Virgin Australia’s New “Neighbor-Free” Bidding: How It Works, Who Qualifies, And When It’s Worth It
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Virgin Australia is rolling out Neighbor-Free Seating, a pay-to-bid option that guarantees the seat beside you in Economy stays empty on select domestic and short-haul international routes. It’s live now on the VA app and website and comes as the airline leans into comfort upsells alongside other customer-facing tweaks (hello, pet-friendly flights).
Why Virgin is doing this
A 2023 survey of Velocity members found 42% would pay to keep the adjacent seat free on international flights over three hours. Neighbor-Free turns that sentiment into ancillary revenue while giving flyers a cheaper, lighter-touch way to buy breathing room without springing for Business—or even Economy X.
How the bidding works
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Who can bid: Economy passengers on eligible flights, in bookings of one or two people.
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Who can’t: Travelers in Business or Economy X (extra-legroom) seats; larger party bookings.
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When to bid: After ticketing, via the Virgin Australia app or website; results are confirmed no later than two hours before departure.
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Starting price: From AU$30 (about US$19), varying by route, demand and load.
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Quantity: One adjacent seat per eligible booking/flight segment.
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What you get (and don’t): Guaranteed empty neighbor; no extra baggage, meals, or status perks attached.
A note for Velocity elites
Velocity Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus, and Forever Gold members with preselected seats won’t lose an empty neighbor they already hold due to someone else’s bid being slotted beside them. In short: elite seat locks are respected.
Where you’ll see it first
Virgin is activating Neighbor-Free across a mix of trunk and leisure routes, including examples like:
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Melbourne (MEL) – Sydney (SYD) / Adelaide (ADL) / Perth (PER)
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Sydney (SYD) – Brisbane (BNE) / Perth (PER)
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Brisbane (BNE) – Sydney (SYD) / Cairns (CNS) / Apia (APW)
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Melbourne (MEL) – Bali (DPS)
(Eligibility appears segment-by-segment at checkout or in “Manage Booking” once your ticket is issued.)
Is it worth it?
Here’s a quick decision lens:
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Short hops (<2 hrs): Worth it if you’re working on a laptop, need elbow room, or value a quieter row.
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Medium flights (2–4 hrs): The sweet spot—especially on leisure peaks where Economy X may be sold out or pricey.
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Longer regional (3–6 hrs to Pacific/SE Asia): Strong value on full flights where upgrades are scarce and Business fares bite.
If you’re tall/broad-shouldered, traveling with a lap infant, or carrying bulky personal items, the second seat can change the experience. Couples also benefit by turning a tight 3-3 row into a semi-private two-across.
Pro tips to improve your odds
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Bid early, then watch loads: Put in a baseline offer after ticketing; if the flight stays busy, nudge your bid up closer to T-24–T-12 hours.
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Pick your row wisely: Aisle/window pairs toward the rear or mini-cabins often clear before high-demand forward rows.
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Avoid splits: If you’re two travelers, keep your seats together before bidding—Virgin is selling the empty neighbor, not reshuffling your row.
How it compares globally
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Etihad “Neighbor-Free” and Gulf carriers’ empty-seat options pioneered auction-style extras on widebodies.
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Air New Zealand Twin Seat and Lufthansa’s Neighbor Free (select routes) offer fixed pricing rather than bidding.
Virgin’s approach mirrors the dynamic, load-based model: cheaper when there’s slack capacity, pricier when a cabin’s near full.
What it isn’t
This is not a hidden upgrade, lounge access, priority boarding, or extra checked baggage. It’s a comfort add-on: same fare class, more personal space.
Velocity side news: more ways to use points
Velocity’s 13M+ members can now redeem points in-store at Myer nationwide (already live online), and continue to access 600+ global destinations via partners like Qatar Airways (25% VA owner), Singapore Airlines, United, and Virgin Atlantic—handy if Neighbor-Free frees cash you’d otherwise spend on a higher fare.
Bottom line
Neighbor-Free is a smart, flexible middle ground between standard Economy and a cabin upgrade. If your schedule is set and you value space—especially on 3+ hour flights—a well-timed AU$30–$70 bid can be one of the best-value comfort plays in the region.
