Lapland Famille, a family holiday specialist, compared the seating policies of five major airlines serving the UK to see what families can expect if they choose not to pay for seat selection. The airlines include Ryanair, Jet2, easyJet, British Airways and TUI. The UK Civil Aviation Authority advises airlines to seat children under 12 in the same row as an accompanying adult, or no more than one row or an aisle away, but this is only guidance and does not guarantee an entire family will be seated together.
Ryanair
Ryanair states that for bookings made from June 25, 2026, children aged between two and 11 must sit next to at least one accompanying adult. Families who opt for free random seat allocation will have children seated beside one adult on the same booking, although other adults and teenagers may be assigned seats elsewhere.
British Airways
British Airways says all children under 12 will be seated with an accompanying adult if seats have not been selected in advance. The airline also says it will do its best to keep the whole family together, although this may mean sitting in adjacent rows or across the aisle rather than directly beside one another.
TUI Airways
TUI Airways guarantees that children under 12 will be seated with at least one adult in the booking. It advises families to reserve seats if they want everyone together, with its policy considering the same row, a seat across the aisle or one row in front or behind to be acceptable.
easyJet
easyJet says each child under 12 will be seated close to an adult on the booking but does not promise the seat immediately beside them. The airline says it tries to keep families together on a first come, first served basis and encourages passengers using free seat allocation to check in as soon as possible once online check-in opens 30 days before departure.
Jet2
Jet2 says they will make every effort to seat families together and place children under 12 next to an accompanying adult. However, arrangements may not be confirmed until passengers arrive at the airport or board the aircraft if seats have not been booked in advance.
Parents should also be aware that these policies generally only apply if everyone is travelling on the same booking. Those with separate booking references are advised to contact their airline before check-in to see if their reservations can be linked.
Alex Dyer, Managing Director of Lapland Famille, said: "For a family of four, the realistic trade-off is often not a child sitting entirely alone. It is one adult being split off, siblings being placed with different adults, or the group being divided by an aisle or row. Paying for seats buys control over that layout, so check the age limit, keep everyone on one booking where possible and check in as soon as it opens."
