Virgin Australia has introduced a new initiative called ‘Neighbour-Free Seating’, allowing passengers to bid for an additional seat to keep the space next to them empty during flights. This option is available for both domestic and short-haul international flights. Passengers can place bids starting at £14 through the airline’s app, with the auction price increasing based on demand.
Successful bidders will be notified two hours before their flight if they have secured the extra seat. In the event that someone else books the seat, the winning passenger will receive a refund. It’s worth noting that while this feature offers extra personal space, it does not include additional baggage allowances.
According to Virgin Australia, this new option aims to provide passengers with a more spacious economy experience at a reasonable cost. The decision to introduce this feature was influenced by a survey revealing that a significant percentage of passengers expressed interest in paying to have the middle seat empty on longer flights. Virgin Australia executive, Libby Minogue, emphasized the airline’s commitment to offering value and choice to its guests.
Other airlines like Qantas and Air France also offer similar services. For instance, Air France passengers can opt for the ‘Empty Seat Option – My Extra Space’ to reserve up to three empty seats for enhanced comfort, space, and privacy.
