An aisle seat offer is when an airline allows passengers to bid on aisle seats during the flight booking process. This allows travelers to potentially secure a more desirable seat location by offering to pay an additional fee. Here’s a more detailed look at what an aisle seat offer entails:
How Does an Aisle Seat Offer Work?
When booking a flight online, some airlines provide the option for passengers to make an aisle seat offer. This means the customer can enter a bid for how much they are willing to pay to upgrade to an aisle seat. The minimum bid amount is typically set by the airline.
For example, an aisle seat offer may start at $15. As a traveler, you can choose to bid higher than the minimum if you want to increase your chances of securing the upgrade. However, there is no guarantee your offer will be accepted even if you bid over the minimum amount.
The airline will collect aisle seat offers leading up to the flight. Offers are prioritized in order of highest bid. If there is availability, the top bidders will have their offers accepted and be assigned aisle seats. Lower bidders may also be accepted if aisle seats are still available closer to departure.
Travelers whose offers are accepted will be charged the amount they bid. This fee is on top of the original airfare paid. Those whose offers are not accepted will not be charged and will be assigned standard seating based on availability.
Why Do Airlines Offer Aisle Seat Bidding?
There are a few key reasons airlines allow aisle seat bidding:
- It allows airlines to generate extra revenue from seats they may not otherwise fill at higher rates.
- It provides a way for travelers to improve their seat selection for an additional fee if standard seat assignments are not ideal.
- Bidding incentivizes customers to book directly on the airline’s website rather than through third-party sites.
- It gives airlines data on how much passengers value certain seats to help optimize seat pricing.
In short, aisle seat offers are a tactic for airlines to maximize profits on each flight while also providing flyers with a potential option to upgrade.
What Factors Determine If An Aisle Seat Offer Is Accepted?
There are a few key factors that go into whether an airline accepts a passenger’s aisle seat offer:
- Bid amount – The dollar value bid is the top factor. All else being equal, higher bids are accepted first.
- Fare class – Airlines typically prioritize upgrades for customers booked in premium fare classes vs. basic economy.
- Elite status – Members of the airline’s frequent flyer program may get preference over non-members.
- Seat availability – The number of aisle seats still open closer to departure impacts acceptance.
- Route – Bids for busy, high-demand routes may require higher offers than less popular routes.
Travelers can increase their chances of getting an accepted aisle seat offer by understanding these key determining factors.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Aisle Seat Bidding?
Here are some of the key pros and cons passengers should weigh when considering whether to place an aisle seat offer:
Pros
- Ability to improve seat selection if standard assignments are suboptimal
- Increased likelihood of securing a preferred aisle seat
- Opportunity to stretch legs into aisle during flight
- Easier access to bathrooms and crew during flight without needing others to move
Cons
- No guarantee bid will be accepted
- Added cost on top of base airfare
- Potentially losing a window or centered seat if original seat was preferable
- May not provide significant upgrade over cheaper, standard aisle seat assignments
- Bids not refunded if offer not accepted
Overall, aisle seat bidding is ideal for flyers who place high value on an aisle seat and have the budget to place competitive offers. It provides much less benefit to travelers who already secured a satisfactory seat location or are not particular about where they sit.
How Much Should You Bid for an Aisle Seat Offer?
Recommended bid amounts for aisle seat offers vary significantly based on factors like airline, route, travel dates and more. Here are some guidelines on setting an appropriate aisle seat bid:
- Research typical bid ranges – Many airlines publish average accepted bids to use as a baseline.
- Factor in your priorities – If an aisle seat is extremely important, bid at the higher end of the range.
- Consider the airline and route – Busy routes and full flights likely require higher bids.
- Check alternate seat fees – Compare to how much it would cost to select a comparable seat outright.
- Start on the lower side – Begin with a lower bid and increase if needed since rejected bids are not refunded.
As an example, a cross-country US flight may garner aisle seat bids between $20-$150+ depending on the route and date. A shorter regional jet route may see most winning bids between $15-$50. Shooting for the middle to upper end of typical ranges for your flight gives the best shot at success.
Can You Increase Your Bid If It’s Initially Rejected?
In most cases, yes – travelers can increase their aisle seat offer bid if it is initially rejected. Since airlines do not charge for denied bids, flyers can bump up their bid amount and resubmit it without penalty.
However, there are timing limitations that prevent endless bid modifications:
- Bidding windows close ~24 hours before departure.
- Bids cannot be changed once the window closes.
- Sudden bid changes may not be processed in time.
Check the airline’s policy for when bidding closes. Make any desired bid increases at least 48 hours before the cut-off window to ensure they are considered.
Tips for Getting Your Aisle Seat Bid Accepted
Here are some tips for boosting your chances of winning an aisle seat offer bid:
- Place your bid as early as possible
- Aim for the higher end of typical bid ranges
- Avoid basic economy fares if possible
- Consider lesser-known aisle seats towards the front vs. overwing
- Be flexible on exact row – have a few different options
- Book at off-peak travel times when there is more availability
Travelers should also keep in mind that getting an accepted aisle seat bid is never guaranteed. Have a back-up standard seat selection in mind in case offers are rejected.
Conclusion
Aisle seat bidding allows flyers to potentially upgrade their seating by offering to pay an additional fee during booking. Airlines determine acceptance based mainly on factors like bid amount and seat availability. Travelers can increase chances of success by bidding competitively, booking strategically, and setting expectations appropriately. Overall, aisle seat offers provide an opportunity to improve seat assignments for the right flyers willing to pay a premium.