Summary
- Understand your fare class: Full-service airlines may include seat selection for free, but budget carriers almost always charge for it.
- Keep national regulations in mind: Certain groups, like passengers with disabilities and their companions, are often provided with complimentary reserved seating.
- Select your seats when booking: Many airlines offer the option to select seats at booking, guaranteeing complimentary seating together.
For those traveling in groups, especially those with young children, sitting together can be non-negotiable. However, this can often come along with exorbitant fees from carriers, especially budget airlines like Ryanair. In this article, we’ll break down the seven best ways to avoid paying to sit together.
1 Make sure to understand your fare class
Modern economy class fares can range from skin-and-bones to those that include a variety of perks and upgrades. While many tickets include seat selection for free on full-service airlines (however there are some exceptions), this is almost never complimentary for budget carriers.
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Some full-service airlines, such as Lufthansa, charge passengers to select a seat on certain economy-class tickets. Back in May 2022, the German flag carrier began a policy of random seat assignment for those traveling in its Economy Light cabin. By being aware of airline policy, passengers aiming to sit together can avoid surprise fees.
2 Keep national regulations in mind
Amid the rise of new industry practices regarding seat allocations and attempts to increase revenue through random selection, airline regulators have introduced new policies to ensure certain groups are automatically provided with reserved seating free of charge. For example, passengers with disabilities and their companions are almost always provided with complimentary reserved seating.
Photo: United Airlines
In the United Kingdom, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), mandates that carriers aim to sit children under 12 with their parents and that such groups shouldn’t have to pay extra for seat allocation together. However, these are guidelines and airlines are often unable to accommodate all such situations.
3 Always select your seats when booking if possible
Many carriers, such as United Airlines, provide the option to select seats at booking for most passengers. While one may not want to take the time to select seats while booking or are not aware of the complimentary opportunity, this is one of the best ways to guarantee complimentary seating together.
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Other airlines that maintain similar policies include Japan Airlines and Qatar Airways, and British Airways passengers who check a bag are also able to select a complimentary seat. Passengers in premium cabins are almost always given the opportunity to select seats.
4 Know airline policies for families
Many airlines also maintain specific policies for families traveling together, however, they aren’t always advertised, leading many unknowing passengers to pay unnecessary fees to sit together. Air France, for example, will seat parties together that include children under the age of 15.
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British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, the UK’s two full-service carriers guarantee that children under the age of 12 will be seated with at least one member of their party. However, most airlines do reserve the right to split up the rest of the group.
5 Know how to deal with budget airlines
Ultra-low-cost carriers, as one would expect, maintain policies that are likely against the interests of most hoping to sit together and not pay for it. However, many still have specific regulations for those traveling with children. When flying on Ryanair, travelers with children under 12 are required to purchase a seat selection but are then permitted to select free seats for up to four children.
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Parents unaware of this policy might go ahead and purchase seat selections for their children alongside themselves, which would ultimately prove an unnecessary expense. Most budget airlines maintain similar policies.
6 Make sure to check in as early as possible
If you were unable to confirm seats together during the booking process, your best chance to sit together without paying is to check in as early as possible. At check in, seat allocations may change, and some passengers may be able to select seats that have since been vacated by other travelers.
Photo: Markus Mainka/Shutterstock.
For example, couples may swap seats in order to sit together, freeing up areas for other groups to sit together. Seats that become available are almost always assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis, so passengers should be sure to act fast.
7 If you do pay to upgrade, make sure you get your money’s worth
Many passengers who are unable to sit together for free will ultimately determine their best option is simply to purchase seat selection. Again, it is important for families to examine all their upgrade options in order to make sure they get the best value for their money.
Photo: Delta Air Lines
For example, seat selection for a family of three may cost $100, however upgrading the family to extra-legroom economy could cost only slightly more at $120, which could be more important to a family with a young child. Therefore, those choosing to purchase seat selection should be sure to evaluate all of their options before making a purchase.
