Money blog: How to sit together on a flight without having to pay anything (2024)

Many airlines urge customers to pay for specific seats in advance or run the risk of being split up – but is this really necessary? We've taken a look…

Pick your airline carefully – and book seats at same time

It's not a general rule that you'll be split from your travel companions if you don't pay to reserve the seats you want.

A 2023 study by Which? Travel found that families paying in excess of £100 to sit together are probably wasting their money, with most major airlines likely to sit you with the people you booked with automatically even if you don't cough up for seat selection.

That means if all your tickets are in one reservation, with most operators there's a decent chance you'll be okay - as long as you get checked in early.

It also depends on the airline, with budget firms Ryanair and Wizz Air the most likely to split you up (more on Ryanair's seat booking policy later).

It's worth saying that there's no legal right to sit next to your loved ones on a flight – not even your children – so not paying does carry a risk.

Getting seats together with children

According to the Civil Aviation Authority, airlines should aim to seat children close to their parents or guardians.

Its guidance - which aren't hard and fast rules - says young children and infants accompanied by adults should ideally be seated in the same seat row, or an adjacent row if this isn't possible.

Of the major UK airlines, British Airways and Tui both guarantee that children under 12 will be sat with at least one adult from their booking, even if they don't pay or forget to check in early.

Jet 2 says it will "always endeavour to seat children and infants under the age of 12 next to their accompanying adults", but if this is not possible they'll be seated no more than one row away.

EasyJet similarlysays its system will always try and seat families together, but if this isn't possible, it will make sure children under 12 are seated "close" to an adult on the booking.

Wizz Air says an adult and child aged up to 14 will automatically be assigned seats next to each other during the check in process.

Ryanair, however, has different rules - we've taken a look at these below...

Ryanair, like many airlines, offers the option of paying to reserve a seat or being allocated one at check-in.

But its system is well-known for splitting up groups rather than automatically putting them together, meaning it's near-impossible to be seated with your travel companions without paying.

The Ryanair website warns passengers who don't pay that it's "unlikely" passengers with free seats will be with the rest of their group.

If you're travelling with a child on a Ryanair flight, it's compulsory for at least one adult to pay for a seat reservation. Seats can then be reserved for up to four children per adult. Other adults in the booking can take a free seat - but as we've explained above, they'll likely be split from the rest of their family.

Disabled or elderly passengers get extra support

Those with reduced mobility, disabilities, difficulties with communication or the elderly should have the right to special assistance when travelling.

However, you will have to contact the airline before you fly.

Some airlines offer free seat selection

While many airlines have opted to introduce charges for the luxury of a reserved seat, it's not the case for all.

Some carriers offering longer-haul journeys let you select your seat for free as soon as you book.

Qatar Airways (except for Economy Classic customers) and Japan Airlines have this option.

Virgin Atlantic lets passengers select a seat for free as soon as check-in opens, while British Airways says customers who check in a hold bag can select a seat for free at check-in.

Singapore Airlines says economy passengers can select a seat in advance for free or a fee "depending on the fare type you choose".

Leave it until the last minute?

For the more laid-back travellers, one suggested hack is to leave check-in until the last minute to try and bag a decent seat - even on a budget flight.

Airlines charge higher fees for seats with extra legroom or in a good location, meaning they're likely to be the ones left when it comes closer to take-off time.

Some flyers also suggest boarding the plane last to see if there's any better seats free for a last-minute swap.

This is a gamble, of course, with there being no guarantee that you won't be plonked next to the toilets - and it's probably best saved for solo travellers at the risk of couples or groups getting split.

Ask a fellow passenger to swap

One less "hacky" option is to simply ask another passenger if they'll swap seats with you (as long as you're with a carrier that allows seat switching).

Your chances? If you're just asking them to switch to a worse seat, they're probably low. But if you're asking an easy-going passenger to switch from the window to the aisle, or you're wanting to sit with your companion and you're offering a slightly better option in the swap, you could be in luck.

If you're a family and you've been split up, you can politely explain your situation and see if any generous passengers will help. Some airline staff can also help with swaps for those in need if their company allows.

Make use of loyalty programme

If you're a frequent or semi-frequent flyer and your favourite airline offers a loyalty programme, it's worth signing up to make use of the perks on offer.

Building up enough points means you can upgrade your ticket class to an option that includes free seat selection.

ByJimmy Rice, Money blog editor

Next week will be dominated by what Rachel Reeves says at the dispatch box at 12.30pm on Wednesday as she delivers what's expected to be a painful budget.

Amid all the speculation about what might be coming (we've rounded that up here), other consequential news has had to fight hard for space.

This week our arts and entertainment correspondent Katie Spencerheard from industry experts that the UK looks set to see "the end of a clubbingera that has defined generations" unless there's urgent intervention.

Ahead of next week's autumn budget, Michael Kill, the chief executive of the Nighttime Industries Association (NTIA), spoke to her about the urgent need for government support to protect a "vital part of the UK's social fabric".

"We are witnessing the systematic dismantling of the nighttime economy. Our industry is not just about entertainment; it's about identity, community, and the economy," he said.

New research by the NTIA shows that in the past four years the UK has lost 37% of its clubs, which works out at about 10 clubs closing each month.

Read Spencer's full report here...

Here in Money we've been promoting Sky reporter James Lillywhite's excellent New Money series, the final episode of which we posted about earlier.

The internet and social media has radically changed the world of work. There are now hundreds of new ways to make a living online - and some of them are extremely profitable.

New Money looks inside these new digital industries, speaking to influencers, content creators and business owners across the country.

Watch all five episodes on YouTube here...

Yesterday,business and economics correspondent Paul Kelsoreported on Andrew Bailey telling an audience in Washington that inflation was falling faster than he and his colleagues at the Bank of England expected.

Kelso looked at what that could mean for interest rates here...

Finally, here are three essential Money reads from the week...

We'll be back with live updates on Monday morning - and don't forget our Saturday long read, on whether you actually need to pay to sit together on a flight, will be published from 8am tomorrow.

The UK is heading closer and closer towards a cashless society, but many people are either unwilling or unable to make their financial transactions digitally.

The digitally excluded, older people, people in poor health, those with lower financial resilience and those with lower financial capability depend more on cash, research by the Financial Conduct Authority in 2022 found.

But between 2018 and 2023 some 14,783 free-to-use cash machines were shut down, according to personal finance experts MoneyZine.

Guidelines say people living in urban areas should have access to cash deposit and withdrawal services within one mile, while rural-dwellers should be within three miles of these services.

So how can I get a free cash machine in my area?

Not-for-profit organisation Link has helped fund the installation of 124 ATMs across the UK since 2019.

You can lodge a "cash access request" with them if you think it's hard to get cash in your area. Link then has 12 weeks to carry out an assessment and take action if necessary.

It will research things such as the proximity of the nearest bank, bus timetables, ticket prices and even how steep any hills are in the area.

A decision will then be made and, if successful, your area will receive a new ATM.

The row between billionaire Mike Ashley and clothing company Boohoo has taken another turn, with the company refusing a Frasers Group request to install the tycoon as its new chief executive.

Frasers can influence Boohoo as it's the biggest shareholder, owning 27% of all shares.

It emerged yesterday that Frasers, the owner of Sports Direct, House of Fraser and Flannels, had written to Boohoo ordering it to sack its chief executive and appoint Mr Ashley instead.

Boohoo, the online fast fashion retailer, had ignored a private Frasers request to install Mr Ashley, according to an open letter from Frasers Group to members of Boohoo's board.

Boohoo has now responded...

"As shareholders will be aware, Mr Ashley is a 73% shareholder in Frasers; in addition,Frasers owns a 23.6% stake in Asos,and both Frasers and Asos operate in similar markets to Boohoo," it said.

"These are important facts that need to be taken into account and carefully considered by the board.

"Whilst the board remains willing to discuss board representation with Frasers in a constructive manner, it has been clear with Frasers that before any appointment can be made, appropriate governance will be required to protect the company's commercial position and the interests of other shareholders.

"Boohoo has sought assurances from Frasers in this regard and they have not to date been provided."

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business reporter

Thames Water has secured a £3bn injection to avoid running out of cash.

There were fears the UK's biggest water supplier, which serves 16 million customers, could have run out of money by Christmas.

But the cash injection secures its financial future for at least the next year, or possibly until the end of May 2026.

The deal reached with creditors, however, is subject to court approval as it involves a restructuring of debt. An interest rate of 9.75% will be payable on the sum.

The cash-strapped company has been struggling to secure fresh funds from existing shareholders after they withdrew a promised investment of £500m amid a funding row with industry regulator Ofwat.

Ofwat will make a final determination on how much Thames Water can put up bills and spend at the end of this year.

Read more here:

One of our favourite hacks for a while comes from former call centre worker @mr_majika via X.

Replying to tweets by money saving expert Martin Lewis, he explained why trying a different call handler might give you a better chance of getting a discount...

"Previously worked in call centre retentions," he wrote. "Individual % discount and retention rates mean experiences vary between advisers. Eg lose too many customers in the morning, offer big discounts in the afternoon. The reverse is also true. Moral = no discount, hang up and try again."

He went on: "At month's end if you'd not hit the retention target you'd offer big discounts. Conversely, if you'd given out too much discount you'd offer little."

BySarah Taaffe-Maguire, business reporter

There was speculation about a possible rise in the cost of UK government borrowing after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced she was going to borrow up to £50bn for public investment yesterday.

But the market reaction has been minimal as the amount the state has to pay (the yield) on benchmark bonds (IOUs governments sell to raise money) is slightly down from earlier in the week when the possibility of a Trump presidency had pushed up borrowing costs on both sides of the pond.

It means investors are not too concerned about the impact extra borrowing will have on the UK's ability to pay back loans.

The public, however, is not feeling confident ahead of the budget.

Consumer confidence has dropped to a level last seen in March.

When it came to the general economic situation, there was an even bigger drop in confidence, according to market research company GfK.

Another market story today is highest share price rise since 2015 for the part state-owned bank NatWest.

It's the biggest riser in the FTSE 100 index of most valuable companies on the London Stock Exchange, with shares becoming more than 4% more expensive after it reported profit of £20m in just three months, compared to only £1m in the three months prior.

Overall the FTSE 100 is up 0.03% with the bigger and more UK-focused FTSE 250 up 0.19%.

It's nothing compared to the hike in Tesla's share price last night.

Shares in the electric carmaker rose 22% after it beat Wall Street profit expectations in its third quarter financial results.

It's meant Elon Musk has got a lot richer as a major owner of Tesla shares, adding around $33.5bn (£25.8bn) to his net worth.

The pound slipped below $1.30 first thing on Tuesday morning and has stayed below the recent high for the week.

Similarly, sterling slipped below €1.20, a figure that had been a more than two-year high.

Drivers will be well aware that insurance has gone through the car roof in recent years - but there is some relief to be had this morning.

New research from Compare the Market has found the average premium fell by £72 in September compared to the same time last year.

It means it may be worth shopping around before renewing with an existing provider.

Driving the price cut may be slower inflation, which has stabilised the cost of claims for insurers in recent months.

Car insurance is now £175 cheaper than its peak in November 2023, when the average premium hit £951.

Younger drivers are seeing most of the benefits, with a £107 drop for under-25s compared to just an £8 decline for motorists aged over 80 years old.

But as ever, younger drivers are paying far more on average, £1,786, than older ones, £637.

But at £776, average insurance costs are still well above the £570 charged just two years ago.

Residents from countries outside the EU - including the UK - look set to face an additional surcharge when visiting the French capital.

The plan was revealed by Rachida Dati, the culture minister, who said she wanted to charge visitors to enter Notre Dame cathedral for the first time, as well as introduce further charges to enter attractions such as the Louvre.

Entry was free at the Notre Dame before it closed for restoration work after a fire that partially destroyed it in 2019.

Ms Dati said the measures would be introduced to help France fund the upkeep of its heritage.

"My position is very clear - I want visitors from outside the EU to pay more for their entrance ticket and for this supplement to finance the renovation of the national heritage," she said in an interview with Le Figaro.

She intends to impose the "non-EU surcharge" at the Louvre in 2026, where tickets currently cost €22.

Britons and other non-EU visitors would have to pay €25-€30, according to culture ministry sources cited by The Times, although the exact fee has yet to be decided.

Speculation is mounting ahead of next week's budget about what taxes could be raised or introduced.

The government has promised not to raise taxes that would affect "working people", but has failed to define what that means.

Until last night, when Sir Keir Starmer sat down with our political editor Beth Rigby- which you can watch in full here...

Sir Keir said he believed a working person was somebody who "goes out and earns their living, usually paid in a sort of monthly cheque" but they did not have the ability to "write a cheque to get out of difficulties".

Asked by Rigby whether he would classify a working person as someone whose income derived from assets, such as shares or property, the prime minister said: "Well, they wouldn't come within my definition."

Pressed on whether that meant taxes for those people could go up, the prime minister said: "You can probably give me any number of examples... you're asking me for a definition of who's a working person, and then you're making assumptions about what that tax might be in relation to."

His spokesperson clarified later that a person who holds a small amount of savings in stocks or shares still counts as a "working person".

What does this mean for you?

Rigby says this morning that as a result of this interview, we are now a "bit clearer" onwhat the budget could look like.

Without a proper understanding of what a "working person" is, we've been unsure where Rachel Reeves and the government are going to place tax rises - which Rigby says are inevitable.

"Make no mistake, they will be raising taxes in the budget next week," she says.

"The government have identified, according to my Treasury sources, a £40bn gap in the public finances - that's going to have to be filled by tax rises, spending cuts, welfare cuts," she adds.

Rigby says the prime minister has "opened the door" to a capital gains tax hike.

"His answer raises speculation that he is going to tax those who are selling chunks of shares or selling property, selling assets," she says.

Watch Rigby speaking this morning...