COMFORT BEYOND YOUR SEAT

Reserve one or both seats next to yours in Economy class with Neighbour Free Seat, and experience the comfort of extra space and added privacy throughout your journey. Your personal haven in the sky!

Check here to see if you are eligible for Neighbour Free Seats

How does it work?

  • Use the widget given on the page to check your eligibility.
    Alternatively, if you are eligible for the Neighbour Free Seat service, you will receive an email invitation 48 hours before your flight’s scheduled departure.
    You may also get an option to opt for this service at the time of web check-in only if the neighbouring seat is available.
  • Select your seat/ seats that you would like to purchase.
  • Enter your credit card details for verification. Please review and agree to the terms and conditions and submit your Neighbour Free Seat offer.
  • You will receive a confirmation email within 2 hours containing the offer details for each segment of your flight. If we are unable to fulfill the reservation, we will provide a full refund for the Neighbour Free Seat purchase. 

Note: We send out invitations at our sole discretion. Please ensure a valid email ID is registered at the time of booking.

What does it look like?

You will be able to use the seat map to select your Neighbour Free Seat. Below is a visual representation of the three-seat configuration when you choose this option.

Neighbour Free Seat Benefits

extra-space Extra space
added-comfort Added comfort
more-privacy More privacy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Neighbour Free Seat?

Neighbour Free Seat offers you the opportunity to reserve the seat next to you, so you can enjoy extra space and comfort when travelling in Economy class. Neighbour Free seats are subject to availability. 

Is this service available in all cabin classes?

Neighbour Free Seat is available in all fare types of the Economy class only.

Is the Neighbour Free Seat service available on all flights in my route?

Neighbour Free Seat is offered on most of our international and domestic flights. But it is our sole discretion to decide the flights on which this service is eligible. Hence, only selected flights in your booking may be eligible for this offering.

What benefits does the Neighbour Free Seat offer?

Neighbour Free Seat offers you the luxury of extra space, added comfort, and increased privacy by reserving the seat next to you.

Who is eligible to opt for this facility?

  • Offers can only be made on selected flights operated by Air India on Economy Class starting from 48 hours before flight departure on condition that the passenger has purchased a reservation/valid ticket issued on Air India’s document number 098 for the concerned flight.
  • Offers will not apply to codeshare flights or flights operated by other airlines.
  • We offer this service on most of our domestic and international flights. Although, it is at our sole discretion to decide the flights on which this service is eligible.

Why am I unable to opt for the Neighbour Free Seat?

You may be unable to opt for the service if:

  • You don’t have a valid Air India booking.
  • You are travelling on Air India Express, our codeshare flights, or with one of our 24 Star Alliance Partner Airlines.
  • Your reservation is yet to be confirmed.
  • You are travelling with more than 3 passengers under a single Booking Reference Number (PNR).
  • You are travelling as an unaccompanied minor.
  • You are not travelling in Economy class.
  • You are travelling on a redemption booking.

How many passengers under the same Booking Reference Number (PNR) can opt for Neighbour Free Seat facility?

Neighbour Free Seat is available for bookings with up to 3 passengers under the same Booking Reference Number (PNR). Bookings with more than 3 passengers are not eligible for this service.

How can I opt for this service?

There are multiple ways by which you can opt for the Neighbour Free Service:

  • Use the widget on the page to check your eligibility.
  • Alternatively, if you are eligible for the Neighbour Free Seat service, you will receive an email invitation on your registered email ID 48 hours prior to your flight’s departure.
  • You may also get an option to opt for this service at the time of web check-in (if applicable).

If you are eligible for this service, you will be redirected through the website or by clicking on the redirection link in the email invite, and you can proceed by:

  • Selecting your seat/ seats that you would like to purchase.
  • Provide your payment details and submit your request.
  • We will email you on your registered email ID once the purchase is confirmed.
  • If we are unable to fulfill the reservation, we will provide a full refund for the Neighbour Free Seat purchase.

When can I opt for the Neighbour Free Seat service?

You can opt for this service starting 48 hours and up to 2 hours of your flight’s scheduled departure.

Can I purchase this facility at the airport?

No, you cannot opt for the Neighbour Free Seat service at the airport. You can purchase this facility through our digital channels only.

How many seats can I reserve through the Neighbour Free Seat service?

A maximum of 2 or 3 seats per passenger can be reserved, depending on the type of aircraft.

Which seats can I choose when booking the Neighbour Free Seat?

You can select seats that are horizontally adjacent to you in Economy class. You will be unable to select bassinet seats or those in the emergency exit rows.

Can I book a seat in front or behind my pre-booked seat through the Neighbour Free Seat service?

No, you will not be able to book seats in the rows in front or behind you. You can only select seats that are horizontally adjacent to you.

If I reserve a Neighbour Free Seat, is it guaranteed throughout my journey?

We will make every effort to honour your reservation, but we cannot guarantee that the Neighbour Free Seat will remain unoccupied, as it may be required for operational, safety, or security purposes. While we may offer you a suitable alternative, if your neighbour free seat was unavailable during the flight, you will receive a full refund for the service.

How will I know that my Neighbour Free Seat booking is confirmed?

We will send a confirmation, with all the relevant details to your registered email ID.

What is the cost for the Neighbour Free Seat service?

The cost of the Neighbour Free Seat service may vary. To find out the price for this service for your upcoming flight, please click on the redirection link in the email invite sent or enter your Booking Reference Number (PNR) or last name in the eligibility widget.

What are the acceptable forms of payment for this service?

You can purchase this service using a valid credit card.

Can I use my Maharaja Points to reserve a Neighbour Free Seat?

You will be unable to use your Maharaja Points to reserve a Neighbour Free Seat. 

Will I earn Maharaja Points when I reserve a Neighbour Free Seat?

No, you will not earn Maharaja Points for reserving a seat through the Neighbour Free Seat service.

Can I purchase a Neighbour Free Seat on any of the partner airlines?

No, Neighbour Free Seat is not available for purchase on Air India Express, our codeshare flights, or on any of our 24 Star Alliance Partner Airlines.

Can I use my Neighbour Free Seat to store my baggage?

Neighbour Free Seat cannot be used to store carry-on baggage, additional baggage, or special baggage.

Can I use the Neighbour Free Seat for infant seating?

No, the Neighbour Free Seat cannot be used for infant seating.

Is the Neighbour Free Seat same as an extra seat?

No, they are not the same. Here is how they are different:

Neighbour Free Seat

  • It is not guaranteed.
  • It is offered to enhance your comfort by providing extra space to stretch and relax and cannot be used to store any additional or special baggage.
  • You can purchase this service only through our digital channels.

Extra seat

Terms and Conditions

  • The following terms and conditions ("Terms and Conditions") shall apply to an offer (“Offer” made by you (“Passenger”, “Guest”, “you”) to Air India (“Airline”, “AI”, “we”, “us”) for an opportunity to select Neighbour Free Seats from the class of service that was originally purchased for travel with the Airline.
  • Offers can only be made on selected flights operated by Air India on Economy Class starting from 48 hours before flight departure on condition that the passenger has purchased a reservation/valid ticket issued on Air India’s document number 098 for the concerned flight. It will not apply to code shared flights or flights operated by other airlines. It is hereby clarified that the Offer submitted for the Neighbour Free Seats represents an amount additional to the price that the passenger has paid for his booking reservation/ticket.
  • All persons who submit an Offer must have reached the legal age of majority in their country of residence at the time the Offer is submitted. You shall be deemed to have the authority to act on behalf of and to bind the person or persons named or included on the Offer to these Terms and Conditions. An Offer, when submitted by you in association with a booking reservation made with Air India, whether made directly with Air India or indirectly through other means (such as through a travel agent), and presented to Air India, shall entitle the person or persons named on the Offer, subject to these Terms and Conditions, to be considered for an Neighbour Free Seats. If more than one passenger exists in the original flight booking reservation the Neighbour Free Seats offer applies to each passenger. The offered amount will be multiplied by the number of persons included in the original flight booking reservation. Prior to submitting your credit card details you will see the total amount for the Neighbour Free Seats. In case only one passenger wants to purchase Neighbour Free Seats out of the many persons in flight booking reservation, he/she must contact Air India’s Call Centre, nearest Booking Office to separate his/her booking from other passengers, making it an individual booking.
  • All seats offered for the Neighbour Free Seat selection will always be subject to availability at the time of request.
  • The Airline reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to decide whether or not to accept your Offer, and it makes no representation that any Guest will be offered Neighbour Free Seats regardless of whether or not seats are available in the class of service for which an Offer is being made.
  • In the event the Airline cancels a flight and re-accommodates you on another flight, any Offer you made in relation to the Neighbour Free Seats may be transferred to the new flight(s) subject always to availability of seats in Economy and at the sole discretion of the Airline. If, for any reason, there are not enough seats available in the Economy cabin to fulfil your Neighbour Free Seats offer, any amounts paid by you for the offer will be refunded to the credit card that was used to pay for the Neighbour Free Seats and the Airline shall have no further liability to you.
  • The Airline may accept your Offer any time. In the event the Airline accepts your Offer, your credit card shall be charged the full amount immediately upon acceptance, and the Airline will issue a Neighbour Free Seat to each passenger included in your original flight booking. The total amount charged will include all applicable pre-payable taxes and fees (if any) for the Neighbour Free Seats. The total amount that you must pay to us will be disclosed to you prior to you submitting your Offer. The Neighbour Free Seats that has been issued by the Airline cannot be assigned, or transferred, in whole or in part to another person or flight except as specified in the next clause.
  • There will be no refunds, credits, or exchanges once your Offer has been accepted by the Airline, except under the following conditions:
    • The flight for which your Offer was accepted and you were assigned the Neighbour Free Seats was cancelled, and the Airline re-accommodated you on another flight without offering you Neighbour Free Seats, in which case the amount paid for the Neighbour Free Seats will be refunded to the payment card that was used to pay for the Neighbour Free Seats and the Airline shall have no further liability to you.
    • Your Offer was accepted and you were given the Neighbour Free Seats, but you were not able to be seated during your flight for reasons attributable to the Airline, including, but not limited to, a change in equipment, a delay in the connecting flight that resulted in your missing the connection on which you were offered Neighbour Free Seats, but excluding reasons attributable to your actions.
    • Should refunds be approved, they will be processed in the currency in which the Neighbour Free Seats amount was charged. If a foreign exchange rate must be applied in order to complete the refund in the currency of the originally charged Neighbour Free Seats amount, a generally accepted prevailing rate will be used. This rate may be adjusted to account for conversion and other charges that the Airline may levy. In no respect shall the amount refunded be more than the amount charged in the original currency for the Neighbour Free Seats.
  • Passengers who purchased Neighbour Free Seats and then upgrade to Business/Premium Class cannot have their Neighbour Free Seats amount refunded.
  • The fare conditions for the original ticket you purchased shall remain in effect and will be applicable even if your Offer has been accepted and you have been offered Neighbour Free Seats, including, but not limited to, cancellation policies, change fees, baggage allowance, lounge access, conditions for minimum and maximum stay, and rules relating to the accrual of frequent flyer miles.
  • The Airline doesn’t guarantee specific seat assignments to passengers whose Offers are accepted for Neighbour Free Seats.
  • In the event your Offer was accepted, and your credit card was charged the Offer amount, but the Neighbour Free Seats was not provided or received, you may apply for a refund provided that the conditions for which refunds are given as described in these terms and conditions have been satisfied. You hereby agree that to claim a refund, you will present the email notifying you that you have been offered Neighbour Free Seats, and you agree to contact the Airline through the customer care as soon as possible.
  • The Airline reserves the right to modify and otherwise change these Terms and Conditions at any time in its sole discretion. These modifications or changes shall not impact material provisions of the Terms and Conditions, nor the Offers that have already been accepted.
  • These Terms and Conditions constitute the entire and only understanding between the parties and replace any prior understandings or agreements (whether oral or written) relating to the subject matter hereof. The Airline shall not archive nor make accessible the contract entered into with you.
  • The failure of the Airline to exercise any of its rights shall not be construed as a waiver or relinquishment of the future performance of any of its rights, and your obligations with respect to such future performance shall continue in full force and effect.
  • These Terms and Condition shall be governed by the laws of India. Without prejudice to your right under mandatory local laws to initiate legal proceedings before other competent courts, you submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New Delhi/Delhi Courts, India, for settlement of any dispute which might arise as a result of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions.
  • These Terms and Conditions should be read in conjunction with Air India’s Terms Of Use, and Privacy and Security Policy and are hereby incorporated into and form part of these Terms and Conditions. In case of conflict between these Terms and Conditions and any other set of terms, these Terms and Conditions will prevail as regards to Neighbour Free Seats program.
  • By making an offer for an upgrade, you explicitly agreed that you have read and understood the above Terms and Conditions and that you agree to be bound by them.