Do you have to pay to book seat on Ryanair?

Ryanair offers the option to purchase reserved seats or free seats, which are assigned randomly during check-in. Passengers who choose 'random seat allocation' can check in between 24 hours and 2 hours before the flight departure time.



On Ryanair in 2026, paying to book a specific seat is optional but highly recommended if you wish to sit with your travel companions. If you choose not to pay for a seat, you will be randomly assigned a seat for free when online check-in opens (typically 24 hours before the flight). Ryanair's algorithm is notorious for separating groups who do not pay, often placing them in middle seats across different rows. For 2026, seat fees typically range from €5.00 for standard seats in the back to €30.00+ for extra-legroom seats in rows 1, 16, and 17. There is one major exception: Families traveling with children under 12 must have at least one adult purchase a "Mandatory Family Seat" (starting around €6.00), which then allows up to four children to receive free reserved seats in the same row. If you are flying on a "Plus" or "Flexi Plus" fare, seat selection is already included in your ticket price. For budget travelers, the "pro" strategy in 2026 is to decide if the 2-hour flight is worth the extra €10–€20 to sit together, or if you're happy to "embrace the random" and save the money for your destination.

People Also Ask

Book the first ticket in your name. Then for your second ticket, enter 'EXTRA' as the first name and 'COMFORT SEAT' as the last name. 'EXTRA COMFORT SEAT' will then be added to your reservation. When checking in online, the same travel document details will be added for you and your extra seat.

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Depending on the carrier, changing paid seats after booking may or may not be supported. In particular, some Direct Payment Carriers may not permit changing paid seats after booking, or may have specific requirements for changing seats.

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If you choose not to pay to reserve a seat, your seat will be assigned to you free of charge when you check in, between 24 hours and 2 hours prior to departure.

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Emphatically, no. You will likely get assigned a seat during check-in (though you should still skip it if the airline tries to tack on a fee) or, at the very least, at the gate. Again: You don't have to select a seat in order to get a seat. You just might get stuck with a suboptimal one if you choose to skip it.

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However, this is not done intentionally, he says, or because of any change in the seat algorithm. Instead, it is because certain seats are more desirable for those booking ahead – so Ryanair have started to “hold” them. “We want to keep certain seats available for people who might want to purchase.”

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A maximum of four children for every one adult on the same booking will receive a reserved seat free of charge. This ensures parents of young children sit together during the flight. This will also allow you to check-in for your flight 60 days before departure.

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The maximum weight for cabin luggage on Ryanair is 22 lbs (10kg). Carry-on items must be stowed in the overhead bin or under the seat before you. Oversized or heavy baggage may be placed in the hold and checked for an extra fee.

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We recommend all passengers arrive at the check-in or bag drop desk at least 2 hours before they are due to fly. If you have booked through an Online Travel Agent, have been required to verify your booking, and wish to do so at the airport, please make sure you arrive at the airport 2 hours before your flight.

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Just say “no.” Within 24 hours of your departure, the airline will assign you a seat. Pro tip: If you want to avoid paying for a seat assignment, arrive at the airport early. That way, you'll have the pick of the unassigned seats.

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Ryanair's low fares are a result of clever cost-cutting tactics, such as eliminating in-flight amenities, using cheaper secondary airports, and charging for extras like drinks and snacks.

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In case you haven't selected a seat at the booking time, random seats are assigned from the available ones, and the random seat assignment gets panelized as per the norms and rules of your preferred airlines so you must dial 1-802-341-3403 to reserve your seat.

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If you are changing a seat that was randomly assigned to you during online check in, there will be a fee for changing your seat. If you already purchased a seat, you will be able to change your seat free of charge (only paying the price difference if applicable). What group of people mainly fly on Ryanair?

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One specific Ryanair seat that is well-known for being the worst on the flight is 11A - which is a seat with no window or a tiny one that you can barely look out of.

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As someone else has already said, it means the obvious — that you don't have an assigned seat yet, and an agent will assign it at the gate. I recommend you take that quite literally — get your seat assignment at the gate, not at the check-in counter.

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