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How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight

nathancunn.com

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Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight

#41

Post by maccard »

rusk wrote: post #22
mrarjen wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

the driving up and down the runways can be a significant factor. Ryanair think nothing of keeping their passengers on the tarmac for hours on end.

The same is true for other airlines. Anecdotal, but I've been stranded in airports/on planes far more often with other airlines than I have with ryanair.

Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight

#42

Post by rusk »

raphaelj wrote: post #35
rusk wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would take issue with this. The service with Ryanair is awful. I have never experienced rudeness from cabin crew of other airlines like I have of Ryanair.

Try to fly with American or United.

LOL I'd rather not :D

I was speaking more in the context of other carriers competing with Ryanair on routes.

Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight

#43

Post by fwdpropaganda »

mosselman wrote: post #31

Ryanair is a horrible airline. If you add up random costs you are confronted with during the whole process of flying with them they aren't even that much cheaper. With which I mean expensive meals/drinks, costs for suitcases, costs for checking in at the airport when you didn't have access to internet, etc. Leg space and general facilities are crappy and their handling of cancelled flights, etc is very poor. Whenever…

> Ryanair is a horrible airline. If you add up random costs you are confronted with during the whole process of flying with them they aren't even that much cheaper. Withwhich I mean expensive meals/drinks, costs for suitcases, costs for checking in at the airport when you didn't have access to internet, etc.

Complete BS. Cost of expensive meals and cost for suitcases aren't "random costs". They are entirely predictable and you have to make your decisions based on that. The people who can't do that end up paying for the ones that do.

Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight

#44

Post by fwdpropaganda »

leonk wrote: post #24

Little trick that I do when travelling as a couple: Get one randomly allocated seat, and then pay for the other one next to it (or as close by as possible).

So... you pay for two seats every time you fly?

Edit: Oh, it's a trick for couples. Very smart.

Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight

#45

Post by maccard »

nathcun wrote: post #12
KozmoNau7 wrote: post #2

Step 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.

Possibly depends on where you're flying to/from in the UK (And Ireland I guess), but Aer Lingus are regularly competively priced against the Ryanair flights, Easyjet also works if you're flying into Belfast.

Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight

#46

Post by johnny_and1 »

leonk wrote: post #24

Little trick that I do when travelling as a couple: Get one randomly allocated seat, and then pay for the other one next to it (or as close by as possible).

I thought that all travelling couples did this. I compare it with being allowed to change the door that you can open on a TV show. The costs of choosing two side-by-side seats are greater than choosing just one seat, except for the extra room row. It also depends a bit on the length of the flight. Longer flights make you pay more for choosing a seat.

Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight

#47

Post by xab9 »

neonhomer wrote: post #4

I 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.

The issue is that it's entirely possible to pay more for the seats than for the flight itself. I myself find this an issue, but ymmv.

Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight

#48

Post by rusk »

nathcun wrote: post #40
rusk wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would take issue with this. The service with Ryanair is awful. I have never experienced rudeness from cabin crew of other airlines like I have of Ryanair.

I've flown with them nearly fortnightly for the past two years and never had an issue with them. I guess I don't often have much cause to interact with the staff.

I've had an issue every single time - usually on the return route to Dublin funnily enough. Could be because I'm not flying so frequently alright, in a non-business frame of mind ... always more things to go wrong for a holiday traveler.

Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight

#49

Post by dazc »

mehrdadn wrote: post #23
dazc wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> they don't understand the budget flight business model. Does letting you choose your seat increase their costs? If not, then I can see why people see it as a scam.

The cheapest price tickets are often subsidized by the extra charges that some people are willing to pay. I don't see this as a scam.

Re: How to avoid getting stuck with the middle seat on a Ryanair flight

#50

Post by distances »

mosselman wrote: post #31

Ryanair is a horrible airline. If you add up random costs you are confronted with during the whole process of flying with them they aren't even that much cheaper. With which I mean expensive meals/drinks, costs for suitcases, costs for checking in at the airport when you didn't have access to internet, etc. Leg space and general facilities are crappy and their handling of cancelled flights, etc is very poor. Whenever…

I'm of the opposite opinion. I have yet to incur any extra costs whatsoever -- checking in can be done mobile, bring your own sandwich, etc. I don't mind random seating either, I'll have enough time to spend with my travel buddies at the destination. The leg space is a bit tight, but I love the fact that the chairs can't be lowered. On other airlines I frequently have to ask the person in front of me to keep their seat upright.

They are always the cheapest, even EasyJet doesn't compete for some reason. I prefer Ryanair over any other airline and use them whenever possible.

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