A buddy seat is the ottoman or footrest at the end of a business or first class suite that is robust enough and equipped with a seatbelt to allow a travel companion to sit across from you for a meal.
This is a fun, highly exclusive feature mostly found in international first class, but occasionally present in oversized business class suites (like the Virgin Atlantic Upper Class or early Qsuites concepts). It allows you to invite a travel partner from another seat to join you in your suite for dinner or drinks, dining face-to-face over a large table. It mimics the experience of a private restaurant booth at 35,000 feet. The companion must return to their assigned seat for takeoff, landing, and periods of turbulence.
No, the buddy seat is solely for sitting during meals or conversation. It is not designed to accommodate two people sleeping in the same suite.
No, if the seatbelt sign illuminates, the visiting passenger must immediately return to their own ticketed seat.
A suite or mini-suite is a business class seat enclosed by privacy partitions and often a sliding door, creating a highly private individual space.
A true suite is an oversized cabin enclosure—usually found in first class—that provides extensive floor space, a separate bed and chair, or floor-to-ceiling privacy doors.
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