Step 1: Don't fly on Ryanair. Just don't.
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How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight
11–20 of 160 posts
Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight
#12Step 1: Don't fly on Ryanair. Just don't.
If, like me, you fly regularly between the UK and Ireland they're by far the best value and the service is no different to any other carrier.
Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight
#13You say you fly a lot with Ryanair, be great to add some real data to support your plausible hypothesis.
I'm not sure when this change came into play but I reckon I've had the middle seat once, after flying Ryanair on average fortnightly for the last two years. I don't get boarding passes emailed to me so I don't have access to them any more, so can't give actual data unfortunately.
Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight
#14Step 1: Don't fly on Ryanair. Just don't.
Flights I had on Ryanair are merely 1 or max 2 hours long, (not taking the driving up and down the runways in account) and for this period of time some discomfort is perfectly fine.
Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight
#15The article assumes that Ryanair always gives middle seats to the first passengers who check in and don't pay for middle seats. The eventual conclusion is that you should check in later to avoid getting the middle seat. I don't see why the R analysis and pretty visualizations are necessary for that.
Sadly the article lacks evidence that this is the algorithm Ryanair uses. They could equally well hold back the middle seats and offer them to the passengers most likely to pay for an upgrade. In fact, since on a full flight the hypothesized algorithm (give middle seats to the first passengers to check in) should not improve Ryanair's outcome over the old algorithm (give middle seats to the last passengers to check in) I'd guess they are indeed doing something like that.
Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight
#16I don't understand the issue with paying to choose your seat on the budget airlines. My wife and I recently flew Spirit to and Southwest from our destination in the US. Even after adding bags and seat (we even paid for their big front seats) it was still cheaper than Southwest.
From my experience, people in the UK see the charge for a designated seat as scam, they don't understand the budget flight business model.
Ryanair (not a UK company btw) have been a pioneer in this area with aggressive discounting of basic level airfares but with lots of 'upgrade' options.
Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight
#17Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight
#18Isn't aisle seat at least as annoying as middle seat? People walking through the aisle bump into your shoulder all the time, and the stream of people walking through it almost never stops. It's not like you can use it as leg space. Middle is worst of both worlds, except at least you don't get a constant stream of moving people right next to you
As a large person, I can say the aisle is definitely where I want to be. There is a good chance I'll be able to raise the arm rest on the aisle side of my seat, which gives me more room to fidget. I can also more easily get up to stretch.
For contrast, I once had to sit in the middle seat between two people larger than I was, and behind a person who reclined their seat. And when I'm sitting at the window, my head can bump into the curved body of the plane, which is quite obnoxious.
Aisle seat all the way for me!
Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight
#19Step 1: Don't fly on Ryanair. Just don't.
I fly to Europe regularly with Ryanair, it's been amazing in the amount of places I've been able to go with very little money. Most Europe flights are 1-3 hours. Just get pissed enough at the Stanstead Wetherspoons that you don't give a fuck!
Another tip: If they put a yellow tag on your bag to make you check it in the hold, either quickly rip it off between the gate and the plane, or hold your bag so they don't see it. Cabin crew don't know who's bag has been tagged.
Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight
#20Isn't aisle seat at least as annoying as middle seat? People walking through the aisle bump into your shoulder all the time, and the stream of people walking through it almost never stops. It's not like you can use it as leg space. Middle is worst of both worlds, except at least you don't get a constant stream of moving people right next to you
If you know that you care more about access to the restroom or your overhead bags for some reason - aisle, if you think that you're ok and won't need restroom and just want to be left alone with book/laptop/sleeping - window. Never middle.