You buy 8 tickets for a take that concert, for example and you and your friends are spread all over the venue....would that be acceptable for all u lot? I've never heard so much crap in my life....paying for seating was designed to allow those who wanted a specific seat to choose it, not to break up a single booking....

Many people can't choose another airline, simply because there is no alternative in many cases.

This. Living in Ireland the choice is usually between EI and FR, both of whom offer a low cost product only. I'd happily pay a bit more for a better product but the only routes I have that option are are long haul.

"You buy 8 tickets for a take that concert, for example and you and your friends are spread all over the venue....would that be acceptable for all u lot?"

Sounds like that really would beifit everyone else - not having a group of 8 all togther making a racket , getting p*****, and generally creating mayhem - or were you call going to sit in silence and commune with each other through the flight?

The other thing is that this is a deliberate change from what was previously available - if this had been the way that FR had always operated from the start there wouldn't be the fuss.

It is now perceived as a worsening of what was previously available.

You're missing the point. If your requirements are seating together then you got that option, from as little as £2 per seat.

I repeat TWO POUNDS, cheaper than a cappuccino!

If you decide to not pre select your seats then you get what your given with all the CoG load balancing dynamics that will be a factor.

Let's put Ryanair in perspective compared to the others:

Ryanair 2017 plan

Cost €6 a seat on my last flight, so €12 per person return. €60 for a group of 5.

Not very cheap is it?

Don't like it? Don't fly RYR. Simple. Next please!

Myself and my partner were seated separately so looked at the cost of changing. I thought we'd only have to pay for a single change, but all seats beside both of us were showing as unavailable. To sit together we'd have had to make two separate changes, cheapest option was 24 euros.


We ended up not bothering and just switching seats after the plane had boarded. There quite a few empty seats so it was easily done. I might be tempted to pay 6 euros but not 24 for a short flight.

Doesn't mean we can't have a discussion about their policies, which can sometimes be self-defeating.



Don't want to read criticism of Ryan Air? Don't open the Ryan Air thread. Simple. Next please.

I'm with HT and m3b here - Ryanair have always branded themselves as a dirt cheap bus service who will try and squeeze every extra penny out of their "customers" if they can. I always expect some ghastly new charge to have turned up when I fly them..

BUT they are cheap, they are safe, they do fly to/from places no-one else does and TBH you get a pretty decent flight normally - it isn't as if they fly LHR - Perth non-stop

TBH they compare very favourably with Cross-Country or Virgin trains - where you can pay a fortune and get no seat at all on a 4 -5 hr long trip

I'm sure no one disagrees. My complaint is that some seem to think that discussion of the pricing policies should go no further than "if you don't like them don't use them"

Of course we can. That was my contribution to the discussion. And if you check my record concerning RYR you will find that I'm no fan of their product. I have consequently never used them! As I've said over and over again, if people object to their policies then don't fly with them. If enough customers vote with their feet the airline is more likely to consider reviewing its policy regarding seating then if people moan but continue to fly with them.

Sure, if buy a 'national' ticket, which allows you to get on the next train by any operator going your way, then you can end up standing. As far as I am aware, such tickets have never been available on airlines!

If on the other hand you buy something more like a plane ticket, then a seat reservation is always included. And if you're buying more than one, then they will, if possible, be adjacent.

And as for 'you have a choice', many FR destinations from second tier airports are served only by FR. Excluding the major holiday destinations, the only ones from EDI which are served by other operators are CPH, STN, and Krakow, I think.

Priority boarding doesn't change the free allocation, paid for PB at booking for a short break in Menorca flying Wednesday from EMA, just checked in got allocated 9B and 32B for me and the wife. Showing 31 rows of 3 completely empty and only 44 allocated seats for the plane... it looks far from full with seats for sale at £14.99

Are adjacent seats available?


I'm wondering if, should two people want to sit together its better to make totally separate bookings - then, you might get away with doing just one change

I'd advise you to read my previous posts before making an arse of yourself.

I won't be flying Ryanair when there's a suitable option not to, and think that market will decide, but it is by no means cheap.

Seats available left and right of 9B, full row of 3 (ABC) to front (row 8) and rear (row 10) opposite aisle (8 & 9 DEF).

They'll get the additional £6 seat booking for return flight, so I guess they win.

It's not the cost, Just seems senseless to separate people unnecessarily. Thought with Priority boarding we might have had more chance of being formally seated together (as opposed to grabbing the spare seats anyway)

Any time I book a FR flight I always pre-select my outbound and inbound seat allocation. I just rather have control of that myself. Yes, it's costing additional but when I add up the ticket, seat allocation, fast track, short term parking, I'm still saving a good amount. It's just hassle free, no drama, no nasty surprises, I'm in control and get what I want.

If I were to try similar itinerary with BA, Shamrock, Stobart, Flybe, Cityjet, rarely will I get an all in total price close to the FR total cost. Admittedly, I'm talking here about bookings I make generally 8 to 12 weeks ahead of departure slot, in some case even further in advance. I frequently fly, combination of commuting for work, pleasure, business travel too. I use any of the Following airports: Southend, City, Stansted, Gatwick cause all are handy for me to be honest. But if I'm using FR then mostly that will be a Stansted departure for me, Orange short term car park, 2 minute walk I'm in the terminal, further 10 minutes I'm through fast track security. Plus I got the seat I want to get on and off the aircraft fast. It just works!

Quite so.

While "I hate Ryanair, I never fly them" is a perfectly valid point of view, it shouldn't be mistaken for one that actually advances the debate. :O

Nor does the equally specious argument that if you've chosen voluntarily to fly a particular airline, you then have no right to be critical of any aspect of their service or T&Cs.