Paid for seats on Ryanair then told to move...would you complain?

[plinkyplonly]

I suffer with quite bad vertigo and anxiety when flying.
I've realised if I can look out to the horizon I can stop going really dizzy.
I reserved seats 6a and 6b 3 months ago.
We boarded and took our seats.
After boarding was complete we were told we had to move to 8b and 8c (Middle and aisle ) for takeoff and landing.
She said it was to even the weight.
(Not sure why she couldn't move people who hadn't paid and it was only 2 rows behind )
I explained that I had paid for seats and explained my vertigo but still had to move.
The seatbelt signs didn't go off for 35 mins so we were stuck there.
It was awful and I felt so dizzy
Especially the turns and I couldn't see

Would you complain ?

@NigelHarmansNewWife

I understand in the moment it might have been difficult to say to the cabin crew you needed a particular seat and why, but if you had done surely they would have accommodated you?

We’ll never know but I wouldn’t bet on it…a lot would depend on time available before departure, whether moving other passengers was a straightforward quick option and whether the OP had documentary evidence of their condition.

Refusing to move when the safety card is played can potentially open up a whole can of worms….

The OP didn't have to refuse to move though, just request that she swap seats with someone for take off.

I fly regularly with budget airlines. It happens often.

Ah ok, so you’re saying accept the initial move aft (into the row 8 aisle seat) then ask to swap to the window?

Not a bad idea but I think a lot would depend on individuals, time pressure, how willing other passengers would be to move if asked nicely.

You pay to select seats. If they don't give you what you paid fir then they should be refunding the extra you paid

No one is saying they can't move you. The issue is that they took extra money for the choice of seat. If they don't give you the seat you booked then they should 100% refund the extra money.

Happened on the A320 I was on last Saturday with BA. There was an announcement that even though there were empty seats not to move to them due to weight balance .

Did you pay by credit card? If so I would do a charge back as you didn’t receive the service or product you paid for

Ryanair have responded saying they will refund the select a seat cost
They said I will receive a email once it's processed so can't complain

Far worse goes on.

Result!

@saraclara

It is just a request! It's put on your booking as a confirmed request, but it's not guaranteed and the airline can change it. See my post above
Yes yes but they can't keep the extra money for the selected seat if they don't give you the seat you requested. It's not supposed to be a gamble situation.

You request and pay for the privilege of seat selection. If they can then they'll accommodate your request. If they can't they refund the extra charge

Yes complain! Also get a medical letter in future ..
I struggle to believe how moving two people would make any difference

You can not just produce a medical record. You would have to talk to the accessibility team beforehand as to why you need a particular type of seat e,g, aisle, and even then they would not guarantee you a named seat, just one that meets your medical needs.

@T1Dmama

I struggle to believe how moving two people would make any difference

It will make a very small difference.

I know it all sounds trivial but if the original load and balance calculations showed the aircraft trim was just, fractionally out of limits then the load coordinator and/or certainly the aircraft captain has no choice - something/somebody has to be moved to get the calculated trim position inside limits:

Pretty much worldwide that’s a legal requirement, for example the UK Air Navigation Order 2016 is quite clear about it:

”The pilot in command must ensure that during any phase of operation, the loading, the mass and, except for balloons, the centre of gravity position of the aircraft comply with any limitation specified in the flight manual, the weight schedule required by article 43, or equivalent document.”

Given the above certainly if the captain decided not move anybody and the company or the regulatory authority pick it up in a check or an audit the captain would probably be looking for another job, and possibly the loading coordinator.

Yes it’s a PITA but the reason why scheduled flying is as safe as it is is because of attention to detail/nit picking like this.

It does actually! Aviation worker here!