Now reserving a seat can cost more than the f light itself !

THE cost of reserving plane seats can end up being more than the flights themselves, research suggests.

It means passengers could end up paying twice as much on their journey simply to choose where they sit, according to a study.

Several airlines – including Ryanair and British Airways – have already come under fire for their ‘random’ allocation policy.

Families say the system forces them to pay extra to guarantee sitting together. Now, travel comparison website Kayak has published data suggesting these passengers have a right to be outraged.

The study found that while Ryanair flights can be purchased for as little as £7.49 one way, choosing where you sit can cost up to £11.

The £11 figure is the price of a priority seat with additional legroom. Standard seat selection on the airline costs from £2. Earlier this year passengers on British Airways flights complained they were being split up from loved ones.

BA admitted its computer system randomly allocates seats for those who do not pay extra – up to £20 for long haul flights and £7 on short hauls.

Scores of Ryanair users have also complained that the algorithm left them sitting apart from friends and family members. One hen party told how they were appointed 15 middle seats spread through the length of the plane.

A subsequent BBC Watchdog investigation tested how ran- dom the airline’s seating algorithm was, with help from Oxford University researchers.

As part of these tests, groups of four people were sent on four separate Ryanair flights. In each instance every single person was allocated a middle seat.

‘Tougher on the wallet’

Meanwhile airline Jet2 offers one-way flights priced at £24, but reservation fees can be as high as £18.50 – almost as much as the ticket. Thomas Cook charged up to £13 reservation fees on one-way flights, with easyJet’s highest fee coming in at £16.99 and Virgin Atlantic at £30. John-Lee Saez, from Kayak, said: ‘The research shows some airlines are considerably tougher on the wallet if you wish to reserve a seat.’

Mr Saez told The Daily Telegraph: ‘In many cases, if you are checking in automatically, or with an airline where the format is ‘first come, first served’ when you get on board, the only way to guarantee is to pay.

‘ Our advice is to do your research up front. Some airlines charge as little as nothing whilst others can cost as much as £70 extra for priority seating.

‘Sometimes the comfort is worth the cash, but don’t get caught up with unnecessary charges if you’re happy to sit next to whoever on the flight.’

James Daley, of consumer website Fairer Finance, added: ‘There is nothing wrong with budget airlines charging people for a premium service. But they should not try to rig the system so honest customers have no choice but to pay extra.’

Last month it also emerged that some airlines have started charging passengers to ensure they can keep hand luggage with them in the cabin.

Jet2 has brought in a fee to ‘guarantee’ cabin baggage does not get put in the hold.

Prices start at £2.59 per person per bag each way, meaning a couple going away for the weekend would add more than £10 to their fare.