Ryanair Passengers Are Using This Free Seat Trick to Dodge Middle Seats Without Paying Extra

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A viral Ryanair booking hack is attracting attention across social media after claiming to help passengers avoid middle seats without paying for seat selection. Shared by money-saving expert Jordon Cox, also known as The Coupon King, the technique involves temporarily reserving undesirable seats during the booking process before allowing Ryanair’s random seat allocation to assign a seat. While the method has been praised by travellers hoping to save money on optional seat fees, it is not guaranteed to work and depends entirely on seat availability and the airline’s booking system at the time of check-in.

What Is the Viral Ryanair Seat Hack?

The tip was shared by money-saving expert Jordon Cox on Instagram and has quickly gained popularity among budget travellers.

The idea is designed to increase the likelihood of receiving a window or aisle seat through Ryanair’s free random seat allocation instead of paying for seat selection.

Rather than choosing a paid seat, passengers temporarily make certain seats unavailable before completing their own check-in.

According to Cox, the method works best five to six hours before departure, when many passengers have already checked in but seat availability still exists.

How Does the Booking Trick Work?

The process involves several steps.

Passengers first open the seat-selection map for their existing booking and identify seats they would prefer to avoid, including:

• Middle seats.
• Seats close to toilets.
• Other less desirable locations.

Next, they open a separate browser tab and begin a completely new booking for the same flight.

During this second booking, they enter temporary or placeholder passenger details and select the undesirable seats.

Because those seats remain in the booking basket for a short period, they become temporarily unavailable to other users while the booking session remains active.

Passengers then return to their genuine booking and request Ryanair’s random seat allocation.

The theory is that with many middle seats temporarily unavailable, the airline’s system is more likely to assign one of the remaining aisle or window seats.

Why Do Some Travellers Believe It Works?

Online booking systems commonly hold selected seats for several minutes while customers complete the payment process.

During that temporary reservation period, those seats cannot usually be selected by other customers.

Supporters of the hack believe this increases the probability that Ryanair’s automatic seat allocation will choose another available seat instead of one that has been temporarily reserved.

If only aisle and window seats remain available, passengers may receive one of those seats without paying an additional seat-selection fee.

How Much Could Passengers Save?

Seat selection on Ryanair is optional, but prices vary depending on seat location.

According to the report, passengers may pay anywhere between €4.50 and €36.50 to reserve a specific seat, particularly those offering extra legroom or preferred positions.

For families or groups travelling together, these optional charges can add significantly to the overall cost of a low-cost airfare.

Supporters of the hack claim it could save passengers up to £20 per person, depending on the route and seat selected.

Is the Hack Guaranteed to Work?

No.

The method does not guarantee that passengers will receive an aisle or window seat.

Seat allocation depends on numerous factors, including:

• Overall flight occupancy.
• Remaining seat inventory.
• Ryanair’s automated seating algorithm.
• Group bookings.
• Operational requirements.

The airline may still assign a middle seat if that is the only suitable option available.

In addition, temporarily placing seats in a booking basket does not permanently block them, as they become available again once the reservation expires.

Why Are Ryanair Passengers Looking for Alternatives?

Ryanair is well known for offering very low base fares across Europe.

Many promotional fares can cost less than €20, but optional extras frequently increase the final price.

Additional charges may apply for:

• Seat selection.
• Checked baggage.
• Priority boarding.
• Airport check-in in certain circumstances.
• Additional cabin baggage allowances.

As a result, many passengers actively search for legitimate ways to minimise optional costs while maintaining a comfortable travel experience.

What Has Been the Online Reaction?

The hack has generated considerable discussion on social media platforms.

Many travellers have praised the idea, describing it as a clever way to improve seating without paying additional fees.

Comments shared online include enthusiastic reactions from users who dislike middle seats and appreciate money-saving travel tips.

The popularity of the post reflects growing consumer interest in practical ways to reduce travel costs amid increasing airline ancillary fees.

Should Travellers Rely on This Method?

Travellers should approach the hack with realistic expectations.

While temporarily reserved seats may influence the pool of available seating for a brief period, there is no official confirmation from Ryanair that this technique affects its automatic seat allocation process in any predictable or consistent manner.

Passengers who require a specific seat—for medical reasons, accessibility needs, travelling with young children or simply personal preference—are still best served by purchasing seat selection where appropriate.

For everyone else, the viral trick may be an interesting experiment, but it should be viewed as a possibility rather than a reliable strategy.

What Does This Mean for Budget Travellers?

The growing popularity of Ryanair seat-selection hacks highlights how travellers continue searching for creative ways to maximise value while flying with low-cost carriers.

Although this particular technique may improve the odds in certain situations, its success ultimately depends on timing, seat availability and the airline’s internal allocation system. For passengers who are flexible and willing to leave seating to chance, it may be worth trying. However, those who want certainty should remember that paying for advance seat selection remains the only guaranteed way to secure a preferred window or aisle seat.