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Upgrade and Neighbour Free seating Terms and Condition

  1. If you hold a valid, confirmed ticket issued by Virgin Atlantic, for a Virgin Atlantic operated flight, you can bid to upgrade to the next cabin of service via the “Your Bid” auction service website anytime up to 2 days before the scheduled date of departure of your flight. You can access the Your Bid website via the ‘My booking’ section of the Virgin Atlantic website or via the link provided in any pre-flight service e-mails you may receive. You can’t change your destination or date of departure or any other element of your travel arrangements via the Your Bid website.
  2. A bid to upgrade to another class of service can only be made if you hold a valid ticket on Virgin Atlantic operated flights. You must be at least 18 years of age and able to enter into binding contracts.
  3. If there are multiple passengers in your booking you have to bid to upgrade all passengers. The amount you bid will be on a per passenger basis. For example, if you have a party of four and you wish to bid £100 for an upgrade, you will have to bid £400.
  4. Your Bid is only available on flights, dates and destinations selected by Virgin Atlantic in its sole discretion which will be shown on the Your Bid site.
  5. Passengers who are travelling a multi-sector journey and wish to bid for an upgrade for their entire journey will be required to bid for each sector flown.
  6. Once you have submitted your bid, you will receive a confirmation email that your bid has been received by us.
  7. Bid acceptance will take into consideration the amount of your bid, the number of seats available in the next cabin, the number of passengers named in your bid and the time at which Virgin Atlantic receives your bid.
  8. All bids will be assessed within 7 and no later than 2 days prior to the scheduled departure date of your flight. If you have a winning bid, you will be notified by email anytime within the 7 days and up to 2 days before the scheduled departure time of your flight. You must be at least 18 years of age and able to enter into binding contracts.
  9. When placing your bid, you will be asked to enter your credit or debit card details. If your bid is accepted, payment will be taken no later than 2 days before the scheduled departure of the flight. The winning bid must be paid for in full at this time. Once payment is taken, it is non-refundable, except in the event we cancel or change your flight and we cannot honour your upgrade on the flight that we re-book you on, or if your flight departs but the upgrade is not provided for reasons attributable to Virgin Atlantic. If for any reason your payment is rejected, you will automatically lose your upgrade and we shall be entitled (at our discretion) to allocate it to the next successful bidder. If your bid is unsuccessful, you will be notified by email at least 2 days before the scheduled departure time of your flight. Your card will not be charged if your bid is unsuccessful.
  10. We reserve the right to accept or reject any bid made via Your Bid at our sole discretion.
  11. We will not disclose the price paid by the successful bidder nor will we enter into any discussions regarding the successful bid.
  12. You can amend or cancel your bid any time up to 2 days before the date of travel, provided your bid has not been accepted.
  13. All applicable taxes, fees, charges and surcharges must be paid in addition to any successful bid and will be shown clearly in the bid submission process.. The amount that you bid is separate from and in addition to your original ticket price.
  14. If you cancel or change your flight the amount you paid (excluding taxes) for the upgraded cabin via Your Bid, is non-refundable, even if you have a refundable ticket. The upgrade cannot be transferred to another flight or to another passenger. Any applicable taxes will be refunded.
  15. If we cancel or change your flight and re-book you on another flight, we will try (subject to availability) to honour the upgrade purchased. If the relevant upgraded cabin is not available, passengers will be seated in the original cabin of the ticket purchased and we will offer (as your sole remedy) a full refund of the upgrade price. If you decide not to travel at all we will refund the cost of your ticket plus the upgrade price. If your bid was accepted and your debit or credit card was charged the bid amount and your flight departs but the upgrade was not provided for reasons attributable to Virgin Atlantic, you may apply for a refund. Virgin Atlantic is under no obligation to refund the bid amount if the upgrade was not provided for reasons attributable to you and/or the other passenger(s) in your booking.
  16. If you have a winning bid into the Upper Class cabin you will be able to use the Clubhouse or applicable 3rd party lounge at the departure airport for the sector that has been upgraded into Upper Class, subject to space availability.
  17. If you have a winning bid you will be entitled to the higher baggage allowance of the upgraded cabin. Please refer to our website for specific baggage allowances. You will only be entitled to the increased baggage allowance on the upgraded sector. For connecting itineraries, prior or subsequent sectors you may be liable for excess baggage charges.
  18. You will not be able to take advantage of this promotion if your ticket is not issued by Virgin Atlantic, or for a flight that is operated by a different airline.
  19. Virgin Points and Tier Points will be based on the class of ticket the you originally purchased, and not the upgraded cabin. The points will be credited automatically to your account.
  20. All carriage provided by Virgin Atlantic is subject to the rules contained in Virgin Atlantic’s Conditions of Carriage. These terms and conditions should be read in conjunction with Virgin Atlantic’s Terms and Conditions, Privacy policy, Website Usage Policy which you can read on virginatlantic.com
  21. In case of any conflict between these terms and conditions and the Conditions of Carriage, the Conditions of Carriage will prevail.
  22. Virgin Atlantic reserves the right to (i) withdraw ‘Your bid’ (ii) cancel or change the promotion, (iii) amend these terms and conditions at any time if circumstances make this necessary and without further notice.
  23. These Terms and Conditions are governed by English law and are subject to exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.

Revision 5: 17 February 2025

1. Introduction 

1.1 These terms apply to Virgin Atlantic's Neighbour-Free Seating, which allows you to bid for an empty seat next to yours.

1.2 If your bid is successful, the seat next to yours will be kept empty. 

1.3 These terms are in addition to Virgin Atlantic's Conditions of Carriage, which take priority in case of conflict.

1.4 By submitting a bid, you agree to these terms.

2. Eligibility 

2.1 Neighbour-Free Seating is only available on selected flights at Virgin Atlantic's discretion. 

2.2 You must hold a confirmed Economy Classic revenue ticket on a fare available to the public and be travelling on a Virgin Atlantic-operated flight. 

2.3 Virgin Atlantic determines eligibility and may change the criteria at any time.

2.4 Only bookings with one or two passengers are eligible. You can submit one bid per booking per flight.

2.5 Passengers travelling with unseated infants are not eligible. 

3. Submitting an Offer 

3.1 You can submit your bid via My Booking or a link in your pre-flight email during the bidding window.

3.2 Bids must be in whole currency amounts.

4. Assessment and Acceptance  

4.1 Virgin Atlantic selects successful bids at its discretion, considering availability, number of bids received, and bid amounts.

4.2 Virgin Atlantic does not guarantee you will receive Neighbour-Free Seating, even if seats are available or your bid is the highest.

4.3 If your bid is successful, you will be notified by email at least 24 hours before departure.

4.4 You will be charged your bid amount if accepted. 

4.5 If your bid is unsuccessful, you will be notified and not charged.

4.6 Once a Neighbour Free Seat has been assigned, any voluntary seat change made by the customer will result in the Neighbour Free Seat being forfeited without refund or reinstatement.

5. Payment 

5.1 Successful bids will be charged to the credit card you provided. 

5.2 Any applicable taxes, fees and charges will be added to your bid amount. The total amount payable, including a breakdown of any taxes, fees and charges, will be clearly displayed before any payment is taken. 

5.3 If for any reason your payment is rejected, you will automatically lose your Neighbour-Free Seating and we shall be entitled (at our discretion) to allocate it to the next successful bidder.

6. Seat Assignment and Operational Changes 

6.1 Virgin Atlantic will assign your Neighbour-Free seating. To accommodate Neighbour-Free Seating, Virgin Atlantic may move you from your original seat assignment to another comparable seat, in the same cabin, subject to availability.  

6.2 Where you have purchased Advanced Seat Assignment and successfully bid for Neighbour-Free Seating, Neighbour-Free Seating will take priority over the original seat assignment. Any Advanced Seat Assignment purchased separately will be non-refundable. 

6.3 Where a customer has submitted both a Neighbour-Free Seating bid and an Upgrade bid for the same flight, any successful Upgrade bid will take priority over the Neighbour-Free Seating bid. If an Upgrade bid is accepted, the Neighbour-Free seating request will be cancelled, and no payment will be taken. 

6.4 Neighbour-Free Seating does not entitle customers to any additional cabin and checked baggage allowance or meals. The empty adjacent seat must not be used to store baggage or personal items.

6.5 Neighbour Free Seat purchases are not eligible to earn Virgin Points or Tier Points.

6.6 Neighbour-Free Seating may be changed or withdrawn due to aircraft changes, safety, commercial reasons or other operational reasons, including flight cancellations, up until flight departure time. 

6.7 If Virgin Atlantic cannot provide Neighbour-Free Seating for any reason, your bid amount will be refunded.

7. Refunds and Cancellations 

7.1 You may modify or cancel your bid up to 60 hours before departure.

7.2 Once accepted and paid, bids are non-refundable except where Virgin Atlantic cannot provide the service. 

7.3 If you are moved to a seat that is not reasonably comparable to your original seat assignment, and this seat no longer suits your needs, you may request a refund through the Virgin Atlantic website. Request here.

7.4 If, after payment for Neighbour-Free Seating has been taken, you choose to upgrade to a different cabin, the Neighbour-Free Seating purchase will no longer apply and the payment will be refunded. 

7.4 No refunds will be given if you voluntarily cancel your booking, except as required by law.

8. General  

8.1 Virgin Atlantic may withdraw, cancel, or amend Neighbour-Free Seating or these terms at any time.

8.2 These Terms are governed by English law and are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.