Budget airline Ryanair is offering passengers a subtle but potentially significant piece of travel advice: carefully consider your seat selection. A former flight attendant with the carrier has highlighted two specific seats that passengers should avoid, citing discomfort and practical inconveniences.
Eleanor, who worked as cabin crew based in Marseille, France, told the Irish Mirror that seat 11A is a particular problem. “I can only say to avoid 11A. That’s supposed to be a window seat – but it doesn’t have a window! You won’t be able to see outside,” she explained. This isn’t a new revelation; 11A has gained notoriety among frequent flyers as the only ‘A’ seat on a Boeing 737 aircraft that lacks a window view, earning it the label of “Europe’s most hated” seat.
Beyond the missing window, Eleanor also cautioned against selecting row 32 on the 737 MAX, a variant of the Boeing 737 used on some Ryanair routes. This row features emergency exits and a crew seat positioned to face passengers. “So, if you sit in that row, you’ll have the flight attendant stare at you during take off and landing, and you’ll have to move every time they have to pass. It was very uncomfortable as a flight attendant, I imagine it is as a passenger also,” she said.
The advice comes as airlines increasingly unbundle fares, charging extra for seat selection. While Ryanair’s base fares are often highly competitive, passengers who don’t pay to choose their seats are assigned them at random, increasing the risk of ending up in a less-than-ideal location. This practice, common among low-cost carriers, puts a premium on informed seat selection.
However, Eleanor also emphasized that, generally, seat selection on Ryanair isn’t a critical concern. She noted that the airline’s flights are typically short-haul, and the lack of complimentary meals means that seat position doesn’t impact service order in the same way it might on longer flights with full meal service. The primary considerations, become comfort and convenience.
The warning about row 32 highlights a less-discussed aspect of airline seating: the impact on both passengers and crew. Emergency exit rows often come with added legroom, but also with the responsibility of assisting in an evacuation if necessary. The presence of a crew member directly facing passengers in that row, as Eleanor describes, can create an awkward and potentially disruptive experience.
Eleanor further advised avoiding the very back of the aircraft, citing safety concerns related to emergency evacuations. “And also because in case of ditching (controlled emergency landing onto water), that’s the first part that goes in the water, and you won’t be able to open the doors at the back, so you’re less likely to make it in case of a landing in water,” she explained. While statistically rare, the possibility of a water landing, however remote, is a factor in airline safety protocols and seat assignments.
Conversely, Eleanor suggested that seats at the emergency exits, typically around row 17, offer a more comfortable experience. These seats provide additional legroom and are generally distanced from young children, as passengers under 16 are prohibited from occupying emergency exit rows, and infants under two are restricted from the two rows immediately before and after them. “So these and row 1 are basically the only seats where you can be sure you won’t be spending your flight with crying babies next to you,” she stated.
The advice from the former flight attendant underscores the growing importance of passenger research when booking flights, particularly with budget airlines. While the cost savings can be significant, passengers need to be aware of the potential trade-offs and make informed decisions about seat selection to maximize their travel experience. The seemingly minor detail of a missing window or an uncomfortable proximity to a crew member can significantly impact the overall journey.
The broader trend of unbundling fares and charging for ancillary services like seat selection is likely to continue, placing an even greater onus on passengers to understand the implications of their choices. Airlines are increasingly focused on maximizing revenue from every aspect of the travel experience, and informed consumers are best positioned to navigate this evolving landscape.
