Travel expert Rob Adcock has revealed a 'genius' trick that allows passengers to bypass seat selection fees on Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air. With 141,000 Instagram followers, Adcock regularly posts travel content and recently shared a method he has used for 'literally years' to secure better seats without paying extra.
How the Hack Works
In a video, Adcock asks: 'Does everyone do this Ryanair seat hack or am I an actual genius? [Get] a better seat and it will not cost you a single penny.' He recommends checking in as normal and selecting the complimentary, randomly-assigned seat option instead of paying to choose a specific seat. Then, just before online check-in closes (two hours before departure), passengers should go back into the app, click manage booking, and select 'add or change seats' to view a map of all remaining empty seats. After memorizing those seats, exit the app without purchasing anything.
Executing the Plan
When boarding the plane, Adcock advises passengers to 'go and find those seats that you saw that were empty - ideally a full row or extra leg room - and just brazenly sit in it, safe in the knowledge that that seat is empty.' He claims flight attendants have never asked him for his seat number, but warns to avoid the front five or back five rows, as crew sometimes check those for weight distribution.
Applicability to Other Airlines
Although the clip focused on Ryanair, Adcock noted in the caption that the tip applies to other budget carriers like easyJet and Wizz Air. He describes the method as 'elite behaviour' for these airlines, with the best-case scenario being extra legroom, an empty row, or a window seat, and the worst-case being having to return to the original seat.
Airlines Respond
Ryanair and Wizz Air did not respond to requests for comment. However, an easyJet spokesperson stated: 'We allocate seats for free and also provide the customers with the option to choose a specific seat when booking for a small fee. While we require customers to sit in their allocated seats for safety reasons, should customers like to move after take-off, our crew will be happy to help.'
