WINDOWS FOR NOTHING AND YOUR AISLES FOR FREE! Did I manage to outsmart Ryanair's seat system? 

I caught a Ryanair flight to fez a few months ago and yes had a middle seat, but in the window seat was a woman with a baby. It was a bit crammed so when the stewardess came along I asked if it would be possible to move so as to give the mother more room. She agreed and once the plane took off I was moved to a window seat where the middle seat was empty.. during the flight I walked back and saw the mother had lifted the armrest and the baby was sound asleep in the middle seat.. a win win situation for us all but not easily repeatable.

I am sure Mr O'leary has now watched this video and has instructed his IT team to make sure this don't happen again unless you pay for the upgrade seats.

RyanAir "kidnapped" me once. Boarded plane but there was a 6 hour delay due to a technical issue. There was no point me going to Dublin anymore (meeting I was going to have happened) but they wouldn't let anyone off the plane. So I had to go to Dublin to come straight back. I complained and got rebuffed so I went to the Scotsman newspaper who covered it in an article. Eventually got the flight refunded after about 18 months.

I’ve been doing this for years. I called if Ryanair bingo! On my most recent trip I got the extra legroom window seat one way & and another window seat on the back.

If you are travelling with a companion the random seat allocator ALWAYS splits you. This is to force you to pay to be together!

Despite these handy tips, Ryanair remains my 'airline of last resort'. They've perfected the trick of squeezing all joy from the act of flying and replacing it with anxiety.

Thanks again Scotty for a very interesting video. No wonder I'm browned off with television programs. So boring and stereotyped but your videos are so fresh and natural. I'm looking forward to more of your genius, and simplistic production. Real life stuff!

Tried your strategy earlier today flying JetStar (Australia's equivalent to RyanAir) on a cheap fare with no seat selection or anything. In the morning I did online check-in to see what the seat map was showing and lo and behold there were two middle seats left with every other seat available being an emergency exit or first row seat. Hence, I decided to hold off checking in till I got to the airport about an hour before departure and low and behold I was spat out a ticket that was emergency exit row!

I totally agree with you, if window and aisle seats are available giving you a middle seat is done out of spite!

When they realise a pax has bagged a free window seat, Ryanair go out and scratch it :) Awesome video Sir! EDIT: and I just noticed the title, haha genuis!!!

That is a nice hack. I remember running for seats. I was wearing comfortable shoes for my sprint for the best seat. Those were good times, since then I have not taken them.

Fascinating! I have to admit to never having flown Ryan air. But tell me, if you have 6 hours in Dublin, why don't you actually go to Dublin? Surely you'd have a better chance of getting your beer and chocs there!

that late check works even better abroad .as a lot of foreign airlines do airport check in and not online .so if you are the last person to check in you are given seat A1 2 3 4 5 or 6 .. the principal being late comers do not delay departure ..

If you are traveling alone without baggage check in as late as possible. Look at what seats are still available to reserve. This gives an approximate idea of how full the flight is. Select random seat and accept the inevitable middle seat. Do your best to be the last to board. Enter the plane from the front (even if your allocated seat is in row 28). Look for a row near the front with only one person in the inevitable middle seat. Confidently sit in the aisle seat. The chance of a latecomer boarding and having a reservation for that very seat is small. With a bit of luck occupier of middle seat will move to the window.. Chance of being challenged is small. Don't ask for permission to move - Ryanair tend to deny as a matter of principle.

Really enjoy this channel. This is a great choice of video and very useful. 👍

Love watching your videos! Also I just checked in for a Ryanair flight from Stansted to Rodez, I did what you said and waited for all the middle seats (and in this case, aisle seats too) to disappear, checked in and got myself a free window seat near the front of the plane. That seat would normally cost about £13 to reserve. Doesn’t seem right paying that much for a seat when the flight itself only cost £10. Great Ryanair travel hack

Thank you Scott. Some minutes with you are always convenient.

I just pay for extra leg room because it also qualifies you to choose a window seat and priority boarding and all that for a tenner each way is alot better than waiting tillthe last minute to check in

I use Ryanair a lot, mostly travelling solo, I never pay for a seat, I start checking once we get to the 24 hour departure time, you can go into the app and look at seat availability so it gives you an idea what you might get on random selection, as people check in the available seats will be fewer and fewer ...usually like on this video I wait until roughly 1 hour or less until the deadline , although be careful you do not miss that,then check in for random seat...often I avoid the middle seat although it happens the odd time you get one but more often than not as the chances of a middle seat are less as they are taken up...incidentally another tip here , keep an eye on what seats are empty until you check in ...its likely by the time boarding comes they will still be empty and sit in one of them if its not a middle seat...you can always move to your allocated seat if someone has that seat at the last minute....

Morning Scott Discovered your channel a couple of weeks ago. Love the channel,you have inspired me to get out and start travelling again. Much support Rich from Chester.

Love this - I think you're definitely onto something with the theory and that it definitely ups your chances. Will be giving it a go on my next flight for sure! Cheers!

a better option is to board the plane last, and choose any free seat on the plane you like !

Many years ago I did Ryanair Liverpool to Dublin and then Dublin to Cork, this was after pier c was split (when arrivals and departures use to mix in the same area). On landing in Dublin I followed the transfer signs and it brought me back through to a side entrance at security where it cut out queuing up but still needed to go back through screening.

I do day trips between Liverpool and Dublin on a regular basis and I try the roulette seat selection most times. Last time I did it, I got a premium window seat in the first row. Most times I do get the isle seat but as it's a very short flight, it doesn't bother me.

I flew Ryanair for the first time in many years back in April. Checked in online the day before, didn't pay any mind to the seat number. Boarded the plane and discovered it was an exit row seat so extra legroom. Best bit was, there were only 4 of us sitting in the exit rows so we each had a set of 3 seats to ourselves!

Thank you for making these interesting video! A big effort to test out a theory. Sharing your finding with all of us.

I do this all the time on flights between Dublin and Malaga. Doesn't always work but it improves your chances of getting an aisle or window seat. Once or twice I got an emergency exit seat. Obviously, Ryanair were holding on to it in the hope of selling it. On my last trip from Malaga to Dublin (in April) I was assigned seat number 29B, thinking that I was out of luck. But to my surprise, I was on the new 737 Max, which has an additional emergency exit in Row 28, and 29A was unoccupied. 29A (and 29F) on the Max have extended legroom (like 2 metres) because of the emergency exit configuration. I reckoned I got the best seat on the aircraft without paying Ryanair a penny extra. The moral of the storey, if you are happy to trust your luck, is to wait until the last minute for online check-in, and you will improve your chances of getting a better seat for free. No guarantee but worth the risk.

I think I'd be miffed if I'd bought a window or aisle only to find Ryanair plonked someone in the middle seat even though the other outer seat was empty. Many years ago when it was free seating on Ryanair, I was flying early morning from Stansted to Dublin. The flight was scarcely a quarter full. I bagged a window and some guy landed himself in the middle seat beside me even though almost all seats around us were empty.

Queues at Dublin Airport stretching outside today. Many flights missed. Its scandalous.

Previously when I was only flying SAS, I wasn't reserving a seat at all up until 24 hours before. Only then you could check in and reserve a seat for free (that wasn't premium) These days I don't find the extra 4 pounds to get the seat I want (again, that's not premium) ahead of time.

Oh no! You've let the secret out! I travel a lot between London / Dublin and also figured this out over the course of my frequent flights

I’m off to Dublin in little over a week from London, using your tactic. Hopefully it will work!

These £5 day trip flights don’t work for me when it costs 3x that much just to get to the damn airport….

Love a bit of Scotty on a Sunday 🏅

People catching the wrong flight is nothing new with Ryanair. Many years ago when their flights cost 1p (with £11.98 tax) each way, I flew to Nice from Stanstead. Being single, and it being the days of the rugby scrum (seats weren't allocated then) I used to wait until last before boarding as usually the person in the aisle seat was asked to move over to the middle seat to allow me to sit down. However on this occassion there were still 30 of us left in the departure lounge. It turned out that a party of 30 elderly women had got on the Nice flight instead of the Marseilles flight and were refusing to get off and get on their own plane at the next gate, holding both planes up for over half an hour. Eventually they were persuaded and we all got on the correct flights eventually. Noone was left behind.

I recently flew easyJet from Amsterdam to Edinburgh and back. I was given an aisle seat going and a window seat coming back at no extra charge. Excellent service better than Holland's blue pride and joy and for a fraction of the price they charge.

Did you hear about Ryanair building new first class lounges? They will be located on the tarmac, open air, with corrugated tin roofs. Complimentary rye crisps and water will be served, but there will be a 20 Pound admission charge.

Like others I wonder if you could have just shuffled over to the window seat once boarding was completed? But I have heard tales of people being told to remain in their allocated seats by cabin crew (something to do with weight distribution)...maybe on a tiny plane but surely not in a 737-800?

I have never had the bottle to do this and so always paid for a window seat. Maybe I'll try next time. But I have risked this with Easyjet and have never been given a middle seat. Incidentally, these flights from GLA to DUB are what Ryanair call duty-free flights, so it's possible to purchase duty free items on board, such as perfumes, tobacco/cigarettes etc, and never have to leave the airport if you're returning same day. The duty-free goods on board tend to be cheaper than purchasing the same items at the duty free shop at Dublin airport.

I presume on the return journey you just scooted over to the unoccupied window seat. The flight attendants wouldn't have a clue what seat you were allocated

I often check in just as I leave the house for the airport, 75% of the time I get what you class as premium seats, front or legroom seats. But middle seats don't bother me, middle seat passenger has the right to both arm rests, not many people know that!

Good one Scott. Love your videos! Cheers from Australia.

I flew London Stansted to Dublin 2 weeks ago, a guy in the row in front of me in the middle seat asked the flight attendant if he, his wife & child could sit together once the flight was underway. The flight attendant said Ok they joined him from the rear of the plane. Obviously didnt pay extra to sit together, just asked when onboard. I also heard someone else ask if they could sit with their family it was allowed. Flight wasn't quite full. I guess that's not sanctioned by O'Leary but the flight staff were happy to oblige.

A 4 Euro voucher! Might as well have given them 4 marbles! The contempt they have for their own passengers. The same in the States with a company called Spirit. If their plan crashed, they'd institute a $5 fee once on the ground as an "early exit" fee.

Surely it's the M80 at Cumbernauld. The M90 runs from Edinburgh to Perth

Great video, would love to see something from the south of Scotland (Duns actually). Duns - Tubbercurry -Trieste is my life journey.

I played Ryanair Random Seat Roulette in March 2020, Prague to Bournemouth. I was literally their only passenger. #covid

Over the last weekend myself and my wife took three Ryanair flights, were separated on each of them, had free seats beside at least one of us and got to sit together. Just under €80 saved by being cheeky.

I have went day trips with Ryanair and never paid for a seat. You fly with Ryanair to go cheap. I’ve had a mix of middle, window and aisle.

At Barcelona - el Prat airport - Ruinair offer and accept payment for a security fast-track which doesn’t exist and never has.

I very regularly book three return flights Dublin to Alicante for wife son and myself. Each time they are allocated outer seats and everytime I'm allocated a middle seat even though I'm the one paying ha ha :). Last week I did an experiment I decided to check in each of us separate individual rather than all one family group and low and behold for first time in years I got an edge seat on outgoing and ingoing. So from now on I'll check in at last minute and individually :)

I love your videos, I am glad I am "flying" with you

Been using this "trick" for years... you can slo just board as the very last person and just pick a seat (if flights not full)

I got the exit a good few times now on the Edinburgh - Dublin and vice versa. Seem to have some luck with the roulette

Very smart, you told everyone! Next time you will get middle seat again, because everybody will wait to the last minute😂

What a brilliant video. Well worth the long day.

Really entertaining video, thank you for this!!

Thanks for this video. It was really interesting to see how Ryanair operate. Debbie & Patrick in New Zealand

I will be trying that trick.. quality!! 😂. I've flown Ryan air for two return journeys .. meh, a plane is a plane. But appreciate that's just my experience.

Check in VERY late, especially if travelling alone. I nearly always get an extra legroom seat because they are the ones left!

Tried to book a middle seat and an aisle seat with TUI and they wouldn't let me. So I booked two aisle seats, when we got to the airport they gave us our seats and we had a window seat and a middle. And yes they charged me for them. Won't be Pre booking again.

Interesting video. However I doubt if this would have worked for flying ex-DUB at the present time. Why ? If you have seen the media reports today there have been massive queues at DUB with the airport telling people that if they are still queuing outside the terminal it is unlikely they will make their flight.

Instead of paying for selected seating, I pay for an "extra seat" which is sometimes cheaper then the "selected seat option" then contact customer service via their web chat, inform them you have paid for an extra seat as an oversize person and they will allocate a window plus middle seat usually row 32.... I call this the Ryanair "Business class" option to G'tee an empty seat next to me

Have just flown ryanair .always choose a rear boarding.have never paid for seat ..i ad £49 including a 20kg case in hold ...cant complain.on a 2 hour flight i dont need food ..although i know at times things go wrong.

Nice one Scott 👍👍👍

Wow Scott you flew over my hometown Saltcoats ❤️

People don't understand that airlines are NOT responsible for the boarding, the airport staff is. So if someone is left behind is because of the ground staff (airport worker) reported to the captain that the boarding is complete. Check your facts before judging.

7:35 Ardrossan and Saltcoats...home for me, well, Ardrossan is anyway.

Scott, On April 25 I was denied access to a Ryanair flight because they said my passport was out of date. It was issued in May 2012 and so was less than 10 years old when I tried to fly. When I took it out they added some extra time because my old passport hadn't expired and so the expiry date was Feb2023. It was valid so I was wrongly denied access to the flight. Can you do a bit of research on this and maybe do a video on it.

Great video mate, enjoyed

If I was allocated an middle seat, I would wait until I was the very last person to board and try to see if there are any good seats left. Obviously the flight must not be full for this method to work.

At least Ryanair didn't leave you in Dire Straits. Oh wait... . There are some horror stories about Ryanair, as you mentioned in the video, Scott. The sheer number of passengers means there will be things that go wrong. I have had issues flying business class on British Airways. The complexity of the modern airport processes and the number of people involved in a flight means there is ample scope for problems, especially at the moment when staff shortages are commonplace. I am glad that your gamble paid off for your two flights though, as you acknowledge, it will not always work.

That was great. Good idea. 👍 thank you

Recent trip to Malta with Ryanair, did pay for seating since i have 2 kids, so went for row 6 out and back. I noticed that on both flights the extra legroom seats (premium) went to row 7-8, so we had extra legroom (Premium) which i did not pay for . Our plane seating plan shows only up to 6. Has anyone else had this.

I won Ryanair Roulette a few weeks back, got allocated seat 5C... A £15 seat to pre-book

I’ve been enjoying your content and going back through your videos! Can I ask about the cityjet RJ85 model on the shelf behind you? I’ve been looking for one for ever! Nothing ever comes up on eBay. Can I ask if you remember where you purchased it from and what make it is. Thanks!

On those occasions when passengers missed their flights through no fault of their own, I'm willing to bet the flights were overbooked and there wouldn't have been room for them

I fly all the time with ryanair and had to laugh at the people who ended up on the madrid flight and not Stansted. They make many announcements with the destination and the flight time on board so I think it's their own fault for not paying attention 🤣🤣

I'm enjoying your videos pal. I haven't travelled with Ryanair for yonks, what 'small' carry on bag did you use please?

Nice one thanks. 👍by the way I love Legia t-shirt.

love the butter hack

Love your shows, Greg in OZ

If you have free seats beside you you can't move into them?

Your system works! Or at least it did that day.

Good job you didn't get stranded in Dublin you would have to sell the aircraft for a cup of coffee very little difference in the the price Biggest ripp off and dump going I'm Irish. Enjoy your travels 👍

The M80 runs in Cumbernauld 😊 the m90 is in Fife

Its easy. They check your ticket at the gate but no longer on the aircraft so the cabin crew have absolutely no idea what seat you are meant to be in. Board last. That way you know your seat will be free but you can scope out what other seats are available and the pick is yours!!! !

I like your Legia Warszawa t-shirt. Be careful wearing it in Warsaw though!

First time with them, this coming Saturday. Half the price of the 2 other carriers we use. If we get 1/2 the service I won’t be able to moan. We went extra legroom and fast security. Still 1/2 price.

Seems like a plan. However, it runs the risk of getting no seat at all. All flights of all airlines are allowed to overbook, meaning to sell more places that available. So if you ever play this game and attempt to check in just before the 4 hour cut off only to find it won’t let you. Trust me, it means the flight is bung full and you’ll be one of a few not going on that flight, why? Because of system set to overbooking

I always wait for the last minute to check in on Ryanair. I always get a window or an aisle seat. Flights do be 90% full though.

The new Ryanair 737 Max 800, “that airplane that crashes a lot”, they stole 2” off everyones legroom to shoehorn in more pax. I came back from Denmark on one of these for the first time two days ago. My random seat was a middle seat, both other seats occupied, one was a muzzle wearer. The second the doors closed, that empty row of three further back in the plane, was all mine…. You got to be observant, and move fast to stake your claim.

Dublin airport is a pain in the baws

I don't get how did u get free of charge for seat? As you pay your flights before check-in?

Great Watch 👌

I paid extra. Stansted to Berlin for extra legroom n window seat to get views of the city

I flew Ryanair once, and they left many passengers behind, as the check in was slow. Had to wait hours for the plane to fly London, and then back to Oslo. No compensation. So, never again. Don’t miss them.

Are you sure that was Dublin? It wasn't raining and the sun was shining.

Another 'Outsmart', eat in town prior to arriving at the airport.

One could wait to be the very last passenger to board the aircraft, then one can choose to sit in any empty seat knowing noone else is boarding. ~This way one can possibly manage to grab a whole row of seats... especially good to do on any long haul flight so one can lay down and go to sleep