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There’s nothing more frustrating paying extra to sit with your friends and family – but this airline almost guarantees you seating next to your loved ones at no extra cost

Booking a holiday is one of life’s simple pleasures, but it’s quickly short-lived when the airline asks you to pre-book your flight seats for an extra fee.

Gone are the days when your party would be grouped together when checking-in. Now, it is widely advised to book your seats to avoid being split up. This is a method airlines use to make extra money, and if you don’t want to spend the extra pounds to reserve the seats in advance, you’ll just have to hope for the best.

Surprisingly, no law in the UK obliges airlines to seat families together during flights. Therefore, passengers spend more money to sit with their friends and family, especially when travelling with young children.

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But, as reported by Which?, this won’t be a problem for families when travelling with Jet2. Comparing other airlines, the site said: “With Ryanair or Wizz, you need a calculator to work out whether you’re better off choosing to add cabin bags and seat selection separately, or whether to choose a more expensive ticket that includes them.

“With Jet2, cabin bags are included, and families are almost always seated together without having to pay for seat selection. That doesn’t just save money, it makes booking much less hassle.”

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Alternatively, passengers can also ask other travellers to swap seats. While it’s generally accepted, it’s important to note and understand that not everyone may agree to do so.

Jet2’s website shared more information about family seating arrangements: “As a family-friendly airline we will always endeavour to seat children and infants under the age of 12 next to their accompanying adults. If this is not possible for any reason, we will ensure children are seated as close as possible, and no more than one row away.”

Throughout the past couple of years, Jet2 has been going up the rankings as the go-to airline for many, especially in the UK. Passengers expressed satisfaction with their customer service and overall assistance, with a total score of 80% for the best short-haul economy airlines.

Blake Robert has arrived in the UK with no money in his wallet and a unique challenge – and he has been documenting his experience on his social media channel for all to enjoy

An American has flown to the UK for a unique challenge – and he literally cannot return home until it’s completed. Blake Robert, who is known on social media as @theblakerobert, landed in the UK with just a suitcase and his guitar.

Without a penny in his pocket, he aims to earn enough money busking on the streets of the UK to not only support himself while he’s in the country but to also fund his plane ticket home. He has been documenting his challenge on his TikTok channel, sharing exactly how much money he made in Bath on day three of his challenge.

In his video, he said: “I flew to the UK with no money and now I’ll have to survive off the money I make playing my guitar.”

After attending an open-mic night in Bath, he met up with a group of buskers to decide when and where he can play his music in the town centre.

He says the meet every morning to determine who get what spot to give each artist an opportunity to show off their talents while earning money for their performances.

The meeting concluded with him playing in three locations around that – with the first being right outside Bath Abbey.

At this location, he made £24, $5 (£3.70) and was also gifted a punnet of green grapes.

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Just 15 minutes later, he was on to his next location slightly around the corner in Abbey Churchyard.

He says he only made £1 because it started to rain during his second set as everyone dodged the downpour in nearby shops, cafes and restaurants.

Finally, set up on Stall Street, he made £18 and pulled in a small crowd who supported his music with praise and a dance.

Hungry and tried, he ended up spending £15.25 on a steak and ale pie before booking himself into a £22 hotel, leaving him with only a £5.75 profit for the day providing he didn’t buy anything else and excluding his $5.

Commenting on his video, one user said: “Very bold move coming to the UK with no money but basically I’m really enjoying the content so keep it coming.”

Another user added: “If you are trying to save money there are much cheaper places you could go – Greggs, Weatherspoon’s, a local café. Pubs are pricey unless they are Weatherspoon’s. What other cities are you going to?”

A third user said: “I’m so invested in your journey! Bath is very expensive though!”

One more user added: “You are very near Bristol, you should go there!”

My two-day trip to Paris – the city of love – was an eye-opener to say the least and made me realise one huge plus to travelling so spontaneously

2025 is the year of spontaneity, at least for me. I told myself that I’d say ‘yes’ to doing things that I usually wouldn’t agree to do – no overthinking and simply just doing it. Six months into the year, I have zero regrets.

When the opportunity for a spontaneous weekend trip to Paris came up, of course, I said yes. For a little context, out of nowhere, my parents decided to go on a weekend jaunt to celebrate Mother’s Day. Paris is known to be ‘the city of love’, and it’s not too far from home, so I decided to join them for a literal 48-hour trip. Leaving on Saturday early in the morning, we drove from London to Paris – yes, drove – and came back on Sunday, just past midnight.

London is one of the most expensive cities in the world. So, I thought, if I’m going to spend £100 on a night out, why not go abroad, instead? Plus, the weather in Paris was so much better and warmer than London, so that gave me the ultimate push.

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When it comes to holidays, it’s hard to see and do everything in one trip. On average, UK travellers spend over a week on their holidays abroad. Thankfully, I had already been to Paris, so there wasn’t anything in particular that I wanted to see. Just be there and enjoy the moment.

My really good friend joined us on the trip, and funny enough, she had also been to Paris, but didn’t get the chance to see the Eiffel Tower. I mean, who could miss the 1,083ft tall structure the city is so famous for? So, we made it our mission to visit it – and it was probably the thing we ended up seeing the most, if not the only tourist attraction we beelined.

We walked around the city, sat in coffee shops, did some shopping, and even bar-hopped during the night to make the most of the ‘happy hour’. And honestly, excluding the accommodation and the travel expenses, I don’t think I’ve spent more than £100 – which it got me thinking, why am I not doing this more often?

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We all know that things in 2025 have become much more expensive than they were 10, 20, and even 30 years ago. Going out during the weekend in London has become an occasional treat for many. Let’s be real – the price of drinks, public transport, club entries, taxis, cigarettes… You always end up spending outrageous amounts of money, so is it even worth it?

What a night out would cost you is a plane ticket to a European country, and the expenses are more likely to be less than London prices. Plus, if you want to go abroad without using your annual leave, weekends are the perfect time to do it.

In the end, it wasn’t just about saving a few extra pounds or going on a holiday. It was more about saying yes to things because some of the best memories come from impulsive decisions. Here’s to many more spontaneous last-minute trips that will cost me less than a London night out!

Budget airline Ryanair has shared a simple packing tip which can help passengers “save space” in their hand luggage – and it’s something that is often recommended by travel experts

Ryanair, famed for its budget-friendly fares, has a strict baggage policy that can catch passengers off guard, leading to unexpected fees at the airport. The amount of luggage you can bring depends on whether you’ve purchased a standard fare, chosen Priority, or paid extra for cabin or hold baggage.

No matter your baggage allowance, Ryanair has shared a simple packing tip they claim will help you “save space”. The airline advises against leaving any space unused, suggesting: “Roll your clothes instead of folding. They’ll wrinkle less and you’ll have much more room in your luggage to fit in any extras you pick up while you’re away.”

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This rolling technique is often endorsed by seasoned travellers. For those flying with a standard ticket on Ryanair, only one small bag is allowed free of charge, which must not exceed 40 x 20 x 25cm.

Should your bag be larger than these limits, you might end up paying an additional fee at the airport, so it’s crucial to ensure everything fits within the permitted dimensions.

Lifestyle experts from Oakley have weighed in on the matter, highlighting that the effectiveness of rolling clothes to maximise luggage space actually hinges on the technique used.

They explained: “While the age-old advice of rolling clothes to save space is nothing new, the real game-changer lies in the technique.

“Instead of simply rolling each garment individually, consider layering items within each other before rolling. For example, place socks and underwear inside shirts or pants to create compact bundles that save both space and preve.”

You can boost your luggage allowance by purchasing a Priority ticket which not only allows you to board earlier but also entitles you to a second larger cabin bag measuring 55 x 40 x 20cm and weighing up to 10kg.

When it comes to distributing weight, Ryanair also shared a handy tip for customers, reports the Express. They said: “Do pack your heaviest items, for example, shoes [and] jeans, in the bottom of your wheelie suitcase. You’ll find it’s much easier to roll as the weight will be more evenly distributed.”

Passenger who want to take extra luggage but also save money, in the long run, should always book and pay for any additional bags in advance of their flight. It’s always cheaper to do this online before you arrive at the airport.

What is Ryanair’s luggage allowance?

All Ryanair fares include one small personal bag which can be brought on board, such as a handbag or laptop bag, but this can only measure up to 40 x 20 x 25cm and must fit under the seat in front of you. Anything more than that and you’ll have to pay extra.

Passengers can pay for Priority which entitles them to board via the Priority boarding queue at the gate, plus take one small personal bag measuring 40 x 20 x 25cm and a 10kg bag measuring 55 x 40 x 20cm.

If you’re looking to check in a bag, you have the option to add either a 10kg or 20kg check-in bag to your booking.

However, these must be dropped off at the check-in desk prior to going through security and both options come with an extra charge.