Frequent flyers of budget airlines are all too familiar with the scenario: arriving at the airport to discover they’re seated rows away from their travel companions. The recent trend of “seat squatting” has been grabbing headlines, where passengers cheekily occupy unassigned seats in hopes of snagging a window view or avoiding fees to sit with friends.
A story recently emerged about a Delta Air Lines flight attendant on a trip from Providence, Rhode Island, to Atlanta, Georgia, who busted an economy passenger trying to pass off as a first-class traveller. This came after two women “came [aboard] haphazardly” and settled themselves in the front row, eyeing a free drink.
As reported by the Express, with the growing issue of seat poachers, it’s worth revisiting the seating policies of various airlines.
Ryanair
Ryanair offers a straightforward choice: pay for a reserved seat or roll the dice with a free seat assigned randomly at check-in.
Those who don’t mind where they sit can check in between 24 hours and two hours before departure without paying extra. For those who prefer to secure a specific seat, Ryanair allows passengers to purchase their preferred spot at the time of booking, during check-in, or any time before the flight, ensuring it’s saved for them.
The price for this convenience varies depending on the seat’s location on the aircraft. Passengers who opt not to reserve a seat with Ryanair will be allocated a random spot at no extra cost during check-in.
However, this means they’re unlikely to be seated next to their companions, as stated on Ryanair’s website. For those wanting more space, passengers can book an extra seat by purchasing two full-fare tickets.
Ryanair says on its website: “Book the first ticket in your name. Then for your second ticket, enter ‘extra’ as the first name and ‘comfort seat’ as the last name. ‘Extra comfort’ will then be added to your reservation. When checking in online, the same travel document details will be added for you and your extra seat.”
However, once reserved seats are purchased, they cannot be removed from the booking, and refunds are not available.
British Airways
In contrast, British Airways’ policy on seat selection varies depending on the fare and cabin chosen.
Passengers can select their seat at no additional charge from 24 hours before departure when check-in opens, except for those with a basic ticket. This typically means economy class with only hand luggage included; these passengers will have their seats assigned to them.
Nevertheless, those holding basic tickets can still pick their seats for a fee anytime from booking until check-in. The airline advises those travelling with children to secure their seats early to avoid any issues.
BA provides an option for those wishing to ensure some additional personal space by offering the choice to purchase the seat next to them.
easyJet
Shifting focus to easyJet, the airline affords passengers the opportunity to pick their preferred seats on the flight, for a fee.
Selections can be made during booking or anytime before check-in either through easyJet’s ‘Manage bookings’ feature online or via its app. “On bookings with more than one passenger, allocated seats must be selected for all passengers on the booking otherwise we cannot allow any allocated seats to be purchased,” says the official easyJet website.
EasyJet customers also benefit from a tiered seating system which includes standard, upfront, and extra legroom options; some of these seats come free or at a reduced price for easyJet Plus cardholders and those who opt for FLEXI fares.
Jet2
Meanwhile, Jet2 invites customers to reserve their desired seats in advance online, either when booking their tickets or later by using the ‘Manage My Booking’ section. As with the other airlines, the cost for seat pre-selection depends on where it is on the plane and the route being flown.
Should a traveller opt not to book in advance, they will have a seat assigned on a first-come, first-served basis during online check-in or at the airport. Jet2 also has a range of extra legroom seats available for selection, typically positioned towards the front and midsections of the aircraft.
In a move to assist families, the carrier also makes it a priority to seat children and infants under 12 alongside their accompanying adults.
TUI
For those travelling with TUI or any of its chartered airlines, there’s the option to pay a little extra to select your seat on the plane. Similar to other airlines, passengers who don’t choose their seats will be automatically assigned one during online check-in.
The airline ensures that children under 12 are seated with at least one adult from their group. If a passenger has purchased a seating product such as ‘Select Your Seat’, ‘Seats with Extra Legroom’, ‘Seats with Extra Space’ or ‘Premium’, but hasn’t chosen their seats at least 14 days prior to their holiday, TUI will automatically assign seats for them. For long-haul flights, passengers also have the opportunity to upgrade to a ‘Premium’ seat.