Budget travellers know the frustration of arriving at the airport, only to discover they’re not seated with their companions – a typical travel headache. The travel industry is abuzz with tales of “seat squatting”, where passengers cheekily grab unassigned seats in hopes of sneaking an unpaid upgrade to a desirable window spot, or even a prized first-class seat, to avoid paying extra to be near their friends.
A story recently emerged about a flight attendant on a Delta Air Lines journey from Providence, Rhode Island, to Atlanta, Georgia who caught an economy traveller attempting to impersonate a first-class flyer.
This incident followed two women who “came [aboard] haphazardly” and claimed front-row seats, likely hoping for some free drinks.
With this uptick in seat-swiping antics, it’s prime time to review airline seating rules. Ryanair, for instance, gives its customers a clear choice: pay up for a reserved seat or gamble on receiving a random one at check-in, which comes at no extra cost.
Those willing to leave it to fate can check-in from 24 hours up to two hours before their flight departs, reports Glasgow Live.
Alternatively, those who spend money on selecting a seat during booking, online check-in, or anytime before getting on the plane can have the certainty of having their preferred spot reserved. The price for this peace of mind fluctuates based on the seat’s location on the aircraft.
Ryanair’s seat allocation system specifies that travellers who don’t pay for a reserved seat will be assigned one at random without charge when they check in, but this doesn’t ensure adjacent seats for companions, as the airline clarifies on its website. Passengers have the option to purchase an extra seat by purchasing two full-fare tickets.
Ryanair’s guidance is straightforward: “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.”
Keep in mind, once you’ve secured a reserved seat, it’s non-refundable and has to stay within the original booking.
In comparison, British Airways offers a varied seating policy dependent on the fare type and class of travel. For passengers, seat selection is complimentary starting 24 hours before their flight when online check-in begins; but those holding a basic ticket—typically shorthand for an economy-class seat with only hand luggage—are allocated seats by the carrier.
Those who have purchased basic fares can still pick their preferred seat, albeit for an additional fee which applies from booking until checking in. To avoid separation on flights, British Airways advises families travelling with kids to reserve their seats in advance.
British Airways gives customers the opportunity to buy an adjacent seat for additional comfort. Conversely, easyJet provides the flexibility for passengers to select their seats at an extra charge, which can be done either while booking or before checking in through their ‘Manage bookings’ online or on the app.
The airline’s website stipulates: “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.”
Highlighting its range of seating options, EasyJet also offers standard, upfront, and extra legroom seats, many of which come at a reduced cost or complimentary for holders of the easyJet Plus card and those who opt for FLEXI fares.
Jet2 encourages its customers to secure their favourite spots by reserving seats online at the time they book, or later through the ‘Manage My Booking’ section on their website. Seat selection fees differ, influenced by the seat location on the plane and the flight path.
Those who do not reserve their seats in advance will receive their assignments upon online check-in or at the airport, based on availability. Jet2’s aircraft also feature a variety of extra legroom seats, primarily positioned near the front and middle sections.
Additionally, the airline strives to ensure that children and infants under 12 years old are seated close to their accompanying adults.
For those flying with TUI or any of its chartered airlines, there’s the option to pay a little extra to choose your preferred seat on the plane. As is standard with most airlines, if passengers don’t select a seat, one will be automatically assigned during online check-in.
The airline guarantees that children under 12 are seated with at least one adult from their group. If a passenger has opted for a seating product, such as ‘Select Your Seat’, ‘Seats with Extra Legroom’, ‘Seats with Extra Space’ or ‘Premium’ – but haven’t chosen their seats at least 14 days before their holiday, TUI will automatically assign seats to them.
On long-haul flights, passengers also have the opportunity to upgrade to a ‘Premium’ seat.