Other than a complimentary upgrade (and of course a seamless, delay-free, hassle-free flight… we’re not holding our breath), the best thing that can happen on a flight is when the seat next to you remains empty. You can stretch out without worrying about bumping into your neighbor. Qantas Airlines knows the feeling, and is testing out a new neighbor-free seating concept that will let you pay to keep the seat next to you open for a lot less than buying a second seat.
The Australian carrier is introducing the option on international flights, including seven routes between the U.S. and Australia. The option has been available on select domestic routes within Australia, and the success of the trial prompted the airline to expand to international routes.
"The data shows it's most popular with customers on our longer flights between the east and west coasts, so rolling it out to our international flights makes a lot of sense," Catriona Larritt, Qantas' chief customer and digital officer, said in a statement.
So how does it work? Purchasing a neighbor-free seat will cost around $142.29 USD each way between Australia and the U.S. If a flight is not at full capacity, Qantas will contact passengers 48 hours before the flight to offer the option to select a neighbor-free seat. The seat is not guaranteed until departure, so if the seat is taken by a last-minute ticket purchase, the customer will receive a refund. Passengers who bought seats with extra legroom, requested an upgrade or are traveling with an infant or unaccompanied minor and group bookings are not eligible for neighbor-free seating.
The routes that offer this new seating option are Dallas to Melbourne, Dallas to Sydney, Honolulu to Sydney, Los Angeles to Brisbane, Los Angeles to Melbourne, Los Angeles to Sydney and San Francisco to Sydney.
Find out more on the Qantas website.