Entire economy cabin on domestic narrow-body was allocated with an empty seat between each pax?

The title really says it all. I’m currently sitting in steerage on QF637 (BNE-MEL), and witnessing a curious thing I’ve not seen before.

We are on a B737 (great wifi) with about a two-thirds full load. For almost the entirety of the plane, pax have been allocated with an empty middle seat!

With almost no exception, seats A, C, D and F are occupied, while all seats B and E are empty throughout the aircraft!

Obviously it’s no coincidence, but rather a subtle and deliberate move to make everybody’s flight more comfortable. I really love this thoughtful initiative.

The really curious part: I jumped on seat selection before the flight, and middle seats were blocked out.

Is this a new policy or seat allocation algorithm on capital city commuter flights? Any rhyme or reason as to when and how it’s applied?

Whilst it may well be a great passenger experience, it will be more about aircraft weight distribution and balancing for optimal performance and fuel burn. It’s quite common on partially full flights, the reason you don’t see it often is because aircraft loads and generally quite high.

Like the idea. I have yet to experience it, but look forward to the day I do.

Sounds like "business" class within Europe...

I had a flight from Launceston to Melb and the 2-2 config had one person in every set of 2 alternating between window and aisle. Even to the extent of same row the window an aisle was staggered. Flight was less than half full but a nice touch on a small plane.

Most likely they have got something in the cargo hold and need to weigh out the plane, proper like.

LH fills flights like that. FTL and SEN (*S and *G) allocated the front rows, aisle/window and then non-status (also aisle/window) after that. The middle seat is only filled from the rear of the aircraft forwards - unless you have passengers travelling together.