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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

#51

Post by validationerror »

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…

Or you could just... not make use of any of the extra options and enjoy the cheapest price possible.

I spent a total of 8 EUR to travel from Germany to Bulgaria and back again two years ago with Ryanair. I fly with them whenever possible because they're by far the cheapest option available and I simply manage to not eat or drink something or go online for 2-3 hours, which really should be manageable for pretty much anyone.

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

#52

Post by dazc »

Angostura wrote: post #33
dazc wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For some routes in Europe they are hard to avoid and, to be fair, some other budget airlines are not so much better that it's worth the effort.

Easyjet is much less obnoxious.

Thanks, I'll try them in future if it is an option.

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

#53

Post by kgwgk »

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.

You have the choice between a cheaper (no seat-choosing) flight and a more expensive (seat-choosing) flight. If everyone could choose the price would be somewhere in between and at least some people would be worse off (those who really didn’t care about choosing and would be paying more now and those who would be paying less to choose but now would have less choices).

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

#54

Post by raverbashing »

dazc wrote: post #16
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.

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.

Well, BA charges for a designated seat in business class among other "tricks" they play (like selling a connection that makes you switch between LCY and LHR)

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

#55

Post by mehrdadn »

nathcun wrote: post #27
mehrdadn wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

they may be offsetting a cost elsewhere by doing this. If they wanted to make the same money but allow people to choose their seats they could raise ticket prices for everybody (which wouldn't be fair on those who really don't care about their seat allocation).

Yeah I get what they're doing (and I'm sure other people do too); I'm just saying I see why people feel it's a rip-off nonetheless.

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

#56

Post by validationerror »

fwdpropaganda wrote: post #44
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.

Well, with Ryanair that's often still cheaper by a considerable amount than with other airlines.

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

#57

Post by isostatic »

dazc wrote: post #16
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.

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.

The UK press has spent decades telling people about "rip off Britain". There are usually plenty of choices for people willing to pay.

In transport, you can choose between comfort, speed, time, flexibility, reliability, and a few other factors, and make your choice. London to Manchester options on the train have

* Time -- travel by train "offpeak" and save a fortune over peak

* Comfort -- travel by train "peak" and have more space. Travel in First Class and have more space.

* Speed -- travel by London Midland and Northern rather than Virgin and save a fortune

* Flexibility -- book a fixed train and save

In addition to the plethora of options on the train there's also * Fly -- can be faster (depends where you're going, but from west London to West Manchester it's faster), can be cheaper, can be more comfortable (you're guarenteed a seat), tends to be pricey if you want an element of flexibility, not as flexible as the train or car

* Coach - slower, less comfortable, cheaper

* Drive -- very flexible, slower than the train, requires effort, twice the off peak train cost

* Taxi -- not that expensive, especially for a few people

However people complain that "it's too expensive", despite being able to travel from Manchester right now for £20, or in a couple of hours for £12.

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

#58

Post by jbb67 »

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 don't know anyone who would fly on ryanair. If they were the only 'airline' flying somewhere I would consider that it's not possible to get to that place. As far as I'm concerned they only exist to spam up the flight listings

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

#59

Post by mugsie »

rusk wrote: post #25
nathcun wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

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.

For a 1 / 1.5 hour flight from DUB->LGW I honestly couldn't care how the cabin crew act.

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

#60

Post by koolba »

distances wrote: post #50
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 se…

> On other airlines I frequently have to ask the person in front of me to keep their seat upright.

Do they ever say "No"?

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