Virgin Australia is giving Economy passengers the chance to travel with extra space, privacy, and peace of mind with its new Neighbour-Free Seating service.
Passengers on eligible domestic and short-haul international flights can now bid to keep the seat next to them empty, creating a more relaxed and personal flying environment. Bids start from AUD $30 and are confirmed up to two hours before departure, giving travelers certainty of extra room without the premium cost of upgrading cabins.
“We listened to our guests, and they told us that extra space makes a huge difference on longer flights,” said Libby Minogue, Virgin Australia Executive. “Neighbour-Free Seating is designed to enhance the Economy experience, letting passengers enjoy more comfort, flexibility, and personal space on board.”
The service is available on key routes including Melbourne–Sydney, Brisbane–Cairns, Sydney–Perth, Melbourne–Perth, Brisbane–Samoa, and Melbourne–Bali. Guests can reserve one Neighbour-Free Seat per booking, ensuring a quieter, more private journey while standard Economy X and Business Class cabins remain unaffected.
By offering a simple, guest-focused way to create more personal space, Virgin Australia is enhancing the onboard experience in Economy, responding to a 2023 survey showing that 42% of travelers would pay to keep a middle seat empty on international flights over three hours
How Neighbour-Free Seating works:
- Submit a bid through the Virgin Australia app after booking.
- Successful bids confirmed up to two hours before departure.
- Bids start from AUD $30; refunds provided if a seat cannot be reserved.
- Available for bookings of one or two passengers only.
