Allocated seating on all easyJet flights is introduced from today (Tuesday).
Passengers will be given the option to pay £12 for extra leg room, £8 for seats near the front of the aircraft or £3 to select a specific seat. Otherwise they will be allocated a seat free of charge.
Passengers purchasing upfront or extra legroom seats will be given access to dedicated speedy boarding check-in desks and will be among the first to board.
Typically more than 1,000 seats a day are available across the budget airline’s network.
EasyJet trialled allocated seating in April with nearly two million passengers flying on 12,500 allocated seating flights.
The trial showed that allocated seating can be delivered at the same time as maintaining strong levels of on-time performance and without adding cost, the airline said.
The system is being introduced in the winter season when fewer people travel to ensure a smooth transition.
Research found that 71% of passengers think allocated seating is better due to improved boarding, while more than 60% said that they are more likely to fly with the carrier in the future as a result.
UK director Paul Simmons said: “Today’s move offering allocated seating on all of our flights is the single biggest change the airline has undertaken in its history and an example of easyJet trying to do all it can to make travel easy and affordable for our passengers.
“Our customers told us allocated seating was important to them and the extensive trial has delivered positive feedback across Europe.
“Allocated seating provides a better boarding experience and gives passengers the added choice of selecting a seat for those who want to.”
He added: “Thanks to a sophisticated algorithm, passengers who do not wish to pay to select their seat will be seated with the other passengers in their booking the majority of the time.
“We are confident this move will not only make our current passengers happier when flying with easyJet but will also encourage new customers to choose to fly with us.”