Spain calls for airlines including Ryanair to change controversial seat rules

29 February 2024 , 11:04

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Airlines including Ryanair have unpopular seat allocation policies (Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Budget airlines including Ryanair have been accused of profiting unfairly by charging passengers to sit together on flights.

Alfonso Rodriguez, who is the president of the consumers association in the Balearic Islands, has complained that passengers are charged more to reserve seats next to each other. As a result, the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament has agreed to examine his complaint against random seat allocation, which leaves family and friends often having to pay extra to sit together.

Ryanair isn't the only airline that charges for seat selection - other airlines including easyJet, Jet2 and TUI also have extra fees whether you want to choose certain seats or want extra legroom.

Unsurprisingly the policy isn't popular with holidaymakers, but it doesn't break any current laws. The only rules are that children under 12 years old should be seated with their grown-ups or at least in the same row, reports BirminghamLive.

Passengers are always allocated a seat but groups aren't necessarily put together (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

It's worth noting that all passengers are allocated a seat for free on the plane - so you could get lucky and bag seats together, but often the case is that passengers end up in different locations of the plane and then need to pay if they want to sit together. (Some try and chance it and ask fellow travellers to swap but that doesn't always go smoothly).

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According to Mr Rodriguez, in some cases families are being forced to pay an extra 20 to 40 euros per passenger to make sure they can sit next to each other. "There have been problems with passengers who have had to leave their 13 or 14 year old children alone. The flight crew has had to put up with their anger and this can even affect the safety of the flight," he said in his complaint.

The Petitions Committee has agreed to study the complaint, however it would ultimately be down to the European Commission to force a change in policy. A spokesperson for the European Commission was quoted in Spanish News Today as saying: "You are right, these types of policies used to fragment prices have become more common. They are adding a charge for each part of the service, whether is it seat assignment, luggage, food or drink. I imagine that they will soon ask for a payment to be able to smile."

It's not just the seat policies that Brits need to be aware of when booking flights. Airlines have different hand luggage rules around what bags you can bring in with you for free, with some such as Ryanair and easyJet charging extra if you want a second bigger bag. Recently Jet2 passengers have been warned to double check the rules or risk an extra fee at the airport if their personal bag or cabin bag doesn't meet the requirements.

As for those hoping to save some money by packing their own lunch or dinner, make sure you're familiar with the rules on what food and drink you can take on planes - or you may find yourself having to bin your meal and fork out extra for airport food.

The Mirror has reached out to Ryanair for comment.

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Julie Delahaye