airBaltic Adds ‘Pick-Your-Seatmate’ Option for Passengers
Earlier this year, KLM began offering passengers an option of choosing compatible seatmates based on social media profiles, and now another airline – Lativian-based low-cost carrier airBaltic – is trying a similar experiment called SeatBuddy.
KLM Facebook Seating Now Available
Find a SeatBuddy on AirBaltic
According to the airBaltic press release, this is the world’s first “intelligent seating assignment product,” though it bears some resemblance to the KLM model. What’s different with SeatBuddy is the passenger chooses a flight mood.
Choose a Flight ‘Mood’
Seating assignments will be based on whether a traveler is feeling sociable or wants to be left alone. Options include:
- Relax
- Work
- Business Networking
- Easy Chat
When Seatmates from Hell are Celebrities
Not a Dating Site
The purpose of SeatBuddy – which is powered by a firm called Satisfly – is to “Leverage social media for enhancing air travel experience,” as Satisfly co-founder Sergio Mello told FareCompare. It is not meant to be a match-making or dating service but as Mello also told us, “A recent survey showed that 80 percent of the passengers flirt onboard and we don’t have a problem with human beings acting human.”
The seat assignment option will be available starting June 18 on flights to/from Finland, Estonia and other countries. Here’s how it works:
- Sign up on www.airBaltic.com/SeatBuddy (you must be an airBaltic miles program member)
- Connect to social media profiles
- Choose a flight mood
- Book a flight on airBaltic and SeatBuddy will automatically select your seat
Passengers who sign up for this option will receive an introductory ice-breaking message about his/her seatmates(s).
SeatBuddy Option Starts June 18
AirBaltic flies to several European capitals including Amsterdam, Athens, Brussels, Dublin, London, Moscow, Paris, Rome and more. It does not offer service in the U.S. but is a code share partner with KLM and other airlines.
