How to sit together on a flight without having to pay anything

Published

8 months ago

October 28, 2024

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Many airlines urge customers to pay for specific seats in advance or run the risk of being split up – but is this really necessary?

We’ve taken a look…

Pick your airline carefully – and book seats at same time

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 2023 study by Which? Travel found that families paying in excess of £100 to sit together are probably wasting their money, with most major airlines likely to sit you with the people you booked with automatically even if you don’t cough up for seat selection.

That means if all your tickets are in one reservation, with most operators there’s a decent chance you’ll be okay – as long as you get checked in early.

It also depends on the airline, with budget firms Ryanair and Wizz Air the most likely to split you up (more on Ryanair’s seat booking policy later).

It’s worth saying that there’s no legal right to sit next to your loved ones on a flight – not even your children – so not paying does carry a risk.

Getting seats together with children

According to the Civil Aviation Authority, airlines should aim to seat children close to their parents or guardians.

Its guidance – which aren’t hard and fast rules – says young children and infants accompanied by adults should ideally be seated in the same seat row, or an adjacent row if this isn’t possible.

Of the major UK airlines, British Airways and Tui both guarantee that children under 12 will be sat with at least one adult from their booking, even if they don’t pay or forget to check in early.

Jet 2 says it will “always endeavour to seat children and infants under the age of 12 next to their accompanying adults”, but if this is not possible they’ll be seated no more than one row away.

EasyJet similarly says its system will always try and seat families together, but if this isn’t possible, it will make sure children under 12 are seated “close” to an adult on the booking.

Wizz Air says an adult and child aged up to 14 will automatically be assigned seats next to each other during the check in process.

Ryanair, however, has different rules – we’ve taken a look at these below…

Ryanair, like many airlines, offers the option of paying to reserve a seat or being allocated one at check-in.

But its system is well-known for splitting up groups rather than automatically putting them together, meaning it’s near-impossible to be seated with your travel companions without paying.

The Ryanair website warns passengers who don’t pay that it’s “unlikely” passengers with free seats will be with the rest of their group.

If you’re travelling with a child on a Ryanair flight, it’s compulsory for at least one adult to pay for a seat reservation. Seats can then be reserved for up to four children per adult. Other adults in the booking can take a free seat – but as we’ve explained above, they’ll likely be split from the rest of their family.

Disabled or elderly passengers get extra support

Those with reduced mobility, disabilities, difficulties with communication or the elderly should have the right to special assistance when travelling.

However, you will have to contact the airline before you fly.

Some airlines offer free seat selection

While many airlines have opted to introduce charges for the luxury of a reserved seat, it’s not the case for all.

Some carriers offering longer-haul journeys let you select your seat for free as soon as you book.

Qatar Airways (except for Economy Classic customers) and Japan Airlines have this option.

Virgin Atlantic lets passengers select a seat for free as soon as check-in opens, while British Airways says customers who check in a hold bag can select a seat for free at check-in.

Singapore Airlines says economy passengers can select a seat in advance for free or a fee “depending on the fare type you choose”.

Leave it until the last minute?

For the more laid-back travellers, one suggested hack is to leave check-in until the last minute to try and bag a decent seat – even on a budget flight.

Airlines charge higher fees for seats with extra legroom or in a good location, meaning they’re likely to be the ones left when it comes closer to take-off time.

Some flyers also suggest boarding the plane last to see if there’s any better seats free for a last-minute swap.

This is a gamble, of course, with there being no guarantee that you won’t be plonked next to the toilets – and it’s probably best saved for solo travellers at the risk of couples or groups getting split.

Ask a fellow passenger to swap

One less “hacky” option is to simply ask another passenger if they’ll swap seats with you (as long as you’re with a carrier that allows seat switching).

Your chances? If you’re just asking them to switch to a worse seat, they’re probably low. But if you’re asking an easy-going passenger to switch from the window to the aisle, or you’re wanting to sit with your companion and you’re offering a slightly better option in the swap, you could be in luck.

If you’re a family and you’ve been split up, you can politely explain your situation and see if any generous passengers will help. Some airline staff can also help with swaps for those in need if their company allows.

Make use of loyalty programme

If you’re a frequent or semi-frequent flyer and your favourite airline offers a loyalty programme, it’s worth signing up to make use of the perks on offer.

Building up enough points means you can upgrade your ticket class to an option that includes free seat selection.

Business

CBI kicks off search for successor to ‘saviour’ Soames

Published

16 hours ago

July 3, 2025

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CBI kicks off search for successor to 'saviour' Soames

The CBI has begun a search for a successor to Rupert Soames, its chairman, as it continues its recovery from the crisis which brought it to the brink of collapse in 2023.

Sky News has learnt that the business lobbying group’s nominations committee has engaged headhunters to assist with a hunt for its next corporate figurehead.

Mr Soames, the grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, was recruited by the CBI in late 2023 with the organisation lurching towards insolvency after an exodus of members.

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The group’s handling of a sexual misconduct scandal saw it forced to secure emergency funding from a group of banks, even as it was frozen out of meetings with government ministers.

One prominent CBI member described Mr Soames on Thursday as the group’s “saviour”.

“Without his ability to bring members back, the organisation wouldn’t exist today,” they claimed.

Mr Soames and Rain Newton-Smith, the CBI chief executive, have partly restored its influence in Whitehall, although many doubt that it will ever be able to credibly reclaim its former status as ‘the voice of British business’.

Its next chair, who is also likely to be drawn from a leading listed company boardroom, will take over from Mr Soames early next year.

Egon Zehnder International is handling the search for the CBI.

“The CBI chair’s term typically runs for two years and Rupert Soames will end his term in early 2026,” a CBI spokesperson said.

“In line with good governance, we have begun the search for a successor to ensure continuity and a smooth transition.”

Business

Ryanair and easyJet cancel hundreds of flights over air traffic control strike

Published

16 hours ago

July 3, 2025

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Ryanair and easyJet cancel hundreds of flights over air traffic control strike

Ryanair and easyJet have cancelled hundreds of flights as a French air traffic controllers strike looms.

Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers, said it had axed 170 services amid a plea by French authorities for airlines to reduce flights at Paris airports by 40% on Friday.

EasyJet said it was cancelling 274 flights during the action, which is due to begin later as part of a row over staffing numbers and ageing equipment.

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The owner of British Airways, IAG, said it was planning to use larger aircraft to minimise disruption for its own passengers.

The industrial action is set to affect all flights using French airspace, leading to wider cancellations and delays across Europe and the wider world.

Ryanair said its cancellations, covering both days, would hit services to and from France, and also flights over the country to destinations such as the UK, Greece, Spain and Ireland.

Group chief executive Michael O’Leary has campaigned for a European Union-led shake-up of air traffic control services in a bid to prevent such disruptive strikes, which have proved common in recent years.

He described the latest action as “recreational”.

“Once again, European families are held to ransom by French air traffic controllers going on strike,” he said.

“It is not acceptable that overflights over French airspace en route to their destination are being cancelled/delayed as a result of yet another French ATC strike.

“It makes no sense and is abundantly unfair on EU passengers and families going on holidays.”

Ryanair is demanding the EU ensure that air traffic services are fully staffed for the first wave of daily departures, as well as to protect overflights during national strikes.

“These two splendid reforms would eliminate 90% of all ATC delays and cancellations, and protect EU passengers from these repeated and avoidable ATC disruptions due to yet another French ATC strike,” Mr O’Leary added.

Business

How markets reacted to uncertainty over Rachel Reeves’s future

Published

22 hours ago

July 3, 2025

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How markets reacted to uncertainty over Rachel Reeves's future

The pound fell and state borrowing costs rose during a period of uncertainty over the chancellor’s future on Wednesday.

During Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir Starmer declined to guarantee whether a visibly emotional Rachel Reeves would remain chancellor until the next election following the government’s welfare bill U-turn.

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Following his remarks, the value of the pound dropped and government borrowing costs rose, via the interest rate on both 10 and 30-year bonds.

Although market fluctuations are common, there was a reaction following Sir Keir’s comments in the Commons – signalling concern among investors of potential changes within the Treasury.

Sterling dropped to a week-long low, hitting $1.35 for the first time since 24 June. The level, however, is still significantly higher than the vast majority of the past year, having come off the near four-year peak reached yesterday.

While a drop against the euro, took the pound to €1.15, a rate not seen since mid-April in the aftermath of President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements.

Meanwhile, the interest rate investors charge to lend money to the government, called the gilt yield, rose on both long-term (30-year) and ten-year bonds.

The UK’s benchmark 10-year gilt yield – so-called for the gilt edges that historically lined the paper they were printed on – rose to 4.67%, a high last recorded on 9 June.

And 30-year gilt yields hit 5.45%, a level not seen since 29 May.

Both eased back in the hours following – as a spokesperson for the prime minister attempted to quell speculation about the chancellor’s future.

Sky News understands the prime minister made clear to the chancellor that she has his “complete support” and remains integral to his project.

Ms Reeves has committed to self-imposed rules to reduce debt and balance the budget. Speculation around her future led investors to question the government’s commitment to balancing the books – and how they would do that.

The questions over her future came after the government scrapped the core money-saving component of its welfare bill, which had been intended to reduce spending in order to meet fiscal rules.