New Airline Seat Reservation Scam Targeting UK Holidaymakers

UK travellers are being warned about a new and highly convincing airline seat reservation scam that is targeting passengers shortly after they book flights.

Fraudsters are posing as airline representatives and demanding payment over the phone to “secure” seat reservations, often claiming there has been a technical issue or “system glitch”.

The scam has been uncovered following multiple reports submitted to Phonely’s Who Called Me platform, revealing what experts believe is a concerning new twist on airline impersonation fraud.

How the Airline Seat Reservation Scam Works

The scam typically follows a worrying pattern:

1. A traveller books a flight or searches online to manage their booking.
2. They receive an unexpected phone call from someone claiming to represent a major airline.
3. The caller says there’s a problem with seat selection.
4. They offer to “secure” preferred seats for a fee.
5. The victim is pressured to make immediate payment over the phone.

However, consumer experts warn that airlines do not cold-call passengers to take payment for seat reservations.

The seats being offered by scammers simply don’t exist.

Real Reports of the Airline Seat Reservation Scam

All reports to Phonely are submitted anonymously, but recent accounts show how convincing these fraudsters can be.

One traveller said:

“Did a Google search to manage my booking and do seat selection and received a call to say there was a computer glitch and my seat selection could be done over the phone. I had got into the BA website and said it was ok as I could do it online. The person wouldn’t end the call and said the seat wouldn’t be guaranteed unless I paid. I knew that wasn’t true as my membership guaranteed the seat. I ended the call. Close call.”

Another passenger reported being contacted just minutes after speaking to an airline:

“No sooner had I put my phone down than another man called saying he could help me with my preferred seats. £95 each. He sounded so convincing as he knew information I had just been discussing with customer care. I almost gave him my info… A close call indeed.”

Other victims reported:

• Persistent follow-up calls
• Requests for bank or card details
• Being contacted about bookings they hadn’t even made

Why This Travel Scam Is So Convincing

This new airline seat reservation scam is especially concerning because:

• Fraudsters appear to have access to partial booking information
• Calls often happen shortly after genuine contact with airlines
• Scammers use urgency and pressure tactics
• The requested amounts (£95+ per seat) feel believable

With travel fraud already costing Brits millions, experts warn this tactic could spread quickly.

According to official figures from Report Fraud, more than £11 million was lost to holiday booking scams in 2024, with victims paying for flights, accommodation, and deals that didn’t exist.

Criminals have previously used:

• Fake airline cancellation texts
• Bogus rebooking links
• Phishing emails mimicking official airline branding

This latest development shows scammers are becoming more direct, and more sophisticated. In fact, in our recent analysis of scam predictions for 2026 and emerging fraud trends, we warned that fraudsters would increasingly use targeted impersonation tactics and time-sensitive payment pressure.

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How to Protect Yourself from an Airline Seat Reservation Scam

Holidaymakers are urged to take the following precautions:

• Never give card or bank details to unsolicited callers
• Only manage bookings through official airline websites or apps
• Be cautious of pressure to make immediate payment
• Hang up and contact the airline directly using official contact details
• Suspected fraud should be reported to ReportFraud.police.uk and you can also check suspicious numbers using Phonely’s Who Called Me platform.