I SEE the latest rip-off by the airlines/tour operators is charging people up to £10 each to ensure that they sit next to their partners or friends.

If you pay this money, you are allowed to check in an hour later - one hour before take-off instead of the usual two.

As if we don't pay enough for our holidays as it is, we are now given this option of pay and sit with your partner or don't pay and take 'pot luck' and hope there are seats left for those who can't or won't pay.

Total blackmail, I call it, and a damned cheek on behalf of the airlines, etc.

MAUREEN W ARNFIELD, Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.