DISGRUNTLED Ryanair passengers have accused the airline of punishing those who choose not to pay for reserved seating by sticking them in middle seats.

Couples and people travelling in groups have complained that they are now split up throughout the aircraft instead of lumped together.

They allege that it is a new type of behaviour for the aircraft, who used to seat people on the same booking together.

A passenger called Chris Jones has revealed that he was the victim of the scheme when he and his wife travelled from Stansted to Aarhus earlier this month.

He told The Independent: “The allocated seats we were given were in rows 8 and 32. We couldn't have been further apart.

“I checked the seating on the flight. At the time of my check-in more than 60 per cent of the seats still available for purchase.

"It appears to be a cynical attempt by the airline to make you buy a seat.”

Other groups of Stansted passengers have also complained to the website about what they believe to be a new policy, including one party of 20 golfers who were flying from the UK to Spain.

According to one of the group, three people in the group paid for legroom and the remaining 17 were all placed in middle seats.

There have also been several accusations on social media about the issue, with people questioning if it is now a Ryanair policy.

One customer called Chris Carter‏ tweeted: “Ryanair, why are three of us allocated middle seats rows apart when all around are empty – a nasty cynical change in your seating policy?”

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Another Twitter user called Jessica Southcott‏ said: “Ryanair, are you doing a social experiment by seating EVERYONE separately?!”

But Ryanair has claimed that they do not have a new policy of sitting people apart.

A spokesperson told Sun Online: “Customers who do not wish to purchase a seat are randomly allocated a seat, free of charge. Customers can purchase their preferred allocated seat from just €2 (£1.73).”

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