Australian airline Qantas has been trying out selling isolation, allowing passengers on flights that aren’t full a chance to pay to keep the next seat vacant.
The plan has been in use for a while on some domestic flights, and will now be extended to 19 international routes, including ones to New Zealand, Singapore and the U.S. The airline says it may include more routes if the plan proves popular.
Qantas will email passengers on flights that are less than 80% sold, offering them a chance to sit alone. Neighbor-free seating starts at $45 each way between Australia and New Zealand, $100 each way between Australia and Singapore, and $225 each way between Australia and the U.S.
If the flight becomes more full, the airline will refund the charge.
If the flight’s not full, discerning passengers will select and pay for their own neighbour-free seat anyway (most of the better seats selected by passengers come at a cost). Sounds like double-dipping to me.