Cheap airline seating

jmbludlow

I went to check in online for a flight to Grenoble with Jet2 as soon as online check in opened. There are 3 in our party - a conveniently full row.  I haven’t completed check in as we are being allocated 3 random seats that are not together. It seems we HAVE to pay if we want to sit together!  The seating plan shows plenty of completely empty rows and I looked at availability by doing a dummy booking - the flight is not full and I could have booked for a minimum of 9 people.
I emailed Jet2 to ask why 3 travellers could not sit in a row together. Their response doesn’t make a lot of sense except to make me think we’re being blackmailed to spend more money.
Here it is.....comments please!

Thanks for contacting Jet2

 Our automated system will identify these seats and when our customers check in, it will take this into consideration when allocating seats. With this in mind, it’s not always possible to allocate our customers together on a flight as result of this, as this will be dependent on the availability on board. This is similar to policies and procedures of our fellow tour operators in line with the guidance set by the Civil Aviation Authority. The only way we’re able to guarantee seating being allocated together is to pre-book before your flight. I do apologise for any disappointment this has caused.

 Despite this, I do hope you have a lovely flight with us to Grenoble!

 Thanks again for getting in touch.

onomatopoeia99

jmbludlow said:

 Their response doesn’t make a lot of sense except to make me think we’re being blackmailed to spend more money.
Here it is.....comments please!

You aren't "being blackmailed" as you can sit apart for no extra cost. 

I am convinced the reason airlines do this is because of the existence of moneysaving forums and comparison sites that encourage people to "blag" so called "deals", so the operators target the lowest headline price on comparison sites and then try to get you to pay for as many upgrades and extras as possible so they can still operate at a profit.

Caz3121

The more people get seats together without paying, the fewer people will choose to pay. (Why pay if you can get it for free) seating charges are part of their business model - they will have made an assumption that x% will pay otherwise the model will not work - they may as well increase the price of all tickets and include free seat assignment- meaning those that genuinely don’t care about seating pay more. 

Pollycat

jmbludlow said:

I went to check in online for a flight to Grenoble with Jet2 as soon as online check in opened. There are 3 in our party - a conveniently full row.  I haven’t completed check in as we are being allocated 3 random seats that are not together. It seems we HAVE to pay if we want to sit together!  The seating plan shows plenty of completely empty rows and I looked at availability by doing a dummy booking - the flight is not full and I could have booked for a minimum of 9 people.
I emailed Jet2 to ask why 3 travellers could not sit in a row together. Their response doesn’t make a lot of sense except to make me think we’re being blackmailed to spend more money.
Here it is.....comments please!

Thanks for contacting Jet2

 Our automated system will identify these seats and when our customers check in, it will take this into consideration when allocating seats. With this in mind, it’s not always possible to allocate our customers together on a flight as result of this, as this will be dependent on the availability on board. This is similar to policies and procedures of our fellow tour operators in line with the guidance set by the Civil Aviation Authority. The only way we’re able to guarantee seating being allocated together is to pre-book before your flight. I do apologise for any disappointment this has caused.

 Despite this, I do hope you have a lovely flight with us to Grenoble!

 Thanks again for getting in touch.

Post edited.

Incorrect terminology used.

Apologies to all.

zagfles

jmbludlow said:

I went to check in online for a flight to Grenoble with Jet2 as soon as online check in opened. There are 3 in our party - a conveniently full row.  I haven’t completed check in as we are being allocated 3 random seats that are not together. It seems we HAVE to pay if we want to sit together!  The seating plan shows plenty of completely empty rows and I looked at availability by doing a dummy booking - the flight is not full and I could have booked for a minimum of 9 people.
I emailed Jet2 to ask why 3 travellers could not sit in a row together. Their response doesn’t make a lot of sense except to make me think we’re being blackmailed to spend more money.
Here it is.....comments please!

Thanks for contacting Jet2

 Our automated system will identify these seats and when our customers check in, it will take this into consideration when allocating seats. With this in mind, it’s not always possible to allocate our customers together on a flight as result of this, as this will be dependent on the availability on board. This is similar to policies and procedures of our fellow tour operators in line with the guidance set by the Civil Aviation Authority. The only way we’re able to guarantee seating being allocated together is to pre-book before your flight. I do apologise for any disappointment this has caused.

 Despite this, I do hope you have a lovely flight with us to Grenoble!

 Thanks again for getting in touch.

It's the usual CS fob-off type response. I've just booked some flights with EasyJet and we got seats together both ways without paying for seat selection, the only airline we've ever been significantly split is on Ryanair. But wouldn't be surprised if others started following their model - they are a trend setter!

zagfles

Pollycat said:

Sitting together is a chargeable option.

 "Sitting together" is not a chargeable option on any airline I know of. Seat selection is often a chargeable option.

Why is it people struggle understanding the difference? One way to achieve "sitting together" may be seat selection, of course. But they are different concepts. Some airlines charge for seat selection, the vast majority give you "sitting together" free, even those who charge for seat selection. For instance the EasyJet flights we've just booked, and in fact every flight I've ever booked except a couple of recent Ryanair ones, sitting together was free while seat selection wouldn't have been.

Pollycat

zagfles said:

Pollycat said:

Sitting together is a chargeable option.

 "Sitting together" is not a chargeable option on any airline I know of. Seat selection is often a chargeable option.

Why is it people struggle understanding the difference? One way to achieve "sitting together" may be seat selection, of course. But they are different concepts. Some airlines charge for seat selection, the vast majority give you "sitting together" free, even those who charge for seat selection. For instance the EasyJet flights we've just booked, and in fact every flight I've ever booked except a couple of recent Ryanair ones, sitting together was free while seat selection wouldn't have been.

My bad for using the wrong terminology.

I'm sat on the naughty step.

The rest of my post stands.

In fact. I'll repost with the correct terminology.

Pollycat

jmbludlow said:

I went to check in online for a flight to Grenoble with Jet2 as soon as online check in opened. There are 3 in our party - a conveniently full row.  I haven’t completed check in as we are being allocated 3 random seats that are not together. It seems we HAVE to pay if we want to sit together!  The seating plan shows plenty of completely empty rows and I looked at availability by doing a dummy booking - the flight is not full and I could have booked for a minimum of 9 people.
I emailed Jet2 to ask why 3 travellers could not sit in a row together. Their response doesn’t make a lot of sense except to make me think we’re being blackmailed to spend more money.
Here it is.....comments please!

Thanks for contacting Jet2

 Our automated system will identify these seats and when our customers check in, it will take this into consideration when allocating seats. With this in mind, it’s not always possible to allocate our customers together on a flight as result of this, as this will be dependent on the availability on board. This is similar to policies and procedures of our fellow tour operators in line with the guidance set by the Civil Aviation Authority. The only way we’re able to guarantee seating being allocated together is to pre-book before your flight. I do apologise for any disappointment this has caused.

 Despite this, I do hope you have a lovely flight with us to Grenoble!

 Thanks again for getting in touch.

The bit in bold is key.

Yes. The flight is not full.

So Jet2 can sell those seats to passengers who are maybe willing to pay to sit together (unlike you).

They are simply maximising their chances of extra revenue. Why is that so surprising for a company that is expecting to make a profit?

You are not being 'blackmailed'. Stop being so dramatic.

Selecting seats is a chargeable option.

You either opt to pay or you opt not to pay.

With Jet2, if you don't pay to select your seat, you are allocated a seat.

As Jet2 state:

Allocated Seating Explained

We allocate our customers a seat before they check in. But we also offer the option to choose where you and your party would like to sit for a small charge, including the additional choice of super-comfy extra legroom.

https://www.jet2.com/travel-essentials/allocated-seating/

Jet2 don't guarantee that your party will be sat together if you don't pay.

For our upcoming flights with Jet2, we will not be taking up the option of selecting our seats as an optional, chargeable extra.

We will accept the seats that Jet2 have allocated to our party.

Pollycat

zagfles said:

jmbludlow said:

I went to check in online for a flight to Grenoble with Jet2 as soon as online check in opened. There are 3 in our party - a conveniently full row.  I haven’t completed check in as we are being allocated 3 random seats that are not together. It seems we HAVE to pay if we want to sit together!  The seating plan shows plenty of completely empty rows and I looked at availability by doing a dummy booking - the flight is not full and I could have booked for a minimum of 9 people.
I emailed Jet2 to ask why 3 travellers could not sit in a row together. Their response doesn’t make a lot of sense except to make me think we’re being blackmailed to spend more money.
Here it is.....comments please!

Thanks for contacting Jet2

 Our automated system will identify these seats and when our customers check in, it will take this into consideration when allocating seats. With this in mind, it’s not always possible to allocate our customers together on a flight as result of this, as this will be dependent on the availability on board. This is similar to policies and procedures of our fellow tour operators in line with the guidance set by the Civil Aviation Authority. The only way we’re able to guarantee seating being allocated together is to pre-book before your flight. I do apologise for any disappointment this has caused.

 Despite this, I do hope you have a lovely flight with us to Grenoble!

 Thanks again for getting in touch.

It's the usual CS fob-off type response. I've just booked some flights with EasyJet and we got seats together both ways without paying for seat selection, the only airline we've ever been significantly split is on Ryanair. But wouldn't be surprised if others started following their model - they are a trend setter!

By luck?

We've also got seats together on TUI flights without paying for seat selection.

But we were half-expecting to be allocated seats on different rows.

zagfles

Pollycat said:

zagfles said:

jmbludlow said:

I went to check in online for a flight to Grenoble with Jet2 as soon as online check in opened. There are 3 in our party - a conveniently full row.  I haven’t completed check in as we are being allocated 3 random seats that are not together. It seems we HAVE to pay if we want to sit together!  The seating plan shows plenty of completely empty rows and I looked at availability by doing a dummy booking - the flight is not full and I could have booked for a minimum of 9 people.
I emailed Jet2 to ask why 3 travellers could not sit in a row together. Their response doesn’t make a lot of sense except to make me think we’re being blackmailed to spend more money.
Here it is.....comments please!

Thanks for contacting Jet2

 Our automated system will identify these seats and when our customers check in, it will take this into consideration when allocating seats. With this in mind, it’s not always possible to allocate our customers together on a flight as result of this, as this will be dependent on the availability on board. This is similar to policies and procedures of our fellow tour operators in line with the guidance set by the Civil Aviation Authority. The only way we’re able to guarantee seating being allocated together is to pre-book before your flight. I do apologise for any disappointment this has caused.

 Despite this, I do hope you have a lovely flight with us to Grenoble!

 Thanks again for getting in touch.

It's the usual CS fob-off type response. I've just booked some flights with EasyJet and we got seats together both ways without paying for seat selection, the only airline we've ever been significantly split is on Ryanair. But wouldn't be surprised if others started following their model - they are a trend setter!

By luck?

We've also got seats together on TUI flights without paying for seat selection.

But we were half-expecting to be allocated seats on different rows.

Nothing to do with luck. If it was I'd have beaten odds longer than a lottery win over the years. Nearly all airlines will sit you together unless it's impossible because there are only a few isloated seats left (in which case seat selection won't help you anyway).

Anecdotal evidence suggests a small minority of airlines will deliberately split you up if you don't pay for seat selection, it looks fairly convincing for Ryanair, possibly Jet2, I'd heard EasyJet did too but the evidence of 4 boarding passes I have suggests otherwise.