Paying for seats together on a plane is a WASTE – airline charges branded ‘reprehensible’

According to the airline’s regulations, it is compulsory for at least one adult in the group to select a paid-for seat.

They can then reserve seats for free for up to four children.

Ryanair told Which? it “fully complies with all EU safety regulations.”

Meanwhile, Wizz Air stated “the safety of our passengers is always our number one priority.”

The amount of money splashed out on securing a seat also varies greatly from airline to airline.

BA’s standard seats start at £7 per person, per journey short-haul, and £20 long-haul yet for a family of four, travelling to New York, that signals an extra £160 on the return price.

The CAA found plane passengers were, in total, spending £175m ‘unnecessarily’ a year paying for seats they would probably be given anyway.

Rory Boland, Which? Travel Editor, 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 worrying to hear that parents are being separated from young children.

“It’s reprehensible for any airline to make money by splitting up families and we would encourage the regulator to examine such cases closely to ensure the guidelines are working.

“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.”