By Eleanor Noyce
Copyright metro
Fancy a little bit of extra wiggle room on your next flight? (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
We’ve all felt it: that rush of joy when all the passengers have boarded the flight, and there’s no one sitting next to you.
You can spread out, no arguing for the arm rest, and even kick your feet up if you fancy it.
But now, Virgin is giving passengers the chance to pay for the privilege, with the option to bid for a vacant seat next to you, ahead of time.
Aptly named ‘neighbour-free seating,’ those travelling on both domestic and short-haul international Virgin Australia flights will now be able to place a ‘bid’ for a little bit of peace and quiet.
The policy was inspired by a 2023 survey that revealed 42% of the airline’s guests would be open to paying a fee to keep the middle seat empty on international flights longer than three hours, while 35% were open to doing so for a domestic flight of the same duration.
How much would you pay for a vacant seat next to you on a flight?
Nothing, it’s ridiculous.Check
I’d pay the minimum £14.73 but nothing more.Check
There’s no budget — the arm rest is priceless.Check
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There’s nothing better than an empty seat next to you (Picture: Getty Images)
How to bid for an empty seat on a Virgin Australia flight
So, how does it all work? Once you’ve booked your flight online, you’ll be able to file your ‘bid’ using the Virgin Australia app, which will express your interest in reserving the seat next to you.
To put your name in the hat, you’re looking at paying a minimum of $30 (£14.73) – though the exact bid range will vary depending on where you’re flying to and from.
If you’re successful, you’ll receive an email before the flight – at the very latest, two hours before you’re due off the runway.
If you’re successful in having your bid accepted, you won’t be entitled to any other extras as part of the same deal, including a larger baggage allowance. So, you’ll want to bear that in mind when you’re packing.
You’ll be able to bid from $30 (£14.73) (Picture: AFP/Getty Images/Saeed Khan)
You also won’t be able to use the space next to you to store any extra baggage for health and safety reasons, though you might be able to use the footwell. You’ll just need to take care to check how much luggage is actually included in your booking.
It might not necessarily be a done deal once you’ve paid for that extra space, though, as the Virgin Australia website maintains that it ‘cannot guarantee the availability of your neighbour-free seat’ as ‘there may be instances where the seat is required for safety or operational reasons.’
If the spot ends up being needed to accommodate another passenger, you’ll be given a heads up via email, usually at least four hours before take-off – and you will, of course, be entitled to a full refund.
Which routes will the Virgin Australia neighbour-free policy be available on?
Virgin Australia has launched the policy across the following routes (applicable on both legs of the journey), and expects to roll it out on a wider basis in the future:
Melbourne – Bali.
Melbourne – Adelaide
Melbourne – Sydney
Brisbane – Sydney
Brisbane – Cairns
Melbourne – Perth
Sydney – Perth
Brisbane – Samoa.
At the moment, the policy is just being rolled out for eligible economy passengers – and does not include those who have already paid for economy X and business class seats.
And, if you’re a member of the bougier Velocity Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus, or Forever Gold programmes and choose not to pre-bid for an extra seat, no bother. You’ll still be able to sit in your pre-booked seat, at peace and undisturbed.
Virgin Australia executive Libby Minogue said: ‘Our priority is to give Virgin Australia guests even more value and choice when they choose to fly with us. Neighbour-Free Seating is a clever add-on for Economy travellers who want the certainty of extra space without the price tag.
‘We actively listen to guest feedback, and this initiative is a direct response to what our customers have told us they want. It is a step forward in enhancing the onboard experience and a game changer for those who want more comfort and space during their flight.’
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