Ryanair seating policy!

hurler32

<Snipped the hyperbole>
Booked a flight for family of 5 to Europe all teenagers and ourselves husband-wife . When I decline paying for seats on check in , it allocates 5 middle seats all over the plane ... none within talking distance of each other not to mind even 2 of the 5 together . Their aloghterim it appears is set to have families seated as far away from each other as possible and split up to individual seats ... all their short of doing is putting children in cages away from their parents ....
Wouldn’t it be easier charge everyone extra fares when they book rather than forcing people to pay extra for their seats at check in and pi55ing people off ??

Fann Linn

Talk to Joe>>>>>>>>>>

RocketRaccoon

Just pay the extra few euro and this won't be an issue. If your tickets cost an extra €10 each but you got to sit together would you have paid it?

endacl

Great policy. Peace and quiet for the flight.

One thing O'Leary got right.

Lau2976

What difference does it make if it was included as a hidden charge or an upfront one?

If I’m traveling alone I don’t care where I sit so I’m not going to pay extra for it. This system allows for you and me to get what we want.

bertsmom

If you were fully aware you had to pay for seat of your choice why didn't you just pay it? Why wait until you see as is most likely ye end up not together and then decide it's not worth paying for but it is worth logging onto an internet forum to whinge about!

Also if I'm travelling alone or with my partner (who I can bear to be separated from for a few hours!) then I do not want to pay extra so you and your teenagers can sit together!

Hurrache

bertsmom wrote: »

Also if I'm travelling alone or with my partner (who I can bear to be separated from for a few hours!) then I do not want to pay extra so you and your teenagers can sit together!

Why would you have to pay more to automatically allocate groups together?

wirelessdude01

Just pay for the seats together and leave the internet in peace. This rubbish has been done to death online at this stage.

Squatter

hurler32 wrote: »

Wouldn’t it be easier charge everyone extra fares when they book rather than forcing people to pay extra for their seats at check in and pi55ing people off ??

If you don't like Ryanair's business model then find someone else to fly with.

Problem solved.

Mebuntu

hurler32 wrote: »

Ryanair is up there with Donald Trump separating children from their families !
Booked a flight for family of 5 to Europe all teenagers and ourselves husband-wife . When I decline paying for seats on check in , it allocates 5 middle seats all over the plane ... none within talking distance of each other not to mind even 2 of the 5 together . Their aloghterim it appears is set to have families seated as far away from each other as possible and split up to individual seats ... all their short of doing is putting children in cages away from their parents ....
Wouldn’t it be easier charge everyone extra fares when they book rather than forcing people to pay extra for their seats at check in and pi55ing people off ??

1.By chosing not to pay for seats you're the one who is separating them not Ryanair. The best/preferred seats are, naturally, reserved for those who pay.

2. You can pay for seats at the same time as you book the flights and they are often cheaper the earlier you book. You don't have to wait til you are checking in.

AfterDusk

The problem is that the system deliberately separates parties travelling together, including families, when there are ample seats together remaining. It is done to purposely force people to pay the extra. It's disgusting.

The J Stands for Jay

Ryanair pro money seating policy!

Minister

My partner and her daughter flew to the UK yesterday with Ryanair. They assumed that as it was a thirteen year old girl and an adult they would be seated together. No. They were seated ten rows apart. Furthermore, they had to board the aircraft via separate stairways.

When my partner asked the assistance of the cabin crew for help to rectify this she was rebuffed and asked to take her seat as the flight was busy.

For her return tomorrow it turns out she is seated three rows away from her daughter. She will be attempting to rectify this at the airport.

Herself is, rightly, livid as
1) The daughter is effectively an unaccompanied minor
2) in the event of an aircraft emergency the splitting up of parents and children could be a health and safety issue
3) The childs personal safety is at risk being seated ten rows away from her mum, and beside unknown adults.

I phoned the Aviation Regulator today. Lovely lady said not their responsibility; but that of the Irish Aviation Authority. The IAA didn’t take it seriously even though they are, by remit, responsible for aviation safety. (Interestingly, the IAA are also commercial in their operations as they set and receive landing charges with airlines etc. So, surely there is a conflict if they regulate the same airlines they have a commercial relationship with?)

Before those people come back and say pay your money please ask yourselves do an airline have a duty of care to the safety of their passengers ? I imagine if a thirteen year old girl was sexually assaulted on an aircraft where she had, intentionally, been separated from her guardian Ryanair would receive more adverse publicity.

Squatter

AfterDusk wrote: »

The problem is that the system deliberately separates parties travelling together, including families, when there are ample seats together remaining. It is done to purposely force people to pay the extra. It's disgusting.

In what way are people "forced" to pay the extra?    Does the Ryanair website apply cyber clamps and forceps to travelling families' goolies?    If so, then I'd greatly appreciate some pictorial evidence.

L1011

Unaccompanied minors are actually allowed fly on their own. Ryanair however insists on 16+ so I find it odd they don't force a seat booking. They have a method for younger children, believe one adult has to pay and the kids are seated adjacent without another payment

rosmoke

There's a button there, you can select the seats you want, and pay extra.

When I travel alone or with my wife, I usually don't choose the seats as it doesn't really matter.

But I wonder, what kind of parent would not book seats to sit next to their 13 year old?

Minister

rosmoke wrote: »

There's a button there, you can select the seats you want, and pay extra.

When I travel alone or with my wife, I usually don't choose the seats as it doesn't really matter.

But I wonder, what kind of parent would not book seats to sit next to their 13 year old?

Please re-read my comment before you react with an unthought out reply. Stupid, stupid and churlish post by you, sir.

Squatter

Minister wrote: »

My partner and her daughter flew to the UK yesterday with Ryanair. They assumed that as it was a thirteen year old girl and an adult they would be seated together. No. They were seated ten rows apart. Furthermore, they had to board the aircraft via separate stairways.

When my partner asked the assistance of the cabin crew for help to rectify this she was rebuffed and asked to take her seat as the flight was busy.

For her return tomorrow it turns out she is seated three rows away from her daughter. She will be attempting to rectify this at the airport.

Herself is, rightly, livid as
1) The daughter is effectively an unaccompanied minor
2) in the event of an aircraft emergency the splitting up of parents and children could be a health and safety issue
3) The childs personal safety is at risk being seated ten rows away from her mum, and beside unknown adults.

I phoned the Aviation Regulator today. Lovely lady said not their responsibility; but that of the Irish Aviation Authority. The IAA didn’t take it seriously even though they are, by remit, responsible for aviation safety. (Interestingly, the IAA are also commercial in their operations as they set and receive landing charges with airlines etc. So, surely there is a conflict if they regulate the same airlines they have a commercial relationship with?)

Before those people come back and say pay your money please ask yourselves do an airline have a duty of care to the safety of their passengers ? I imagine if a thirteen year old girl was sexually assaulted on an aircraft where she had, intentionally, been separated from her guardian Ryanair would receive more adverse publicity.

You don't think that some of the adverse publicity might also land on the shoulders of the adult who was too parsimonious to fork out a few euros extra in order to ensure that she sat beside her teenage daughter?

irish_goat

Take your teenage daughter out of the bubble wrap, she will survive a 1 hour flight sat by herself.

893bet

AfterDusk wrote: »

The problem is that the system deliberately separates parties travelling together, including families, when there are ample seats together remaining. It is done to purposely force people to pay the extra. It's disgusting.

Incorrect. The algoriam is ensuring that the seats remaining together are kept for those willing to pay for it. If you chose not to it will try and put you where it suits the system......so that as many seats remaining together are maintained for those who are actually willing to pay for the privilege.

Squatter

irish_goat wrote: »

Take your teenage daughter out of the bubble wrap, she will survive a 1 hour flight sat by herself.

She's not his daughter - she's his partner's daughter! If she was his daughter he'd probably have paid the extra charge.

Minister

L1011 wrote: »

Unaccompanied minors are actually allowed fly on their own. Ryanair however insists on 16+ so I find it odd they don't force a seat booking. They have a method for younger children, believe one adult has to pay and the kids are seated adjacent without another payment

Thanks for info. I will let herself know.

We try and avoid Ryanair but this time it was the most convenient. First time flying them in four years and as she is English are over and back to UK quite a bit. Try to avoid as they are bloody awful and, by all accounts, treat their staff poorly.

My thoughts are do they not have a duty of care for safety of younger customers and, thus, should not force parents to sit with younger children.

Minister

Again.........

Before those people come back and say pay your money please ask yourselves do an airline have a duty of care to the safety of their passengers ? I imagine if a thirteen year old girl was sexually assaulted on an aircraft where she had, intentionally, been separated from her guardian Ryanair would receive more adverse publicity.

It is the safety issue of a thirteen year old. If you are not a parent of a thirteen year old girl and commenting as a reaction - you haven’t a bloody clue what you are talking about.

Dr Turk Turkelton

Don't know what everyone's complaining about- I'd pay extra to get to sit away from the wife and kids.

rosmoke

Dr Turk Turkelton wrote: »

Don't know what everyone's complaining about- I'd pay extra to get to sit away from the wife and kids.

same haha

Pauliedragon

Minister wrote: »

My partner and her daughter flew to the UK yesterday with Ryanair. They assumed that as it was a thirteen year old girl and an adult they would be seated together. No. They were seated ten rows apart. Furthermore, they had to board the aircraft via separate stairways.

When my partner asked the assistance of the cabin crew for help to rectify this she was rebuffed and asked to take her seat as the flight was busy.

For her return tomorrow it turns out she is seated three rows away from her daughter. She will be attempting to rectify this at the airport.

Herself is, rightly, livid as
1) The daughter is effectively an unaccompanied minor
2) in the event of an aircraft emergency the splitting up of parents and children could be a health and safety issue
3) The childs personal safety is at risk being seated ten rows away from her mum, and beside unknown adults.

I phoned the Aviation Regulator today. Lovely lady said not their responsibility; but that of the Irish Aviation Authority. The IAA didn’t take it seriously even though they are, by remit, responsible for aviation safety. (Interestingly, the IAA are also commercial in their operations as they set and receive landing charges with airlines etc. So, surely there is a conflict if they regulate the same airlines they have a commercial relationship with?)

Before those people come back and say pay your money please ask yourselves do an airline have a duty of care to the safety of their passengers ? I imagine if a thirteen year old girl was sexually assaulted on an aircraft where she had, intentionally, been separated from her guardian Ryanair would receive more adverse publicity.

<snip>
It's very clear when you book with Ryanair that if you don't pay the extra mula you don't get a booked seat. You can't miss it so that is careless on whoever made the booking. A lot of airlines allow children 12+ to fly alone and it doesn't seem to cause issues. People love to hammer Ryanair but in my experience Aer Lingus is no better and twice the price most times.

diceyreilly

Minister wrote: »

Thanks for info. I will let herself know.

We try and avoid Ryanair but this time it was the most convenient. First time flying them in four years and as she is English are over and back to UK quite a bit. Try to avoid as they are bloody awful and, by all accounts, treat their staff poorly.

My thoughts are do they not have a duty of care for safety of younger customers and, thus, should not force parents to sit with younger children.

As a former employee of Ryanair and I have a housemate who is currently employed by Ryanair they do not treat their staff badly.

Also the parents have a duty of care for their teenagers 1st and foremost. Although I’m quite confident that Ryanair got all the passengers to the destination as they have always done.

Hitman3000

Pay to seat together, sorted.

Squatter

Minister wrote: »

Again.........

Before those people come back and say pay your money please ask yourselves do an airline have a duty of care to the safety of their passengers ? I imagine if a thirteen year old girl was sexually assaulted on an aircraft where she had, intentionally, been separated from her guardian Ryanair would receive more adverse publicity.

It is the safety issue of a thirteen year old. If you are not a parent of a thirteen year old girl and commenting as a reaction - you haven’t a bloody clue what you are talking about.

So what you're actually arguing here is that Ryanair plc has a duty of care to a 13 year old passenger (who is travelling with one of her parents) that exceeds the duty of care that the parent has for the child? A parent who couldn't be arsed to fork out a few euro extra to ensure her own child's welfare!

I reckon that child should be rescued by Tusla because its mother evidently hasn't the competence to care for it seeing as she expects Ryanair to take on that responsibility.

Charles Babbage

Ryanair's policy is such that those who value cheap tickets get cheaper tickets and those who value sitting beside a particular person get to do so for a small fee. Both groups are happy and everyone has the choice. Some people want their cake and to eat it.

Cork Lass

Dr Turk Turkelton wrote: »

Don't know what everyone's complaining about- I'd pay extra to get to sit away from the wife and kids.

Same, a few years ago I was travelling to London with my 2 daughters aged 11 and 16. I was seatd a few rows ahead of them and the man sitting next to them offered to exchange seats with me. I looked at him as if he was mad and said “no thanks, enjoy your flight”. I would have paid extra for that peace and quiet.

fritzelly

So you booked Ryanair and then are so angered that it would cost an extra 20 euro if that to sit next to someone who is not related to you
The horror - my god, most 13 year olds would be glad to not have to sit next to relatives/parents on a flight

mopi

hurler32 wrote:

Ryanair is up there with Donald Trump separating children from their families ! Booked a flight for family of 5 to Europe all teenagers and ourselves husband-wife . When I decline paying for seats on check in , it allocates 5 middle seats all over the plane ... none within talking distance of each other not to mind even 2 of the 5 together . Their aloghterim it appears is set to have families seated as far away from each other as possible and split up to individual seats ... all their short of doing is putting children in cages away from their parents .... Wouldn’t it be easier charge everyone extra fares when they book rather than forcing people to pay extra for their seats at check in and pi55ing people off ??

hurler32 wrote:

Ryanair is up there with Donald Trump separating children from their families !

This belittles the very real suffering thousands of young children are experiencing this very night. Please find a better way to make a cheap point.

Fann Linn

If you want comfort fly Emirates or Lufthansa. If ye want economy fly Ryanair.
Simples.

L1011

Post that went over the line edited, that type of content isn't acceptable.

Lau2976

Minister wrote: »

I imagine if a thirteen year old girl was sexually assaulted on an aircraft where she had, intentionally, been separated from her guardian Ryanair would receive more adverse publicity.

I think the mother who wouldn’t pay €20 to sit beside her daughter would probably receive more adverse publicity. I know other then the perpetrators that’s who I’d blame.

Your kids 13, not 3. Unless she requires special assistance she’s likely to be perfectly fine on the hour and a half flight. Just like I’m sure she’s perfectly fine every other time she’s unsupervised.

Also this whole “you don’t know unless...” is bs. I was a 13 year old girl once. I would argue that makes me more knowledgeable in the area then you. You didn’t read the policy or you didn’t want to pay. Either way it’s your fault and your problem nobody else.

micosoft

mopi wrote: »

This belittles the very real suffering thousands of young children are experiencing this very night. Please find a better way to make a cheap point.

Agreed. A first world problem if ever there was one...

Tenger

We' re seeing a lot of heated posts here. Please keep in mind the issues of 'standing over your post' and our policy against 'airline bashing'

The fact is that Ryanair have a very public policy of not automatically seating parties together. (This can also happen on other airlines)
Ryanair want you to pay and book your seats.
This was discussed all over Irish media months ago.
Personally I can understand the parents opinion but again the policy is publically known.
I do know that all airlines allow 'unaccompanied minors' to travel alone. I would guess that non-seated together kids on FR are classified similarly?

Also, if you are easily offended by what strangers on the internet may say to you then stay away from chat forums

trick

Charles Babbage wrote: »

Ryanair's policy is such that those who value cheap tickets get cheaper tickets and those who value sitting beside a particular person get to do so for a small fee. Both groups are happy and everyone has the choice. Some people want their cake and to eat it.

100% agree with this!
It’s a budget airline. The more you pay the more you get. Simples.
I recently flew Ryanair. I booked seats in advance.
My way of saving a few quid was to take my own food on board.

It really grates on me when people book a budget airline & want the rules bent because of x, y & z.

Just pay the money!!
I wanted to sit next to my gf on the plane so I paid the money.
The rules should be across the board.
It’s the parents duty of care to make sure their kids are sitting beside them. Not an airline!!

fritzelly

I'm waiting for the day someone asks me could I move so they can sit next to so and so
Will take great delight in telling them to **** off - I paid for my seat unlike you

Fagashlil

I often wonder if people get on a bus and have to sit in seperate seats, do they have such a reaction.

J.pilkington

Look at it another way, Ryanair want to offer the public the possibility to fly as cheaply as possible and can only do this by splitting their offering into multiple offerings where the traveler only picks the ones they want. There are plenty of people who only want a seat, ie no bags, no priority boarding, no window seat, no insurance etc. If you follow OPs request then they need to price seat selection into all fares therefore denying travellers an opportunity to fly as cheaply as possible.

Another point, aisle and window seats are most desirable so it’s surely understandable that these don’t get given away free leaving mainly middle seats for those who don’t want to pay so naturally a high chance that you will get a middle seat.

Car99

hurler32 wrote: »

Ryanair is up there with Donald Trump separating children from their families !
Booked a flight for family of 5 to Europe all teenagers and ourselves husband-wife . When I decline paying for seats on check in , it allocates 5 middle seats all over the plane ... none within talking distance of each other not to mind even 2 of the 5 together . Their aloghterim it appears is set to have families seated as far away from each other as possible and split up to individual seats ... all their short of doing is putting children in cages away from their parents ....
Wouldn’t it be easier charge everyone extra fares when they book rather than forcing people to pay extra for their seats at check in and pi55ing people off ??

No , it's easier that the consumer who wants something pays for it .

trellheim

Ryanair just want to maximise ancillary revenue - selling seat assignments is one major way they do that. Why do you think they gave up on the random seating thing ? It wasn't due to MOL's big heart. Every single thing they do is try and upsell off the basic cheap product. I can't blame them for this.

Also most ryanair flights are only a couple of hours.

Steer55

Be glad of couple hours break from the teenagers. Don't fret they will manage fine without you.

Steer55

Pauliedragon wrote: »

<snip>
It's very clear when you book with Ryanair that if you don't pay the extra mula you don't get a booked seat. You can't miss it so that is careless on whoever made the booking. A lot of airlines allow children 12+ to fly alone and it doesn't seem to cause issues. People love to hammer Ryanair but in my experience Aer Lingus is no better and twice the price most times.

Thus is ridiclous, she's 13. When I was 13 I had a summer job. Go back 50 or 60 years ago and young Irish girls were emigrating for work a year or two later.

Bebop

My partner and I often book the extra legroom seats in Row 16/17 (overwing emergency exits) but sometimes you get under 16s in these seats and by law the cannot occupy an emergency exit seat, the CC inform them of this and find them another seat but if the flight is fully booked this can be a problem, we have seen this several times recently..

Can Ryanair not tell passengers about this when they book online? something like a pop-up message explaining the safety issue in plain language and requiring a click to acknowledge.

VG31

Bebop wrote: »

Can Ryanair not tell passengers about this when they book online? something like a pop-up message explaining the safety issue in plain language and requiring a click to acknowledge.

If you select an exit row seat on Lufthansa you have to confirm that you're over 16, able-bodied etc.

Marcusm

Minister wrote: »

Please re-read my comment before you react with an unthought out reply. Stupid, stupid and churlish post by you, sir.

The lack of thought was you and/or your partner not verifying the seating arrangements!

Noxegon

fritzelly wrote: »

I'm waiting for the day someone asks me could I move so they can sit next to so and so
Will take great delight in telling them to **** off - I paid for my seat unlike you

Would you not maybe say “I’m very sorry, but I’ve paid for this seat and I’m not willing to move from it” instead? There’s no reason to be rude.

Just a thought.

Noxegon

AfterDusk wrote: »

The problem is that the system deliberately separates parties travelling together, including families, when there are ample seats together remaining. It is done to purposely force people to pay the extra. It's disgusting.

It’s probably fairer to say that the seat allocation for each passenger is treated separately, with weight towards the less desirable middle seats.

Many airlines allocate in groups; Ryanair has chosen not to. That’s been well documented at this stage; if you don’t like the seats you’ve been allocated then you do have the option of purchasing different ones.

That said, I wouldn’t like to be in an emergency evacuation with families split around the plane. I wonder if anyone has studied that situation and the potential impact on exit times.