Ryanair seats
Ryanair offers a range of seat options that include standard seats, reservable rows with extra legroom, and premium services for frequent flyers.
Reserved Seating Rows
In November 2012 Ryanair expanded its reservable seats on the Boeing 737‑800 to include rows 1, 2, 5, 15, 16 and 17, with rows 5 and 15 being the new additions. By April 2013 the airline further extended the offering by adding two extra rows at the back of the plane, rows 32 and 33, bringing the total number of reservable seats to 45. Reserving a seat in these rows costs £10/€10 on short‑haul flights and £15/€15 on longer routes such as those to the Canary Islands, and the fee also includes priority boarding.
Seat Pricing
- Short‑haul seat reservation: £10/€10 per way.
- Long‑haul or Canary Islands routes: £15/€15 per way.
- First‑row seats (A, B, C) reported in 2017 were priced at €20, with an additional €6 for priority boarding and a full‑size carry‑on.
New Aircraft Seating (Zodiac)
In August 2017 Ryanair announced a partnership with Zodiac Aerospace to equip its upcoming Boeing 737 MAX 8 200 fleet with slim‑line seats that provide a 31‑inch seat pitch. The new configuration raises the seat count to 197 per aircraft, up from the 186 seats found on the existing Boeing 737‑800 fleet.
Premium Subscription – “Prime”
Launched in March 2025, the Ryanair Prime subscription gives members free seat selection, which can otherwise cost from €4.50 for a standard seat up to €33 for an extra‑legroom seat. The benefit is limited to 12 free seats for the subscriber and an additional 12 free seats for a travel companion, with any extra seats incurring the usual reservation fees.
Standing‑Room “Vertical Seats” Proposal
In July 2010 Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary floated a concept for “vertical seats” that would replace the last ten rows with standing‑room spots priced at £5 per short‑haul flight. The proposal required regulatory approval and was not implemented, as the European Aviation Safety Agency was unlikely to certify the design.
