Ryanair - New reserved seating structure(s)

Living Off The Splash · 31-07-2016 9:29am

Our flight was delayed on an Aer Lingus flight last year as "the family" was accommodated by moving people from seats who had paid for them. We missed our take off slot.

While the air hostess was distracted moving people the second group of self entitled were storing their luggage in the overhead lockers at the front of the plane before taking their seats at the back of the plane.

The third set of self entitled were carrying on two and three over sized bags without anything being said to them and taking up other peoples locker space.

I am all in favour of Ryanair's new rules. I only wish there was someway to reserve the locker space over your own seat.

Bob24 · 31-07-2016 11:10am

Living Off The Splash wrote: »

I only wish there was someway to reserve the locker space over your own seat.

Not sure I agree with that. I know what you mean but is having some storage next to your seat not as a basic service the airline should deliver anyway? (as opposed to a paid option)

Airplanes are designed so that everyone gets some storage (bar maybe the front row). If you don't, it has to do with the way the airline is operating (for exemple pushing too much for passengers to take carry-on luggage and not properly enforcing baggage allowances inside the cabin).

A Dub in Glasgo · 31-07-2016 11:14am

Bob24 wrote: »

Not sure I agree with that. I know what you mean but is having some storage next to your seat not as a basic service they airline should deliver anyway? (as opposed to a paid option)

Airplanes are designed so that everyone gets some storage (bar maybe the front row), and if you don't it has to do with the way the airline is operating.

Not true, if all passengers wanted to put stuff up in the lockers, there is not enough space. What does happen though is folk putting stuff up in the overhead lockers that can go under the seat in front of them

Bob24 · 31-07-2016 11:21am

A Dub in Glasgo wrote: »

Not true, if all passengers wanted to put stuff up in the lockers, there is not enough space. What does happen though is folk putting stuff up in the overhead lockers that can go under the seat in front of them

By "stuff" I supposed you mean every single passenger trying to put a large suitcase though.

What I meant to say is that planes are designed so that "having some storage space next to your seat" is a basic service. Most airlines achieve that with no problem.

Ryanair is not completely operating airplanes in the way they were designed to be operated, pushing everyone only to have carry-on luggage and only enforcing cabin bagage allowances when the staff is not busy with something else and/or when there is a quick buck to be made.

(which lately lead them to ask people who are queuing to board if they want to checkin their suitcase for free, but when they are at the gate already many people don't want to do that anymore as they didn't plan for it and have stuff in their suitcase they want to keep with them)

You could say it is just a different business model and charging for storage space in the cabin is a solution to that issue. But realistically I don't think it is possible as it would be very difficult to enforce and cause a mess at boarding with all the people who didn't book not a specific storage location (but who still are entitled for carry-on luggage) not knowing where to put their suitcase.

Mr rebel · 31-07-2016 3:30pm

Priority Boarding is essential for me as it takes so much of the hassle out of the boarding process and not having to worry about overhead locker space. It's a nice feeling to be already sitting in your seat while everyone else faffs about and blocks up the aisle

I'm always pleasantly surprised more passengers don't avail of PB but Ryanair seem to be decreasing the price of it so I expect more will.

CelticRambler · 01-08-2016 11:44am

Mr rebel wrote: »

Priority Boarding is essential for me as it takes so much of the hassle out of the boarding process and not having to worry about overhead locker space.

What hassle? As soon as someone in a Ryanair uniform stands at the boarding gate, a whole load of mad eejits leap up to join the queue (priority or not) and spend ages standing, doing nothing. I wait in the comfortable, air-conditionned spaciousness of the departure lounge till they're all gone, then saunter along, happy to be paddy-last getting my boarding pass scanned, but still end up standing behind a bunch of others on the steps up to the aircraft.

Then the nice RA cabin crew offer to stow my bag for me and work their way up the ailse ordering the stragglers to SIT DOWN! before (usually) offering me an emergency exit row seat. Then the 'plane takes off. I can't think why anyone would want to spend even longer sitting in cramped, stuffy conditions while the spatially challenged traipse past and try to play musical chairs ...

Bob24 · 01-08-2016 11:54am

CelticRambler wrote: »

What hassle? As soon as someone in a Ryanair uniform stands at the boarding gate, a whole load of mad eejits leap up to join the queue (priority or not) and spend ages standing, doing nothing. I wait in the comfortable, air-conditionned spaciousness of the departure lounge till they're all gone, then saunter along, happy to be paddy-last getting my boarding pass scanned, but still end up standing behind a bunch of others on the steps up to the aircraft.

Then the nice RA cabin crew offer to stow my bag for me and work their way up the ailse ordering the stragglers to SIT DOWN! before (usually) offering me an emergency exit row seat. Then the 'plane takes off. I can't think why anyone would want to spend even longer sitting in cramped, stuffy conditions while the spatially challenged traipse past and try to play musical chairs ...

Agreed if you are travelling alone and don't have a large suitcase which you want to make sure you can keep with you.

If you are travelling with an other person and each suitcase ends up on the opposite side of the cabin it can be annoying to be fair. Same if you have fragile items in the suitcase and they request you put it in the hold because cabin storage is really full already.

jimmy180sx · 01-08-2016 11:57am

ðŸ‘† this...the past two years I've waited to get out the plane last and have als way got an emergency exit seat over the wing and bagged safely stowed away above, if not the row behind me overhead locker...all flights DUB-LTN

CelticRambler · 01-08-2016 1:15pm

Bob24 wrote: »

If you are travelling with an other person and each suitcase ends up on the opposite side of the cabin it can be annoying to be fair.

:eek: The opposite side of the cabin is, at most, a whopping 3.53m away ... and, even if it's stowed at the far end of the cabin, why do you need to be rooting around in your suitcase during the flight anyway?

Before RA brought in the second bag concession (which seems to be universally abused) it was perfectly possible to survive a 2-hour flight with a handful of in-flight essentials; nothing's changed.

Maybe that's why my four children are such easy-going travellers - they were reared in the good old days of the supposedly cheap-and-nasty RA and have never forgotten the habits they learnt. :pac:

Bob24 · 01-08-2016 1:20pm

CelticRambler wrote: »

:eek: The opposite side of the cabin is, at most, a whopping 3.53m away ... and, even if it's stowed at the far end of the cabin, why do you need to be rooting around in your suitcase during the flight anyway?

I mean opposite end of the cabin - sorry if that was not clear, English is not my native language and I might have missed a subtlety. While it is not the end of the world to be honest yes it would bother me while exiting the plane if I am sitting in the middle of the cabin and I have one suitcase to collect in the front and another on in the back (especially if it is an airport where only the front door can be opened). It is not the distance, it is the slow flow of people in the corridor preventing you from moving around it (call me impatient but if I can avoid it I prefer not having to wait until everyone else has left).

To each there own I guess - my partner and I prefer getting inside the plane early and knowing all our stuff will be stowed next to us for sure ... which then makes us relaxed for the rest of the journey. That is fine (and probably a good thing) if other people have different preferences.

If I am traveling alone just with a small backpack which is easy to store anywhere ... I on the other hand don't bother and don't mind boarding last.

Michael D Not Higgins · 01-08-2016 1:30pm

How are people getting emergency exit row seats by getting on last if you get a seat assigned at check-in? Or are you paying extra for the seat?

Stark · 01-08-2016 1:53pm

If there's no-one in the emergency exit row they'll move someone in there so there's someone to open the door in case of emergency. Been a long time since I was on a flight where that happened though.

Michael D Not Higgins · 01-08-2016 1:59pm

Stark wrote: »

If there's no-one in the emergency exit row they'll move someone in there so there's someone to open the door in case of emergency. Been a long time since I was on a flight where that happened though.

They don't necessarily pick the last person on the plane though. You'd probably have to ask the cabin crew to sit there, right?

highlydebased · 01-08-2016 3:08pm

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

They don't necessarily pick the last person on the plane though. You'd probably have to ask the cabin crew to sit there, right?

They usually wait until all pax are onboard as it then becomes clear if anybody will be sitting in emergency rows or not. Cabin crew have to ask somebody to sit there. Being the last one on just means you have yet to find your own seat so increases your chances of being asked.

munchkin_utd · 01-08-2016 3:19pm

Mr rebel wrote: »

Priority Boarding is essential for me as it takes so much of the hassle out of the boarding process and not having to worry about overhead locker space. It's a nice feeling to be already sitting in your seat while everyone else faffs about and blocks up the aisle
I'm always pleasantly surprised more passengers don't avail of PB but Ryanair seem to be decreasing the price of it so I expect more will.

you do realise that priority works as its only a fraction of the entire flight.

If everyone went priority then the entire plane would be "boarding first" which of course then means youre back to whoever gets in the queue first and is stubborn enough to stand for an hour gets on first.

with allocated seating theres no need to be on the plane first, and for my last Ryanair flight i was ordering a lovely coffee for myself and the mrs 10m from the gate, the kids playing at a lego corner, as the others were queuing to get past the first door.
indeed, not to board but just to get beyond a door to stand in a queue in a different place slightly nearer the airplane, which hadnt finished emptying the previous passengers! Youd sometimes wonder if there was a €50 note being given out to the first passengers to board, the way some carry on.

DivingDuck · 01-08-2016 5:01pm

munchkin_utd wrote: »

indeed, not to board but just to get beyond a door to stand in a queue in a different place slightly nearer the airplane, which hadnt finished emptying the previous passengers! Youd sometimes wonder if there was a €50 note being given out to the first passengers to board, the way some carry on.

I'd sit on the wing for a guarantee of having my bag close enough that I can make sure nobody's dipping into it to relieve me of my valuables.

Mr rebel · 01-08-2016 6:47pm

I'm just one of those annoying passengers then who has to board first:o

BrokenMan · 02-08-2016 1:05am

What this thread and many more prove is that we are all different.
Some people like to pay to be sure they sit together.
Some people like to queue early to make sure they get to have their bags near them in the bins.
Some people, like me, are hoping they will be asked to put their cabin baggage in the hold when they are dropping off their checked in bag.
And you know what, we are all entitled to that.
Except the tool who's sitting in my ore booked seat. He can sod right off

CelticRambler · 02-08-2016 8:17am

Bob24 wrote: »

While it is not the end of the world to be honest yes it would bother me while exiting the plane if I am sitting in the middle of the cabin and I have one suitcase to collect in the front and another on in the back (especially if it is an airport where only the front door can be opened). It is not the distance, it is the slow flow of people in the corridor preventing you from moving around it (call me impatient but if I can avoid it I prefer not having to wait until everyone else has left).

Nope. Still don't understand the logic. If it's really that important to you to have your bag next to you, put it under the seat in front. I've never heard of anyone's under-seat space being "stolen" by another passenger" ... but if you're sitting in the middle, you're going to be held up by the slow flow of people regardless of whether you've got your bag with you or not.

Even if you're the last one off the 'plane, you can easily be at passport control ahead of the priority boarders, e.g. in Dublin, by taking the empty stairs instead of queuing for the escalators.

I'd love to know how many of the people who purchase priority boarding also buy a fast-track pass for the security gate ...

Bob24 · 02-08-2016 8:47am

CelticRambler wrote: »

If it's really that important to you to have your bag next to you, put it under the seat in front.

Yes, as I have said already this is what I do if I have a small backpack. I was talking about larger suitcases here.

CelticRambler wrote: »

if you're sitting in the middle, you're going to be held up by the slow flow of people regardless of whether you've got your bag with you or not.

Nope, not the same for the example I mentioned. If your are sitting in the middle and have a suitcase to collect in front and another one to collect at the back (and especially if only the front door of the cabin can be open) ... You basically have to wait for everyone else to have left before you can get your bags and you can't see what's happening to them while you are waiting.

Again, it is fine for you and I to have different personal preferences. I have less "competition" when I try to stow my stuff first to make sure it is next to me and I will be at ease for the rest of the flight, and you have more time to relax next to the gate because you're not concerned about that. Everyone's happy.

CelticRambler · 02-08-2016 11:20am

Bob24 wrote: »

If your are sitting in the middle and have a suitcase to collect in front and another one to collect at the back (and especially if only the front door of the cabin can be open) ... You basically have to wait for everyone else to have left before you can get your bags and you can't see what's happening to them while you are waiting.

How can you have two suitcases to collect? You're only allowed one! If you're travelling with someone else, then what's to stop them going one way and you going the other, and the two of you meeting up outside on the tarmac?

Bob24 · 02-08-2016 11:25am

CelticRambler wrote: »

How can you have two suitcases to collect? You're only allowed one! If you're travelling with someone else, then what's to stop them going one way and you going the other, and the two of you meeting up outside on the tarmac?

See the original post where I mention this:

Bob24 wrote: »

If you are travelling with an other person and each suitcase ends up on the opposite side of the cabin it can be annoying to be fair. Same if you have fragile items in the suitcase and they request you put it in the hold because cabin storage is really full already.

I do tend to help my partner with stowing/collecting her suitcase if it is heavy.

A I said, we just have different preferences. Why absolutely looking at proving that your way is the best one and other people's are flawed? It just is the one you prefer based on your own circumstances (circumstances are also something which changes the way people behave besides personal preferences - as I have mentioned if I am traveling alone with a small bag I will do the same as you and board towards the end rather than bothering with queuing).

kerry4sam · 03-08-2016 3:11pm

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

How are people getting emergency exit row seats by getting on last if you get a seat assigned at check-in? Or are you paying extra for the seat?

I've been on flights where those seats were not chosen (pre-selected before boarding).
Flight attendants then went around asking people if they would take those seats (at no extra cost) to ensure they were in use for the flight(s).

Fred Swanson · 03-08-2016 3:29pm

This post has been deleted.

Bob24 · 03-08-2016 3:38pm

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Weird ... I thought it was standard industry practise to make sure there is a passenger sitting on that row who has been informed of how to open the emergency exit.

SteM · 03-08-2016 3:39pm

Makes sense to put someone there, makes a customer happy and might make them consider booking the seat in the future.

Fagashlil · 03-08-2016 4:35pm

Fred Swanson wrote: »

I tell you one thing, Wizz Air would never allow anyone an exit seat for free. Even after it was obvious that no one would be seated there.

That's odd, FR tried that a few years ago when they started with the reserving of rows 1&2 and the over wings, and after a few months the IAA ruled that they had to be occupied for safety

Fred Swanson · 03-08-2016 4:39pm

This post has been deleted.

Gatica · 16-08-2016 12:20pm

CelticRambler wrote: »

I'd love to know how many of the people who purchase priority boarding also buy a fast-track pass for the security gate ...

The one time we got one, we got the other too. We'd connecting flights and no way to guarantee that the first wouldn't be late. I've always "valuables" in my hand-luggage and would rather not have to check it in, so prefer to be there early enough to keep my bag, as well as not have it miles away on the plane (though I've no paranoia about anyone sneakily stealing onboard), therefore without being able to guarantee this decided to pay for priority boarding. So when we were delayed it was nice to just walk up past the huge boarding queue and be able to get in right away, stow bags and sit down. We also got the spacy 2nd row seat so I could get in and out easily for a walk or for the loo. I might also add that I'm pregnant so hubby wanted to make it as comfortable for me as possible. So we also got fast-track so the security queue was also quick.

Riskymove · 16-08-2016 1:32pm

munchkin_utd wrote: »

you do realise that priority works as its only a fraction of the entire flight.

I usually pre-pay for an exit row so get priority with it

In most airports it works fine....but...I have had the experience of getting called first and then ending up getting on a bus to the plane!!

As a result the people who were called first actually boarded last!

Gatica · 16-08-2016 1:58pm

tbh, unless you're a frail old lady, I really don't get why people would travel with a carry case that they cannot lift themselves overhead... :rolleyes:
Most other passengers I find are helpful to lend someone a hand and often you wouldn't necessarily have to do it for someone in your party sitting far from you.

Fred Swanson · 16-08-2016 2:22pm

This post has been deleted.

Mr rebel · 17-08-2016 3:46pm

Just wondering when can you avail of the free seat selection? Is it a week before your flight?

Fred Swanson · 17-08-2016 3:58pm

This post has been deleted.

mjp · 17-08-2016 6:25pm

Booking Ryanair flight for winter sun break for two of us but only 1 seat left st current price wit it increasing by â‚¬40 after that. If I book it off phone and computer for separate seats can I get the final seat price on both bookings at same time or will they time me out.

Feedback much appreciated.

Locker10a · 17-08-2016 7:10pm

Doubt it, will it not give you the two tickets at the same price ? Have you tried proceeding ?

uck51js9zml2yt · 18-08-2016 6:20pm

I doubt it. Clear your cookies on your browser , see if it helps.

grimm2005 · 19-08-2016 1:57pm

In my experience if you book them together they'll both be the higher price but if you make 2 separate bookings you'll get one at cheaper price and then the next at the higher price.

Would be fairly definite you won't get them both at cheaper price but better than nothing I reckon

alwald · 19-08-2016 2:04pm

grimm2005 wrote:

In my experience if you book them together they'll both be the higher price but if you make 2 separate bookings you'll get one at cheaper price and then the next at the higher price.

I agree as I was in a similar situation few years ago.

0lordy · 19-08-2016 2:10pm

Agreed as above.

Also: If you try to book single seats simultaneously at the lower price through different devices or whatever, it will allow one to go through, but the other will get a "Card Denied" type error, forcing you to go back to the start, and get hit with the higher price.

Only issue with separate bookings is that there is more of a chance of being split up when checking in.

mjp · 19-08-2016 2:55pm

0lordy wrote:

Also: If you try to book single seats simultaneously at the lower price through different devices or whatever, it will allow one to go through, but the other will get a "Card Denied" type error, forcing you to go back to the start, and get hit with the higher price.

0lordy wrote:

Only issue with separate bookings is that there is more of a chance of being split up when checking in.

Yes that's what happened me earlier in week. Both of us booked simultaneously on phones and submitted at same time but mine got a rejected and timeout error and had to go back and rebook and price had changed.

Bigger fool me thinking I'd get one over on Michael o Leary. He hasn't got where he is today without being a cute hoor like he is !!! Worth a try though

Living Off The Splash · 20-08-2016 8:29am

I was chasing flights to Alicante for October with Ryanair. They went from €38 to €46 to €52 to €69 to €79 to €82. They would actually fluctuate during the day. Each time they would say "only 5 seats" left at this price etc. They then collapsed to €48 per flight and have now started increasing like before. I waited until the price came to me and they did.

I often only book the outward flight if priced right but not in inward flight. Ryanair have started the other trick of offering a low price going out but a high price for the return leg. Just book one way and wait for the return leg price to fall back. It usually does.

I don't pay much attention to the only 5 seats left trick. Ryanair want to fill all their seats and will sell them at any price to get full capacity. 4 to 6 weeks out is the best time to book with them.

dashcamdanny · 22-08-2016 12:56pm

This must be a real money spinner for them. But how necessary is it?

Im traveling this time next month with my family of 4 including an infant.

They are recommending I prebook which for the the very basic seats will cos an extra 50 quid. I have already paid for priority on the count of having baby with me.

Free check in is on the 15th sep.

What are the chance of them splitting the family? Is this just another way of scare tacics to make a cheap flight more expensive?

Atlantic Dawn · 22-08-2016 3:25pm

If you want to be sure to be sitting together pay for it, if not take the risk.

yqtwqxqm · 22-08-2016 9:24pm

Living Off The Splash wrote: »

I was chasing flights to Alicante for October with Ryanair. They went from €38 to €46 to €52 to €69 to €79 to €82. They would actually fluctuate during the day. Each time they would say "only 5 seats" left at this price etc. They then collapsed to €48 per flight and have now started increasing like before. I waited until the price came to me and they did.

I often only book the outward flight if priced right but not in inward flight. Ryanair have started the other trick of offering a low price going out but a high price for the return leg. Just book one way and wait for the return leg price to fall back. It usually does.

I don't pay much attention to the only 5 seats left trick. Ryanair want to fill all their seats and will sell them at any price to get full capacity. 4 to 6 weeks out is the best time to book with them.

I have noticed exactly this too.
They have the timing down to a tee. Wait a few days and the return leg is out of sync with the most likely departure dates again and the price is lower for your return leg.
Another great money saver is to fly to the UK for a tenner or so and then you have a huge choice of destinations and prices significantly (sometimes even a few hundred euro) cheaper than the same destination out of Ireland.

Amouar · 23-08-2016 10:31am

dashcamdanny wrote: »

This must be a real money spinner for them. But how necessary is it?

Im traveling this time next month with my family of 4 including an infant.

They are recommending I prebook which for the the very basic seats will cos an extra 50 quid. I have already paid for priority on the count of having baby with me.

Free check in is on the 15th sep.

What are the chance of them splitting the family? Is this just another way of scare tacics to make a cheap flight more expensive?

Try to check in as soon as check in opens. It's almost guaranteed to sit together since the plane is still empty and you're among the first ppl to check in . In case you end up not sitting together, use ryanair live chat and explain the issue to them, they might change your seats for free ( did it for me once), or they will uncheck you from the flight and you can then buy seats and check in again.

A Dub in Glasgo · 23-08-2016 12:46pm

dashcamdanny wrote: »

What are the chance of them splitting the family? Is this just another way of scare tacics to make a cheap flight more expensive?

Very very low a long as you check in when the free window opens

ger664 · 23-08-2016 9:08pm

Checked in 5 people on the way out and back from faro with 4 days left both times. all seated together both times.

km79 · 23-08-2016 9:29pm

Amouar wrote: »

Try to check in as soon as check in opens. It's almost guaranteed to sit together since the plane is still empty and you're among the first ppl to check in . In case you end up not sitting together, use ryanair live chat and explain the issue to them, they might change your seats for free ( did it for me once), or they will uncheck you from the flight and you can then buy seats and check in again.

If they have an infant do they not HAVE to pay for seats now to ensure they are sitting together under the new fees system ?

dashcamdanny · 24-08-2016 11:42am

km79 wrote: »

If they have an infant do they not HAVE to pay for seats now to ensure they are sitting together under the new fees system ?

I dont think so. The babies ticket was 20 euro to sit on my lap. This could be a real pain for a stranger next to me, as well as me. A 2 year old can get heavy after 2 hours of pawing and poking to get free.

Would be essential really that I have my wife beside me to help keep baby calm and settled.

Ryanair - New reserved seating structure(s)

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