But don't copy Feer's approach of booking the third seat under a fake name; the process doesn't work that way, and it will cause problems. For one thing, if you buy a ticket for a phantom John Doe, the airline considers him a no-show, and the seat is up for grabs.
Feer's error was corrected at the gate by a supervisor. Still, several times during his six total connecting flights, gate agents tried to assign his empty seat to a standby passenger or didn't put the three seats together. Feer said he was insistent to get the arrange- ments he wanted, and he did.
Had he informed agents at the time of booking of his purpose, the extra seat would have been assigned in his name, with the words "extra seat" tacked on, says Robin Urbanski, United's media relations manager. Feer would have been given an extra boarding pass with a seat assignment.
CoGo's advice: Be very clear about your purpose when you book and remind gate agents at each stop of your arrangements.
TRAVEL TICKER
Lufthansa will begin daily nonstop service to Munich from Dulles on May 2. Flights feature the industry's first high-speed Internet access and 6 1/2-foot beds in business class . . . South African Airways will launch direct service to Johannesburg from Dulles . . . Jetsgo, Canada's low-cost carrier, stranded 17,000 passengers last weekend as it suspended operations. The airline is seeking bankruptcy protection . . . In-flight entertainment systems are being installed in planes operated by Song, Delta's low-cost carrier . . . Death Valley in California is in the midst of the wildest display of wildflowers in recent history. Details: www.desertUSA.com.
BARGAIN OF THE WEEK
New Zealand for Less
Fly to New Zealand for $1,019 round trip, including taxes. Details: What's the Deal?, Page P3.
Reporting: Cindy Loose, Elissa Leibowitz Poma.
Help feed CoGo. Send travel news, road reports and juicy tattles to:
cogo@washpost.com. By fax: 202-912-3609. By mail: CoGo, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.
