Some backstory, meeting up with missus and bub on their last leg of holiday up in Australia.

Then we're flying back together.

They've booked last year and I've decided to join them.

Looking through their bookings, we can see the seat next to them is empty.

So I thought, great, I'll just book and pick that seat.

Then I see Air NZ pulling a psychologist on me.

The initial price you see on the top right hand corner isn't really the full price, since you're being lead through this page where all seats starts at minimum of $10.

What's worse, the seat I can still see as empty when I look via my wife's login page remains "OCCUPIED"

So I can't even pick that seat.

Drip pricing at it's best....

[Mod edit (MF): subject changed)