Airlines have different policies in place for booking seats in advance to make sure you can sit with your family or friends
Holidays can be an expensive time, especially when flying. Many airlines have a string of charges that can be added to the initial flight cost.
Whether it is paying to take a suitcase or booking fees through to check-in costs, all can add up putting pounds on the cost of your trip. And with many airlines charging extra to allow passengers to choose their seats it can add yet more to the price if you want to make sure your are sitting next to your family or friends.
At present there is no UK law to make airlines seat families together when flying. This often means coughing up more money to guarantee seats together.
But the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) doeshave guidance, suggesting that airlines should aim to place children under 12 either in the same row or within one row or aisle of the adult with them. It states: “Many airlines charge for seat selection.
“Carriers should aim to seat children under 12 in the same row, or no more than one row or aisle away, from their accompanying adult and make all reasonable efforts to seat a disabled person or person with reduced mobility with the person accompanying them. Most airlines have processes in place to ensure this happens, but we recommend you contact the airline to confirm their seating policies.”
For anyone travelling without children the chance of sitting next to your friends or family varies, depending on the airline’s policy. Some, including British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, and Ryanair, have specific seating policies that passengersneed to know ahead of booking their trip, reports the Express.
While some airlines automatically seat people together at no extra cost, it’s key to check each airline’s policy to see if paying for seat selection is necessary Here are the rules for British Airways, easyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair.
British Airways
British Airways lets passengers view which seats are available together 24 hours before their flight when online check-in opens. They can then select a seat for free unless they’ve booked a Basic ticket, in which case seats are allocated. However, there is also the option to pay in advance to pick specific seats.
The airline states: “We’ll do our best to seat your family together by assigning seats a few days before your flight departs. However, seat selection may be limited at that time and your seats may be split across different rows or the aisle.
“We’ll make sure each child under 12 years sits next to an adult from your booking but children over 12 years are booked as an adult in our system and may sit separately.”
easyJet
easyJet passengers have the option to pick their seats for an extra charge. This can be done either when booking or later online.
Travellers who don’t select a seat will be assigned one automatically at check-in. The airline explains: “Our system will try to allocate you seats close to other passengers on your booking, but this depends on availability and is not guaranteed.”
Jet2
Jet2 has allocated seating, with the choice available at the time of booking your holiday or up until six hours before the flight. Seats are given out on a first-come, first-served basis if not pre-selected online before checking in.
To ensure you sit together, Jet2 advises pre-booking your seats for a fee, which varies by location and route. Anyone who does not pre-book will be assigned a seat by the airline.
Jet2 says: “If you don’t pre-book your seats, they will be allocated when you check in online or at the airport on a first come, first served basis. Please note that seats across the aisle or in the row behind or in front are classed as ‘together’. If you want to change your seat once you have booked and paid, you will need to pay the relevant seat charges.”
“As a family-friendly airline we will always endeavour to seat children and infants under the age of 12 next to their accompanying adults. If this is not possible for any reason, we will ensure children are seated as close as possible, and no more than one row away. We would encourage you to pre-book your seats in advance to ensure you reserve the seats you want for your travelling party.”
Ryanair
Ryanair offers passengers the option to pay to reserve seats or have free but randomly assigned ones. Anyone who does not want to pay extra will be assigned a free seat at check-in between two and 24 hours prior to departure..
The airline advises: “We recommend that you reserve your seat when booking or when checking in to guarantee a seat beside your travel companions. If you choose not to reserve a seat, then a seat will be randomly allocated to you free of charge when checking in, but it is unlikely it will be beside your travel companions.”
They add: “For safety reasons, children under the age of 12 must sit beside an accompanying adult, and infants (aged 8 days to 23 months inclusive) must sit on an accompanying adult’s lap. It is mandatory for an adult travelling with children under 12 (excl. infants) to reserve a seat.
“A maximum of four children for every one adult on the same booking will receive a reserved seat free of charge. This ensures parents of young children sit together during the flight. This will also allow you to check-in for your flight 60 days before departure. It is not mandatory for any other adults or teenagers in the booking to reserve a seat, however they may choose to do so if they wish to seat with the rest of the family.”
