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When it comes to short haul flights, the seat width is between 17 and 18 inches which may not sound like much – but that extra inch can make a lot of difference.

You’re all set for your dream holiday, breezed through security and about to board the aeroplane when you spot it: a tiny middle seat that’s going to be your home for the duration of your flight.

Thankfully, there’s now a method to determine which budget airline offers the widest seats, ensuring you don’t have to compromise on comfort.

Last year, Which? did the maths to identify which airlines offer the most spacious seats, helping you get the best value for your money.

For short haul flights, the seat width (the distance between each armrest) typically ranges from 17 to 18 inches, which might not seem like a significant difference, reports the Express.

However, that additional inch can make a world of difference when you’re crammed in like sardines.

According to the experts, the airlines offering the widest economy seats include Wizz Air, TAP Portugal, easyJet and Lufthansa, all boasting widths of 18 inches.

This leaves airlines like Aer Lingus, Loganair, Jet2 and Norwegian with the narrowest seat widths, which can all be as low as 17 inches. Below is a breakdown of airline seat width and legroom in inches.

If you’re looking to maximise space on your budget flight without shelling out extra cash, there are a few tricks you can employ.

One hack is to book a seat in the bulkhead – the seats located directly behind the partitions, curtains or screens that divide the plane. With no seats in front, you’ll have enough room to stretch your legs.

However, these can be a bit narrower if tray tables are stowed in the armrest.

If a bulkhead doesn’t take your fancy, opt for a seat towards the back of the plane where they taper. This could occasionally result in fewer seats in a row – but naturally, you might find yourself next to the loo queue which can be somewhat disruptive.

If you’re on a flight that’s already airborne and you spot extra vacant seats, you can always politely ask the cabin crew if it would be possible to switch.

Remember, if you don’t ask, you won’t get – and provided you’re polite, there’s a likelihood they will accommodate your request.

If you have additional requirements that would benefit from more room, such as being tall or pregnant, you’ve got a better chance of being relocated to a more spacious area.

Aircraft swaps, or equipment changes, are becoming routine as airlines juggle fleets to cut costs, cover technical issues, or respond to delays

Airline passengers across the UK are increasingly finding that the seat they booked, or even paid extra for, disappears at the last minute.

This practice, known in the industry as ‘aircraft swaps’ or ‘equipment changes,’ is becoming routine as airlines juggle fleets to cut costs, cover technical issues, or respond to delays.

Latest analysis has found that this airline procedure, swapping an aircraft just before departure, affects nearly 140,000 flights every year in the UK. And for passengers that can often mean losing a reserved seat, being downgraded, or facing overbooking when a smaller plane replaces the original.

Fleet shortages, staff strikes, and ongoing weather disruptions make last-minute swaps more likely, says AirAdvisor, an air passenger rights company.

And while you would be forgiven for thinking that your ticket guarantees a specific plane or seat it, in fact, only guarantees travel in a given class between two points. That legal grey area leaves thousands unsure of their actual rights.

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AirAdvisor’s analysis found between 1 per cent and 5 per cent of flights face aircraft changes within 24-48 hours before departure, rising to more than 5% at peak periods on legacy carriers like British Airways and Lufthansa.

Low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet are less affected because of their standardised fleets, but summer demand spikes increase the risk across the board. If you’ve ever turned up for a flight only to find that the seat you’ve booked or paid for is no longer available, it’s crucial to know your rights.

These rights vary depending on the situation.

Downgrading: If you’re bumped down to a lower class, UK261 regulations entitle you to a refund of 30-75 per cent of your ticket price, depending on the length of your flight.

Seat loss: If you’ve forked out extra for a specific seat (like an exit row, window, or aisle), you can claim a refund of that surcharge if the seat is no longer available. However, if you didn’t pay extra, airlines can reassign you within the same class without offering compensation.

Overbooking due to smaller aircraft: Passengers who are denied boarding are entitled to compensation ranging from €250-€600 (£216 – £519), plus rerouting or a refund.

Unwanted aircraft type: If your flight is reassigned to a model you’re not comfortable flying in (such as the Boeing 737 MAX), airlines aren’t legally required to change your booking. However, some might rebook you as a goodwill gesture if you act quickly.

At present, there’s no regulation requiring airlines to inform passengers of seat or aircraft changes, except when they’re downgraded to a lower class. This legal grey area can be problematic, especially when passengers have paid extra for seat selection or comfort.

As a result, these swaps often happen without any advance warning, leaving passengers caught off guard.

Some consumer groups have argued that airlines should notify passengers of any alterations, giving travellers the right to accept or decline new seating arrangements, and providing automatic refunds when services aren’t delivered as promised.

However, the current review of UK261 regulations, which is being debated in Brussels, has caused some concern. Rather than bolstering passenger protections, certain proposals could actually weaken airlines’ duty to compensate travellers when flights are delayed or scrapped.

Meanwhile, the matter of aircraft substitutions – which are becoming increasingly frequent – remains largely overlooked in the talks.

For British travellers, this means a greater chance of finding out at the departure gate that their seat has vanished or that their flight has fewer places than anticipated.

Jet2 has said it will cut the number of seats available on its flights by around 200,000 in the coming months after the budget travel giant warned shareholders about earnings forecasts

Holidaymakers who rely on Jet2’s bargain fares will find fewer seats available in the coming months, after the budget airline received disappointing earnings projections.

The low-cost travel company is set to pull around 200,000 seats from the market over the next few months, leaving 5.6 million on offer during the winter period.

Whilst this still marks a nine per cent rise compared to last year, Jet2 has chosen to scale back its growth plans following predictions that the travel giant’s profits would fall short of expectations.

The news triggered a sharp decline in the company’s share price on Thursday, with analysts forecasting earnings of approximately £449m for the year ending March 2026, up from £446.5m the previous year. Stock values plummeted by roughly 13 per cent following the announcement.

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Jet2 revealed that cost-conscious travellers are increasingly displaying a “later booking profile”, snapping up flights at short notice and leaving the airline with “limited visibility” over passenger numbers during the winter months when many seats remain “still to sell.”

The low-cost carrier witnessed package holiday reservations climb by 2 per cent over the summer, which ThisIsMoney reports as a decline from the eight per cent surge recorded last year.

Nevertheless, these statistics also highlight shifting consumer behaviour, with flight-only bookings soaring by a substantial 17 per cent.

Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy informed shareholders that the concerning figures stemmed from “operating in a difficult market,” though he emphasised that their expanding customer base would “provide the foundation for a solid financial result this year and for further profitable growth in the years to come.”

The budget airline, which conducted its annual general meeting on Thursday, revealed it had introduced a “modest increase” in package holiday prices this summer and noted it would be premature to release “definitive” figures regarding the company’s overall profitability.

Last month, Jet2 became the first carrier in Britain to provide complimentary plane tickets to certain passengers, aiming to make their service more accessible for additional customers. All families travelling with a child under the age of two will now avoid purchasing a ticket for their little one, whether booking a package holiday or an individual flight.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, explained to ThisIsMoney: “Millions of people prioritise experiences over material goods, with foreign holidays high up the list of things they scrimp and save for. Such a trend should be positive for airlines and holiday companies, yet countless individuals are leaving it to the last minute to make a booking.

“Jet2 has once again bemoaned this situation, leaving it with cloudy rather than crystal clear earnings visibility. Management cannot keep their fingers crossed that sales will eventually come through; they need certainty given the expense in running a fleet of aircraft and a complex accommodation chain.

“Guidance that full-year earnings will be at the lower end of market forecasts has wiped out Jet2’s share price gains so far this year. It’s a disappointing setback for the business and has dragged down shares in other airlines including EasyJet and Wizz Air.”

Plus-sized passengers make have to fork out hundreds extra if trying to fly thanks to a popular airlines new policy that sees plane seat restrictions tighten in the coming months

A popular airline has made huge changes for plus sized passengers – and people aren’t happy. Southwest Airlines has announced a new role for larger passengers, which could see their ticket prices more expensive.

Southwest is a major airline in the United States, and for those who can’t find within the armrests of their seat will need to soon book an additional seat before they fly.

It comes as a rollout of new changes coming into effect on January 27 2026, including pre-assigned seats. At the moment, plus-sized travellers who may need extra room can purchase an additional seat upfront and apply for a refund after flying, or request a complimentary seat at the airport.

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One of the biggest changes to this will mean refunds may still be possible, but not always guaranteed which could result in passengers facing higher upfront costs without the certainty of getting their money back.

In a statement released by the airline, they said: “To ensure space, we are communicating to customers who have previously used the extra seat policy that they should purchase it at booking.” It goes against what the airline was previously known for as being traveller-friendly and operating a ‘customer-first approach’ according to Metro.

These perks, which also included open seating at boarding and a generous free baggage allowance are slowly disappearing as the free baggage was stopped in May, and the rules around seats getting stricter.

The refunds for plus-sized passengers will only be granted if at least one seat on the flight was empty at departure and if both tickets were purchased in the same booking class. In other words, passengers can no longer assume that an extra seat will automatically qualify for a refund.

In order to get their money back, passengers will need to request a refund within 90 days of their flight. In a bid to still protect the promise for flexibility for passengers, it may still hike up costs for people being asked to pay hundreds upfront without the certainty of getting it reimbursed – and if it’s a fully booked flight, they will be turned away and booked onto the next available flight.

Jason Vaughn, an Orlando-based travel agent who posts travel tips for plus-size people on social media and his website, Fat Travel Tested, told AP: “I think it’s going to make the flying experience worse for everybody.”

Tigress Osborn, chair of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance told the New York Times: “Southwest was the only beacon of hope for many fat people who otherwise wouldn’t have been flying. And now that beacon has gone out.”

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Craig Hicks, from Telford, Shropshire, finished his right arm sleeve with a tattoo of Jet2’s slogan – after seeing what he believes is a trend emerging on TikTok

A frequent flyer hopes he will bag a free holiday – after he got the Jet2 slogan tattooed on his right arm.

Craig Hicks completed his right arm sleeve with the words “nothing beats a Jet2 holiday” alongside the budget airline’s logo. The 37-year-old man says he is “a big fan” of Jet2, having flown with the company dozens of times since it commenced operations under its current guise.

The plane enthusiast, from Telford, Shropshire, insists his family and friends “absolutely love” the giant inking. Jet2’s catchy slogan has become somewhat of a trend on social media, as it has been used in more than two million videos on TikTok the summer.

“I just thought it’s quite topical at the moment, why not? It’s just so popular at the moment… “I’ll be getting it out on that flight definitely. All my friends keep saying I could get a free holiday out of this! A freebie would be nice,” Craig, who is an ambulance controller, said today.

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The body art, which cost Craig £300 on Wednesday August 6, finishes his his “aviation sleeve”, which already featured a concord and jet engine. The regular flyer, who has a trip to Tenerife booked soon, continued: “I just love anything to do with planes. To finish my sleeve, I had a load of gaps and wasn’t sure what to put there.

“I love Jess Glynne and love that song. I recently flew with Jet2 to Madeira. I just thought it would be ace to get ‘nothing beats a Jet2 holiday’.

“I like Jet2 and thought it would be cool. It’s my favourite British airline. I’m definitely a big fan of them. I love everything to do with aviation.”

Jet2 has used Jess Glynne’s song Hold My Hand in its adverts – and on its planes – for nearly ten years. In one iconic TV advert, which first in January 2024, a family of four race with excitement towards the airline’s check-in desk, and gleefully board a Jet2 plane, high-fiving the cabin crew in the process – all in cohesion to Glynne’s tuneful number.

But the “nothing beats a Jet2 holiday” slogan this summer has been used playfully on TikTok by tourists who have encountered holiday bloopers or mishaps – with any airline.

Reflecting on the social media trend, Craig continued: “I’m definitely going to show it to Jet2 staff when I next fly with them to Tenerife in December… All my friends and family absolutely love it. My mum said I was mad.”

Jet2 has been contacted for a comment.

Southwest Airlines is being criticised for failing to communicate changes to its five-hour delayed flight as two disabled women were left behind as the flight took off without them

An airline has been slammed after two women who are both blind were left behind by a plane and told by staff “we forgot about you.”

Southwest Airlines is being criticised for failing to communicate changes to its five-hour delayed flight from New Orleans to Orlando on July 24.

Friends Camille Tate and Sherri Brun were left stranded after the pair were at the airport waiting by the gate, checking the airline’s app for any updates.

However, they were the only two people on the flight when they boarded. “You’re the only two people on this flight because they forgot about you,” Sherri Bun said the two were told.

According to the airline, because the flight was delayed, nearly all of the passengers on the original flight were re-booked on another Southwest flight to Orlando that departed a little earlier from a different gate. It comes after a furious tourist was just ‘offered £21 by easyJet’ after being stranded in Turkey.

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Sherri and Camillie were the only two passengers not re-booked on the flight. They even admitted they had no idea another flight was an option.

“Nobody at B6 told us anything. Nobody came to get us at B4. The time passed,” said Sherri. “That airplane took off, and our boarding pass had not been swiped,” said Camille.

The pair remains stunned that they weren’t on the flight. They want the airline to improve its communication to people with disabilities.

“The way they help their customers that require additional assistance needs to change. There needs to be follow through,” said Sherri.

“There needs to be some improvement in how they communicate with their passengers especially those that have disabilities,” Camille added.

The friends were offered an £80 voucher as compensation for the delay, but weren’t eligible for a full refund as the flight departed.

Southwest Airlines has since apologised for the embarrassing incident. It said: “The Customers were scheduled on Flight 2637. Although it ran almost five hours late that day, it remained their same flight number throughout.

“We issued the $100 vouchers as compensation for the delayed travel, but a refund is not available if a Customer actually completes the flight.

“It appears the confusion about a plane coming back to get them might be because many of the Customers on that flight were accommodated on another MCO-bound flight that left a little earlier from a nearby gate. These two Customers were not re-booked on that flight, so their assigned gate never changed. Our records show they flew to MCO on the airplane that had been parked at their original gate.

“As far as accessibility policies, all of our information is found on the Disability-Related Accommodations section of the Help Center. For Customers who are blind, escort and navigation assistance is available from the airport curb to and from gates and between gates for connecting flights.

“To receive assistance, Customers must identify themselves and the type of assistance they require to a Southwest Employee when they arrive at the airport, at any connection points, and when they land at their destination. In the event of a gate change, our Employees are responsible for ensuring all Customers who need assistance reach the new gate.

“We apologise for the inconvenience. Southwest is always looking for ways to improve our Customers’ travel experiences, and we’re active in the airline industry in sharing best practices about how to best accommodate Passengers with disabilities.”

July 28 (UPI) — A cyber attack on Russia’s largest airline on Monday saw dozens of canceled flights after a pro-Ukraine team took responsibility for hacking airline computer systems.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called it “quite alarming” after at least 42 scheduled Aeroflot flights largely domestic in Russia got canceled.

Aeroflot officials gave no specific details or how long it would take to restore its mainframe after officials informed passengers of a “failure” in its tech systems advising service disruptions, but did warn travelers of delays and cancellations.

The airline said its tech teams were “actively working to minimize the impact on flight operations and restore all services to normal as quickly as possible.”

“We kindly ask passengers to monitor real-time updates on airport websites, information displays, and public announcements across the airline’s route network,” the airline said in a statement.

Aeroflot’s cyber-security attack was a direct result of Russia’s full-on invasion of neighboring Ukraine, the hacker group calling itself “Silent Crow” confirmed.

Russia’s prosecutor general’s office also confirmed that Aeroflot’s technological issues were a result of a virtual attack on its computer systems and stated that a criminal investigation is underway.

Silent Crow says it worked with a separate group based in Belarus called “Cyber Partisans BY.”

They pressed unverified claimed of access to flight history data, that it destroyed roughly 7,000 Aeroflot servers, compromised its corporate computer structure and further threatened to released “the personal data of all Russians who have ever flown Aeroflot.”

On its Telegram channel, Silent Crow wrote how for a year, “we were inside their corporate network, methodically developing access, going deep into the very core of the infrastructure.”

Meanwhile, Aeroflot partner air carries Rossiya and Probed have not reported any technological issues.

The cyber attack on Russia’s flag air carrier arrived weeks after another on Australian airline Qantas exposed the data of six million customers. That followed a similar event at the end of June on Hawaiian Airlines by a group FBI officials believe to be young adults and teens living in the United States and Britain.

“Glory to Ukraine! Long live Belarus!” Silent Crow said in a statement.

The Starlink constellation of satellites will provide internet to the Virgin fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, the airline’s CEO Shai Weiss announced on Tuesday evening

Virgin Atlantic has pledged to provide free, streaming-quality Wi-Fi to all passengers on all of its planes by the end of 2027.

Elon Musk’s Starlink constellation of satellites will provide internet to the Virgin fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, Virgin Atlantic chief executive Shai Weiss announced on Tuesday evening.

According to Space Explored, Starlink for aviation is different from the typical ground-based product and uses a specially made antenna that can work at high speeds and remain reliable over long periods. A number of airlines have announced plans to use the service by the end of 2025, including United Airlines, SAS, and Air France.

Virgin Atlantic is aiming to be the first UK airline to offer the service, which will be unlimited for every passenger who signs up to the airline’s Flying Club loyalty scheme. The airline hopes to have it installed on its fleet of Airbus A330neos, A350s, and Boeing 787s by the end of 2027.

Some frequent flyers are bound to welcome the move, given the current high cost and unreliable nature of in-flight Wi-Fi. Others may feel that being disconnected from the internet for a few hours now and again is something to be cherished.

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CEO Shai Weiss said: “To fulfil the brief that we’ve set ourselves, which is to offer free, basically unlimited, streaming-quality connectivity on a plane, right now there’s only one solution: it is Starlink. We were the first airline to launch Wi-Fi fleet-wide across the Atlantic, and now we will be the first fleet to complete this transformation.”

The rollout of Starlink was not the only major announcement on Tuesday evening.

Virgin Atlantic also plans to invest £17 billion in a mixed fleet of 45 next-generation, fuel-efficient aircraft, including 19 A330-900s, 12 A350-1000s, and 14 B787-9s, with an average fleet age of just under seven years by 2028.

It will also increase the number of premium seats across its fleet due to high demand.

Premium economy seats will increase from 35 to 56, while business class will increase from 31 to 44. Economy seats, meanwhile, will decrease from 192 to 127.

“In the last four decades, we’ve evolved from a challenger to a leader and a premium, long-haul flag carrier. We exist to make our customers smile—it’s that simple—obsessing over finding new ways to delight our guests, delivered by our amazing people, on our journey to become the most loved travel company,” Shai said.

“We are investing billions to fly the youngest fleet across the Atlantic; the first UK airline to have free, streaming-quality, fleet-wide Wi-Fi; more premium cabins; and a full retrofit of the 787 fleet—alongside a new app featuring the world of Virgin Atlantic in your pocket, all delivered by our amazing teams. The best is yet to come.”

Jet2 and Jet2holidays have unveiled the details of its “biggest ever Winter Sun programme” however eager travellers will need to read the fine print before booking their flight

Jet2 has announced a whole host of new flight routes for Brits to enjoy – but there are a few details you should know before booking your travel. Jet2 and Jet2holidays have released the details of “their biggest ever Winter Sun programme” though there’s one catch pausing the excitement of travellers.

Eager travellers will need to wait before enjoying the suite of new offerings, which are planned for the Winter 26/27 season. While patience is required, you can still plan ahead to make the most of the new deals and flight routes.

The programme will mean more seats and choice across 13 of Jet2’s UK airport bases. It also includes two brand-new winter routes as well as significant expansion to their Morocco, Malta and Madeira programmes.

Jet2’s winter sun destinations

The programme expansion represents a capacity increase of 4% for the UK’s largest tour operator compared to its Winter 25/26 programme. Travellers will have their choice of 13 winter sun destinations departing from the following airports:

• Belfast International
• Birmingham
• Bournemouth
• Bristol
• East Midlands
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow
• Leeds Bradford
• Liverpool John Lennon
• London Stansted
• London Luton
• Manchester
• Newcastle International

With destinations like Mainland Spain and the Balearics enjoying ever-increasing popularity, the companies have listed two new winter routes on sale from their newest UK airport bases – Bournemouth to Malaga and London Luton to Palma (Majorca).

In all, millions of seats are on sale across popular winter sun destinations in the Canary Islands (Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura), Mainland Spain (Alicante and Malaga), Majorca (Palma), Portugal (Faro and Madeira), Turkey (Antalya), Malta, Morocco (Marrakech and Agadir) and Cyprus (Paphos) and during peak periods, the airline and tour operator will operate over 600 weekly outbound flights.

READ MORE: easyJet expands UK flights with 11 new routes to European hotspots this summer

Belfast International Airport will have ten sun destinations on sale, with over 25 departing weekly flights during peak periods. Destinations include Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Malaga, Alicante, Antalya, Faro, Madeira and Palma.

Birmingham Airport will be one of the busiest bases of all with over 65 weekly departing flights during peak periods in Winter 26/27. The 14 winter sun destinations on sale departing from Birmingham include Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Malaga, Alicante, Palma, Antalya, Faro, Madeira, Paphos, Malta, Marrakech and Agadir. You can read the full list of airports and their new departures here.

Jet2 and Jet2Holiday are also set to reveal details of their Ski, City Breaks and Iceland programmes for Winter 26/27 in the coming weeks.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “We are pleased to be offering our biggest and most exciting Winter Sun programme ever, giving customers and independent travel agents even more choice and flexibility for next winter.

“As ever, we have designed our programme in direct response to ongoing demand from holidaymakers, so as well as launching two new winter routes, we are delighted to be expanding our Winter offering to other fantastic destinations too.”

Qantas’ Travel Insider’s network has shared their top tips for packing ‘smartly’, including how to properly select and pack one essential item you are sure to need on every holiday

A group of Travel Insider writers for Qantas have divulged their best jet-setting secrets and name one space-sucking item you should avoid packing. Dubbed the “biggest space enemy”, this common travel essential should be packed in wisely and sparingly.

Qantas’ network of travel experts shared their space-saving packing hacks to help you fly like a pro. One of the key insights shared by an expert is to “only pack three pairs of shoes” at the most.

“Shoes are my biggest space enemy when it comes to packing efficiently,” shared the expert. But they provided excellent advice about which three types of shoes you should limit yourself to when packing.

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“I always try to apply the rule of three: one pair for going out, one pair of flats for day and one pair of running shoes for walking around and exercise (I’m usually wearing sneakers on the plane, which I can then wear day or night).”

The Travel Insider network shared a whole host of other exceptional tips to keep top of mind next time you’re packing. Another key tip was to keep your shoes in shower caps when travelling.

“Enclosing your shoes in the one–use plastic shower caps that are complimentary in most hotel rooms prevents the often–dirty soles making contact with your garments. Plus, they’re not as bulky or inflexible as shoe bags” advised one writer.

Other great tips include saving skincare samples to ensure a full suite of products on any trip – that stay within liquid and weight limits. As well as lining the edge of your baggage with your belts as opposed to rolling them up which takes more valuable space. Qantas’ travel experts also remind air travellers to pack “smartly” for easy access to essential items.

“Keep all the items you know you’ll want for the flight – tablet, headphones, wrap, passport, pen – in a separate pouch inside your carry–on bag. It’s easy to grab before you stow your bigger bag in the overhead locker and not only means you can settle into your seat faster but stops you having to get up and down to retrieve things you may have forgotten.”

If you struggle to decide what items deserve pride of place in your hand luggage, the experts at Flash Pack have you covered. The social travel platform has created an extensive list of the key items you should keep in your hand luggage.

Apart from your passport and travel documents, Flash Pack advises passengers to always travel with a spare pair of socks and underwear in their hand luggage to ‘prepare for the worst’.

Full checklist for carry-on essentials by Flash Pack

• Passport
• Portable charger
• Jewellry and other valuables
• Headphones
• Wash bag packed with all the essentials (toothbrush, face wipes, deodorant, etc.)
• Essential medications
• Refillable water bottle
• Socks & underwear
• Chewing gum or sweets
• Entertainment (book, magazine, tablet)
• Eye mask
• Ear plugs
• Neck pillow
• Compression socks
• Blanket
• Hand sanitiser

There’s nothing more frustrating paying extra to sit with your friends and family – but this airline almost guarantees you seating next to your loved ones at no extra cost

Booking a holiday is one of life’s simple pleasures, but it’s quickly short-lived when the airline asks you to pre-book your flight seats for an extra fee.

Gone are the days when your party would be grouped together when checking-in. Now, it is widely advised to book your seats to avoid being split up. This is a method airlines use to make extra money, and if you don’t want to spend the extra pounds to reserve the seats in advance, you’ll just have to hope for the best.

Surprisingly, no law in the UK obliges airlines to seat families together during flights. Therefore, passengers spend more money to sit with their friends and family, especially when travelling with young children.

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But, as reported by Which?, this won’t be a problem for families when travelling with Jet2. Comparing other airlines, the site said: “With Ryanair or Wizz, you need a calculator to work out whether you’re better off choosing to add cabin bags and seat selection separately, or whether to choose a more expensive ticket that includes them.

“With Jet2, cabin bags are included, and families are almost always seated together without having to pay for seat selection. That doesn’t just save money, it makes booking much less hassle.”

READ MORE: Tourists urged to leave one item on suitcase or risk losing luggage at airport

Alternatively, passengers can also ask other travellers to swap seats. While it’s generally accepted, it’s important to note and understand that not everyone may agree to do so.

Jet2’s website shared more information about family seating arrangements: “As a family-friendly airline we will always endeavour to seat children and infants under the age of 12 next to their accompanying adults. If this is not possible for any reason, we will ensure children are seated as close as possible, and no more than one row away.”

Throughout the past couple of years, Jet2 has been going up the rankings as the go-to airline for many, especially in the UK. Passengers expressed satisfaction with their customer service and overall assistance, with a total score of 80% for the best short-haul economy airlines.