200 customers sign petition to reverse Cineworld change

The change that has caused frustration among film fans is that customers are no longer able to book tickets for fellow Unlimited members.

Instead, anyone paying for the monthly subscription can only book a ticket for themselves, meaning they will need to change their seats once tickets have been booked if they want to sit next to another Unlimited member.

Can you clarify that this means I won’t be able to book 3 seats together so myself and 2 other unlimited members can sit next to each other?

I’ve been an Unlimited holder for ages and routinely go with my friends/family but I’ll probably cancel if this is the case.@cineworld pic.twitter.com/THNryOIGBj

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— Andy Vaughan (@andysvaughan) September 15, 2026

A message shared with Cineworld customers said: “You will no longer be able to book tickets for family members or friends who also have an Unlimited membership.

“Each Unlimited member will need to book their own tickets.

“Our Unlimited Terms will be updated to reflect this change.”

People shared their frustration across social media, including on X, where one person said: “Dear @cineworld my son is disabled and has an unlimited card.

“How am I meant to book tickets for him online?

“Why have you changed a good system and replaced it with this.

“The person who came up this needs sacking.”

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Someone else said they want the system to return to how it was previously: “@cineworld please tell me this is something you can reverse.

“It’s going to be a nightmare for people trying to book shows with friends & families and being able to ensure you can get seats together.

“Not quite sure how this is a smoother booking experience.”

This person commented: “The new update to the @cineworld app is so awful it’s upset me enough to start posting on this app again”.

Adding: “I’ve been thinking of cancelling my unlimited for a while and I think this has swung it :(”.

Cineworld customers start petition to reverse Unlimited ticket booking change

Unhappy with the change to the membership, some Cineworld customers have signed a petition which calls for it to be reversed.

The petition, titled “Restore booking privileges for Cineworld Unlimited members”, has been signed 230 times at the time of writing.

It was started by Simon Cooke on Change.org and includes details of the impact the Cineworld change is having on customers: “Unfortunately, this feature has been revoked, and it has deeply affected our cultural and social outings.

“For many Unlimited members like myself, the joy of sharing these cinematic experiences with loved ones has been significantly curtailed.

“It’s not just about watching films; it’s about connecting, sharing emotions and creating memories with those who matter most to us.

“Cineworld’s decision to remove this feature may seem minor to some but it deeply impacts the way we socialize and celebrate art.

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“In an era where digital connections often outweigh personal interactions, gatherings at the movie theatre are one of the few opportunities to foster genuine, shared experiences.”

Cooke added: “We urge Cineworld to reconsider and reinstate this vital component of the Unlimited card.

“By doing so, they would be acknowledging the community aspect of film watching and fostering relationships, which is fundamental to their identity as an entertainment provider.”

The cinema chain said it is “working on an improved solution” to allow Unlimited members to book in groups in the future.

A Cineworld spokesperson told Newsquest: “As communicated to our Unlimited customers, Cineworld is launching a new and improved mobile-first website and app for our customers.

“The change has been introduced as part of the wider evolution of our booking platforms.

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“As part of these changes, customers will benefit from the following enhancements to their online experience:

• Faster speed and load time
• Changing seats – customers can change seats up to the start time of a film, moving to sit next to family and friends
• Improved accessibility – making the booking journey more accessible and inclusive
• Seat first booking – improving the overall checkout experience
• An improved app, with optimised customer experience and journey
• Many more benefits and features, soon to be announced

“While we understand that some members preferred the previous process, especially regarding booking for friends and family, this feature will not be available initially with the launch of the new Cineworld website and app, but we are working on an improved solution to assist Unlimited members to book for friends and family more easily in future.”

Will you be signing the petition? Let us know in the comments.