Virgin Australia has introduced a new feature that allows passengers to bid for an empty seat next to them during flights. This “Neighbour-Free Seating” option gives travelers the opportunity to secure two seats instead of one on domestic and short-haul international flights. Economy passengers can bid through the airline’s app, starting at £14, for the additional seat, with prices increasing based on demand.
Successful bidders will be notified two hours before their flight departure if they have secured the extra seat. Although there is a chance that someone may book the empty seat, the winning passenger will receive a refund in such cases. It is important to note that while this option provides additional personal space, it does not include extra baggage allowance.
Virgin Australia aims to enhance the Economy experience by offering passengers more room at a reasonable cost. This initiative follows a survey revealing that a significant percentage of passengers would be willing to pay to keep the middle seat empty on longer flights. Virgin Australia executive, Libby Minogue, emphasized the airline’s commitment to providing value and choice to its guests through innovations like Neighbour-Free Seating.
Similar features are offered by airlines such as Qantas and Air France, where passengers can opt for additional empty seats for increased comfort, space, and privacy.