Fed up with forking out a small fortune just to pick where you sit on a plane? A travel expert has let slip a brilliant insider trick used by cabin crew to bypass those pesky seat selection charges, potentially saving holidaymakers a bundle on their next trip abroad.
The clever hack is surprisingly simple and leverages a common airline policy that many passengers are completely unaware of. It's all about the strategic way you can swap seats after you've boarded, rather than paying upfront through the airline's website.
The Genius Behind The No-Cost Seat Upgrade
While airlines aggressively promote paid seat reservations during the booking process—often charging anywhere from £10 to £50 per person, per flight—their policy once the aircraft doors close is often far more relaxed. Cabin crew typically permit passengers to move to any available seat once the flight is airborne, provided the seat belt signs are off and the move doesn't cause any safety or balance issues.
This means a family of four could easily save over £200 on a return trip by simply booking the basic fare and then politely asking to sit together once on board, or by swiftly moving to any empty rows after take-off.
How to Master The Art of The Free Swap
Pulling off this hack requires a bit of confidence and timing. Here’s the strategy:
- Book the basic fare: Ignore the upsell for seat selection during checkout.
- Check in online the moment it opens: This is usually 24 hours before departure. This gives you the best chance of being automatically assigned seats together by the system before you even get to the airport.
- Be proactive and polite at the gate: If your party has been split up, politely explain your situation to the gate agents. They often have the power to make last-minute changes to seating arrangements to help families and groups sit together.
- The final move: Once the seat belt sign is turned off, quickly scan the cabin for better, unoccupied seats. It’s considered good form to ask a flight attendant if it’s alright to move, but they will almost always say yes if the seat is free.
This straightforward approach can drastically cut the cost of your holiday before it's even begun, leaving more money to spend on enjoying your destination.
