Ryanair double price of seat selection.

Johnnyscotsman

You have to admire them. Get around flight price hikes by upping the ancillary options. There will be the usual outrage but I always check the Aer Lingus price and then go through the process with Ryanair - seats, priority, the lot. Still nearly always cheaper on the routes I use.

jjbrien

I was looking at flying Manchester back to Dublin cheapest Aer Lingus options were in pounds £34.99 Ryanair was £16.99 then if you wanted to add a bag and a seat plus piority came out almost the same so ya Ryanair is usually cheaper. Aer Lingus has really stopped competing in my opinion

Bazzy

unless you have kids or are going a very long distance I cant see why youd want to pay for a seat its madness most of the short hops are less and two hours

trellheim

Info

https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/travel-news/ryanair-doubles-the-price-of-standard-seat-selection-its-your-choice-36738777.html

Personally I am just waiting till they start charging for wheelies at the gate although I cant think how they are going to do it without slowing down boarding to an unusable pace.

kevinandrew

I fly Ryanair a lot, the past few years have seen some big improvements and I've had no problem flying them but there's been a noticeable slide in the past few months. The frequent changes in seat policy, baggage rules and pricing has been confusing for passengers and difficult to implement for ground staff. 


The most recent hand baggage rules means only passengers with priority boarding can bring on a large wheelie bag, everyone else who tries to bring one gets it checked in at the gate for free anyway. Not exactly fair and on a recent flight to Barcelona our departure was delayed while they loaded about 70-90 wheelie bags that got gate checked. The return saw almost everyone on board pay for priority boarding, the queue was literally double the length of the standard boarding and was as chaotic as ever. 


I can see the rules changing again by next year, especially if my recent flights are anything to go by! 

Bazzy wrote: »

unless you have kids or are going a very long distance I cant see why youd want to pay for a seat its madness most of the short hops are less and two hours

Ryanair appear to be automatically assigning middle seats to those who don't pre pay, no fun for a lot of people, even on just 2 hour flights!

Tenzor07

€13 to book a seat on AL...

On a recent flight I didn't bother paying and got row 13 outbound, aisle seat so perfect...
On the return leg I got allocated row 18, window seat with no one in the middle, so €0

I'd not bothering paying for a seat unless flight was 5 hours+

OldMrBrennan83

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kevinandrew

Aer Lingus charges €15.99 for over wing exit seats, €13.99 for the first seven rows and €9.99 for all other standard seats. 

Ryanair's is more complicated, €18 for front row, €15 for the remaining four front rows, anything from €12 to €7 for anything forward of the wing, €15 for the over wing exits and then it varies from €8 to €3 down the back depending on whether you want a window, aisle or middle seat!   

Some people don't care where they sit and that's fair enough but a lot of people do have preference and will pay the extra but I think Ryanair is pushing the limit with how much it can get away with charging. Nothing beats BA having the audacity to charge £50+ seat selection for business class passengers on long haul!

jjbrien

They might not be able to get away with spiting people up or adding extra charges for stuff for much longer the UK government is on to them https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/24/crackdown-airline-hidden-fees/

billy few mates

Patww79 wrote: »

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Over a nice coffee or a drink paid for with the money you saved by not paying for a seat...;)
That’s what I do anyway, I never pay to choose a seat, I haven’t used Ryanair since they had the cancellation crisis last year but when I did I always checked in as late as possible and found I quite often got a better seat ‘randomly allocated’ to me. I haven’t used Aer Lingus much recently but when I do I check in the day before and take whatever free seat they give me....

Tenger

Tenzor07 wrote: »

€13 to book a seat on AL...

On a recent flight I didn't bother paying and got row 13 outbound, aisle seat so perfect...
On the return leg I got allocated row 18, window seat with no one in the middle, so €0

I'd not bothering paying for a seat unless flight was 5 hours+

I think the seat selection is targeted at groups or families who want to be seated together. Personally when traveling alone I dont really care where I sit, I'll be dozing anyway.

nsa0bupkd3948x

jjbrien wrote: »

They might not be able to get away with spiting people up or adding extra charges for stuff for much longer the UK government is on to them https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/24/crackdown-airline-hidden-fees/

For example, Ryanair charges a fee of £115 to change a name on a booking online, or £160 at the airport.

EasyJet charges £47 for a name change within 60 days of a flight if done online, or £52 via their call centre. It is free to correct a spelling mistake.

If they ban name change fees the touts will be all over that booking out flights around match times etc.

Noxegon

Patww79 wrote: »

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Nice idea in principle, but I'd rather be sitting next to my partner in the event of an in flight emergency of any kind.

Just my €0.02.

plodder

jjbrien wrote: »

They might not be able to get away with spiting people up or adding extra charges for stuff for much longer the UK government is on to them https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/24/crackdown-airline-hidden-fees/

I think you can make a case for outlawing "punishment" charges, eg deliberately separating groups who are traveling on the same booking, but the concept of separate charges is fair enough in general, so long as they aren't hidden (which they aren't). Not charging for name changes would be particularly absurd.

ted1

Johnnyscotsman wrote: »

You have to admire them. Get around flight price hikes by upping the ancillary options. There will be the usual outrage but I always check the Aer Lingus price and then go through the process with Ryanair - seats, priority, the lot. Still nearly always cheaper on the routes I use.

Here’s an idea, don’t select your seat.

ted1

moloner4 wrote: »

Bazzy wrote: »

unless you have kids or are going a very long distance I cant see why youd want to pay for a seat its madness most of the short hops are less and two hours

If you going soley yes, but travelling with friends or colleagues it's annoying that you are only split so that you can pay more to be with them.

If you are travelling with colleagues dies it matter what they charge? Surely the company is picking up the bill

OldMrBrennan83

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OldMrBrennan83

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Irish Steve

The issue that I think should be stamped on is where a family member pays the mandatory fee because they are travelling with children, and then the other family member (on the same booking) is dumped somewhere random unless they pay an additional seat booking fee. If it's deemed unacceptable (by the regulators) to separate children from parents, that should extend to all people travelling on the same booking.

In the event of any sort of emergency, expecting one family member to deal with 2 (or more) oxygen masks is possibly a big ask, and just having the other family member in close proximity should be a requirement to assist with that safety issue. As for the implications of trying to deal with an emergency evacuation, I'm not sure I want to go there, the potential for massive problems in that scenario is not a nice one to think about.

faoiarvok

billy few mates wrote: »

I just Refuse to move, even though I haven't paid for my seat I just say I paid for this seat and put my headphones back on.

Username checks out

TrustedApple

Last time I went to London for me and the girlfirend.

Aer lingus wonted from cork 350 euros return.

Ryan air i paid 100 euros picked my seats on the way back then add the train it's 165 euros.

For a one hour flight it was 185 euros return extra with Aer.

To be fair the coffee is nicer with Ryan air ...

We might give out about Ryan air but if we did not get them air line prices would not be this cheap. I was in the US and my co workers nearly died when I told how cheap it is for me to fly in the EU.

flexcon

Guys,

Just used Ryanair from Cork to Standstead return with the other half.

When you want to pick your seat its 2 euro at the time of booking. It's 4 euro after the event.

We decided not to do this, and on a full flight, both of us separated but both on a Window seat.

You have to remember - if enough people complain about paying for seat allocation, then they will just include it in the price as an all inclusive package.

So instead of my flight being 19.99 each way, it will be 22.99 each way. End of the day, its a few euro on top of your flight. I am getting my flight 2 or 4 euro cheaper than you as I chose the option to sit where they would like me to sit.

ted1

TrustedApple wrote: »

Last time I went to London for me and the girlfirend.

Aer lingus wonted from cork 350 euros return.

Ryan air i paid 100 euros picked my seats on the way back then add the train it's 165 euros.

For a one hour flight it was 185 euros return extra with Aer.

To be fair the coffee is nicer with Ryan air ...

We might give out about Ryan air but if we did not get them air line prices would not be this cheap. I was in the US and my co workers nearly died when I told how cheap it is for me to fly in the EU.

The aircoach would have been 20 Euro instead of 65.

Doltanian

ted1 wrote: »

The aircoach would have been 20 Euro instead of 65.

Its closer to €30 going to the Airport.

LiamaDelta

Doltanian wrote: »

Its closer to €30 going to the Airport.

I presumed he meant the train from Stansted to London.

Irish Steve

Friendly hint, can we get back to the topic of Ryanair changing seat booking fees, the diversion into coach and train fares is getting a little too far off topic at this stage.

Thanks

Jamie2k9

It will rise again next year, its a good source of revenue...

billy few mates

Mr.S wrote: »

I hate sitting in the middle seat, even on a short flight so I gladly pay for a window seat.

It's what, 3.99 for the basic seat? Well worth it!

Sure, it doesn't kill me to sit in other sits, but a little comfort goes a long way

Wait til closer to the departure time and you likely won’t have to pay for a window seat...;)
The window (and aisle) seats are premium seats so the software for ‘randomly allocating’ those seats will hold on to them in case someone wants to pay for them, if enough people don’t pay for them they have to be allocated in the end anyway as they have to give you the seat you paid for.
If nobody paid for an aisle or window seat and they were randomly distributed or raffled off 66% of the passengers would get one while the remaining 33% would be allocated the centre row seats.
I used to check in as late as possible and most times I’d be given an aisle or window seat for free....

LiamaDelta

I think their policy of allocating middle seats first actually works against them as there comes a point that there's no rows of 2 or 3 left for couples or groups

Tenger

LiamaDelta wrote: »

I think their policy of allocating middle seats first actually works against them as there comes a point that there's no rows of 2 or 3 left for couples or groups

I disagree. The middle seats are only being allocating at check-in if others have already purchased the seat selection.

jimmycrackcorm

Irish Steve wrote:

In the event of any sort of emergency, expecting one family member to deal with 2 (or more) oxygen masks is possibly a big ask, and just having the other family member in close proximity should be a requirement to assist with that safety issue. As for the implications of trying to deal with an emergency evacuation, I'm not sure I want to go there, the potential for massive problems in that scenario is not a nice one to think about.

That would imply that a single parent travelling shouldn't be allowed to fly with more than two children then.

Irish Steve

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

That would imply that a single parent travelling shouldn't be allowed to fly with more than two children then.

No,just that the issues of dealing with multiple oxygen masks in the event of a pressurisation problem are a potential source of significant stress, at the risk of being pedantic, how do Ryanair (or other airlines) deal with 1 parent and 3 children, or even 2 parents with 3 children.

It's not highlighted that significantly other than to say "parents travelling with small children should deal with their own mask first". The reason for that is simple, if they don't, there is a chance that none of the group will end up wearing their masks, as the time to put the mask on before passing out is very short.

Mebuntu

Irish Steve wrote: »

No,just that the issues of dealing with multiple oxygen masks in the event of a pressurisation problem are a potential source of significant stress, at the risk of being pedantic, how do Ryanair (or other airlines) deal with 1 parent and 3 children, or even 2 parents with 3 children.

It's not highlighted that significantly other than to say "parents travelling with small children should deal with their own mask first". The reason for that is simple, if they don't, there is a chance that none of the group will end up wearing their masks, as the time to put the mask on before passing out is very short.

I think you possibly do a disservice to other adults on board who are seated beside other people's children. I certainly wouldn't just sit there and not help a child sitting beside me to get his/her mask on.

The long-standing standard flight safety announcement is long overdue an overhaul anyway. "parents travelling with small children should deal with their own mask first" doesn't cut it at all. The announcement re the masks dropping by itself is not sufficient either. No mention is made of the fact that the aircraft will be descending very rapidly which would be the scariest part of loss of pressure and convince many passengers that it is crashing. If they are told in advance they'd at least know that it is standard procedure in the event.

LiamaDelta

Tenger wrote: »

I disagree. The middle seats are only being allocating at check-in if others have already purchased the seat selection.

True somewhat and in general I suppose the threat of a middle seat is enough to make people pay for selection. But on one of my recent flights I went to check in a few days before and I was willing to pay for two seats together but there were none left!

LiamaDelta

Mebuntu wrote: »

The long-standing standard flight safety announcement is long overdue an overhaul anyway. "parents travelling with small children should deal with their own mask first" doesn't cut it at all.

Why do you think this?

Mebuntu

LiamaDelta wrote: »

Why do you think this?

Firstly, why should the announcement refer only to “small children” what’s the definition of “a small child”. Even a 12 y/o might need assistance.

Secondly, children could be travelling with other than their parents or school trips, team trips etc.

Thirdly, in the current climate that we are talking about, children of all sizes could be sitting beside other adults around the plane. If the matter is to be taken seriously then that part of the safety announcement should address every adult on the aircraft who is seated beside any child so they can be prepared if the event occurs.

Something on the lines of “Any adult passenger who is seated beside children or beside someone else who might need assistance should make sure to always put their own mask on first. Please take stock now of who you are seated beside.”

PLUS what I said above about passengers not being warned about the emergency descent.

The trouble is that the safety announcement has become something of a boring routine to many passengers and even Flight Attendants. I’ve been on planes where the volume was low and the cabin noise completely obliterated it. On the one occasion when I very politely mentioned it to the flight attendant that I hadn’t been able to hear it she, basically, told me to mind my own business.

Tenger

Mebuntu wrote: »

..........No mention is made of the fact that the aircraft will be descending very rapidly which would be the scariest part of loss of pressure and convince many passengers that it is crashing. If they are told in advance they'd at least know that it is standard procedure in the event.

Not necessarily.......

Mebuntu

Tenger wrote: »

Not necessarily.......

A two word reply doesn't really explain what you are trying to say? Please elaborate.

Carawaystick

Irish Steve wrote: »

No,just that the issues of dealing with multiple oxygen masks in the event of a pressurisation problem are a potential source of significant stress, at the risk of being pedantic, how do Ryanair (or other airlines) deal with 1 parent and 3 children, or even 2 parents with 3 children.

It's not highlighted that significantly other than to say "parents travelling with small children should deal with their own mask first". The reason for that is simple, if they don't, there is a chance that none of the group will end up wearing their masks, as the time to put the mask on before passing out is very short.

I always wonder how, when you're travelling with a younger than 2 child, the extra oxygen mask appears.

If several children are travelling and seats aren't prebooked, who looks after seperated children?

munchkin_utd

Carawaystick wrote: »

I always wonder how, when you're travelling with a younger than 2 child, the extra oxygen mask appears.

If several children are travelling and seats aren't prebooked, who looks after seperated children?

with ryanair you have to book seats for kids, no way round it