Ryanair, the budget airline famed for its no-frills approach, charges extra for perks such as larger cabin baggage and “Priority Boarding”. Passengers also have to pay additional fees if they wish to select their own seats, which can become costly when travelling with family or friends, especially since these charges apply to each leg of the journey.

For those who opt to reserve seats, online check-in is available from 60 days up to two hours before the scheduled flight. However, if you choose not to reserve a seat, Ryanair will assign one randomly at no cost, but the check-in window is restricted to between 24 hours and two hours before the flight.

However, there’s a catch that many may not be aware of: even after paying for a specific seat, Ryanair’s terms and conditions state that the airline “can change your allocated seats at any time, even if you had reserved it, if we need to do this for operational, safety or security reasons”.

Furthermore, the airline’s guidelines stipulate that passengers wishing to sit in rows 1, 16, or 17 where emergency exits are located must meet certain criteria, including being over 16 years old and capable of assisting in an emergency, among other requirements, the Daily Record reports.

Ryanair’s travel information also notes: “For safety reasons, no more than two children under two can be seated in any row (one on either side of the centre aisle).”