Jet2, Ryanair, Easyjet and TUI passengers warned over swapping seat 'punishment'
Passengers of Jet2, Ryanair, Easyjet, British Airways and TUI have been cautioned about a potential "punishment" for declining to switch seats. A flight attendant and airline worker have noted that seat swapping requests are becoming increasingly frequent.
The airline employee informed holidaymakers from Jet2, Ryanair, Easyjet, British Airways and TUI that seat swapping requests occur on eight out of her 10 monthly flights. The flight attendant revealed to the Wall Street Journal that when passengers refuse to move, she informs them they will be responsible for looking after an unaccompanied child.
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"I have said before, 'OK, so you're going to watch the toddler? You'll want their snacks and their colouring books then, because they're going to need that.'," she stated. She added: "The next time you feel yourself getting angry or getting frustrated that you're not getting the seat you want, you need to remind yourself you didn't pay to pick your seat."
"Otherwise, you'd be in it."
Mitra Amirzadeh, a Florida-based flight attendant, suggests passengers who desire a specific seat should pay for it in advance. She also mentioned that there is a growing trend of additional requests from couples who have been separated due to the seating plan and are sitting apart, reports Birmingham Live.
She explained that the requests often come from couples who've ended up seated apart due to the extra charges for picking seats. Ryanair provides a choice to either pay for reserved seating or opt for complimentary seats, which are allocated at random during check-in.
The airline advises: "We recommend that you reserve your seat when booking or when checking in to guarantee a seat beside your travel companions. If you choose not to reserve a seat, then a seat will be randomly allocated to you free of charge when checking in, but it is unlikely it will be beside your travel companions."