Jet2, Ryanair, Easyjet and TUI passengers warned over 'punishment' for refusing to swap seats

Jet2, Ryanair, Easyjet, TUI passengers warned over swapping seat 'punishment' Jet2, Ryanair, Easyjet, British Airways and TUI passengers have been cautioned about a "punishment" for refusing to swap seats.

A flight attendant and airline worker have highlighted that requests to switch seats are becoming more frequent. The airline employee informed holidaymakers flying with Jet2, Ryanair, Easyjet, British Airways and TUI that seat-swapping requests occur on eight out of her 10 monthly flights.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, the flight attendant revealed that when passengers decline to move, she suggests they'll be looking after the unaccompanied child instead.

"I have said before, 'OK, so you're going to watch the toddler? You'll want their snacks and their coloring books then, because they're going to need that.'," she remarked. 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."

Florida-based flight attendant Mitra Amirzadeh advises passengers who are particular about seating to reserve their desired spot in advance. She notes that there's an increasing trend of additional requests from couples who find themselves separated due to seating arrangements, reports Birmingham Live.

She explained the requests often came from couples who ended up sitting separately because they hadn't paid extra for seat reservations. Ryanair does give passengers the option to pay for specific seats or opt for free random allocation done at the check-in stage, which is between 24 hours and two hours prior to departure.

It was further mentioned: "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."