How Qantas Neighbour Free Seat Reservations Work

Qantas Trials Neighbour Free Seat Reservations
Qantas Neighbour Free lets you reserve the seat next to you for a fee. Photo: Qantas.

Following a successful launch on domestic routes, Qantas is now expanding its “Neighbour Free” program onto international flights.

This initiative allows customers on many domestic flights to purchase an empty neighbouring seat for a small additional fee, starting from just $30 on short flights.

The Neighbour Free concept was initially trialled on six domestic routes, including Sydney to Gold Coast in September 2022. It has since been expanded to cover the majority of the Qantas domestic network. From today, it is also now being offered on 19 international routes.

Similar to the Bid Now upgrade system, Qantas customers booked in Economy Class on eligible flights are invited by email to purchase a neighbour-free seat around 24-48 hours before departure.

Example of an email from Qantas offering Neighbour Free
An example of an email from Qantas offering Neighbour Free seat selection.

For obvious reasons, this would only be offered on flights where there are sufficient empty seats remaining for sale. This is not available on all flights, and cannot be reserved more than 48 hours before the flight.

Qantas has long had an unofficial policy of blocking the seats next to Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers, who also receive priority access to up-front seat reservations if a flight is not fully booked. Presumably, customers paying for a Neighbour Free request will now receive priority over the available “shadows”. That said, most of the Neighbour Free seats being offered are towards the back of the plane.

How to reserve a Neighbour Free seat

Qantas customers invited to purchase a neighbour-free seat can do so up to an hour prior to the flight’s scheduled departure time by clicking on the link in the email invitation.

Example of a Qantas Neighbour Free offer.
Example of a Qantas Neighbour Free offer.

You’ll be able to select which seats you want to reserve before completing the payment by credit card.

Selecting a Neighbour Free seat allocation on the Plusgrade website.
Selecting a Neighbour Free seat allocation on the Plusgrade website.

Payments using a flight credit or Qantas TravelPass are not accepted.

Things to be aware of

It is only possible to reserve one Neighbour Free seat per booking, so you can’t book a whole row of three for yourself. Qantas says that this empty seat cannot be used for carry-on baggage storage or infant seating. The service is not offered to passengers with exit row, bassinet or preferred seat reservations, nor to children under 12 years old.

Availability is limited, so it is possible that there may not be any more empty seats available by the time you click on the link in the email.

Qantas also says that it can’t guarantee it will be able to honour all Neighbour Free reservations, for example, if a flight is cancelled or a large number of passengers book tickets at the last minute. Customers who don’t receive the seat reservation they paid for will be entitled to a refund.

Both of your reserved seats will be printed on your boarding pass with a note that you’ve paid for a Neighbour Free seat assignment.

Qantas points and status credits are not earned on the second seat.

The Qantas website has more details about how this works, including the terms & conditions.

Additional restrictions on international routes

While Qantas trials offering Neighbour Free on international routes, it won’t be available to customers who:

  • Have purchased an extra legroom seat
  • Have requested an upgrade to Premium Economy or Business
  • Are travelling with an infant
  • Have an unaccompanied minor in the booking
  • Are travelling as part of a group booking

On which routes is Qantas Neighbour Free available?

As of October 2023, Qantas Neighbour Free is offered on over 130 Australian domestic routes including Sydney-Darwin, Brisbane-Perth and Perth-Melbourne (plus many others). It is also now being trialled on the following international routes:

  • Brisbane-Auckland
  • Brisbane-Christchurch
  • Brisbane-Los Angeles
  • Brisbane-Singapore
  • Brisbane-Wellington (flights commence 29 October)
  • Melbourne-Auckland
  • Melbourne-Christchurch
  • Melbourne-Dallas
  • Melbourne-Los Angeles
  • Melbourne-Singapore
  • Melbourne-Wellington
  • Perth-Singapore
  • Sydney-Auckland
  • Sydney-Christchurch
  • Sydney-Dallas
  • Sydney-Honolulu
  • Sydney-Los Angeles
  • Sydney-San Francisco
  • Sydney-Wellington

Qantas plans to expand this product onto more international flights in the coming months.

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How much does Qantas Neighbour Free cost?

The cost to reserve an empty seat next to you on a Qantas flight depends on the route. If you receive an email invitation to buy a Neighbour Free seat, you’ll be able to see the exact price before deciding whether to pay.

To give you an idea, the cost is generally around:

  • $30 on short domestic flights (e.g. Sydney-Gold Coast, Sydney-Canberra or Adelaide-Melbourne)
  • $45 on domestic flights around two hours and trans-Tasman flights (e.g. Adelaide-Sydney or Melbourne-Auckland)
  • $65 on longer domestic flights (e.g. Perth-Melbourne or Adelaide-Darwin)
  • $100 between Australia and Asia (e.g. Melbourne-Singapore)
  • $225 between Australia and North America (e.g. Sydney-Dallas or Brisbane-Los Angeles)

Do any other airlines offer this?

Several other airlines have trialled similar services in the past, including Etihad Airways and Air New Zealand.

I recall receiving an offer to bid for an empty neighbouring seat once on an Airberlin flight as well. In the end, that particular flight was around 20% full and I received a whole row to myself anyway – so I’m glad I didn’t pay extra for that!

Qantas comfort seats

Alternatively, Qantas customers have the option to book an “Extra Seat (EXST) for Personal Comfort” – also known as a comfort seat – at the time of booking. This product is available on all Qantas flights and is designed for larger passengers who need more space. It guarantees a vacant neighbouring seat, and you will also earn points and status credits for the additional seat.

However, the cost of reserving a comfort seat is likely to be somewhat higher. You’ll need to pay the full airfare for the second seat, minus any taxes or surcharges.

Comfort seats can be booked by calling Qantas or through a travel agent. It’s not possible to book an Extra Seat for Personal Comfort online.

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 90 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include economics, aviation & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.
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Community Comments

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Yes please would pay, although my shadow usually does the job for me anyway, if this made it more likely to be free that would be great.

Virgin and Jetstar should also do this, I’d pay on them too.

Reply 3 Likes

This article mentions the old Platinum shadow. I didnt have a shadow to Hawaii, don't appear to have one for my upcoming flight to USA
I do on occasions buy a shadow (I am fat) but would the opportunity to buy a non points/credits seat for international for less than current

Reply 2 Likes

I really like this idea ... looking forward to some reports on prices.

Reply 1 Like

This article mentions the old Platinum shadow. I didnt have a shadow to Hawaii, don't appear to have one for my upcoming flight to USA
I do on occasions buy a shadow (I am fat) but would the opportunity to buy a non points/credits seat for international for less than current

If the offer as in the OP does not earn QFF points and QFF SC, then its a downside to the whole thing(o).
At least with the comfort seat booking, we know we can earn the QFF points and QFF SC for self, and also for the shadow/"invisible friend".

Reply 1 Like

Curious how this will work. Do you end up being moved with a shadow elsewhere or do they bump someone else?

Not sure I’d take this up if they’re only inviting from 48hrs out (inside T-80), there’s probably a high chance that someone with free seat selection has come to join you? Does someone get moved or in that scenario you don’t win?

Could be handy for couples on narrow body. Choose window and aisle and hope you can get middle free. We just go for two adjacent aisles - effectively no neighbour - for free!

Reply 2 Likes

Had a shadow in y going Sydney to Bangkok as a wp.

Missed out going Sydney to Auckland in y, but the 2 rows in front and the 2 rows behind did have an empty seat.

I would be tempted to pay for a spare seat to guarantee this. Doubt it would on the Q400 out of and into Canberra though, all I have been on recently have been chockers.

Reply 1 Like

Curious how this will work. Do you end up being moved with a shadow elsewhere or do they bump someone else?

This from the web site covers this:

Neighbour Free cannot be guaranteed as seats may need to be changed for operational, safety or security reasons, even after boarding the aircraft.

... as in, pay your money but we'll fill that seat if we want to (and of course, as before we'll move you anywhere if we like). If you lose your neighbour-free seat, we may give you a refund, but you'll have to apply for it and you'll have to wait months for it.

Reply 10 Likes

click to expand...

This from the web site covers this:

... as in, pay your money but we'll fill that seat if we want to (and of course, as before we'll move you anywhere if we like). If you lose your neighbour-free seat, we may give you a refund, but you'll have to apply for it and you'll have to wait months for it.

Incorrect. Did you even read the terms?

You get it automatically within 2 weeks and if not, fill a form out, response in 3-5 days and refund within 2 weeks.

Reply 4 Likes

…if not, fill a form out, response in 3-5 days and refund within 2 weeks.

This is Qantas we’re talking about, right?

Reply 15 Likes

Incorrect. Did you even read the terms?

You get it automatically within 2 weeks and if not, fill a form out, response in 3-5 days and refund within 2 weeks.

Are you drunk? :)

Reply 12 Likes