The method has has been praised by some but others say it’s a really bad idea
Maria Ortega and Robert Rowlands Deputy editor, Money and lifestyle hub
14:21, 09 Jan 2026
A technique is being shared over how to get the seat you want when flying – but not everyone is keen on it
A controversial technique to avoid getting a seat you do not want has been criticised by a number of passengers. Many airlines charge more for seat selection on the plane – or automatically put you in a middle seat.
However, according to one travel specialist, there is a method that can stop the system from giving you a middle seat. And they say it comes without paying anything on top.
Jorden Tually explained the technique in a video on his TikTok account (@jordentually). He said low-cost airlines often automatically assign middle seats to those who select “random seat allocation”.
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He says that this encourages passengers to pay for a window or aisle seat. Yet he argues that there is a technique that can help here – although it has been criticised by some online.
He says the method stops the airline’s system from automatically assigning you a middle seat. First up, he said he looks at how many seats of this type are still available on the flight when checking in.
In a test of the method, he said he found a total of 10 middle seats available on a flight. He said the next step is to simulate the purchase of that number of tickets.
“I go straight to the website and pretend to buy 10 more middle seats,” he said. He said when doing this, he enters the name of each made-up passenger.
You can just put in ‘a bunch of letters in there,’ he said. Then, in the seat assignment, he selects all the middle seats or those he wants to avoid and clicks ‘continue’.
He said ‘the system is going to hold those seats for about 10 to 15 minutes.’ This is the amount of time users will have to actually check in and get a better seat.
When passengers select ‘random seat allocation,’ the system will not be able to assign the seats it has previously blocked. He said: ‘It only took me two minutes, and now I have a window seat. It has never failed me and is 100% successful when done correctly.”
He advises completing the process from a computer and says it is more effective if done as close to the check-in date as possible, as there are fewer seats available.
But while some praised the technique, others pointed out the obvious consequences it would have. One commenter online said: “OMG, the self-entitled brigade again. If this does work, everyone will now try it, freezing up loads of seats and could stop genuine people wanting to book that flight, all because you think you deserve a better seat than those who have paid.”
Others criticised the idea and said it would lead to prices going up where dynamic pricing is used, which sees prices fluctuate according to demand. One person commented on the YouTube post put up late last month to say: “Don’t you know about airlines’ dynamic pricing??” Yet another echoed this, saying: “Damn, that will spike up cost by 10-20%”
Another person said: “Now you delayed your flight 10 minutes while they wait for the computer queue to clear so other passengers can select their seats.” A further commenter agreed, saying: “This is not a good hack, cause your ticket costs more when the system thinks it’s fully booked.”
Another added: “Congrats. Due to dynamic pricing, you’ve just raised the price of your ticket by 50%”
EasyJet has launched a major sale that could see you save up to £400 off a package holiday, while some getaways start from as little as £187 per person with everything included
EasyJet has launched a major sale for 2026 getaways(Image: Getty Images)
As the festivities wind down, many of us are looking ahead to the new year with plans to book our 2026 getaway.
Now could be the best time to secure your next trip, as easyJet has launched a major sale, offering up to £400 off a lengthy list of holidays. EasyJet has launched its Big Orange Sale to help travellers book those desirable destinations at a discounted rate.
Holidaymakers can save up to £400 by using a simple code on a catalogue of EasyJet holidays, from city breaks to beach escapes. The low-cost flights and package holiday group offers more than 8,000 hotels in over 100 destinations across Europe and North Africa, from Amsterdam and Prague to Gran Canaria and Marmaris.
Additionally, all of its package holidays include flights, a hotel, 23kg luggage, some transfers, and the option to secure the trip for a deposit of just £60 per person.
Those looking to take advantage of the Big Orange Sale will need to use the code BIGSALE on the easyJet website when booking a package holiday.
This could see you save £50 on a minimum spend of £500, £100 on a minimum spend of £800, £150 on a minimum spend of £1,500, £300 on a minimum spend of £3,000 and £400 on a minimum spend of £4,000.
EasyJet has outlined some of the best holiday packages available for 2026, with some starting from as little as £184 per person. These include:
Four nights at the 3-star Espresso City Centre in Amsterdam on a Room Only basis for £227 per person, including flights from London Southend on 1 February 2026
Four nights at the 4-star Mamaison Residence Downtown in Prague on a Room Only basis for £231 per person, including flights from Glasgow on 8 February 2026
Three nights at the 4-star Dream Castle Paris in Paris on a Bed and Breakfast basis for £184 per person, including flights from Liverpool on 1 March 2026
Seven nights at the 5-star Melia Dunas Beach Resort & Spa in Cape Verde on an All Inclusive basis for £832 per person, including 23kg luggage, transfers and flights from Manchester on 29 January 2026
Seven nights at the 4-star Valeria Dar Atlas Resort in Marrakech on an All Inclusive basis for £435 per person, including 23kg luggage, transfers and flights from Liverpool on 5 February 2026
Seven nights at the 5-star Grand Ideal Premium Hotel in Marmaris on an All Inclusive basis for £490 per person, including 23kg luggage, transfers and flights from Edinburgh on 16 April 2026
Seven nights at the 4-star Golden Costa Salou in Salou on a Half Board basis for £415 per person, including 23kg luggage, transfers and flights from Manchester on 18 April 2026
Seven nights at the 4-star Abora Buenaventura by Lopesan Hotels in Gran Canaria on a Half Board basis for £460 per person, including 23kg luggage, transfers and flights from London Gatwick on 20 April 2026
Seven nights at the 4-star Sol Lanzarote in Lanzarote on an All Inclusive basis for £637 per person, including 23kg luggage, transfers, a free child’s place and flights from Birmingham on 5 May 2026
For more information or to book your easyJet package holiday, you can visit their website.
Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
Boarding pass rules for TUI, BA, and easyJet in 2026 as Ryanair makes huge change – The Mirror
Need to know
Many of us use a smartphone to download a boarding pass when we fly, but some people still like the reassurance that comes with a printed boarding pass. However, with Ryanair insisting passengers switch to digital, here are some of the major UK airlines policies’ that holidaymakers will need to know.
Boarding pass rules vary between airlines(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)
Ryanair passengers can no longer use paper passes and must have a digital boarding pass on their phone. Those who fail to check in online could face a £55 fee at the airport, although Ryanair say in the case of lost phones or a dead battery, staff will print a boarding pass for free if someone was already checked in online
British Airways still accepts digital and printed boarding passes and has an app that can be used on your phone or Apple Watch. Some of its routes still require a printed boarding pass for security reasons, but if you don’t have a printer at home, you can print it for free at one of their kiosks at check-in in
EasyJet is encouraging passengers to make the switch to digital, saying that using its app reduces paper waste and is an easier way to get flight updates. However, the airline still accepts paper copies
Some easyJet destinations require a printed boarding pass, including major airports in Egypt, Morocco, and Turkey. If you don’t have a printer and are travelling on one of these routes, easyJet will print a pass for you
If you’ve booked a package holiday with TUI, check whether you’re flying with them or a different airline. Some of their packages use different carriers, such as Ryanair and easyJet, so you’ll need to follow their rules
TUI flights start with TOM or BY, and on these routes, both digital and printed boarding passes are accepted. TUI advises that if you choose to print your pass, it should be on A4 plain paper, have no rips or tears, and be clear enough for the barcode to be scanned
Always check your airline’s policies on their official website before you leave. Rules around boarding passes often change, and ensuring you follow the correct procedure can save you a lot of money and potential hassle at the airport
Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
LYING by the pool, white wine in hand, I wonder if the Seaside Palm Beach hotel might be the most beautiful resort I’ve ever stayed in.
In front of me, hundreds of wild palm trees — the tallest I’ve ever seen — sway in the afternoon breeze as canaries sing in the shade below.
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Relax by the pool at Seaside Palm Beach HotelCredit: SuppliedEnjoy breath-taking views on the desert-like sandsCredit: GettyWatch the stunning sunset as the day draws to an end over MaspalomasCredit: Getty
The scene marked the start of a calm and relaxed weekend on the tranquil Spanish island of Gran Canaria, where temperatures can easily reach the 20s in the winter months.
Just a four-hour flight from the UK (costing less than £30 each way with easyJet from Luton), this trip was the ultimate warm oasis retreat . . . without the jet lag.
The 5-star hotel, situated on the south east coast in Maspalomas, is a haven of luxury.
The serene spa is home to a new sauna, cold plunge and hydrotherapy suite, where guests have the option to strip off completely for an authentic wellness experience.
While my pal and I weren’t that brave, we did manage to plunge ourselves into the freezing ice bath (a welcome break from the October sunshine) before treating ourselves to a massage (99 euros for one dreamy hour) in the garden rooms, which have views of the botanical plants.
After a quick dip in the pool to wake ourselves up, we headed to the terrace for lunch of prawn caesar salad, calamari and homemade bread, with an ice-cold beer to wash it down.
Unlike most all-inclusive hotels I’ve stayed in, the Palm Beach offers guests the option to order lunch a la carte from the poolside restaurant as opposed to being stuck with just the buffet area, making it a much more intimate and luxurious experience.
Dinner was an equally impressive affair, with both a la carte and buffet options available on different nights.
Highlights included the Italian barbecue, with a homemade pasta station and a selection of fresh meat and fish grilled to order.
Outside of the hotel, local Italian restaurant il PosTo served us a delicious Neapolitan pizza for 18 euros, with a night cap of limoncello on the house.
The strip here is small but buzzing, with sunset beach bars lining the boardwalk, perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail with stunning views of the Atlantic ocean.
But the most impressive place we visited had to be the natural wonder of the Maspalomas sand dunes. This protected nature reserve is home to 400 hectares of desert-like dunes and lagoons.
A ten-minute walk from the hotel, it is the perfect place to explore in the early-evening golden hour when the heat of the day has died down.
For those wanting something a little more buzzy, the resort of Puerto Rico is a 20-minute drive south.
Here you’ll find shopping malls, discos and a wider selection of restaurants, as well as dozens of daily boat excursions to explore the local coastline.
The Sun’s Jess, left, and pal in MaspalomasCredit: SuppliedDine at the lively Maspalomas restaurantsCredit: Alamy
For 40 euros, we hopped aboard Spirit of the Seas’ whale and dolphin watching tour — a 2.5-hour excursion with local experts who have worked on the sea here for 25 years.
We weren’t fortunate enough to see any marine mammals, but the company offers visitors a free voucher to go out again if there are no sightings — so it’s worth doing this excursion at the start of your trip to allow time to try again.
The next town along, Mogan, is also well worth a visit.
We paid a visit to the Hotel Cordial Mogan Playa, one of the grandest in the town, which offers day passes for 55 euros per adult and 27.50 euros for kids, including lunch.
The terracotta hotel blocks surround a garden spa featuring luxurious day beds, an outdoor heated hydrotherapy pool, hot tub and hot and cold foot spas.
After enjoying a fresh juice here, we tried the volcanic lava exfoliation treatment inside.
The 40-minute session started with a full-body exfoliation using black sand from the island’s northern beaches, followed by a massage using locally-sourced aromatic oils.
It was the perfect end to a three-day retreat — a break I will definitely want to repeat in the cold, dark winter months.
GO: GRAN CANARIA
GETTING THERE: EasyJet flies from Luton, Manchester and Birmingham, among other airports, from £28.99 each way. See easyjet.com.
STAYING THERE: Rooms at the Seaside Palm Beach hotel cost from £192 per night including breakfast.
All-inclusive rates start from £350 per night. See hotel-palm-beach.com. For information on Hotel Cordial Mogan Playa, see hotelsone.com.
With 2026 marking the centenary of America’s Route 66 and the World Cup kicking off, there are return flights from £411 to Los Angeles, £427 to San Francisco and £439 to Miami.
BA are offering deals on some of the most-searched holiday destinations this year
Flights to Dubai start from £449 and Cancun from £482.
British Airways Holidays has seven-night packages to European destinations including Malaga, the Algarve, Malta and Majorca from £299pp.
And for a cheeky city break, there are deals in hot spots including Barcelona, Nice and Venice from £199pp.
There are also discounted holidays to the US, with Florida and Los Angeles from £599pp.
Deals include seven nights’ room-only at the 4H Pestana Alvor Beach Villas in Alvor, Portugal, from £299pp including Gatwick flights on dates in March and 23kg luggage.
Or seven nights’ room-only at 3.5H The STRAT Hotel, Casino and Tower in Las Vegas from £649pp including Heathrow flights on select dates in November.
THERE are savings of up to £120 per couple and £210 for a family of four on Virgin Holidays packages to the Caribbean, Orlando and Tampa with a low deposit of just £75pp.
Deals include 14 nights’ room-only at the Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando from £908pp including Virgin Atlantic flights from Heathrow on March 4, 2026.
In Virgin Atlantic’s sale there are great offers on NYC trips
There are also holidays to new route Cancun in Mexico, with seven nights’ B&B at The Fives Downtown Hotel from £1,086pp including Virgin flights from Heathrow on September 19, 2026.
In Virgin Atlantic’s sale there are return flights to New York from £373 on select dates in February 2026, as well as return fares to Phuket in Thailand from £648pp on selected departure dates in October 2026.
You can also get return flights to Cape Town, South Africa, from £729pp on selected dates in January and February 2026.
TOUR giant TUI is touting its biggest sale ever with up to £500 off holidays, zero deposits with direct debits to spread the cost and thousands of free kids’ places in the school holidays.
There are flexible departures from more than 20 local airports and hundreds of free room upgrades.
Tui are offering flexible departures from more than 20 local airports
The sale offers savings of ten per cent with the code SALE up to a maximum saving of £500 as long as you download the TUI app and create an account.
As well as land-based holidays, there is up to £300 off TUI River Cruises when you spend over £3,500, or £200 off if you spend over £2,500 on sailings departing between March 2026 and the end of October 2027.
The deal is valid on sailings of five nights or longer on Europe’s River Rhine, Douro or Danube and River Nile in Egypt.
Or you can head long- haul to the Caribbean with seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 5H Riu Negril in Jamaica.
It costs from £1,420pp including flights from Gatwick on June 16, 20kg hold luggage and transfers.
THE UK’s largest tour operator is sharing the love with £100 off ALL holidays booked in its sale, with a low deposit of just £25 needed to lock in a great deal.
The sale, running until January 12, also includes 20 per cent off all flight-only bookings on jet2.com, including on one-way flights.
Jet2 is the UK’s largest tour operator
All package holiday deals include 22kg luggage, 10kg hand luggage, under-seat bag, return transfers, plus ABTA and ATOL protection.
There are millions of free child places, as well as pay monthly plans to spread the cost.
Deals are available on more than 75 destinations across Europe, the Med, North Africa and the Canary Islands.
Offers include seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 3H Club Mac Alcudia Resort and Waterpark in Majorca from £579pp with flights from Leeds Bradford on April 18.
And seven nights’ B&B at the 3H Hotel La Barracuda, Costa del Sol, from £389pp including flights from Stansted on February 27.
THE Big Orange Sale from easyJet holidays is promising up to £400 off city breaks and beach escapes.
Holidaymakers can get £50 off a minimum spend of £500, £100 off an £800 minimum, £150 off a minimum of £1,500, £300 off a £3,000 minimum spend and £400 off a £4,000 spend with the code BIGSALE.
The Big Orange Sale from easyJet holidays is promising up to £400 off city breaks and beach escapes
The deal is valid on 8,000 hand-picked hotels in more than 100 destinations in Europe and North Africa, from popular cities including Amsterdam and Prague, and beach spots from the Canaries to Cape Verde.
All holidays include flights and hotels, and beach packages also come with a 23kg luggage allowance and transfers.
Deals include four nights’ room-only at the 3H Espresso City Centre in Amsterdam from £227pp including flights from Southend on February 1.
And seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 4H Valeria Dar Atlas Resort in Marrakech from £435pp including flights from Liverpool on February 5, with 23kg luggage and transfers.
CHRISTMAS and New Year’s sales are starting to emerge and this means you could grab some bargain flights.
EasyJet has already launched its Big Orange Sale with up to 20 percent off flights departing between January 5 and December 13, 2026.
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EasyJet has launched its Big Orange Sale with up to 20 per cent off flightsCredit: Alamy
If you grab a bargain today, it could even make the ideal last-minute Christmas gift.
You can book discounted fares for as little as £14.49 from now until February 3, 2026.
Destinations include some of the budget airline’s newest routes, such as Tbilisi in Georgia and the Scandinavian Mountains in Sweden.
Alternatively, if you wanted to head off on a ski trip you could fly to top ski destinations in Europe, such as Grenoble in France, Geneva in Switzerland and Innsbruck in Austria.
Perhaps cold holidays aren’t your thing? Then why not head off to some winter sun spots including Enfidha in Tunisia, Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt and Marrakech in Morocco.
Specific flights include London Gatwick to Palma, in Majorca, from £18.99.
As the capital of the Balearic Islands, Palma is known for its Gothic Cathedral, historic Old Town and of course, pretty beaches.
Or if you fancy relaxing, head to Palma Beach, which is just a short distance from the city centre and boasts turquoise waters, soft sand and a number of nearby restaurants.
If you live near Bristol, you could head to Bordeaux in France for just £14.49.
Known as the wine capital of France, Bordeaux is home to the UNESCO World Heritage ‘Port of the Moon’ with 18th century architecture.
Destinations include Bordeaux, France, which you could fly to from Bristol Airport for £14.49Credit: Alamy
Across Bordeaux, you will find around 6,000 wineries, producing mostly red wine.
If you happen to live in or near Birmingham, for £17.99 you could head to one of the major fashion capitals of the world – Milan, Italy.
While in the city, Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral) is also worth visiting; it has Gothic features and you can climb the roof for panoramic views of the city.
From Manchester you could head toMadrid from £21.49 per person.
The capital of Spain is home to many sites to explore that are ideal for history lovers, such as the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor and Retiro Park.
There are also several museums, such as the Prado Museum – the main Spanish national art museum – and Reina Sofia Museum home to a collection of 20th-century art.
If you live in or near Birmingham, you could fly to Milan in Italy for £17.99Credit: Alamy
And if you fancy a holiday package, easyJet is also offering up to £400 off of all easyJet holidays.
For this discount to apply you have to spend a minimum of £4,000 though.
Or you could get £300 off of a £3,000 spend, £150 off of a £1,500 spend, £100 off an £800 spend and £50 off a £500 spend with the code ‘BIGSALE’.
You will need to book before 11pm on March 3, 2026, and then travel between now and October 31, 2027.
All easyJet holiday packages include flights and a hotel, with 23kg luggage per person and transfers if booking a beach holiday.
Or perhaps you fancy a beach break? You could head to Palma, Majorca from London Gatwick for £18.99Credit: PA
Kevin Doyle, easyJet’s UK country manager, said: “By launching our Big Orange Sale today, customers can take advantage of our great value fares and make plans for a well-deserved break to look forward to in 2026.
“With over 45 new routes from the UK available for next year, customers can choose from flights and package holidays to up to 140 destinations across Europe and beyond, whether that’s to return to their top holiday hotspot, or discover somewhere new.
“We look forward to welcoming millions of customers onboard in 2026 and we remain focused on providing them with low-cost travel, flying them where they want to go, and always aiming to make the travel experience easy.”
As shocking reports emerged concerning a dead woman allegedly being wheeled aboard an easyJet flight, the Mirror takes a look at some of the troubling testimonies for those who witnessed it first hand
14:19, 22 Dec 2025Updated 14:40, 22 Dec 2025
Disturbing testimonies have emerged from a recent easyJet flight(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Passengers aboard an easyJet flight have made shocking allegations about an elderly woman who died before take-off, with some claiming she was already dead when she was pushed onto the aircraft.
Those aboard the Malaga to Gatwick flight claim to have looked on in horror as the 89-year-old was wheeled down the aisle, neck supported by a brace and neck pillow as she slumped over in her seat. Some said they saw relatives attending to the deceased woman as if she was still alive, before showing “not one ounce of emotion” when paramedics dashed to attend to her.
EasyJet have since insisted that these allegations are unfounded, stating that the woman was still alive when she boarded the plane. However, the flight’s co-pilot advised passengers that he would write a report on this incident using their testimonies. So what really happened? Here the Mirror takes a look at some of the witness testimonies.
The grandmother was taken onboard aircraft in a wheelchair by five relatives, who reportedly assured ground staff that the elderly woman was simply unwell, and had fallen asleep. According to Mail Online, some witnesses claimed to have heard the relatives saying: “It’s okay, she’s just tired,” adding: “It’s okay, we are doctors”.
While the group managed to get the woman seated at the back of the plane, just before the 11am take off, cabin crew members realised she had passed away, cutting the journey short before the plane had even left the runway.
Family ‘acting as if she was still alive’
Speaking with the Mail, 19-year-old passenger Elizabeth Rowland told of how she had been seated in front of the woman and two of relatives while at the gate. When they boarded, she was just three rows in front of them. Marbella-based Elizabeth, who had been flying to England to visit family, alongside her partner, says she knew from the very first time she laid eyes on the woman that she “wasn’t with us”.
Recalling the scenes that unfolded before boarding, Elizabeth shared: “Her family were trying to wake her up and saying, ‘Can you hear me? We’re going to get on the flight now, we’re going to board now’, and trying to give her something to drink… They were talking to her and acting as if she was alive.”
According to Elizabeth, once the plane turned back to the terminal, with emergency services rushing to the scene: “None of the family seemed upset or like they were panicking, they weren’t crying or shocked – they were completely calm and talking to the paramedics.”
Elizabeth continued: “They showed not one ounce of emotion. They seemed like they were trying to make everything seem normal.” She says she believes the woman had already died after paramedics took her to the back of the plane, plugging her into an unspecified medical machine which “did not make any sound”.
‘What were you thinking, EasyJet?’
Passenger Petra Boddington had been seated close to the “fragile, old lady”, and says fellow travellers had become concerned for her welfare. In an interview with The Sun, Petra explained that the woman had been pushed along the aisle of the plane by a member of ground staff, with those already in their seats looking on in shock.
Petra said: “People turned in their seats and went, ‘Oh my god, she looks dead’. She was a fragile, old lady who was curled up and doubled over in a chair in a not very comfortable position. Anybody with eyes could see that she was not fit to fly and it wasn’t just me that thought it, it was everybody else that she went past. People sat in front of me even said they’d seen the people that were with her holding her head up. We all thought that she looked dead.”
The British expat recalled: “As soon as the plane turned around and the captain announced there had been a medical emergency, everybody turned to each other and said, ‘Well we know why?’ Then we were all taken off the plane and back at the gates. That’s when everyone started complaining and asked how she was allowed on.” She added: “I honestly feel sorry for the woman. She should have never have been allowed on that plane. I think it’s disgusting that she was allowed on but ultimately, the poor woman has lost her life.”
Taking to Facebook with a video taken at the airport, Petra commented: “Easyjet! What were your ground staff thinking today? They asked the family five times if this woman was ok… she was clearly not ok! To the naked eye she looked like she was already dead, slumped unconscious in a wheelchair, so why would she be allowed on to the flight and then disrupt everyone’s plans… purely to save the family repatriation?!? If I was drunk they wouldn’t let me on.. but apparently dead is ok?! EasyJet what’s going on? Disgusting and prepare yourselves for the refunds and complaints coming! Flight now rescheduled from 11:15 to 21:30? How does that work for everyone involved?”
Passenger’s fury
Another passenger by the name of Tracy-Ann Kitching says she saw the woman in question being wheeled onto the plane, with someone “holding her head” as they went by to take their seats. Outraged, Tracy-Ann took to social media, writing: “EasyJet – you are unbelievable! Why did you let a dead person on our flight?!” She also took aim at the airport’s Special Assistance team, arguing that they “should have raised the issue” before boarding.
In a Facebook post, Tracy-Ann claimed : “An actual doctor on board [confirmed] she was already dead when they put her in her seat”. She also empathised with the “poor person who died and the family as well as your cabin and ground crew”, adding: “What a terrible situation for them. I must also praise the First Officer [co-pilot] who came out and patiently answered our questions. He was professional and personable – thank you.”
‘Misinformation’
However, not all passengers have given the same story. In response to Petra’s post, a man by the name of Tony Coatesworth commented: “She was not dead when they sat her in the seat next to me, and she was put in the by not five members of her family as there was only two other people with her a man and a younger lady helped by Spanish special assistance staff, there is a lot of misinformation going on social media about this incident. We all got home she didn’t
“I totally disagree with your reply and saying it on video and laughing is totally unacceptable you show no compassion at all, yes the lady was clearly ill but she could have been a lot different 2hrs before being put on the plane, nobody would have been able to foresee what could possibly have happened while on the plane as I said she was not deceased when put in her seat as I saw her breathing. Could you just for a minute think about her family, what would you be thinking about if you were reading and watching videos of so many things being said and put on social media that are totally incorrect.”
He continued: “As for your comment saying why stop the truth coming out to stop a good story is exactly why social media is so wrong, my condolences go to the family, and I will be getting in touch with easyJet to tell them of all the facts regarding this unfortunate situation.”
The Civil Guard in Málaga confirmed that they were called to attend to an elderly British woman, who was pronounced dead on the plane. A spokesperson for the Civil Guard issued the following statement: “She was pronounced dead on the aircraft which had been due to leave Málaga for London just after 11am yesterday morning.”
Meanwhile, an easyJet spokesperson said in a statement: “Flight EZY8070 from Málaga to London Gatwick returned to stand prior to departure due to a customer onboard requiring urgent medical assistance. The flight was met by emergency services however the customer sadly passed away.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the customer, and we are offering support and assistance at this difficult time. The wellbeing of our passengers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority and we would like to thank passengers for their understanding for the delay.”
Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com
THE all-inclusive holiday is more popular than ever, three quarters of a century since Brits first went on one.
To mark 75 years of the budget-friendly way to holiday, we’ve looked at the very best deals around at the moment. From beautiful beaches to lavish cruises, here are 75 stonking all-inclusives you can book now – you can even bag one to the Maldives, perfect timing as the bad weather sets in at home.
Corsica welcomed the first package holiday in 1950Credit: Alamy
The first ever overseas package holiday was created by Vladimir Raitz, who founded Horizon Holidays.
It was to Corsica from London in 1950, with 300 holidaymakers paying £32 and ten shillings. This works out to around £971 in today’s money.
Rather than a resort, however, guests would be staying in ex-army surplus tents as rationing was still in place.
It was Gerard Blitz, a Belgian sportsman, who then created the concept of the all-inclusive hotel resort in 1950, with the first Club Med in Spain.
And despite it being 75 years later, all-inclusive holiday packages can still be found for a fraction of the price.
So we’ve found 75 of the best all-inclusive deals on the market, which include your flights, hotel and your food and drink.
Deals include TUI, easyJetHolidays, Thomas Cook, Loveholidays and On The Beach, as well as a number of ski holidays, cruise holidays and even some mystery holidays.
From Turkey bargains for £189pp, to long-haul blow-the-budget trips to The Maldives, here are our top picks.
Under £200
When it comes to the cheapest all-inclusive breaks, you’ll want to head to Turkey.
You could spend seven nights in the Prenses Sealine Beach Hotel in February 2026.
For £189 each it includes all food and drink and your return flights from London Southend. Find the deal here.
Or there is seven nights at the Grand Barhan, also in Antalya in Turkey for £199 each when travelling from London Gatwick in March 2026. Find the deal here.
There is also Belpoint Beach Hotel for £199pp if you fly from London Gatwick in April 2026. Find the deal here.
Another affordable holiday destination for all-inclusive holidays is Tunisia.
TUI has a three-night stay in TUI SUNEO Royal Kenz in Tunisia for £179pp, when flying in January 2026 from London Southend. Find the deal here.
Another three night stay is at Paradis Palace Hotel in Hamamet for £191pp, also in January 2026 from London Southend. Find the deal here.
Four nights at Riviera Hotel with Birmingham flights in February 2026 is just £158 each. Find the deal here.
Tunisia is one of the more affordable all-inclusive destinationsCredit: AlamyYou can also find some very cheap deals to TurkeyCredit: Alamy
For under £200 you could also head to Morocco.
Three-night stays in Morocco for under £200 – the TUI SUNEO Kenzi Europa is around £193pp, with flights from London Stansted in January 2026. Find the deal here.
Or for £197pp, the trip includes a three-night break in Marrakech with return flights from London Stansted in February 2026. Find the deal here.
Four nights at Allegro Agadir in January 2026 is just £199 each when flying from London Gatwick. Find the deal here.
If you don’t mind a budget hotel, there are a few all inclusive deals in Spain for under £200 each.
Fly in July to Hotel Mariant Park in Majorca for seven nights, from £186 each. Find the deal here.
Four nights in BLUESEA Copacabana in Costa Brava is £199 each in April. Find the deal here.
When it comes to Portugal, seven nights at Albufeira Sol Hotel & Spa is £186 each from East Midlands in April 2026. Find the deal here.
If you don’t mind a shorter trip, spend fur nights at Mutha Oura Praia Hotel in February from Bristol Airport for £179 each. Find the deal here.
Under £300
Tunisia remains a bargain for cheap all-inclusive deals under £300 too.
Loveholidays has a steal with seven nights at the Vincci Helya Beach in Skanes for £209 each when travelling from London Southend in January 2026. Find the deal here.
Or four nights at Cesar Thalasso with easyJet in January 2026 from Manchester is £254pp. Find the deal here.
TUI has some bargains for Tunisia with a three-night stay in January from London Southend for £218 each. Find the deal here.
Greece has some cheap all-inclusive breaks too, especially in Crete.
A seven night stay in Bali Beach & Sofia Village with return Luton flights can be found for £250 each a night in April 2026 Find the deal here.
Or there is the adult-only City Green Hotel for £275pp, with return flights from London Gatwick in April 2026. Find the deal here.
Crete is the biggest Greek island, so has the most all-inclusive dealsCredit: Alamy
First Choice has seven nights in Crete’s Mediterraneo Hotel in April from London Gatwick for £212 each. Find the deal here.
Or head over to Rhodes for £213 each, with seven nights at Tsampika Hotel along with London Luton flights in April as well. Find the deal here.
Want to try Corfu? Seven nights at Mareblue beach with Gatwick flights in April is just £250 each. Find the deal here.
Otherwise there are some affordable Egypt holidays under £300 each too.
Seven nights in Sharm Cliff Resort is around £212pp when flying from London Luton in January 2026. Find the deal here.
You can even find some Spanish deals if you know where to look.
First Choice has six nights in the TUI SUNEO Tamaimo Tropical from Birmingham in January from £298 each. Find the deal here.
Portugal is another great cheap destination under £300pp, especially with TUI.
There is three nights at Alvor Baia with London Stansted flights in march for £274 each. Find the deal here.
Or fly from Manchester to AP Cabanas Beach and Nature for three nights in January for £281 each. Find the deal here.
Prefer Albufeira? For £295 each, there are three nights at AP ADRIANA BEACH RESORT. Find the deal here.
Or why not try a trip to Montenegro? For £289 each, you can spend four nights at Carine Hotel Park in April 2026, with flights from London Gatwick. Find the deal here.
Under £500
Most of your all-inclusive Spanish holidays will be in the under £500 range.
For example, there is the HSM Canarios Park in Majorca which is £315pp for seven nights and return flights from London Gatwick in May 2026. Find the deal here.
If you prefer Costa Blanca, there is the Magic Cristal Park, with seven nights and London Luton flights in March 2026 for £320 each. Find the deal here.
Or for Costa del Azahar, spend seven nights in Magic Sports for £365 each in March 2026 when flying from London Stansted in March 2026. Find the deal here.
For a Jet2 holiday, there are seven nights at Sandos Griego in the Costa Del Sol in march from £479 each. Find the deal here.
Both mainland Spain and the islands can have some bargain package dealsCredit: Alamy
Cyprus is one of the best for sunshine all year round, with some great deals next year too,
Seven nights at Tsokkos Gardens Apartment with London Gatwick flights in May 2026 is just £499pp. Find the deal here.
EasyJet Holidays has some Egypt bargains too for under £500 each.
There is four nights at the Aster Aqua Park in Hurghada for £340 each, with London Gatwick flights in January 2026. Find the deal here.
Or travel in March 2026 from Manchester to Caves Beach Resort, with four nights from £472pp. Find the deal here.
Thomas Cook‘s Egypt deals can be found for £305 each, with seven nights at Royal Lagoons Resort when flying from London Luton in January 2026. Find the deal here.
Or also in January is seven nights at Pyramisa Beach Resort is £442pp with London Luton flights. Find the deal here.
You can even get some all-inclusive cruises for a bargain.
For example. you can spend three nights on a Marella Explorer 2 ship for £486 each, with drinks, food and stops in Tenerife and Malaga, as long as you fly next month. Find the deal here.
Ambassador’s mini cruises are all inclusive from £399 each, with three days onboard. Find the deal here.
Wowcher’s Mystery All Inclusive seven night holidays are £349 each. Find the deal here.
How about trying an all-inclusive cruise, such as with Marella?Credit: Tui
Under £800
Around the £800pp mark is where you can start to find some longer-haul holidays.
For example, seven nights in Cuba at the Allegro Palma Real with London Gatwick flights can be found for £779 each when flying in October 2026. Find the deal here.
In the same month, seven nights at Club Kawama is just £769pp with Gatwick flights too. Find the deal here.
Or in September 2026, seven nights at Rose Rayhaan by Rotana in Dubai with London Stansted flights is £779 each as well. Find the deal here.
TUI has seven nights in Cape Verde’s Boa Vista, at the Hotel Riu Touareg with London Gatwick flights in January 2026 for £778pp. Find the deal here.
You can even find some bargains for Mexico, with seven nights in January 2026 at All Ritmo Cancun Resort for £759 each with London Gatwick flights. Find the deal here.
Affordable long-haul all nclusives are often found in MexicoCredit: Alamy
Wowcher has some cheap trips on offer as well, with a seven night stay at a five star hotel in the Dominican Republic with return flights from £789 each. Find the deal here.
But if you are looking to stay in a bit closer, you can find some five star luxury for this price.
Seven nights at Dreams Corfu Resort & Spa in April 2026 with London Gatwick flights is £769 each. Find the deal here.
Another week-long trip, staying at Helea Lifestyle Beach Resort in Rhodes with London Gatwick flights in April 2026 is £759pp. Find the deal here.
British Airways has lots of Egypt trips, with seven nights at Parrotel Beach Resort in Sharm el Sheikh for £657 each with London flights in January. Find the deal here.
They also have Morocco with the Pickalbatros Palais des Roses for £634 each in January. Find the deal here.
Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel is one of Egypt‘s fanciest hotels, and Loveholidays has seven night stays in January for £769 each. Find the deal here.
And the luxury Rixos Premium Gocek in Turkey is £769pp too, with flights in March. Find the deal here.
Under £1,000
Finding an all-inclusive under £1,000 to long-haul destinations can be tricky – but it’s doable.
HolidayPirates has a seven night stay at Riu Bambu in the Dominican Republic if you fly from Manchester in February 2026 for £980 each. Find the deal here.
Or fly from London Gatwick in June 2026 to spend seven nights at Coral Costa Caribe Resort & Spa for £969pp. Find the deal here.
Fly in April 2026 from London Gatwick to Whala! Boca Chica for seven nights for £970 each. Find the deal here.
Or there is a whopping 14-night stay in Royal Palms Beach Hotel in Sri Lanka for £974 each, when flying from London Gatwick in May 2026. Find the deal here.
Fancy Tanzania? Seven nights at AHG Waridi Beach Resort in May 2026 from London Gatwick is just £989pp. Find the deal here.
Or seven nights at Paradise Beach Resort on the same island is £959pp with London Gatwick flights in May 2026. Find the deal here.
Sri Lanka does all-inclusive well, with amazing cuisineCredit: Alamy
Otherwise Thomas Cook has a number of cheap Mexico deals under £1,000.
There’s seven nights at The Reef Coco beach Resort from London Gatwick in January 2026 for £998pp. Find the deal here.
Or fly from London Gatwick to Hotel Maya Caribe Faranda also in January for £955 each. Find the deal here.
If you’re a snow lover there are some great ski holidays too, with seven night all-inclusives under £1,00 each.
One of Crystal Ski’s most affordable deals is seven nights at Belambra Club Panorama in France, when flying from London Gatwick next month, for £846pp. Find the deal here.
Head to Bansko in Bulgaria for £881 each, with flights from Birmingham next month. Find the deal here.
Or Sunweb has eight day ski holidays in Austria for £844 each when travelling in March. Find the deal here.
Over £1,000
If you are happy to have a big blow out holiday, then there are some fantastic deals to splash out on too.
For example, Tropical Sky have seven nights in Zanzibar from £1,499 each, including flights. Find the deal here.
Their Platinum Collection holidays, which are five star hotels, can be found for £2,799 each. Find the deal here.
Talking of African islands, British Airways has some fantastic trips to Mauritius too.
Seven nights with return flights start from London Heathrow to the Veranda Palmar Beach hotel for £1,508, when travelling in September 2026. Find the deal here.
Or there is the five star Club Med La Plantation D’Albion for £2,004 each, when travelling the same month. Find the deal here.
And one of the biggest bucket list destinations is The Maldives.
Of course, The Maldives is the ultimate bucket listCredit: Alamy
Virgin Atlantic has seven night trips from £1,841 each, which includes flights from London Heathrow and stays at the OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi in September 2026. Find the deal here.
Want to stay longer? Travel in June 2026 at the same resort for an 11-night trip for £2,549pp. Find the deal here.
Fourteen night stays start from £3,091pp when flying from London Stansted in September 2026 to Cinnamon Dhonveli. Find the deal here.
If you have the time, how about a month-long, all-inclusive holiday?
Jet2holidays has some bargain long stay trips with everything included.
You could spend 28 days at Grand Park Lara in Turkey in March, with return flights included from £1,470 each. Find the deal here.
Or there is a month-long stay in Majorca’s Universal Hotel Romantica for £1,017pp in February. Find the deal here.
Tenerife’s Grand Castillo Tagora is £2,247 each for 28-day stays. Find the deal here.
Consumer group Which? claims passengers are being wrongly fined for having cabin bags that airport staff say are too big
EasyJet passenger Louise Machin with suitcase deemed too big by airport staff(Image: Philip Coburn/Daily Mirror)
An easyJet passenger has described how she successfully fought the budget airline after being fined for having an oversized bag.
Louise Machin says she was “dismayed and confused” when staff working for easyJet slapped her with a €58 (£51) fee when she flew back from Chania Airport in Crete. Staff told her it was because her suitcase was too big, despite her checking the dimensions carefully in advance.
EasyJet refunded the money when she went as far as contacting the case manufacturer on her return, to prove it met the airline’s requirements.
Yet Ms Machin, 59, from Crystal Palace, south London, is far from alone in being wrongly hit with oversize cabin bag fines when they are not at fault. Consumer group Which? says travellers are being caught out because of what it says are issues with the official bag sizers in some airports.
Customers of no-frills carriers have got used to double checking the dimensions of bags or cases they are allowed to take on board. But most airports also have devices at the check-in desk or boarding gate to hammer home the rules.
Ms Machin, who works as a freelance film and TV sales director and a project manager, was caught out when she travelled to Crete in April this year. She was on a walking holiday with friends and paid almost £268 for the flights and £94 return for the overhead cabin bags.
She was not asked about the size of the case on the way out, and didn’t think anymore about it given the checks she had done. But as she arrived for the flight home after a five day break, a member of ground staff employed by a third party company challenged her at check-in. When she insisted it complied, and even asked for tape measure to prove it, she says the person replied “this isn’t a DIY shop”.
Married Ms Machin went on: “I had successfully travelled out from London Gatwick five days before and it had fitted into the luggage sizer there with no problem. I had also checked it with the easyJet digital sizing tool prior to travel.” She concluded that the only explanation was that the sizer at Chania Airport was smaller than the size allowed.
“I tried to explain this to the ground staff, that my bag was compliant and that it seemed to me that their luggage sizer was too small,” she says. “But they were very aggressive and told me that if I didn’t pay on the spot, I would not be able to travel home. It was a threatening environment, and they wouldn’t listen to me. I felt like I was going mad because I knew my bag was the right size. I was forced to make the payment so that I could travel home.”
On her return, she contacted the manufacturer of her bag – Cabin Max- which confirmed her bag complied with easyJet’s size restrictions.
Which? says it is not the first time Cabin Max had been contacted about airlines fining its customers. One issue appears to be on the bag sizer where the metal sides are further in than they should be, meaning luggage that would normally fit easily is rejected, and passengers face a penalty.
Armed with Cabin Max’s response, Ms Machin went back to easyJet and it agreed to refund her.
Which? says it has heard of other airlines wrongly fining passengers for similar reasons, with bags that have been on any number of low-cost flights suddenly deemed to be oversized. More common is that a handle or strap is a couple of millimetres outside the sizer cage and that is enough for a fine. It comes after Ryanair increased the bonus paid to staff for every oversized bag they catch .
Which? advises anybody who feels they have been wrongly charged a fee at the gate – but feels confident that their bag is the right size – to appeal.
EasyJet refunded the fine despite insisting that more recent checks had not found a fault with the sizers at Chania Airport.
Its statement in full said: “EasyJet’s bag sizers are standardised across all airports to meet our cabin bag dimensions and we do not see a wider issue with sizer damage, as we have procedures to ensure this is reported by our ground crew to ensure they are removed and fixed. We will always review any feedback from our customers on a case by case basis, and so when Ms Machin raised this with us we apologised for her experience and provided her with a refund.”
Sarah typically works on Christmas Day. She has devoted countless Christmases to caring for newborns on the same emergency neonatal unit where her own baby was born prematurely this year
Dave wanted to do something special for his wife Sarah(Image: Doug Jackson/PinPep)
This is the heartwarming moment Sarah Alcock found out that her husband had nominated her for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday.
Christmas for the 35-year-old doesn’t tend to be spent tucking into a roast, opening presents and relaxing with the family.
In fact, Sarah typically works on Christmas Day. The Oakwood, Derby mum has missed out on many a festive day at home due to work nursing shifts at Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, where her own baby was born prematurely this year.
Born at just 25 weeks, weighing 1lb 12oz, the eight-month-old will be celebrating her first Christmas this year, but with staffing pressures mounting, she has volunteered to step in again to help her fellow colleagues out.
Her husband, Dave, a marketing manager, from Oakwood, Derby, wanted to recognise how hard Sarah works, so he nominated her to win a break with easyJet.
“She’s a hero. Her work doesn’t stop just because it’s Christmas, so she has to go there regardless of the date,” he explained.
Alongside Sarah, NHS nurse Nicky Starkowitz and care home manager Niccii Gillett, who also selflessly work every Christmas, were gifted holidays as part of a campaign by tour operator easyJet Holidays to recognise the UK’s hidden heroes.
Nicky faced a breast cancer diagnosis in August this year and tragically, her four-year-old son Raffi was also diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain cancer in March. Her husband Neil said: “With everything going on this year we haven’t managed to get away or get the opportunity to do anything as a family together.”
Nicky added that “just to go away somewhere, as a family, and have time away together would be so nice”.
The holidays are a special easyJet Holidays escape, to give recognised key workers quality time with friends and family in the sunshine. They have been gifted to Christmas heroes after new research by easyJet Holidays found over 10 million Brits will be spending time apart from their families due to work commitments this year.
Nearly a third (28%) of key workers also feel that they haven’t taken a proper break in the past year, with nearly a quarter (22%) not likely to have a choice over whether they can work on Christmas Day or not.
Matt Callaghan, Chief Operating Officer at easyJet Holidays, said: “At Christmas especially, we’re reminded how many people quietly put others first, often sacrificing precious time with their own families. Our key workers do this year after year, and our communities simply wouldn’t function without them.
“This is easyJet holidays’ way of saying thank you – giving a few of these Christmas heroes the chance to properly step away, rest, and spend quality time together, whether that’s in the sunshine or exploring a new city. It’s about recognising the people who give so much, especially at this time of year.”
The easyJet Holidays poll uncovered the professions we feel most grateful for at Christmas, with nurses, paramedics, care workers and delivery drivers among them.
Just under a quarter (23%) of Brits say they leave out a gift for the postal workers at Christmas, while over a fifth (22%) say they do the same for binmen.
Six in ten also say Christmas makes them feel more generous towards others, with 51% saying they compliment others more during the festive period, while more than three in ten (31%) check in with their neighbours.
Top 10 professions Brits feel most grateful for at Christmas:
