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Original poster

Jet2 - and seating

33 replies

longshot · 19/04/2023 09:36

I've booked flights with Jet2 for end of May to Greece for DH, me and DC's who are 11 and 8. Have paid for bags but I am wondering if I really need to book seats together? It's an extra £120 to have seats together both ways. When we went with them last year I paid for seats together on the way out but friends who came with us didn't and were all sat together anyway (decided by the airline) and we were all together on the way back as well so clearly it didn't really matter....flight was full then too. Also DC's are 11 and 8 so really 11 year old will be fine anyway. Just wondering what others have experienced if they didn't pre book seats? Are they likely to split us all up or not so likely? I know Ryanair are known for doing this but wondering if Jet 2 operate differently?

OP posts:

chipsandpeas · 19/04/2023 09:44

if you want to sit together then pay
if you dont pay you take the risk that you are split up
chances are if you dont pay then you will sit together but if everyone else has paid there might not be seats together left

ifonly4 · 19/04/2023 10:34

We had a flight that was cancelled last year a week before flying, so had to rearrange. I just happened to be online when it was cancelled, so was the first from our flight to phone and rearrange - the flight we were transferred to literally just had two seats together as most had pre-booked (not Jet2).

I think it depends how much flying is part of your holiday and how important it is to be together.

Loria · 19/04/2023 10:40

I think, well, what would happen if you didn't pay that 120 quid? You'd still go on holiday, you'd still all be on the same plane, nothing terrible would result, and you'd have a spare 120 to spend on holiday.

I also think, well, what would happen if nobody paid to book seats? The airline would allocate you in groups together at check-in and if anyone on the plane wanted to swap it wouldn't be a big deal because no one's paid anything extra.

Be nice if that happened.

In the meantime, in your situation, I wouldn't bother with the extra money. Is it worth £120? Probably not.

YellowGreenBlue · 19/04/2023 10:42

Last time we went on a budget airline (although not Jet2) we didn't pay to sit together and the seats were all separate - none of the 5 of us were together. That's ok because my kids are teens, but if it's a problem you should pay.

guzzywuzzy · 19/04/2023 10:50

Have often wondered this and have never had the balls to see what happens because I know that my youngest would freak out if we did get split up and it's just not worth the stress to her or me. So depends on your family dynamic but if you think it will be distressing in the event of not sitting together and it's not a deal breaker, I'd just suck up the extra cost.

Ginisatonic · 19/04/2023 10:55

We used to pay when our DC were a similar age because it would have upset DD2 if she’d been allocated a seat not next to one of us. So it depends on your children. Just don’t expect anyone to move if you’re split up.

lemonyellows · 19/04/2023 11:15

It depends how your children are. My 12 year old wouldn't want to be on his own, I know that for sure so it's not down to age.

It would be a priority for me and something I would just budget for.

StillWantingADog · 19/04/2023 11:19

the truth is that most people do pay to be sat together these days so you will be at the mercy of what's left.

Unlike ryanair jet 2 will genuinely try to put you together but obviously if almost all the seats are already taken their hands are tied.

Is it an option to book for an adult and the 8 yo and the other two take their chances? I'd do that if an option. I know my 8yo wouldnt' want to be sat alone as he is a nervous flier.

If you're not that bothered then save the money definitely. But expect to be sat apart.

StillWantingADog · 19/04/2023 11:22

and as PP mentioned if you don't pay that's fine but it's very very uncool to ask people who've paid to sit together, to move. So def don't do that.

Mercyovermerit · 19/04/2023 11:38

We’ve always booked with JET2 and never have we been sat separately.

LittleFreakJezebel · 19/04/2023 11:50

I don't think Jet2 purposefully split you up like Ryanair it just completely depends on what other passengers have done. If barely anyone has booked you will be together but if most people have booked them then you will be split up, there is no way of telling in advance.

StillWantingADog · 19/04/2023 11:53

LittleFreakJezebel · 19/04/2023 11:50

that's not quite true you can do 'test bookings' to see how many seats are taken. Worth doing and if lots of seats still available the day before then you'll probably be ok.

lalalalalala123 · 19/04/2023 11:56

Never have paid this and set me alarm for 5 mins before check in opens online so I'm always one of the first to get seats allocated by the airline and have always been seated together...

In fact going with jet2 mid may so checked in when it opened yesterday and got seats together.

If you're worried proceed online like you're going to pay for seats and it will show you how many seats have already been booked if there's a large quantity still available you're more than likely going to be allocated seats together at check in

rookiemere · 19/04/2023 11:59

We have always been sat together with Jet2. However not sure I would take the chance with an 8 year old.

Invisimamma · 19/04/2023 12:03

Never paid the extra to reserve with jet2 and never been separated from my children. Although if it's very important to you to be sitting together you will need to pay. We don't mind if we end up separated. Chances are one of us will get to sit with our 8yr old and the 12yr old doesn't care.

Invisimamma · 19/04/2023 12:04

Yes to checking in as soon as it opens, I think this is 28 days before for jet2.

toastofthetown · 19/04/2023 12:28

One thing to consider is that if you are travelling at a peak time then you might end up being split up, not because the airline have deliberately split you up (as I don’t think Jet2 do that) but because all the seats together are taken. I flew with Jet2 recently and didn’t pay for seats, and DH and I were together, but my friend and her partner we separated.

If sitting together is essential to your party then you need to pay. There have been many stories of very small children either being seated separately to their parents or having to leave the plane as their seats weren’t together and no-one else on the plane was willing or able to move to accommodate them. There is no legal requirement for children to be next to their responsible adults on a plane (only CAA guidance, which states ‘should ideally’ rather than must).

carrierbags · 19/04/2023 12:29

We went with Jet2 last year and got allocated seats across the aisle from each other in 2 rows. So aisle, opposite aisle and sane behind. Kids were 10 and 11 then. We were happy with that but at check in they said we had to sit together so moved us to a row together and opposite aisle. Same the way back.

RideACockHorseToSunburyCross · 19/04/2023 13:46

"I know Ryanair are known for doing this"

Wrong. Ryanair let you select seats for free from their seating plan upon booking for all children under the age of 12.

RideACockHorseToSunburyCross · 19/04/2023 13:48

"I don't think Jet2 purposefully split you up like Ryanair it just completely depends on what other passengers have done. If barely anyone has booked you will be together but if most people have booked them then you will be split up, there is no way of telling in advance."

Nope that's not how it works. And Ryanair let you select seats together for free for kids.

anon199900 · 19/04/2023 13:52

I think most people pay for seats now, it's part of the price - you just factor it in.

Why dont you just book 2 seats if you dont want to pay the full amount then you will be with your 8 year old.

CharlotteRose90 · 19/04/2023 13:58

I’ve worked for airlines this airline included. At check in we always try our best with seats if they are available. One thing though to consider is if the rest of the flight have paid and pre booked seats then they most likely won’t be moved. We don’t move people unless children are very young so 6 and under. At 8 and 11 they don’t need to be sat with you so if you want seats together you have to pay.

Danniotley · 19/04/2023 14:23

We flew with Jet 2 in December although 3 adults. Didn’t pay for seats as short flight and not bothered. Both ways they split us up even though I could see that seats together were available if I wanted to pay.

maranella · 19/04/2023 14:36

We're a family of four who often fly with Easyjet or Jet2, we never pay for seats and we've never not sat together. When you buy the tickets they allocate you seats automatically, which you can look at the seat plan and see. I never pay for any extras I don't have to, so no seats, no speedy boarding, no nothing, and it's always been fine.

Original poster

longshot · 19/04/2023 22:19

Thank you for the tips. I think I’ll book 2 seats (making sure I’m with my 8 year old). 11 year old will not be bothered at all and is confident etc so think will be happy enough. Ill
also check in straight away when it opens as that sounds a good tip.

OP posts:

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