Passengers who opt to pay extra for allocated seats on flights could be wasting their money, says a new report.
A Which? investigation found that 86 per cent of passengers would have been placed together anyway, regardless of whether they paid the additional fee.
The survey looked at the onboard experiences of 3,357 economy passengers between September and October last year.
Which? found the top 10 most popular carriers that offered seat allocation at an extra cost would seat friends and families even without paying when they arrived at the airport.
The exceptions were budget airlines, Ryanair and Wizz Air.
However, 91 per cent of British Airways customers who did not pay extra were still placed together, despite BA offering the paid-for option.
Last year, digital minister Margot James described the algorithms, which are used by airlines to split up those travelling together unless they pay more, as “very cynical” and “exploitative” to the general public.
Ryanair has denied using these algorithms.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel said: “Unless you are flying with Ryanair or Wizz Air or fancy a little extra legroom, it’s not worth paying more to choose your seat, as you’ll be seated next to your travelling companions anyway.
“It’s reprehensible for any airline to make money by splitting families and we would encourage the regulator to examine such cases closely to ensure the guidelines are working," he added.
“Passengers with mobility issues should make their requirements clear to the airline and be sure of your rights if they resist – the law is on your side.”
