Am I too fat for Ryanair? - size 22

[Weeblewobble2024]

Just as the title says really, I have to fly Ryanair in a few months and haven’t flown with them for about a decade when I was a lot slimmer. I will pay to choose my seat and book the aisle. I have recently fit fine in a Jet2 seat at my current size and don’t need a seatbelt extender but have a feeling Ryanair are a lot smaller. Does anyone have any recent experience? Will I need a seatbelt extender? Will I be able to put the tray down?

(Obviously I’m trying to lose weight in the meantime but have to be realistic about how much can be achieved between now and then.)

Hey,
I'm a 22 due to my belly (thanks kids!) and I could get it on just about on way out to holiday - had to rise up in seat and put it under my belly Ifyswim but on way back I needed the extender. They were very discreet about it.

They are shocking fir felt size though so I try not to take it personally 😂

I’m 16/18 but it’s all in my arse. I found Ryanair to be wider than most because they don’t have too much extra stuff in the arm rests.

OK…I will maybe just about get away with it provided it’s not a belt that’s been repaired by shortening it!

I don't think Ryanair's seats are any less wide than anyone else's. The planes are all about the same size tube and the seats are all three across. Maybe an Airbus 320 has half an inch more than a Boeing 737 but there won't be much in it.

You might want to think twice if you are considering booking the emergency exit rows. You get more leg room, but on all airlines the armrests are fixed partitions between you and the next seat where the meal tray lives, because it can't be on the back of the seat in front.

I'm a 20/22 and did 4 Ryanair flights last year. They were fine- seats were cramped no denying it. I was in the middle seat with DH and DS either side of me. I could do the seatbelt up OK though. Tall people seemed to suffer the most as the legroom is atrocious- lots of 6ft+ guys looked so uncomfortable. We have Hobbit legs in our family but they were pressed against the seat in front.

Yes we had those seats last time
we flew and I found them snug and I’m a 12/14 so not that big! I wouldn’t choose them for a long flight. The legroom
was good for DH but the seats were uncomfortable.

The regular seats feel wider.

@samarrange

I don't think Ryanair's seats are any less wide than anyone else's. The planes are all about the same size tube and the seats are all three across. Maybe an Airbus 320 has half an inch more than a Boeing 737 but there won't be much in it.

Agreed..Can't vouch for the accuracy of what's in this link but it may be of interest:

https://www.seatguru.com/charts/shorthaul_economy.php

The last time I flew with Ryanair I must have been around a 22 or 24 and needed an extender, its the only airline Ive needed it on

It entirely depends on how your body is distributed to be honest

Please just be aware that there are restrictions for who can sit in the emergency exit row. If the crew think you are too big they may move you and then you a) won't have options of where to sit and b) could be upsetting for you.

Even if you don't need an extender I have heard cases of larger people being asked to move

Not planning to book an emergency exit seat so that’s not a problem.

Thanks for this!

Yes my DH is 6’4” and Ryanair (tbh most airline seats) are a nightmare for him.

I’m a 22-24 and I’ve been on a lot of flights this year (between work and holidays) and the only flight I needed an extender on was the Ryan Air. Jet 2 & EasyJet we’re fine. The seats were tight but all my weight is in my bum and hips. The table was just about usable.

I was bigger than you and flew with them last year. It was absolutely fine, the seats aren't comfortable for anybody but you will fit.
For my peace of mind I bought my own belt extender from Amazon and just slip it on if needed. It's not necessary but does save you worrying about asking and potentially being embarrassed.

Oh brilliant, I didn’t know that was an option!

I flew Ryanair last year. I was a size 18-20. The seatbelt wouldn't fit me on the way out there, was absolutely mortified as had to ask for seat belt extender. Never had an issue before. Put a downer on my holiday tbh. On the way home I was ready to ask for extender straight away as obviously would have gained weight on an all inclusive holiday. The seat belt fit absolutely fine with room to spare! So I can only imagine the seat belt I had on way out had been cut for whatever reason and was shorter than "normal"

For my peace of mind I bought my own belt extender from Amazon

Just be aware that the extenders the airline offer meet the required specifications and are usually subject to some form of routine inspection for stuff like wear and degradation.

As a result some airlines don't allow BYO extenders (whether the cabin crew spot you are using one or not is another matter).

I thought you werent allowed to use your own, they wont let you

But OP if the flight is some months away, presumably you'll be a smaller size by then so you probably wont need one anyway

It's a bit hit and miss in my experience. With Ryanair, I think they tend to just cut the belt if it's damaged rather than replace which means that the belt length varies from seat to seat. I'm a size 18-20 and have sometimes had to ask for an extender whereas other times I have quite a bit of spare belt. Personally I prefer to ask as I walk in and if I don't use it I can give it back. I find it's more discrete that way.

It's a bit of an "it depends", varying on airline and regulator.

Fundamentally if you add your own extender you're potentially modifying an element of the aircraft's safety equipment with an unregulated component, and some airlines and regulators really aren't keen on that.

For info over in the States the FAA don't currently ban BYO extenders but they certainly don't recommend them ..

"...Airlines do provide seat belt extenders on flights as they are required by law to do so at no charge. Travelers are discouraged from bringing their own seat belt extenders, since the FAA would not be able to ensure that extenders brought by passengers are compliant with safety regulations.

According to the FAA: "Seat belts and extenders provided by the airlines are inspected and maintained under each of the airline's FAA-accepted Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP)." The FAA has not tested or approved any third-party seat belt extenders on the market...."

https://travel.usnews.com/features/airplane-seat-belt-extenders#:~:text=Airlines%20do%20provide%20seat%20belt,are%20compliant%20with%20safety%20regulations.

Ryanair is the only airline I've been on where I had to change seats because I was too fat. I was mortified and the Italian lady they asked to swap with me was furious. I think I might have been in an extra leg room or emergency exit seat... It was awful. I had weight loss surgery a year later.

Go for a regular seat - no emergency exit or front row seat as they are often tighter with the solid seat spectators - and ask for an extender when you get on. Good luck

The seatsize isn't what will cause you issues. It's the length of the actual belt. If they frey on ryanair they simply cut then down rather than replace them. So the seat belts can really vary in length. They are very discreet about the extenders so don't worry you will be fine. Happy travels

Thanks for the link, but this is much more detailed, with seat widths down to the tenth of an inch and all of the different seat pitches across the cabin. Who would have thought that 6DEF gets you half an inch more room than 6ABC? https://www.aerolopa.com/fr-7m8

I think you'll be fine. I had to fly up for a training course last week (would never usually fly Ryan Air)and both the people next to me were quite big, but fitted in the aisle and middle seat without going into mine.

I find it incredible really that airline seats (and most public transport seats) are so small, I think they must be designed on the basis of the 40s and 50s measurements of people. People are wider, taller and fatter than then