Brilliant way to keep seat next to you free on board a plane from just $30

When it comes to flying, nothing becomes more appealing at 36,000 feet than a little extra room. Now, a new trial allows even those in economy to grab some extra space.

If you’ve ever flown long haul – and let’s face it, almost anywhere seems a lifetime away from Australia – you know the value of that little extra legroom.

Now, Aussie airline Qantas has taken the pleas for more room towards the back end of the plane into consideration – by allow passengers to buy the seat next to them for just $30.

The new trial, dubbed ‘neighbour free’ allows any passenger in economy to pay a little extra on top of their fare to guarantee an extra seat next to them.

Booking a ‘shadow’ in the neighbouring seat guarantees no one will be able to book it for the duration of the flight.

The current trial is taking place on a handful of Qantas flights covering the airline’s domestic network – so at this stage, the perk is not part of international flights.

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A new trial program means you can snap up the seat next to you on certain Qantas flights from just $30. Picture: Jeremy Piper/NCA NewsWire

It is understood nabbing a shadow seat will start from around $30 for shorter flights, and for longer flights – such as Sydney to Perth – fares will be charged at a higher rate.

It is understood passengers will receive an email invitation to take up the Neighbour Free option up to 48 hours before their flight to book the seat next to them.

Once booked and paid for, the boarding pass will show both the seat – and the neighbouring seat – on their boarding pass.

However, passengers hoping to snap up the secondary seat are being warned that it won’t be used for infant travel or excess bags – it’s literally to give you a little more space at the back end of the plane.

The trial comes as the quarterly Australian Competition and Consumer Commission review showed the cheapest economy airfares were 56 per cent higher in August 2022 after hitting an 11-year-low in April 2022.

Qantas passengers may be able to book a ‘shadow seat’ in economy, meaning the seat next to you remains free throughout your flight. Picture: Sarah Marshall/NewsWire

“After about 18 months of historically low airfares, the cost of domestic flying has risen sharply in response to strong demand, temporary capacity reductions and very high jet fuel prices,” ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.

“Discount economy airfares in August were at their highest point in almost two years.”

Last month at the airline’s yearly results, CEO Alan Joyce warned they would be “passing on” its costs to passengers amid rising fuel costs.

In fact, the airline confirmed it will increase domestic airfares by 10 per cent and international fares 20 per cent and simultaneously reduce flights to about 93 per cent of 2019 levels.

The changes will add up to $300 to some flights.

“It’s fair to say that we’ve seen a dramatic rise in fuel,” Mr Joyce told reporters on Thursday.

“For this year, we’re forecasting that we will be 60 per cent higher in fuel costs than we were back in 2019 before Covid.

The trial comes at a time when the airline’s CEO warned prices will likely increase for seats. Picture: Damian Shaw/NCA NewsWire

“That means we’ll have a billion dollars more in the fuel bill compared to ’19, and we’ll only have 75 per cent of our international flying and less than 100 per cent of our domestic flying, so that’s a huge increase in costs.

“We will still offer value for people but it is a cost we have to pass on; it’s a cost we can’t digest given what we have gone through.”

The airline recently flagged they will cut flights from some of its busiest Australian routes until March 2023 as it struggles to cope with the high fuel prices and staffing shortages at airports.