to think you should do the lottery if Ryanair randomly allocate you an aisle seat?

[theymademejoin]

Just read an article phys.org/news/2017-06-ryanair-random-seat-allocation-oxford.html

Tests were carried out where groups of 4 checked in without having pre-booked seats. All were allocated middle seats. Apparently the odds of doing this are 1:540,000,000 vs 1:45,000,000 for winning the UK Lottery.

According to a statement (www.independent.ie/irish-news/ryanairs-random-seat-allocation-not-random-scientists-35880337.html) they hold on to aisle and window seats until the last minute as people are more willing to pay for those. I guess checking in at the last minute is the sensible way to go if you don't want to pay. At least then you've a chance of getting aisle or window.

I saw this on watchdog last week so haven't read full links. What I couldn't understand in the logic is that surely the majority of their passengers aren't single travellers so if they allocate all the middle seats how does this encourage people who want to sit together to pay?? (on that flight rather than in the future)

I was wondering the same. I'm sure they have some complicated algorithm that works it out based on number of people on each booking and percent likely to pay etc.

So the 4 would all be sat infront/behind each other?

Or 10 rows apart or opposite ends of the plane.

DH and I always check in hours before the flight. Our children are grown up and don't come with us, and after nearly 30 years of marriage, neither of us is fussed about sitting next to the other on a three hour flight. Yet the last four or five times we've flown Ryanair, we've been seated together. So maybe there's something in that.