A new app, called Seateroo, will allow passengers to auction off their seats to the winning bidder, earning them a little extra spending money in the process.
Want a better seat location? Crave a window seat? Then pay a passenger with a better seat to swap seats with you.
That’s the core message behind the new app Seateroo which launched this month. Totally free to use, the app makes money by taking a 15 percent cut out of each transaction (minimum $5 USD to swap seats). The app is available through the Apple Store and only in the United States for the moment.
Apart from the obvious benefit of allowing passengers to choose more comfortable seats, there are also some other possible uses. The app will allow passengers that are in a rush to catch connecting flights the opportunity to book a seat near the front of the aircraft – saving them precious time getting off the plane. It can also help families sit next to each other in the event they are late to check in.
It’s also conceivable that the app will be used to sit next to that hottie you just couldn’t take your eyes off during check-in – although that’s verging on creep territory! Each to their own…
According to the company, 27 percent of Americans have expressed interest in the app, and are willing to pay up to $24 ($A34) for a better seat on a short-haul flight, and $34 ($A48) on longer journeys.
Do you think the app will take-off in Australia? Let us know in the comments below.