I've always been a fan of Jet 2, booked numerous flights with them over the last few years from a number of UK airports and found the experience preferably to the other budget airlines
However, this year on the last 3 flights I have noticed a change of policy when checking in online and allocating seats
We generally travel as a party of 2 and I always check in 3-4 weeks before departure when the online check in opens. In previous years we have always been allocated seats together, sometimes across an aisle but always adjacent. On the last 3 trips, the pre allocated seats have been 3 or 4 rows apart. I could understood if we were the last to check in but we are probably one of the first. This is also now happening on both legs of the journey
On each occasion I have had to ring the premium 0871 number, on hold for 5 minutes and then told to pay £5.99 per person, per seat, per journey to sit together. I questioned the policy only to be told the only way to guarantee to sit together is to pay and prebook. There are clearly loads of spare seats left as they never have any problem giving me 2 together when they can charge for it
This is nothing more than a money making exercise, almost forcing me into paying by givig me seats which clearly arent going to be acceptable to most people who wish to sit together. I'm tempted next time not to bother with the online check in and take my chances at the airport desk where I can at least argue the toss with a human being