Virgin Australia Introduces Neighbour-Free Seating
- Joe Breitfeller
- 2 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Virgin Australia has today announced neighbor-free seating, allowing Economy Class guests to unlock extra elbow room and comfort for their journey.
On Thursday (September 25, 2025), Virgin Australia announced the introduction of neighbor-free seating for Economy Class guests. Eligible Economy guests can now submit a bid to reserve an empty seat beside them on select flights, thereby unlocking extra comfort and privacy, not to mention elbow room. The service in now available on select Virgin Australia operated domestic and short-haul international flights.
In Thursday’s announcement, 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.”
To take advantage of this innovative offer, after booking their flight, Economy guests can submit a bid on the Virgin Australia app to reserve an empty adjacent seat, with bids starting at $30. Customers will then be notified of a successful bid no later than two hours prior to departure of their flight. Velocity Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus and Forever Gold members (Platinum Plus and Forever Gold launch on 1 October 2025), 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. Initially, Neighbour-Free seating will launch on routes from Melbourne to Adelaide, Sydney Perth and Bali, from Brisbane to Sydney, Cairns, and Samoa, and between Sydney and Perth (additional T&Cs apply).
Source: Virgin Australia