Ryanair, a budget airline known for its no-frills approach, charges additional fees for perks such as larger cabin baggage and “priority boarding.” Passengers will also have to pay an additional fee if they wish to select their own seat. In particular, these charges apply to each leg of the trip, which can be costly when traveling with family and friends.
For those who choose to book a seat, online check-in is available from 60 days before your scheduled flight up to 2 hours. However, if you choose not to reserve a seat, Ryanair will be assigned at random for free, but the check-in window will be limited to 24 to 2 hours before the flight.
However, there are catches that many may not notice. Even after paying for a particular seat, Ryanair's terms and conditions state that the airline “can change the assigned seat at any time, or if it is necessary to do this for operational, safety or security reasons.”
Additionally, airline guidelines provide that passengers hoping to sit in rows 1, 16, or 17 where the emergency exit is located must be 16 years of age or older and meet certain criteria, such as being able to assist in an emergency.
Ryanair travel information states, “For safety reasons, fewer than two children can be seated with fewer than two children (one on either side of the central aisle).
