Those who want to guarantee a spot next to an unoccupied middle seat can do so on Frontier Airlines, but they will have to pay a fee to guarantee the social distancing arrangement.

Middle seat.jpg
Passengers can have a confirmed empty middle seat next to them © MediaProduction/Getty Images

Passengers can now reserve a ‘More Room’ seat assignment with a confirmed empty middle seat next to them to help curb the spread of COVID-19, starting at US$39 (€35.97) per passenger. The bookings can be made on its website, FlyFrontier.com, when booking new tickets, managing bookings or at check-in, subject to availability. Flights departing 8 May through 31 August will have 18 ‘More Room’ seats available, including stretch seats in the first three rows of the aircraft.

Three women drinking wine on a plane
Passengers can choose not to sit in the middle seats © Caiaimage/Agnieszka Olek/Getty Images

The airline is also introducing a mandatory face-covering requirement for all passengers at its ticket counters, gate areas and onboard its aircraft, and will announce at a later date whether the ‘More Room’ program will be extended beyond 31 August. “While we believe the best measure to keep everyone healthy is to require face coverings, for those who want an empty seat next to them for extra peace of mind or simply additional comfort, we are now offering ‘More Room,’” said Frontier CEO, Barry Biffle.

A man in a suit sitting next to an empty plane seat
Passengers can guarantee having an empty seat beside them © Colorblind Images LLC

In addition to the face-covering requirement, Frontier implemented a program in April that requires passengers to accept a health acknowledgement prior to completing check-in via the company’s website or mobile app. Passengers are required to certify that neither they nor anyone in their household has exhibited Covid-19 related symptoms in the last 14 days, and they must agree to check their temperature before heading to the airport and not travel if they have a fever. They will also have to sanitize their hands before boarding the flight.

Keep up to date with Lonely Planet's latest travel-related COVID-19 news here.

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Cize, France - July 9, 2015: French high speed train TGV operated by SNCF, national rail operator on Cize-Bolozon viaduct bridge in Ain, Rhone-Alpes region in France. This train was developed during the 1970s by GEC-Alsthom and SNCF. A TGV test train set the record for the fastest wheeled train, reaching 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph) on 3 April 2007. Viaduct of Cize-Bolozon in summer season in Bugey along Ain river. This viaduct is a combination rail and vehicular viaduct crossing the Ain gorge. An original span built in the same location in 1875 was destroyed in World War II. Reconstructed as an urgent post-war project due to its position on a main line to Paris, the new viaduct reopened in May 1950. It carries road and rail traffic at different levels.
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