[Sonny M]

I’m certain a normal person could do the same thing if they wanted to insure they had an empty seat next to them. Buy the extra ticket and refund it if the plane is not sold out.

In keeping with their policy, it looks like he will get his money back, so he is fine.

I was more or less concerned about the airline using a "added value" excuse in the future to peanlize customers for unsold tickets.

The only reason this popped up to me was during a recent flight when the stewerdess and me were joking about how I had only one ticket, but the row was vacant, so I had 3 seats and one day the airline would find a way to make me pay.

[RS]

“so I had 3 seats and one day the airline would find a way to make me pay.”

My point is that you and me and every other passenger is already paying for them. Once the plane is in the air they are worthless - allthough it would be nice to pay $20 or so and get upgraded in the air if First Class were not full :-)
( Maybe they could have an onboard auction ? )