Seat booking

26% Economondo

19% 2PAXfly

18% FrequentMiler

37% Other

Seat booking policies differ widely among airlines, offering everything from free selections for certain members to paid upgrades and bidding systems.

Bidding for Seats

After you book, Virgin Australia lets you bid via its app to block the seat next to you, with bids starting at AU$30. The airline decides the successful bidder and notifies you no later than two hours before departure. If you don’t win, your bid amount is refunded, and there is no guarantee of getting the seat regardless of the bid amount. 2PAXfly +5

Purchasing Upgrades

United Airlines requires you to select an Economy fare first, then during the seat‑selection process it offers the option to purchase Economy Plus seating. The airline’s product naming can be confusing, and the headers don’t always match the actual seating products. The Alviator +1

Premium Card Seat Selection

Southwest credit‑card holders with the Rapid Rewards Priority or Performance Business cards receive free Standard or Preferred seat selection at booking and free extra‑legroom seats 48 hours before departure, subject to availability. However, separate confirmation numbers for each traveler can prevent families from sitting together, even when those benefits should apply. 2PAXfly +2

Online Check‑In Seat Selection

MIAT Mongolian Airlines opens online check‑in 48 hours before departure, allowing you to choose a seat through its app; a passenger selected Seat 23A and received an instant PDF boarding pass. Uzbekistan Airways also offers seat selection via its app, with most seats free or available for a $5.60 fee, while emergency‑exit seats cost a little over $20. Economondo +1

Family Seating Policies

American Airlines automatically searches for families on the same reservation and tries to seat them together, even on Basic Economy fares, ensuring at least one adult sits next to children under 15 if a full block isn’t possible. View from the Wing

Assigned Seats and Change Fees

Gulf Air automatically assigns a seat (e.g., Seat 22F) during online check‑in, which you can change only by paying a €39.02 fee; check‑in opens 24 hours before departure. Economondo

Wizz Air Seat Selection and Costs

Wizz Air requires you to purchase a Wizz Smart or Wizz Plus package before the “Wizz Class” option appears at the seat‑selection stage, and the process is only available on a web browser, not the mobile app. Selecting a first‑row seat can add £13, and the total ticket price can rise dramatically, as one example reached £141.04 for a London‑to‑Skopje flight. The Alviator

Understanding each airline’s seat‑booking rules can help you plan and avoid unexpected fees.

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Neighbour-free seating — bid for an empty seat beside you

If you hate the middle seat lottery, then Virgin Australia now has a lottery fix. From Wednesday, 24 September 2025, the airline has rolled out Neighbour-Free Seating. This scheme lets economy passengers bid to keep the seat next to them empty. But only on select domestic and short-haul international routes. The process starts after booking. You can bid via the Virgin Australia app to block the set next to you. Bids start from AU$30, with Virgin Australia determining the successful bidder. You will be notified of the result no later than two hours prior to departure. If you are

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