How an 80-euro bid for an extra seat transformed a potentially dreadful flight experience

Traveling with a relatively small and lesser-known airline often comes with uncertainties regarding the overall experience, both before takeoff and during the flight — my recent nonstop journey on Azores Airlines from New York City to Madeira, Portugal, was no different. However, an unexpected upgrade bid for an extra seat in my row for 80 euros ($88) significantly enhanced my transatlantic travel experience.

Before your next flight with Azores Airlines (or any airline that provides upgrade bidding), consider holding off on that delete button. By wisely leveraging this upgrade option, you can greatly elevate your flying experience without the hefty cost of a business-class ticket.

What exactly is MyExtraSeat?

Just over a week prior to my flight from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Madeira Airport (FNC) in Portugal, I received an email stating I could "own the entire row" on my economy flight across the Atlantic for as little as 65 euros ($72).

As a plus-size traveler who appreciates some extra room on long flights, I found this concept intriguing and decided to explore it further.

MyExtraSeat is an upgrade bidding system (distinct from Azores Airlines' business-class upgrade options) that allows eligible economy class passengers to bid for one or two additional seats beside them on an Azores Airlines flight.

Bidding begins at 65 euros per seat, with the option to raise your bid. Azores Airlines provides an FAQ section specifically for MyExtraSeat, though it didn't clarify many of my inquiries regarding the process.

What is the seat selection process if my bid is successful? The economy flight seat map had a 2-4-2 layout, and I had chosen an aisle seat in an outer row when I placed my bid. Would I automatically receive the extra seat next to me? The website mentioned that you could buy up to two additional seats — when could I decide if I wanted one or two? When can I expect to receive an update on my upgrade?

I couldn’t find answers to these questions online — not on the Azores Airlines website or on Reddit.

The bidding process

In the end, I concluded that having an empty seat or two beside me for under 100 euros ($110) was worth a shot, even without clear answers to all my questions. I had never flown with this airline, and even the best economy seating can be uncomfortable when you’re wedged next to a stranger for six hours.

Fortunately, the bidding process turned out to be quite simple and user-friendly.

I revisited the original email and clicked the "request now" button. This redirected me to the Azores Airlines website, where I could select my specific bid — ranging from as low as 65 euros ($72) up to 125 euros ($138). There was also an "offer strength" indicator to reflect the chances of my bid being accepted.

At the time of my bidding, the flight appeared to be relatively empty. Numerous seats were available on ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG's parent company, Red Ventures), though it was unclear if this was due to a genuine shortage of passengers or just a large portion waiting until check-in to select their seats. I settled on an 80-euro bid — it was above the minimum but still reasonable for an extra seat on a six-hour flight.

I placed an 80-euro bid, filled in my card information, and received a confirmation that my request was submitted successfully.

To be honest, I didn't expect much from the extra seat. My bid was marked as "fair" on the offer strength gauge, and my online research revealed a single Reddit thread with mixed experiences. Some travelers reported bids of 300 euros ($330) being rejected, while others who bid the minimum were accepted.

Ultimately, I received an email confirming my upgrade 48 hours before my flight — I secured the extra seat next to me for 80 euros ($88). There was no option to change my seat or buy more than one, despite what the website suggested, and I was warned that I might lose the extra seat if I tried to switch during check-in.

Although it wasn't a disaster, I would have appreciated the chance to choose a different row or move to the middle aisle, allowing me to stretch out across three seats.

Why the upgrade was undoubtedly worth it

The key question: Was the upgrade worth it?

Absolutely, yes. 100%. Without a doubt. I would do it again in an instant.

The flight wasn't completely booked — there were numerous empty rows at the back of the plane that some fortunate passengers converted into their own version of business class for a restful journey. However, there were actually more travelers than the initial seat map indicated, which meant I might not have enjoyed extra space had I skipped the MyExtraSeat bidding process.

I can't emphasize enough: The additional space was crucial for a comfortable flying experience.

We experienced a nearly seven-hour delay, transforming our midday flight into an overnight journey. This delay stemmed from mechanical problems, necessitating the use of a different aircraft flown in from Boston to replace our originally scheduled plane. While the Azores Airlines website mentions that the carrier is renewing its fleet with new Airbus and Bombardier models, we ended up on a Boeing 767-300ER sporting Euro Atlantic livery.

The seating on this flight was cramped. The economy cabin featured a 2-4-2 layout. In contrast, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines typically offer a 2-3-2 configuration on their Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. I physically couldn’t fit into the exit row seats (my friend occupied an exit row seat, and I managed a midflight visit), and even my non-exit row seat was a very tight fit.

If someone had been seated next to me during the flight, eating our meals would have required Olympic-level coordination of our elbows to avoid any mishaps, making it extremely uncomfortable to be side by side for this six-hour journey.

My plus-size status isn’t the only reason for the cramped conditions on board. My friend, who is not plus-size, also voiced her frustrations about the narrow seat width and insufficient legroom.

A few additional points to consider regarding this flight:

• Although there were seatback screens available, there was no headphone jack, and the captions were non-functional. Therefore, unless you were keen on honing your lip-reading abilities or wanted to enjoy "Ocean's 8" in a silent film format, the seatback entertainment was essentially ineffective.
• There were no power outlets or USB ports to charge devices, making it risky to listen to music or play games on your phone during a long flight unless you had a portable charger handy. (Fortunately, I did.)
• This flight did not offer Wi-Fi access.
• The seats were fixed and did not recline. This wouldn't have been a major issue had our flight departed as scheduled at 11:50 a.m. EDT. However, with the delay turning our journey into an overnight flight, the inability to recline was quite uncomfortable.

This was my first time flying with this airline, so I can't definitively say whether my experience reflects the usual economy service or if I just faced some bad luck due to the mechanical problems with our original aircraft. However, based on my time onboard, I would gladly pay the 80 euros for the extra seat again to make the flight tolerable. Without it, I would have been quite uncomfortable, even for a relatively short transatlantic journey.

My only advice for anyone considering this option in the future is to ensure you select the seat you desire before placing your bid. You will be essentially locked into your chosen seat and the adjacent one (or two) if your bid is successful.

Final Thoughts

I won’t sugarcoat it — the chances of me flying with this airline again are slim. The airline operates on a limited scale, primarily servicing a few small Portuguese islands, which restricts my future travel options. Even when I eventually return to Madeira, I would likely opt for a different airline and accept the necessity of a layover.

That being said, for those who choose to fly this airline — whether for island hopping between Madeira and the Azores or to take advantage of nonstop flights between the U.S. and the Portuguese islands — I highly recommend considering the MyExtraSeat upgrade bidding process to enhance your travel experience. My flight would have been nearly intolerable without it.