Virgin offers a neighbour-free flying experience

Do you hate it when the passenger in the next seat man spreads, or pushes your arm off the shared armrest?

You can now pay from just $30 for a neighbour-free experience when your flight is with Virgin Australia.

From this week, eligible guests on some Virgin Australia-operated domestic and short-haul international services can bid to keep the seat next to them empty, creating a more spacious economy experience.

The new product, dubbed Neighbour-Free Seating, will let guests enjoy more space when they fly, at an accessible price point.

A 2023 consumer survey conducted by Velocity Frequent Flyer revealed that 42% of Virgin Australia guests would consider paying a fee to have the middle seat empty on international flights more than three hours, while over a third (35%) would do the same on a domestic flight more than three hours.

Virgin Australia executive Libby Minogue said the airline’s latest offering reflects its commitment to customer comfort.

“Our priority is to give Virgin Australia guests even more value and choice when they choose to fly with us," she said. "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.”

There is, of course, no certainty. Your flight, like so many, might well be full.

How it works: 

# After booking their flight, eligible economy guests can submit a bid on the Virgin Australia app to reserve an empty seat next to them.
# Bids start from as low as $30. More information on pricing is available at virginaustralia.com.
# A successful bid will be confirmed no later than two hours prior to the scheduled departure time of the flight.
# Velocity Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus and Forever Gold members, who have pre-selected their seats and do not bid for Neighbour-Free Seating will not be impacted when Neighbour-Free Seating requests are fulfilled.

Smart thinking from the airline, which now gets extra revenue from a seat that is not purchased.