?
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It’s not guaranteed at the time you reserve, however. You need to pay extra for the service right away, and sometime before departure date (about three days before you leave, apparently) they inform you if you actually get the extra seats. If you don’t, then the extra fee is refunded to you.
This service is actually managed by a company I’d never heard of called Optiontown. It also offers similar services for a small number of other airlines — including mostly carriers that you probably don’t fly much, like Adria Airways, AirAsia, Biman Bangladesh, Cambodia Angkor Air and Vietnam Airlines. That’s why most people haven’t heard of the option. But believe me, it’s worth every penny, since for $25 to $35 I was able to lie down, stretch out and work with no distractions and no annoying wart hogs in the seats next to me.
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I’m honestly not exactly sure how the service works. I do wish it were available on airlines based in the United States. Though I wonder how it’d work on a flight filled with U.S. passengers. Picture a planeload of New Yorkers, for example, challenging those who have three seats to themselves when they’re stuck in a middle seat.
It should be noted that Volaris is very much a discount carrier, so there are frequently other costs on top of what you think might be a great airfare — I paid $33 to check my bag, and all food and beverages come with a cost, too. And while the flight attendant uniforms are Mexico’s coolest (love those purple, military-style hats!), it’s not uncommon to see gaudy advertisements plastered on the overhead compartment doors.
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But I’ll take the Empty Seat option whenever I can get it. It’s enough to make me choose an airline like Volaris over another carrier. And I still don’t miss other people’s arms rubbing against me on the armrest.
https://departurelevel.com/travel-tips/the-3-safest-countries-in-latin-america/