Qantas Neighbour Free Seat Reservations

[justinbrett]

I don't think there's anything stopping Qantas doing this?

The FAQs say "Neighbour Free refers to the seat space only and cannot be used for infant seating or to place items such as carry-on baggage, or musical instruments."

That indicates to me that you're not actually buying exclusive use of the second seat, which would be the case when buying a comfort seat.

The fact they're printing the seat number on the boarding pass suggests to me they're only allocating it to one person. I could be wrong, but if so, seems a silly thing to do. Printing it on the BP instils a sense of ownership of it, regardless of what they say - unless it specifically said "your neighbour free seat may shared by another passenger who also requested a neighbour free seat".

Also seems a bit unfair as a party of 2 can request one, and that can't be onsold. They only have to pay one set of fees, not two.

 

[downgraded]

a bit unfair as a party of 2 can request one, and that can't be onsold

Then QF might sell the free seat to a third passenger and move the non-paying pax elsewhere "for operational reasons".

 

[justinbrett]

Then QF might sell the free seat to a third passenger and move the non-paying pax elsewhere "for operational reasons".

I very much doubt that.

 

[Mattg]

The fact they're printing the seat number on the boarding pass suggests to me they're only allocating it to one person. I could be wrong, but if so, seems a silly thing to do. Printing it on the BP instils a sense of ownership of it, regardless of what they say - unless it specifically said "your neighbour free seat may shared by another passenger who also requested a neighbour free seat".

Hmm - yes, that makes sense. I'm not sure what the deal is here - you could well be right.

 

[aikman]

I am WP and have been offered a neighbour free seat next to my existing seat reservation.
View attachment 337643

I didn't pay the $30 but as it turned out the flight wasn't full and I still got the whole row to myself anyway.

Which got me wondering, would you feel ripped off if you had paid for a neighbour free seat only to realise that you would have gotten it for free anyway?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I didn't pay the $30 but as it turned out the flight wasn't full and I still got the whole row to myself anyway.

Which got me wondering, would you feel ripped off if you had paid for a neighbour free seat only to realise that you would have gotten it for free anyway?

No! For me the benefits of a spare seat (comfort, or otherwise purchased) begin long before the flight. Knowing you’ll have space to move around, a spare tray table to put your ipad or drink, or that you’re not going to be sandwiched next to someone with broad shoulders would be worth the money! Bonus is you get the whole row

 

[Flyfrequently]

On TSV to BNE yesterday, I counted 28+ spare middle seats.
I wonder if any pax paid the $30?

 

[Mr H]

I didn't pay the $30 but as it turned out the flight wasn't full and I still got the whole row to myself anyway.

Which got me wondering, would you feel ripped off if you had paid for a neighbour free seat only to realise that you would have gotten it for free anyway?

Unless every single middle seat is empty, you can never know whether you would have got a neighbour free seat anyway. Sometimes you get lucky with a neighbour free seat, but this payment seems to be for the guarantee that if there are empty seats anywhere on the plane, one will be next to you.

 

[Eastwick20]

Not QF but on a recent Etihad flight AUH - MEL in Y class I got chatting with the lady one seat away, turns out we had both paid for the seat next to us to be neighbour free
A bit of cheeky double dipping by EY, I guess they hope you don't get chatting to your neighbour!

 

[milehighclub]

This is about to open up to all domestic flights (except intra WA) and some International flights from 6th September. This includes most Tasman, all LAX/DFW/SFO/HNL and BNE/MEL/PER - SIN and VV

 

[jakeseven7]

Got offered this on a Tassie flight - which I thought was odd, I didn’t think it had rolled out there yet! Don’t need it for such a short hop.

 

[justinbrett]

This is about to open up to all domestic flights (except intra WA) and some International flights from 6th September. This includes most Tasman, all LAX/DFW/SFO/HNL and BNE/MEL/PER - SIN and VV

I'm guessing LAX would be in the ballpark of $300

I'd pay that on an A330 to get a set of two as a solo traveller - having received many free shadows it's a very comfortable way to fly. I'd definitely value it over an exit row.

 

[mrsterryn]

This is about to open up to all domestic flights (except intra WA) and some International flights from 6th September. This includes most Tasman, all LAX/DFW/SFO/HNL and BNE/MEL/PER - SIN and VV

That would be absolutely brilliant
I have purchased a comfort seat before on Syd LAX and it was the normal fare monies taxes etc

 

[TheInsider]

I'm guessing LAX would be in the ballpark of $300

I'd pay that on an A330 to get a set of two as a solo traveller - having received many free shadows it's a very comfortable way to fly. I'd definitely value it over an exit row.

For example a MEL to CGK flight, it's $45 from what I've been told.

 

[Mattg]

For example a MEL to CGK flight, it's $45 from what I've been told.

This seems surprisingly cheap when it's $45 on SYD-BNE or $65 on MEL-PER.

 

[TheInsider]

This seems surprisingly cheap when it's $45 on SYD-BNE or $65 on MEL-PER.

They may have dynamic pricing in place and possibly could change depending on certain factors.

 

[exceladdict]

The last two 737 flights as WP, the seat next to me (B) was not available for selection, but was empty. Both times I was offered to buy a neighbour seat free and didn't. On the second, I asked the person next to me if they happened to purchase it. They said no, but they were also WP and interestingly, it showed as available for them, despite not being selectable for me. So, fortunately, some sort of shadowing might still be applying despite the spanner this throws into the works.

 

[serfty]

So, fortunately, some sort of shadowing might still be applying despite the spanner this throws into the works.

I suspect "neighbour free seating" may more for those with lower or no status.

 

[mbell1510]

A mate and I flew together on separate bookings from BNE to HBA on an Embraer E190 and both got offered the Neighbour free seat as a gold and silver respectively. With the plane in a 2x2 configuration I suspect if one of us wanted to take up the offer it would have been away from the first row of economy we had. The price we were both quoted was $60.
Thankfully we were able to put up with each other for the flight and opted against it

 

[justinbrett]

I would be happy to pay $225 for BNE-LAX, even though I have a good chance of a shadow on this route. There's something to be said for having it somewhat guaranteed before flight than having to refresh the seat map repeatedly until doors close.

I would assume a WP who pays for this would be the last to lose it.