Ryanair, should you prebook seating?

acequion · 23-05-2022 9:25pm #1

Prior to Covid I never prebooked seating when travelling alone. On check in I always opted for random seat allocation and this was always free. Does anybody know if this has changed? I've just booked a return flight for July and didn't book a seat. Should I? Thanks for any info.

Caranica · 23-05-2022 9:36pm

I usually do but didn't on my most recent flight, only checked in about 6 hours before each sector. Got an emergency exit row and a front row. Both times only two people between 3 seats, so I won't be booking seats again unless I desperately need to sit beside someone

HeidiHeidi · 23-05-2022 9:46pm

You don't have to.

When you check in they'll try (again) to sell you a seat but you can decline.

My last 3 flights I got a window seat randomly allocated.

acequion · 23-05-2022 9:50pm

Thanks so much for the replies, appreciate the info. When booking tonight stuff was flashing up about how it would be so much more expensive if I didn't book my seat now. Good to know the free random seat allocation still exists. I don't care where I seat when travelling alone and with air fares much more expensive I'm delighted to make a saving where I can. Thanks again.😀

beggars_bush · 24-05-2022 8:31am

family plus tickets with ryanair come with prebooked seats.

I've actually flown before where one of us was with the child and the other got a nice 2 hour break! On a 6 hour flight I remember us changing seats to give each other a break!

Layne · 10-08-2022 7:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119104868#Comment_119104868

Tried (to no avail) checking in online this evening for a flight on Friday. We have no seats paid for and I refuse to pay on a point of principle.

The latest ploy they have is that you cannot check in online until within 24 hours of the flight departure time if you are not going to pay for seats.

Thank you Ryanair. I know ye are a company and need to turn a profit but my God do ye make awkward and frustrating for your customers.

Caranica · 10-08-2022 8:20pm

Leave it until about 6 hours before the flight. It's not comfortable to do that but you'll be rewarded. I've had emergency exit rows, aisle seats and rows to myself as opposed to guaranteed middle seats if you check in early in the window.

Nigel Fairservice · 10-08-2022 11:15pm

I usually check in at the last minute and nearly always get the window or aisle seat.

acequion · 19-08-2022 9:42pm

I've just got back this evening from a week's holiday. I got the random seating both times and middle seat both times and that's with checking in close enough to departure. That said, on outgoing I got the emergency aisle, middle of the plane and only two of us there so I could move out to aisle and put bags on the middle seat. Coming back the plane was jam packed, but I was in row 4, middle with seats occupied either side but so close to the front it was really fast to get out.

Nigel Fairservice · 21-08-2022 1:16am

I just checked in for my flight early tomorrow afternoon. I got the window seat. Happy with that.

ArmaniJeanss · 22-08-2022 11:15am

I can't remember - can you abandon the check-in process if you don't like your initial seat, and try again an hour later in the hope of a different seat?

Nigel Fairservice · 23-08-2022 6:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119504842#Comment_119504842

Don't think so. If you don't like your assigned seat you can pay to change it I think.

AngryLips · 23-08-2022 7:23am

I find that they will prioritise randomly allocating middle seats if you check in too early, in the hope that you upgrade to a window/aisle seat. But if you leave it closer to last minute, you're more likely to get a window/aisle. That said, it's a good idea to check the seat availability as you approach the check-in deadline because, if it's a full flight a middle seat might be all that's left if you leave it too last minute.

Ryanair, should you prebook seating?

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