If you’re not fussed about where you sit on a plane, and haven’t paid to reserve a seat, then one will be randomly assigned to you – but what are the rules for changing your allocated seat?
It’s a common occurrence to pay for your seat selection on an aircraft. But what if you fancy a change once you’re already seated in the cabin?
If you haven’t opted for seat selection, you’ll either get to pick from a pre-determined list of seats during booking or you’ll be given a random seat. Those wishing to make a last-minute switch might find it a bit challenging.
This is because most airlines allow seat swapping up until a certain time before departure, with little leeway once you’re on-board.
The temptation to quietly move over to an empty seat can be strong, particularly when the plane isn’t full. However, there’s a reason why airline staff are strict about such changes, and it’s not just about etiquette and fees.
It’s actually more about weight distribution on the plane itself. In simple terms, the aircraft’s centre of mass should ideally be somewhere around the middle, reports the Mirror.
Of course, people do move around to use the loo and stretch their legs, so small wings on the tail help keep the plane stable during minor fluctuations.
easyJet
easyJet imposes a fee on passengers who want to select their own seat.
If you’re flying with easyJet and fancy a seat change, their policy is pretty straightforward: “If you’ve not already checked-in you can add or change seats up until two hours before your flight departs by logging in to Manage Bookings. If you’ve already checked-in and want to change your seats you’ll need to contact our customer service team and they will make the changes for you.”
Once you’re on board, if you’re itching to switch seats, it’s up to the cabin crew’s discretion. Most airlines, including easyJet, generally frown upon seat swapping post-boarding for safety reasons, regardless of whether you’ve splashed out on a specific seat.
Ryanair
As for Ryanair, they too charge for the luxury of picking your perch. You can swap your seat at the check-in kiosk (subject to availability) or online before take-off, even after checking in.
But remember, while there’s no extra fee for changing your choice, you’ll have to cough up any cost difference between your original and new seat. Say you’re moving from a Standard to Priority Seating, you’ll need to fork out the difference.
Bear in mind, Ryanair won’t refund you for a seat you’ve bought, and sometimes, the cabin crew might ask you to move seats.
Jet2
Jet2 passengers are not explicitly prohibited from swapping seats on board their flights, but the airline does encourage customers to pre-book their seats to ensure families and groups can sit together. It’s noteworthy that Jet2 considers seats across the aisle or immediately in front or behind as ‘together’.
If you don’t reserve your spot ahead of time, expect to be assigned a seat based on what’s available when you check in, either online or at the airport desk.
TUI
As per TUI’s guidelines, changing your seat after booking is possible only under certain circumstances. Their official line insists: “Provided there’s availability, then you can change your seats by revisiting our Flight Extras page, provided you’ve not yet checked in online. If you’ve already checked in online, then unfortunately you’ll be unable to change your seats.”
To upgrade your seat with TUI, one must access your customer account or use the Manage My Booking feature if the booking was made online.
British Airways
Meanwhile, British Airways is more flexible, permitting passengers to change their selected seat anytime up until check-in, which can be done online via their Manage My Booking portal or at an airport kiosk. Although seat swapping onboard is generally discouraged, they acknowledge there may be circumstances that necessitate it, such as “A change of aircraft due to operational, safety or security reasons, so we cannot guarantee seating.”
If you’re requested to switch your seat, airlines will endeavour to find a comparable alternative. However, if you remain unhappy with the arrangement, you can apply for a refund.