Key Takeaways
• Jet2 requires UK families to pre-book seats and pay extra to guarantee sitting together on flights.
• Children under 12 are seated with an adult or within one row if no seats are reserved.
• Early check-in helps but paying for seat selection is the only way to ensure group seating.
With the demand for European holidays rising, Jet2 has issued a clear warning to UK families who want to sit together during flights: make sure to pre-book your seats or you might not end up sitting next to each other. This warning comes at a time when more families from the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 are choosing Jet2 for their holiday travel. Many are excited about traveling, but not everyone is aware of the airline’s seating rules—especially those affecting families who want to be together in the air.
Why Jet2 Issued This Warning to UK Families
Jet2 has recently highlighted an important point in their policy: families who want to guarantee sitting together must pay an extra fee to pre-select or reserve their seats. If you skip this option, Jet2 makes no promise that your entire group will sit together. The airline points out that during busy holiday seasons or when flights are nearly full, it becomes even harder to keep groups together unless seats were reserved in advance.
The main reason for this warning is to help UK families avoid stressful situations at the airport and on the plane. At busy times, and especially on routes to popular European holiday spots, seats fill up quickly. When this happens, the chances of finding several empty seats together (without reserving them early) drop sharply. As a result, families who did not pay for seat selection have faced disappointment and sometimes anxiety when assigned separate seats at check-in.
How Automatic Seat Allocation Really Works
Jet2 explains in their policies that the airline will always “try” to seat children and infants under 12 together with at least one adult from their group. However, if there are too few empty seats left, it might not be possible. The airline promises that children under 12 will never be placed more than one row away from an adult they are traveling with, but this is only the fallback—it’s not the preferred result for most families.
For children older than 12 or for adults traveling in a group, the airline does not even promise this level of closeness. If you haven’t paid for reserved seats, your group’s seats could be spread throughout the cabin. This can be especially disappointing for groups hoping to enjoy their journey together, swap seats, or help each other out during the flight.
Real Experiences Shared by Travelers
Many travelers have shared their experiences online, pointing out that on busy Jet2 flights, families not paying the fee for seat selection were often split by several rows or even assigned seats at opposite ends of the plane. Some tried to ask others on the plane to swap seats, but often found very few passengers willing to move, especially if they had paid extra to sit with their own families.
A parent shared on a popular holiday forum that despite asking at check-in and boarding, staff could not make any changes because “all the other seats were already picked and paid for by others.” The parent’s children, aged 9 and 11, were placed in a row just behind their parents, but this wasn’t what they had hoped for—a reminder that Jet2’s arrangement is about doing their best within the limits, rather than a promise of sitting side by side.
Why Check-In Timing Isn’t Enough Alone
Check-in timing matters when it comes to seat allocation. Jet2 lets most travelers check in online up to 28 days ahead. Those who check in as soon as the window opens have a higher chance of getting seats next to each other, but there’s still no guarantee unless you pay the extra fee for seat selection. This is particularly true for busy periods like school breaks, the height of summer, or festive seasons.
Jet2’s system fills remaining unreserved seats in the order people check in. So, if your family checks in first, you’re more likely to be seated together than those checking in later. But if lots of travelers have already paid to book specific seats on your flight, the option to sit together (for free) may not even exist by the time you check in, no matter how early you try.
A Closer Look: Table Summary of Jet2 Family Seating Policy
Here’s a simple guide on what to expect when flying with Jet2 if you do (or don’t) pay for seat reservation:
| Scenario | Without Pre-booking | With Paid Seat Selection |
|---|---|---|
| Children under 12 | Jet2 “tries” to keep with adults; may end one row apart | Guaranteed seating together |
| Children over 12 & Adults | No guarantee; might be seated anywhere | Guaranteed seating together |
| High season/full flights | High chance of being split apart | Seats kept together as chosen |
This table makes it clear—if sitting together is very important to you, paying the extra fee is the only sure way to stay as a group on Jet2.
Why Pre-Booking Seats Is the Only Reliable Choice
Both Jet2’s own officials and seasoned travelers agree on one thing: paying for reserved seating is the safest way for UK families to make sure they can sit together. The airline’s policies are crafted to deal with the reality of modern air travel, where most people now expect to pick their seat or at least have some say in their seat’s location.
As demand increases, Jet2 has less flexibility to move seats around close to departure. Boarding staff can only do so much, especially if nearly all seats are already reserved.
If you have young children, Jet2 will not split them from at least one adult—but still, for families who want to sit as a block or keep an eye on each other, every row counts. Jet2 simply cannot move other people who have paid for their chosen seats or make families who booked late sit together at the last minute without upsetting other passengers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jet2’s Family Seating
1. Is there ever a chance we’ll sit together without paying for seat selection?
Yes, but only if there are enough spare seats together and you check in as early as possible. However, this is never guaranteed, especially during school holidays or summer.
2. Does Jet2 really keep very young children with their parents?
Yes, if possible. If it is not possible to seat everyone in a group together, Jet2 puts children under 12 as close as possible to at least one adult from their booking, never more than one row away. For more details about Jet2’s family seating promise, check their official FAQ page.
3. What if I didn’t pay for seats but need to sit together for an important reason?
If you have extra needs, such as a child with a medical condition, get in contact with Jet2 as early as possible before check-in. While they cannot always promise your request will be met, staff will do their best within the limits of other people’s bookings.
Advice from Experienced Travelers and Jet2 Staff
People who have traveled frequently with Jet2 have a clear message for other UK families: “If sitting together on your holiday flight is important, always book seats as soon as you can.” Sometimes the cost of assigning seats early is much less than the cost of disappointment or worry after arriving at the airport and realizing your family group is split up.
Jet2’s crew also points out that the rules are the same for other booked extras, like extra legroom or front-row seats—paying in advance is the only way to secure these.
If you do not want to pay the fee for sitting together but are traveling with children, consider these tips:
– Check in at the very first moment check-in opens online
– Be ready to accept that you might not all be together
– Prepare your children ahead of time so they know what to expect if they have to sit apart from some family members
The Broader Picture: Why Airlines Have These Policies
Airlines like Jet2 have moved to paid seat selection because it allows them to offer lower basic ticket prices but add on optional extras for those who want them. This is called “unbundling” and is now standard across many European airlines. The policy means tickets look cheaper at first, but extra benefits like sitting together, checking bags, or getting food on board cost more.
From the airlines’ perspective, this helps keep overall prices low and lets travelers pick only the extras they really want—but it does mean families have to plan ahead and sometimes spend a bit more to get the experience they expect.
Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that these kinds of seat allocation policies have become the “new normal” in low-cost aviation. As more travelers opt for basic fares, those who need specific arrangements, like UK families wanting to sit together, must factor in the cost and booking time as part of their overall travel plan.
How Jet2’s Seating Policy Compares to Other Airlines
Jet2’s family seating policy is similar to many other European low-cost airlines. All encourage pre-booking to guarantee group seating, but most—like Jet2—offer some special care for families with children under 12. For example, Jet2 promises that it will “do its best” to sit these children beside at least one adult. However, competition for these seats is fierce on full flights, and the only surefire option is to pay for seat selection in advance.
What UK Families Should Do Next
If you are planning a holiday with Jet2 and want your family group to sit together, remember these points:
– Book your seats as early as possible: The earlier you book, the more seats will likely be available together
– Pay for seat assignment if you want a guarantee: This is crucial during school holidays, weekends, or any busy travel time
– Double-check Jet2’s family seating policies on their official terms and FAQs
– Be prepared for possible separation if you don’t pre-book, especially with older children
Final Takeaway for UK Families Traveling with Jet2
Jet2’s recent warning to UK families about sitting together on flights is a timely reminder to plan ahead when arranging holiday travel. The airline’s policy is simple: unless you pay for seat selection, there is always a chance your family group will be split up, especially during popular travel times. Jet2 will never separate a young child from all adults in their party, but everyone else is subject to the order in which they check in and the number of reserved seats already taken.
For peace of mind and to make sure your trip starts off smoothly, follow Jet2’s advice. The extra cost for booking seats often feels worth it when you can relax together as a family from takeoff to landing. Families who plan ahead and pay for the option of sitting together will have one less worry as they begin their European adventure. If you want to be absolutely sure your family sits together on your next Jet2 flight, pre-booking is not just smart—it is essential.
Learn Today
Seat Selection → The process of choosing where to sit on a plane, often requiring extra payment.
Pre-booking → Reserving seats ahead of flight date to ensure desired seating arrangements.
Under 12 Seating Policy → Jet2’s rule to keep children under 12 near an adult, no more than one row apart.
Check-in → The procedure of confirming your presence on a flight, available online up to 28 days ahead.
Unbundling → Airlines selling tickets at low prices by charging separately for extras like seat reservations.
This Article in a Nutshell
Jet2 warns UK families that without paying for seat selection, groups may be separated during busy European flights. Children under 12 will stay close to adults but others risk being spread apart. Early booking and payment guarantee families can sit together, avoiding disappointment on holiday trips.
— By VisaVerge.com
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