Ireland is currently grappling with a severe cost of living crisis with the price of almost everything on the rise.
With summer holidays on people's minds, desperate travellers will be scrambling to find ways to cut corners and save their hard-earned cash.
One potential way to save money could be found when booking flights with budget airlines like Ryanair.
Ryanair typically charges passengers for seat selections, meaning most people need to pay an extra charge to sit together.
Read more: Angry TDs ask why RTE excused Dee Forbes from attending Oireachtas committee
But a former flight attendant has disclosed a tip that could potentially bypass this additional fee.
Jane Hawkes told Express: “Obviously if you’re travelling with children you might not want to do this. Because if you’re travelling as a family, you’ll probably want your children with you to keep an eye on them. But if you’re travelling with friends or a partner, then never pay to book a seat together.
“Just wait to get onboard and then say ‘we’re travelling together and we didn’t realise we’d be separated’. You could just ask other passengers around you who can be very accommodating. It’s worth asking but there’s not much point asking before you get onboard.”
She added that solo travellers sitting between friends may be happy to swap so a group can sit together.
The expert claimed that passengers may be more willing to swap if it’s an opportunity to switch out of the undesirable middle seat.
On Ryanair, children under the age of 12 must be seated with an adult and the airline will allow passengers a free allocated seat for four children per adult.
Reserved seats on Ryanair cost between €2 and €15 for a standard seat while extra legroom seats cost as much as €30.
Jane Hawkes shares consumer tips and advice at ladyjaney.co.uk.
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
