The RYANAIR thread
#196
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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If you are an EU or EEA citizen and you have your boarding pass sorted out in advance (which you have to do to avoid charges) then 1 hour would be fine. MLA isn't a big airport and the locals are used to arriving fairly late. If you are not a European passport holder you may need to arrive a little earlier, you need to print your boarding pass in advance, since they need to stamp your boarding pass.
#197
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Devon/UK
Programs: BA Blue :(
Posts: 241
If you are an EU or EEA citizen and you have your boarding pass sorted out in advance (which you have to do to avoid charges) then 1 hour would be fine. MLA isn't a big airport and the locals are used to arriving fairly late. If you are not a European passport holder you may need to arrive a little earlier, you need to print your boarding pass in advance, since they need to stamp your boarding pass.
#198
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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If you have a British passport then they don't stamp it. So yes, you can proceed straight to security and on to the gate, they will start the boarding process about 40 minutes before departure but the deadline to be at the gate is 20 minutes. I wouldn't rely on that final time so 30 minutes at the gate gives you a margin.
#199
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Location: Netherlands
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#202
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: Flying Blue, BAEC, VAFC, IHG Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 389
So, I'm looking at the seating for my flight this weekend, FR5041 LBA-BTS. I'm looking to see what's going on with seat reservations.
Quite surprised to see that by far the majority of the pre-reserved seats are in the half of the plane behind the wings. I'm trying to think of a rational reason why this would be.
Now, I'm conscious that if you board at the rear, you can get on and off as quickly as if you board at the front, so it's like free "Quick Exit" seats right at the back, but that doesn't explain why up the middle of the plane, it's mostly reserved behind the wings. Is there a trick I don't know about?
Now, I'm still booked in 1A, currently all on my own, and all the other priority seats behind me are currently unassigned. My reckoning is that there's 1 seat left on the flight (I can't book more than 1 ticket). I'm guessing that the last randomly allocated seats will be at the front of the plane (they'll allocate middle non-premium first and such to give people the chance to upgrade right up until departure). If that final ticket doesn't sell, does that mean seat 1B might be empty? Can I assume that if I swap to 2A, or 16A, the rest of the row will be filled with random allocations?
Is there an opportune time to check in if non-priority and get the plum seats? Or is it totally unpredictable?
Not important, just trying a bit of fun to predict
Quite surprised to see that by far the majority of the pre-reserved seats are in the half of the plane behind the wings. I'm trying to think of a rational reason why this would be.
Now, I'm conscious that if you board at the rear, you can get on and off as quickly as if you board at the front, so it's like free "Quick Exit" seats right at the back, but that doesn't explain why up the middle of the plane, it's mostly reserved behind the wings. Is there a trick I don't know about?
Now, I'm still booked in 1A, currently all on my own, and all the other priority seats behind me are currently unassigned. My reckoning is that there's 1 seat left on the flight (I can't book more than 1 ticket). I'm guessing that the last randomly allocated seats will be at the front of the plane (they'll allocate middle non-premium first and such to give people the chance to upgrade right up until departure). If that final ticket doesn't sell, does that mean seat 1B might be empty? Can I assume that if I swap to 2A, or 16A, the rest of the row will be filled with random allocations?
Is there an opportune time to check in if non-priority and get the plum seats? Or is it totally unpredictable?
Not important, just trying a bit of fun to predict
#203
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: London, UK
Programs: bmi DC, BAEC
Posts: 1,108
My reckoning is that there's 1 seat left on the flight (I can't book more than 1 ticket). I'm guessing that the last randomly allocated seats will be at the front of the plane (they'll allocate middle non-premium first and such to give people the chance to upgrade right up until departure). If that final ticket doesn't sell, does that mean seat 1B might be empty? Can I assume that if I swap to 2A, or 16A, the rest of the row will be filled with random allocations?
Is there an opportune time to check in if non-priority and get the plum seats? Or is it totally unpredictable?
Not important, just trying a bit of fun to predict
Is there an opportune time to check in if non-priority and get the plum seats? Or is it totally unpredictable?
Not important, just trying a bit of fun to predict
#204
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Germany
Posts: 3,815
So for a couple wanting to sit together, or for someone just wanting an aisle/window seat without wanting the best seat on the plane, these seats are quite a reasonable option.
Is there an opportune time to check in if non-priority and get the plum seats? Or is it totally unpredictable?
If you get a "random" seat during check in and don't like it, you'll still have an option to select a better seat for a price (which doesn't differ much from the price of advance reservations, although the cheapest seats will all be already occupied).
#205
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: Flying Blue, BAEC, VAFC, IHG Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 389
Thanks for that, it's kind of what I was thinking.
I also noticed while reading around the subject that the rear of the plane is where you have to buy your one reserved seat if you want your kids to sit next to you, so that would also cause a mass of people to sit at the back.
I know nothing about the physics of aviation. Does this mean that on a flight which is less full, more people have to be allocated random seats towards the front in order to balance the plane, or am I overthinking this?
I'll keep doing what I'm doing and booking 1A for the time being. I like the space, the access to the toilets, and the fact I've only got one person next to me, as well as unfettered access to the catering!
I also noticed while reading around the subject that the rear of the plane is where you have to buy your one reserved seat if you want your kids to sit next to you, so that would also cause a mass of people to sit at the back.
I know nothing about the physics of aviation. Does this mean that on a flight which is less full, more people have to be allocated random seats towards the front in order to balance the plane, or am I overthinking this?
I'll keep doing what I'm doing and booking 1A for the time being. I like the space, the access to the toilets, and the fact I've only got one person next to me, as well as unfettered access to the catering!
#206
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Germany
Posts: 3,815
I saw FAs occasionally move people from some rows to the front of the plane for weight and balance reasons. So it appears that weight&balance issues have no influence on the random seat allocation.
#207
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: Flying Blue, BAEC, VAFC, IHG Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 389
Annoyingly, 1B has now been reserved. I suspect that 1C is probably the least attractive seat on the front row with people walking past, and the flight is now full, so I'm guessing the only seats that won't be occupied will be no-shows.
I've been watching as people without priority now check in and the random seat allocation is currently centre seats from the rear to the front, including the overwing exit rows. Most of the seats in the front rows are still empty, which bodes well for overhead locker space. Guessing that all the overwings are adults, and also guessing that if they turn out to be unsuitable for those seats they'll be swapped with someone else?
If you pay for a seat allocation within the 48 hour check-in window, do you still get priority and 2 cabin bags? Just, obviously, priority is pointless if everyone on the plane gets it, and there's no point sitting at the front if you can't get in the overhead bin. At the minute, if there's no more Priority, bin space will be plentiful.
I've been watching as people without priority now check in and the random seat allocation is currently centre seats from the rear to the front, including the overwing exit rows. Most of the seats in the front rows are still empty, which bodes well for overhead locker space. Guessing that all the overwings are adults, and also guessing that if they turn out to be unsuitable for those seats they'll be swapped with someone else?
If you pay for a seat allocation within the 48 hour check-in window, do you still get priority and 2 cabin bags? Just, obviously, priority is pointless if everyone on the plane gets it, and there's no point sitting at the front if you can't get in the overhead bin. At the minute, if there's no more Priority, bin space will be plentiful.
#208
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 22
Baggage allowance
Please excuse this noob question. I haven't flown with Ryanair for several years and am unsure of the latest baggage allowances. I understand that as a non priority ticket holder I am entitled to one piece of hand luggage. Does the price include the 10kg hold luggage or is that extra?
#209
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: London, UK
Programs: bmi DC, BAEC
Posts: 1,108
If you pay for a seat allocation within the 48 hour check-in window, do you still get priority and 2 cabin bags? Just, obviously, priority is pointless if everyone on the plane gets it, and there's no point sitting at the front if you can't get in the overhead bin. At the minute, if there's no more Priority, bin space will be plentiful.
So if you pay for a seat you don't get automatically get priority boarding - they are two separate fees.
#210
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: Flying Blue, BAEC, VAFC, IHG Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 389
Please excuse this noob question. I haven't flown with Ryanair for several years and am unsure of the latest baggage allowances. I understand that as a non priority ticket holder I am entitled to one piece of hand luggage. Does the price include the 10kg hold luggage or is that extra?