Jet2 - and seating

[longshot]

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?

Ryanair used to split you up a long time ago - the policy has now changed thank god . We were “that family” - when we booked our first holiday in school holidays got caught out . It had never been a problem before until we went in school time and hadn’t realised that everyone booked their seats . Never again very stressful . They tried to seat a 3 year old screaming its head off at the front of the plane in eyesight of the staff. she wouldn’t even keep the seat belt on . It was only when this kind lady in a large group offered to swap so my husband could sit next to the 3 year old . I had a 7 year old that was split up too but luckily in an aisle seat next to another family and the mum looked after her . We were stuck on tarmac for 20 mins whilst it was getting sorted out as staff weren’t happy - she wouldn’t sit still . It was one of the most stressful things ever and I felt a complete idiot . Really does depend on how mature your children are but even the 7 year old was not happy sitting next to a stranger. Luckily we were able to book the seats on the return flight .

You mention no bags to check. You know the cabin bag rules now on size. Only free ones are rucksack size now. Need to pay for cabin suitcase unless part of sear purchase.

Sorry scrap above message that's EJ. I don't know Jet2 rules

In case anyone comes back to this…

I logged in at 8am the day check in opened (28 days before flight) and booked us all together, it automatically allocated us together is what I mean. I had kept an eye on the flight and I could see both legs where only half full so took the risk and it was fine.

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.

Very true. There was a thread recently full of people saying this didn’t happen & they won’t separate young child from parent. A few days later I saw a TikTok video of a mum with baby on knee, 2 year old across the aisle distraught, and the father in a row behind. They were saying the person next to the screaming child was having to listen to the crying & it’s their own fault for not swapping with a parent!

Glad it’s all worked out for you op. I’m far too risk averse and frightened of the above scenario tbh.

Oh that's good. jet2 are fairly sensible with this stuff

Glad you got it all sorted, but because I’ve been one of those nightmare people stuck in the aisle with the two kids years ago - I don’t think my nerves could handle it again ! 😂

I think airlines generally have a policy of sitting under 12s with a parent so as long as you don’t need to all sit together it should be fine. I wouldn’t pay.