Do You Pay for Your Seats When Booking a Flight?
Ask a Question
I never book my seats , after all if only a two and a half hour flight for example its not the end of the world sitting apart from someone
But with families it is another matter
Many airlines urge customers to pay their specific seats in advance or run the risk of being split up
But all airlines have different terms , so its worth checking them
It's not a general rule that you'll be split from your travel companions if you don't pay to reserve the seats you want.
A survey found that families paying in excess of £100 to sit together are probably wasting their money, most major airlines likely to sit you with the people you booked with automatically even if you don't pay for seat selection.
So if all your tickets are in one reservation, with most operators there's a good chance you'll be okay - as long as you get checked in early.
The two worst airlines for splitting up families are Ryanair and Wizz AirEven travelling with kids doesn't guarantee you will be sitting next to them
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, airlines should aim to seat children close to their parents or guardians, but its only a guideline
And with Ryanair for example it is compulsory to book your seat if travelling with a child
What do you do when flying, pay for your seats or take a chance ?
Yes. I like to sit with my partner. For the sake of £40, we just pay for the seats so we know we’re together
PayItForward Jeez, I thought it'd be £15~20.
It's like cinemas, it's not the movies where the money is for them, it's the food and drinks.
Speaking of cinema... I sure am glad I didn't watch Joker 2 in a theater, that was such a massive disappointment of a sequel.
Happy to take a chance.I met a very garrulous American on my last flight but he was so interesting .The two hours was over in no time.I do think if you buy seats you should get the ones you buy though,It shouldn't be a last minute decision and it certainly shouldn't cost any extra,..never used to. You should always be allowed a suitcase as well.That's another unnecessary add on these days. 
Yes we book our seats, I always end up with some weird random stranger if I dont
martinlufc5637 exactly T, when I fly I put headphones on and that's me until we land, last time I didn't book seats I ended up with someone who scared of flying, so when turbulence hit they had a melt down, or and at toilet every 20 mins so I had to get up
Depends on where we are going. If it's a short flight I go for the cheap standard ones
I usually take a chance as i end up sleeping or watching films on the flight anyway.
Yes I paid for 2 seats together . As second time flyer! And sat with my daughter as I'm carer . Wanted seats as nervy flyers too!
bettsjennifer29 There's a brill uk film about nervous flyers with Timothy Spalding called Northern Comfort from 2023 B , it was quite funny , here's the trailer
Yes always book seats in advance as we like to sit together and chose where on the plane we want to sit . Once when we missed our connection and ended up on the next available flight, I ended up at the rear of the plane sat next to the toilets which wasn't nice due to a constant stream of people back and fore and queuing in the aisle.
I had seats allocated to me as a gift from when I called up to arrange assistance at the airport to plane . Handy but still had a mare.
We've always pre booked our seats to guarantee sitting together, especially if a long haul flight.
I'll always pay for a window seat, then I'm not having to jump up every time the people in my row get rid of all they've consumed in Weatherspoons to ease their fear of flying.
Only time I pay is Ryanair just so I can do return check in and print boarding pass before leaving home. All other airlines we take our chance and only once have we ended up at different ends of aircraft, but often have an aisle between us. Stepson flew with Ryanair and got his and two younger kids together free the other 3 adults and 12 year old had to pay.
lilyflower I think it is only ryanair mainly that tend to go out of their way to seperate families that have not paid for seats L
No, as there are 3 of us and there and backing adds up. Touch wood so far we haven’t been split up thankfully.
No it’s a con. Good airlines will seat you together and give you options. Bad airlines will deliberately seat you apart so you pay to change seating. I avoid the latter airlines
On our last flight my husband upgraded us to premium which I must admit was so much better. I didn’t ask how much more he paid but I would highly recommend. It was an eight hour night flight.
Join for free to get genuine deals, money saving advice and help from our friendly community
Chief Bargain Hunter
