Using Virgin Credit Card 2for1 offer to buy a spare seat?

Using Virgin Credit Card 2for1 offer to buy a spare seat?

I've read a few reports on Aus Frequent Flyer boards about people using the Virgin High Flyer card 2for1 offer (buy 1 seat, get 1 for free on 4 flights per year) to secure a spare/comfort seat. As you both passengers travelling get full Status Credits I'm curious if anyone else has done this? Is the process booking it as "Mr Spare Seat" and letting check-in and desk staff know it's a comfort seat?

Any help on the process or feedback if you've tried would be appreciated!

I haven't tried it, but I imagine you could book the second seat, and use web check-in to avoid awkward questions from the check-in staff.

Your Mr Spare Seat would be a no-show at the airport though, and so if your plane is full, it'd likely get filled...

I think telling the check-in and gate staff would stop that from happening though? As far as they're aware I've paid for both the seats, therefore I'm entitled to both the seats. Therefore at check-in desk that seat is marked as checked-in and not as a no show.

I will just have a couple of 2for1 redemptions left at the end of this year cycle so better to put them to some use earning SC's than completely wasted!

Checking in both seats should be easy, however the problem will be when boarding, both boarding passes will need to be scanned or else they will be paging for a "Mr Spare Seat" in the terminal in the final stages of boarding. They will then check onboard to find that seat vacant and technically offload "Mr Spare Seat" from the manifest.

I'm unsure if the airline would allow the manifest to show a passenger onboard when technically there is not as in aviation they are very strict on this type of information for weight and balance figures, even though it really wouldn't make a difference being one person, they have to keep things consistant.

Probly best to explain your intentions to the airline before making a booking, just in case :-)