Ryanair

The European Union entry-exit system (EES) has caused repeated delays for Brits at major EU airports this year

British holidaymakers heading abroad may finally be able to breathe a sigh of relief over the widely-criticised EES system. The scheme forces non-EU residents to queue at special machines in airports before gaining entry to 29 nations within the so-called Schengen area – essentially the majority of the European Union.

However, there have been persistent reports of lengthy delays – some stretching to as long as four hours. A new report in the Sunday Times now reveals that the European Union has shelved the controversial entry-exit system (EES) across at least nine countries.

Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Malta, Greece and Switzerland are all understood to have been granted permission to postpone full implementation of EES. The newspaper reports that there appears to be no deadline by which these countries must adopt the scheme, which has already sparked widespread reports of enormous queues at European airports this summer in destinations such as Mallorca, Faro, the Canary Islands and Milan.

The scheme has faced fierce criticism from Ryanair and others. The European Union describes the Entry/Exit System (EES) as an automated IT system designed to register non-EU nationals travelling on short stays each time they cross the external borders of participating European countries.

Following years of postponements, the system was rolled out from October 2025, with full implementation originally anticipated by the following April. However, faced with the prospect of significant border queues due to software failures, officials granted countries a 150-day grace period during which they could drop the checks to avoid travel chaos.

That rule ended on September 6. The EU previously insisted there would be no extension.

Yet the Sunday Times reports that at least nine Schengen countries are understood to have told the European Commission, which is responsible for overseeing the EES, that they would not enforce the new controls in full until the technology and systems were working correctly.

They have informally been allowed to do so with no time limits apparently in place to adopt the system, it is being reported. One of the main purposes of the system is to track whether non-EU citizens have spent more than their permitted 90 days in the bloc in a rolling 180-day period.

Social media has been awash with debate about the scheme. One post on Reddit saw a traveller say: “They made a mess of it. Seems many basic things like it is hit and miss on the document scanning but also things like people walk up with hats and headphones and the machine doesn’t tell them to remove them, and organisational things like if the machine errors the traveller has to back out and has no where to go.

“The right way to do this would have been progressive: start by getting some people eg 5% going through the machine lane, everyone else through normal.

“The vendor observes problems, fixes them, once machine working well, increase to 10%, then 20% and so on.” Another person said: “The general lack of functionality of so many IT systems across the EU is kind of astonishing.”

A third added: “It’s worse than that. There isn’t even consistent protocol/IT support within a single EU airport.”

Another put it more simply, saying: “I just miss having stamps.”

‘People are missing their flights’

Nadia, from Greater Manchester, told the Guardian in August she had made two trips to Schengen areas this summer. A trip to Tenerife in June was “quite straightforward”, but her experience in July at Frankfurt airport where she was picking up a connecting flight home, was much less so.

“The queue there was ridiculously long, and there was very limited information,” she says. “People were wandering around trying to work out where they needed to go.

“I’m very well travelled and pretty confident, but even I was slightly unsure and was thinking, is there some other queue I should be joining? There was no one nearby to check with without losing your place.”

Eventually, her passport was checked. “He didn’t actually take fingerprints then,” says Nadia, who is a solicitor. “I think the queue was so long they decided to dispense with that.

“It’s the efficiency of the system I question and the fact that individual member states’ systems do not talk to one another. They shouldn’t need to get information again if you have already gone through. It’s pretty shambolic, and I think people missing their flights because of it is just not acceptable, especially when there’s no recourse; it’s not your fault.”

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has repeatedly complained about EES. Speaking earlier this year, he said: “There’s a bit of Brexit in this too. Here, you voted for Brexit – f***ing join the queue.”

THIS is the scary moment a Ryanair plane’s wingtip hit the ground as it came into land at Dublin Airport.

A passenger filmed the moment the plane lurched to the right and suffered a “minor wingtip impact” during a rough landing yesterday morning.

The Boeing 737 Max, which took off from Bologna just after 8am came in to land at Dublin at 10.45am.

As it touched down on the runway, the plane tumbled onto its right-hand side.

Shocked passengers watched as the wing tips of the plane brushed against the runway.

Recognising the danger of the dodgy landing, the Ryanair pilots immediately brought the engines up to full power to perform a go-around.

This is where a plane aborts its landing attempt and flies in a loop around the airport to try again.

The two pilots were able to guide the plane safely onto the ground about 15 minutes later.

In a statement, Ryanair described the incident as a “minor wingtip impact”.

A spokesperson told us yesterday: “On landing in Dublin this evening (10 Sept) Ryanair flight FR9457 from Bologna suffered a minor wing tip impact.

“The aircraft landed safely and all passengers offloaded normally.

“Our engineers are now repairing this wing tip and the aircraft is expected back into service tomorrow morning (11 Sept).”

It comes as Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary came under fire for “shameful” comments he made describing other airlines as “high-fare rapists”.

The Ryanair chief landed himself in hot water ahead of his budget airline’s annual general meeting in Dublin yesterday.

The billionaire businessman, 65, claimed rising air travel prices at other airlines would see passengers switch to Ryanair, before doubling down on his claims.

In response, Labour’s Laura Harmon urged the notorious motormouth to engage with organisations like the Rape Crisis Centre, and to apologise for his “shocking” language.

The senator fumed: “Michael O’Leary must apologise for the comments he made in advance of Ryanair’s annual general meeting in Dublin.

“The casual use of the word ‘rapist’ to describe the prices of his competitors is deeply shocking and could be traumatising for any survivor of sexual abuse.

“We should have a zero-tolerance approach to sexual violence. In recent years, due to the tireless work of activists and the bravery of survivors of sexual violence who have shared their stories, Ireland has taken a strong stance in support of survivors.

“It is shameful to see O’Leary diminish the real experience of these survivors in such a way.”

Harmon continued: “Every week brings shocking new statistics and stories about the levels of domestic and sexual violence against women in our country.

“Reports conducted by organisations like the National Women’s Council of Ireland often detail the systemic challenges victims of domestic violence are faced with when they look for help – through the courts and the legal system, and through first responders like the Gardai.

“Having O’Leary make such ignorant comments only adds to this. I would urge him to come out and apologise today, and commit to informing himself about the real trauma of sexual violence.”

Fianna Fail’s Lorraine Clifford-Lee also condemned O’Leary’s comments as “a new low” for the Ryanair CEO.

People have even reported getting the ‘best’ seats using this free method

Ryanair passengers flying abroad to escape the UK weather might want to consider a ‘trick’ to help them be assigned ‘better’ seats without paying extra. The trick, as explained by ITV This Morning’s money-saving specialist Jordon Cox, does involve a little bit of luck, but it could pay off by saving customers up to £38 per person.

On Ryanair, the cost of choosing a specific seat varies based on the route, travel dates, and when you buy. Based on the airline’s published fees table, passengers can expect to pay between £3 and £30 when booking in advance, with fees as high as £38 per seat when booking at the airport desk.

Customers can avoid any cost entirely by accepting a random seat allocation from the airline. However, you leave it up to chance what part of the plane your seats will be in.

These random seats are picked and assigned at the exact moment you complete your online check-in, which is open up to 24 hours before the flight’s scheduled departure time. The airline’s automated system selects the seats, and customers have no say in where they end up if they choose this route.

Ryanair’s algorithm is notorious for assigning middle seats first to these free-allocation passengers, as reported by The Telegraph, and is said to hold back window and aisle seats. Many people will argue that middle seats are not the best place on a plane because they offer the least space when both seats on either side are occupied.

ITV This Morning’s money-saving specialist Jordon Cox claims online that travellers might be able to take advantage of a workaround to avoid being put in a middle seat. In a post on Instagram, he suggests that one method ‘tricks the system’ into giving you the exact seat you want at no extra cost.

He said: “On the day that you’re checking in (I recommend about five to six hours before your flight), go into seat selection and see what seats are still available. A lot of these will be middle seats.

“Go to a separate tab and make a new booking for the flight you’re on. Put in some bogus names, then select each person a ‘seat’ in the places you DON’T want to sit. Because you’ve selected all those seats, and they’re in ‘someone else’s’ basket – for a short time, you can’t be sat there.

“That’s your cue to go back to your actual booking, and check-in with ‘random’ seat selection. You’ll be placed in one of the remaining seats – hopefully the only ones left are the aisle and the window.”

Reddit users claim that the sweet spot for securing the ‘best seats’ is not long before your flight takes off. By this time, the early check-in passengers have already been forced into specific parts of the plane, reducing the pool of available seats for those still unassigned.

In certain circumstances, Ryanair will likely randomly offer passengers an extra-legroom seat for free, but only under very specific conditions. However, because Ryanair never leaves a flight intentionally unbalanced and cannot leave critical seats empty, they will release them into the free pool at the absolute last minute.

If the only empty spots left on the aircraft are the premium legroom seats (like the emergency exit rows), the algorithm is forced to give them to you for free because it has nowhere else to put you and safety laws state that the emergency exit rows (Rows 1, 16, and 17) cannot be completely empty during takeoff and landing.

A major travel change is set to impact British holidaymakers going to and from Europe as of today (7 September), and an expert has issued some crucial advice to avoid disruption

An expert has issued a warning to all Brits travelling to and from Europe as a significant change comes into force.

The European Union’s (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) was rolled out across airports earlier this year, and, in a bid to reduce travel disruption, member states were permitted to relax some of its restrictions. EU countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain were allowed to temporarily “lift biometric registration” until the end of summer to ensure there was “some relief for the worst-case scenario”, and temporarily switched off the EES when required.

Many European countries utilised the eased measures, particually during the summer holidays, as the EES requires all British passport holders to create a digital record and register their biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photograph, upon arrival in the Schengen area. However, as of today, Monday, 7 September, the ability to relax EES requirements is expected to have expired, with no formal announcement made of an extension.

With uncertainty building that it could prompt airport chaos if there is no further leeway given to Brits when travelling through the EU and the digital system, an expert has issued a warning about the impacts. Anton Radchenko, aviation expert and CEO of passenger-rights company AirAdvisor, explained: “The part of this most travellers have not clocked is that the risk runs both ways. Everyone worries about queues when arriving in Europe, but British passengers can also become trapped at exit control at a Spanish, Italian or other Schengen airport when trying to fly home.

“If a passenger misses an operating flight solely because of a passport-control queue, there is generally no automatic EU261 right to compensation or free rebooking. Airlines may help voluntarily, but passengers should not assume they will, and many insurance policies only cover specified causes such as public transport failure, so the exact wording needs to be checked.

“If the airline delays the flight because passengers are stuck in the queue, its normal care obligations still apply after the relevant waiting period. If it cancels, passengers remain entitled to a refund or rerouting, even though fixed compensation is unlikely where the border disruption was outside the airline’s control.”

Anton added: “My advice is to treat the return journey as seriously as the flight out. Follow the airport’s arrival-time guidance, go to passport control promptly, alert the airline before the gate closes if the queue becomes excessive and preserve time-stamped evidence showing where the delay occurred.”

There have been reports that some member states may still allow eased measures moving forward, although nothing has been officially announced. A European Commission spokesperson told the Guardian at the beginning of last week: “We are in close and constructive contact with those few member states where some adjustments are needed at certain border crossing points. And during an additional period of operational adjustment that is needed at these few operational border crossing points, the commission stands ready to provide additional support to these member states.”

Meanwhile, Ryanair has called on the EU Commission to “immediately” extend the EES flexibility until next year. Ryanair’s COO Neal McMahon said: “The EU’s handling of EES has been a shambles from start to finish. Airlines, airports and border authorities repeatedly warned Brussels that the rollout was not ready, that it would increase processing times and that it would create excessive queues for passengers. Those warnings were ignored, with EU citizens the ones delayed and disrupted.

“Passengers should not be made to pay the price for the EU’s failed EES rollout. Ryanair calls on the EU Commission to urgently extend the EES derogation until at least Apr 2027, so that airports and border authorities have the time needed to fix malfunctioning kiosks, increase staffing levels and ensure the system can operate efficiently before full enforcement is introduced and passengers are condemned to these excessive border control delays for another season.”

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

If you’re flying economy, you’re probably going to be squished into a tiny seat for the duration of your flight

When it comes to jetting off on holiday, the thought of getting from A to B can feel like a dread for some people. This could be due to turbulence, boredom or just how little legroom there is.

Flying with budget airlines doesn’t necessarily mean worse seats. Most airlines, including the likes of Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air, use modern narrow-body aircraft such as the Airbus A320 family or Boeing 737 family.

A lot of the budget airlines have a typical 3–3 layout of: window — middle — aisle or vice versa.

As travellers are probably aware, you can upgrade your seat with extra legroom for a certain price.

According to easyJet, “you can pay to select a standard, Up Front or Extra Legroom seat. If you don’t pay, easyJet allocates one automatically at check-in and says it will try to seat people on the same booking together, but this isn’t guaranteed”.

Meanwhile, Ryanair is probably the most notable example of the “pay if you care where you sit” model.

According to Ryanair’s website, “you can get a free randomly assigned seat, with random allocation happening during check-in 24–2 hours before departure. Paying lets you select a specific seat, with the price varying according to its location”.

Wizz Air works similarly and offers free random allocation, while you can pay for a particular seat. “Wizz also has premium seats such as front-row, Upfront and Extra Legroom, and even a “Sitting Together” option for two adults on eligible bookings”, according to its website.

Thankfully, there’s now a way to work out which budget airline offers the widest seats, so you needn’t compromise on your precious comfort.

Which? has looked at which airlines boast the most generous seating, so you can ensure you’re getting the best value for your money.

When it comes to short-haul flights, seat width (the distance between each armrest) ranges between 17 and 18 inches, which may not sound like a great deal, reports the Express.

However, that extra inch can make a world of difference when you’re packed in like sardines.

The airlines offering the widest economy seats are Wizz Air, TAP Portugal, easyJet and Lufthansa, all measuring 18 inches in width.

That means the airlines with the narrowest seats are British Airways, Jet2, KLM, Norwegian, Ryanair, Tui and Aer Lingus, all tied at 17 inches.

Meanwhile, Vueling sits somewhere in between at 17.5 inches.

Airlines seat width and legroom

Below are airline seat widths and legroom in inches:

• Aer Lingus 31-32 (legroom) 17 (seat width)
• Air Canada 30-34 / 17.5
• American Airlines 31-32 / 17
• British Airways 31 / 17.5
• Delta 31-32 / 17.9
• Emirates 32-34 / 17-18
• Etihad 31-33 / 17.5
• KLM 31 / 17.5
• Lufthansa 31-32 / 17
• Qantas 31 / 17.5
• Qatar 31-33 / 17.5
• Singapore Airlines 32-34 / 17.5
• Tui Airways 33 / 17
• United 31-34 / 17
• Virgin Atlantic 30-31 / 17.5

If you’re looking to bag a bit more space on your budget flight without splashing out extra cash, there are a couple of handy tricks worth knowing.

The first is to book a bulkhead seat – those positioned directly behind the walls, curtains or screens that divide the cabin. With no seats in front, you’ll be able to stretch your legs out to your heart’s content.

Bear in mind, however, that these can be slightly narrower if tray tables are stored within the armrest.

If a bulkhead seat doesn’t appeal to you, opt for a seat towards the back of the plane where the rows begin to taper.

This can occasionally mean fewer seats per row – though naturally, you may find yourself beside the toilet queue, which can prove a touch disruptive.

If you’re on a flight that has already departed and you spot additional empty seats, you can always politely enquire with a flight attendant about the possibility of relocating.

Remember, if you don’t ask, you don’t get – and provided you remain courteous, there’s every chance they’ll accommodate your request.

If you have additional requirements that would benefit from extra room, such as being particularly tall or pregnant, there’s a reasonable chance you could be moved to a more comfortable and spacious seat.

THE budget airline will axe two million seats across its 2026 winter schedule.

Ryanair cited high jet fuel costs as the reason for the reduction – and it has warned of rising prices too.

The airline announced that it has cut estimates for the expected number of passengers it will carry between April 2026 and March 2027.

The number has dropped from 216 million to 214 million.

In a statement, the airline explained that it was “sensible to strategically reduce the group’s exposure to unhedged jet fuel during the unprofitable winter schedule.”

It continued: “Subject to pricing and passenger demand, Ryanair expects this one-off winter schedule cut to reduce [November 2026 – March 2027 losses] by €70 million to €100 million (£85.8million).”

ALL IN

UK holiday parks where you can go ALL INCLUSIVE from £25pp with shows & waterparks

RETRO RATES

Our fave childhood holidays that have stayed ridiculously CHEAP – from £9.50pp

It won’t be the first time Ryanair has cut flights.

As a result of rising air tax, budget-friendly Ryanair has cut a huge amount of routes over the last year.

Lots of the axed routes affected Spain with flights to Vigo, Valladolid, Jerez and Tenerife (North) stopped.

Other places that lost connections through Ryanair were to the Azores in Portugal and Thessaloniki in Greece where the airline closed its base.

At the same time, the airline announced it would be scrapping off-season flights to Chania and Heraklion in Crete and will reduce its Athens services too.

All of this will result in 700,000 fewer seats on sale this winter.

In 2025, France lost 25 routes and some 750,000 seats last winter from and completely stopped services completely to Strasbourg and Brive.

In Brussels, Ryanair has axed 20 routes and cut one million seats across Brussels-Zaventem and Brussels South Charleroi airports.

The budget airline also warned that the prices of tickets could rise next year.

Conflict in Iran has caused jet fuel costs to climb due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and it will continue to affect holiday prices.

In a statement, Ryanair said: “If high oil prices continue through to S.27 (summer 2027), Ryanair believes short-haul airfares in Europe will increase materially to reflect higher oil prices as some less well-hedged competitors will struggle to maintain capacity or even survive this coming winter season.”

Ryanair said it currently hedges fuel (which means it pays a set price).

The airline added that 80 per cent of its jet fuel is hedged through March 2027 at about $67 (£50) a barrel.

The price of jet fuel is around $140 (£103) a barrel.

RYANAIR warns the price of jet fuel could soar next summer – meaning the cost of flights could too.

The airline has warned that other competitor airlines could struggle to ‘survive’.

Conflict in Iran has caused jet fuel costs to climb due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and it will continue to affect holiday prices.

In a statement, Ryanair said: “If high oil prices continue through to S.27 (summer 2027), Ryanair believes short-haul airfares in Europe will increase materially to reflect higher oil prices as some less well-hedged competitors will struggle to maintain capacity or even survive this coming winter season.”

Ryanair said it currently hedges fuel (which means it pays a set price).

The airline added that 80 per cent of its jet fuel is hedged through March 2027 at about $67 (£50) a barrel.

ALL IN

UK holiday parks where you can go ALL INCLUSIVE from £25pp with shows & waterparks

RETRO RATES

Our fave childhood holidays that have stayed ridiculously CHEAP – from £9.50pp

Currently the price of jet fuel is around $140 (£103) a barrel.

Ryanair isn’t the only airline to warn of higher costs on the horizon, easyJet has said the same.

Talking to The Times earlier this year, easyJet said it would increase minimum ticket prices of its winter 2026-27 flights “by two to three pounds” to offset higher costs and uncertainty around customer demand.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby also said he expects fares to keep rising into the first half of next year.

According to Reuters he said: “I think you’re going to still see gradual increases in fares. Not as big a jump as happened this year.”

When it comes to finding the cheapest flights right now – it’s best to use a comparison site.

Skyscanner is a great option for comparing the price of flights with various airlines – and it even have a price drop tool.

The feature claims to scour up to 80 billion prices a day and shows which destinations have seen flights that have dropped 20 per cent compared to the last week.

Google Flights is another search engine which compares flight prices and shows multiple airline options.

If you choose the ‘explore’ option, it can show the cheapest, direct flights across the world.

For even more hacks on when to fly, Expedia has put together a handy list on the cheapest days to fly – which is Friday.

Compared to travelling on a Saturday, jetting off the day before can save up to 18 per cent.

It also found that found that international travellers can save £93 on average by booking between 15 and 30 days ahead, instead of six months.

Where you fly from also makes a difference – some of the most expensive UK airports to fly from are London Heathrow, Humberside and Manchester..

For more hacks, head here.

JUST over an hour from the UK you could visit a pretty village famous for revolutionising European travel.

Schengen is a quiet village in the southeast of Luxembourg, bordering Germany and France and just an hour from Luxembourg city.

The village was the precise spot where the 1985 Schengen Agreement was signed, creating Europe’s passport-free travel zone.

The small village – home to just 500 people – was chosen due to its location on the borders of the three countries.

In Schengen, you can head to the Schengen Museum, which costs just €3 per person to enter and showcases the history of the Schengen Agreement.

The museum even has items that have been seized at borders.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

SEA IT

All 25 of the English Riviera beaches ranked from best to worst – by a Devon local

Visitors can even step into the signing room where the agreement was signed, onboard the Prinzessin Marie-Astrid Europa vessel.

When having a wander around the village look out for the Schengen Memorial which is formed of steel columns displaying national stars, located along the waterfront.

Nearby, outdoor enthusiasts can also head to Stromberg Nature Reserve, with picturesque hikes through vineyard trails.

Once you reach the top of Stromberg hill, you will see panoramic views of all three neighboring countries.

If you want to stay in the town and enjoy its peacefulness, you can head to the Schengen Castle.

The grand chateau dates back to the 13th century when it was a moated fortress although reopened in 2024 as a hotel.

Rooms cost as little as €100 (£85.64) for a double room, but you could splurge and get the Royal Suite for €180 (£154.16) a night.

You can fly from London Stansted with Ryanair in an hour and 15 minutes for as little as £14.99 a way.

Then once in Luxembourg, bus transport is entirely free.

A woman has praised Primark’s clever £25 cabin suitcase which can supposedly save travellers money at the airport – and it’s even perfect if you fly with Ryanair regularly

Anyone travelling with Ryanair will know how hard it can be trying to keep within the hand luggage size limits. Often passengers have to spend extra money on not taking any luggage in the hold – or upgrading to priority travel.

That’s why one woman was thrilled to find a piece of hand luggage that doesn’t break the bank, and also fits in the Ryanair baggage policy. Primark’s £25 suitcase, complete with detachable wheels, means you can get through the priority lane supposedly without having to spend extra money at the gate.

Ryanair Priority allows passengers to bring a 55cm x 40cm x 20cm cabin bag (up to 10kg) for the overhead locker, plus a small personal under-seat bag – and this Primark suitcase ticks all the boxes.

TikTok user Denic joked: “Ryanair has got nothing on me,” as she popped the wheels off her pink suitcase before testing it against the recommended measurements.

And sure enough, it slotted in perfectly – meaning she was able to board her flight without any unnecessary stress or hassle.

The dimensions of the case are 48.5cm x 30cm x 20cm, making it a perfect fit for Ryanair priority boarding passengers.

The under-seat personal bag you’re also permitted must measure 40cm x 30cm x 20cm. Many commenters suggested she wouldn’t be allowed the white bag shown in the clip – but rest assured, an additional personal bag is permitted.

In the comments, one user clarified: “The top hole is a personal bag (small bag 40 x 30 x 20, no maximum weight, but you have to carry it yourself). You can only take 1 per person. But you have 2, the one in the hole on top and the one on the floor next to you. The bottom hole is the carry-on bag (the name speaks for itself, 55 x 40 x 20, 10kg).”

One fuming commenter wrote: “Acting like you tricked Ryanair when you bought a suitcase specifically sized for Ryanair?”

Another hit back: “It’s still better than paying 70€ for 2cm.”

A third chimed in: “If your luggage is going in the top bin, that suggests it’s your handbag allowance, so what are you doing with the second bag?

“If you’ve paid for overhead, then you’ve just demonstrated what a completely useless feature that is, as such a small bag would easily have fit in the bigger bin with the wheels.”

Others said the bag was a smart idea.

What is Ryanair’s baggage policy?

Ryanair travellers can carry a free cabin bag no larger than 40 x 30 x 20cm, provided it fits under the seat in front.

To upgrade baggage to priority, this allows passengers to keep a small under-seat bag plus a larger 10kg trolley bag (55 x 40 x 20 cm) in the cabin.

Alternatively, a 10kg bag can be checked in and dropped at the airport desk before security. While anyone who goes for checked baggage, this includes a 20kg bag or 23kg. No single checked bag can exceed 32kg, and any excess weight can lead to an airport fee.

FROM major hubs like London Heathrow and Gatwick to regional airports – a number of airlines have scrapped been forced to scrap lots of routes in recent months.

Here are all the routes that have been axed this year by airlines like Ryanair, Vueling and Virgin Atlantic.

London Heathrow

Earlier this year, Virgin Atlantic scrapped its flights to Riyadh entirely after just a year.

The airline also suspended flights from London Heathrow to Dubai due to the ongoing Iran War until winter 2027.

Flights to Seattle have been paused until March 27, 2027.

A Virgin spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend our seasonal service to Dubai for the winter 2026 season, while services to Seattle will also be temporarily suspended for the winter 2026 season only, before resuming in March 2027.

CHECK IN

Sunny European city breaks cheaper than a night out… £14 flights & £3 JUGS of wine

HOL YES

Cheap holiday destinations with 86p beers, £15 flights & £129pp package breaks

“Customers can continue to travel to Seattle with our partner Delta Air Lines who will offer daily services from London Heathrow.“

“We’d like to apologise to any affected customers and will be contacting them with their options which include rebooking or a refund.”

Also no longer serving London Heathrow is Loganair which axed three routes this year.

The airline had flown to Dundee, Orkney and Shetland.

A Loganair spokesperson said: “Following a review of the route’s long-term viability, Loganair can confirm that its Dundee–London Heathrow service will cease after Friday 23 October, and the operating base will close.

“Earlier this year, we served notice to the stakeholder group behind the Public Service Obligation route after the contract became financially unsustainable.”

London Gatwick

Norse cancelled its route between London Gatwick and Los Angeles due to the rise in fuel prices in April.

The airline cited the “global fuel crisis” as the main reason.

Norse only introduced the route between the UK and American city back in June 2023.

At that time it operated seven flights per week.

Bournemouth Airport

Jet2 pulled five scheduled routes from Bournemouth Airport before they even launched earlier this year.

The airline began flying from the airport in February 2025 with two aircraft.

Plans even included adding a third aircraft along with more destinations in 2026.

But the company said in July 2025 that following a review, it had “taken the decision to withdraw services to Malaga, Dubrovnik, Jersey, Reus and Verona for summer ’26”.

Leeds Bradford

easyJet is cancelling all flights from Leeds Bradford from January 5, 2027.

Current routes from Leeds Bradford Airport include Barcelona, Majorca, Malaga and Paris, as well as Geneva and Belfast.

Last week, the airline said in a statement: “Following a review of our routes from Leeds Bradford Airport, we have made the decision to no longer operate flights from the airport after 5 January.”

It added: “We value the relationship we have built with Leeds Bradford Airport and we always keep options for our network under review, with the aim of providing more choice and connectivity where we see demand.”

Cardiff Airport

Vueling has withdrawn its flights to Alicante from its winter 2026–27 schedule just four months after first placing flights on sale.

The airline had scheduled a three-weekly service to Alicante over the Christmas and New Year period.

The last flight of the year from Cardiff Airport to Alicante is on October 24.

Neither the airline nor Cardiff Airport has confirmed if the flights will be returning for the summer season.

Manchester Airport

In March 2026, Aer Lingus announced it would be stopping all of its long-haul routes from Manchester Airport.

The airline had provided routes from Manchester to New York, Orlando and Barbados.

In January of this year, the airline said it was “undergoing a period of uncertainty on transatlantic services” at its Manchester base.

It continued: “To minimise customer disruption in the event of a closure of the Manchester base, which operates transatlantic flights from Manchester to New York, Orlando and Barbados, Aer Lingus is no longer selling transatlantic flights to/from Manchester for travel from 31 March 2026.”

IndiGo axed its two routes between Manchester and India on August 31.

It only started the routes to Mumbai and Delhi back in July 2025 – one-way flights between Manchester and Mumbai started from £290.

Southampton Airport

Loganair will close its base at Southampton Airport at the end of October.

The closure means that flights between Southampton and Manchester and Manchester and Exeter have been cancelled. The final flights were on August 20, 2026.

London Stansted

Ryanair has been forced to make several major changes in 2026 – one of which will affect London Stansted.

The airline announced it would be closing its Berlin base in October which is set to impact routes from Stansted as part of the winter 2026/27 schedule.

The details on which services and reductions hasn’t been specified yet.

YOU don’t need a huge holiday budget to jet off on an amazing European city break.

With flights from £13.99 each way and hotel rooms from under £40 a night, a weekend escape to Spain, Italy, or France can easily cost less than a big night out at home.

Whether you fancy sipping €3 (£2.50) wine by the river in Porto, grabbing fresh beachside tapas in Malaga, or drinking in views from a 360-degree rotating bar in Tirana, you can do it all while on a budget.

Here are the best bargain European city breaks you can book right now for under £18 a flight, with ridiculously cheap hotel stays to match.

Lyon, France

Bag a cheap city break to Lyon where you can sip a drink on a floating bar at the River Banks, wander Renaissance-era cobblestone streets in Old Lyon, and sample some of the best food in France.

Known as the food capital of France, it isn’t hard to find somewhere good to eat here – even on a budget.

Head to Marronniers Street at lunchtime and take your pick of Bouchons, which are traditional, local restaurants serving high-quality authentic meals for as little as €10 (£8.50).

You can fly to Lyon with Wizz Air from £17.99 each way. Sometimes the return flight from Lyon can be as low as £13.99.

The People Lyon offers rooms from £37 a night. The building used to be a secondary school, and has now become a vibrant spot for people to sit and enjoy views of the Fourvière Basilica.

Milan, Italy

While famous for high fashion and luxury, Milan is surprisingly easy to do on a budget if you know where to look.

The city’s aperitivo culture is ideal for inexpensive light snacking and drinking – especially in the vibrant, canal-side district of Navigli.

Soak up world-class architecture for free by wandering through the mall Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, admiring Sforzesco Castle, and of course taking in the views of the famous Milan Cathedral.

With super cheap flights, an affordable metro system and plenty to do for free once you’re there, you can book a city break to Milan knowing it won’t dent your wallet.

You can fly to Milan with Ryanair from £14.99 each way.

The Glam Hotel Milano has rooms from £50 a night, and is a modern hotel directly opposite the train station.

Malaga, Spain

Far more than a typical getaway to the Costa del Sol, Malaga is a vibrant, sun-soaked city full of Andalusian culture.

Dining out is wonderfully cheap, with beachside bars serving fresh sardine skewers for only a few euros, alongside plenty of low-cost tapas spots.

Sightseeing costs next to nothing thanks to free Sunday afternoon entry to art museums and historic sites like the Alcazaba fortress.

Pair that with beach days and scenic hikes to the Gibralfaro viewpoint, and you’ve got yourself a very affordable few days away.

You can fly to Malaga with Wizz Air from £17.99 each way.

Rooms at funky capsule hotel Futurotel Malaga start from £59.

Porto, Portugal

Cheap wine, unique architecture, amazing city viewpoints – Porto is the ideal pick for a walkable city break packed with affordable things to do.

Spend a day strolling through the Ribeira District where medieval colourful houses and charming cafes line the riverfront.

Another top free sight is to watch the sun set behind the huge steel Dom Luis I Bridge from the Jardmin do Morro, to the sound of local street musicians.

As for cheap wine, pop into neighbourhood tascas for a bite to eat and a drink – here you can enjoy local wine by the jug for €3.50 (£3)!

You can fly to Porto with Ryanair from as little as £13.99 each way.

The ever-reliable ibis budget Porto Gaia has rooms from £55 a night.

Tirana, Albania

Tirana is easily one of Europe’s most underrated and budget-friendly capitals, buzzing with pastel-painted buildings and an amazing coffee culture.

You can explore giant, Communist-era nuclear bunkers turned underground art museums at Bunk’Art, or catch a cheap cable car ride up Mount Dajti for sweeping views across the valley.

Nights are best spent in the trendy Blloku district – a neighbourhood once off-limits to locals as it was an restricted zone for communist regime leaders – now it’s open to everyone with lively cocktail lounges and traditional grill houses that serve up dishes and drinks for pocket change.

You can fly to Tirana with Wizz Air from £17.99 each way.

The four-star Sky Hotel Tirana has rooms from £38 per night, and is home to the largest rotating bar in the Balkans.

The revolving rooftop bar completes a 360° turn every hour, giving you sweeping city and mountain views alongside your meal.

Dublin, Ireland

When you can hop over to Dublin on a £14.99 hour-long flight, this might just be the quickest and easiest city break to tick off in a weekend.

While Temple Bar is certainly worth a visit to walk its pretty cobbled streets and grab a pic outside the famous red pub, save your pint of Guinness for elsewhere.

Head to South William Street to find cheaper beer at spots like Pygmalion and Grogan’s, where all the atmosphere comes from taking your pint back out into the street to listen to buskers.

For an affordable yet delicious lunch, head to Pablo Picante. Dublin has a huge burrito culture, and this Mexican chain offers well-stuffed wraps that will keep you full all day from €10.75 (£9.20).

You can fly to Dublin with Ryanair from £14.99 each way.

Stay at the Wetherspoons-owned Keaven’s Port Hotel from £82 per night. The hotel sits on Camden Street, which packed with some of the city’s best bars, pubs and clubs.

Alicante, Spain

With year-round warmth and 300 days of sunshine per year, Alicante is a solid bet when it comes to booking a sunny Spanish city break.

Spend your days wandering the whitewashed, flower-filled lanes of Barrio Santa Cruz, or taking in sweeping Mediterranean views from the hilltop Santa Barbara Castle for free.

Eating well can be remarkably cheap if you visit Mercado Central for fresh tapas, or tuck into authentic regional paellas at backstreet neighbourhood bars.

You can fly to Alicante with Ryanair from £14.99 each way.

You can book a stay at the Travelodge Alicante Puerto from £39 per night, which is conveniently located a short walk from Alicante Harbour and the Explanada de España.

EasyJet announced this week that it will axe all its flights from Leeds Bradford Airport early next year – routes cut include Paris, Barcelona and Malaga

Ryanair is offering bargain rescue flights after a rival axed flights at a busy UK airport.

EasyJet announced this week that it will axe all its flights from Leeds Bradford Airport early next year. The last easyJet flight from the hub will be on from January 5, 2027. Routes cut include Paris, Barcelona and Malaga.

Ryanair has launched “rescue fares” for £29.99 following easyJet’s flight cancellations at the airport.

From Friday, August 21, Ryanair flights between Leeds Bradford and Malaga in Spain, will be £29.99.

Ryanair currently operates 10 weekly flights between Leeds and the Spanish tourist spot.

Travellers can book the rescue fares until the end of February 2027.

“While easyJet abandons Leeds Bradford, cutting its full schedule from 5 Jan 2027, Ryanair is saving the day with rescue fares from just £29.99 for affected passengers – particularly those booked to fly easyJet from Leeds Bradford to Malaga, who can now switch to one of Ryanair’s 10 Malaga services per week,” Ryanair’s Director of Comms, Jade Kirwan, said.

When easyJet made the announcement, a spokesperson said: “Following a review of our routes from Leeds Bradford Airport, we have made the decision to no longer operate flights from the airport after 5 January.

“Our focus is on maintaining and developing routes which prove most popular with customers.

“We value the relationship we have built with Leeds Bradford Airport and we always keep options for our network under review, with the aim of providing more choice and connectivity where we see demand.”

A woman who frequently flies with Ryanair has shared her experience of travelling with a crossbody bag, warning passengers about the airline’s one-bag rule and the cabin bag fees

With airport security, liquids limits, boarding deadlines and ever-changing baggage allowances, flying can feel like navigating a rulebook before you’ve even reached the gate – and it’s easy to see how passengers get caught out.

Ryanair travellers know this all too well. As one of Europe’s biggest budget carriers, the airline has a long list of guidelines designed to keep fares low and flights running on time — but they can be easy to miss if you don’t fly often.

One of the most important to get right is Ryanair’s strict hand luggage policy, which has clear limits on what you can bring on board without paying extra. So what do you do if you want to bring a crossbody bag?

A woman who frequently flies with Ryanair has shared that you can take a crossbody on board, but you may need to do some faffing around if staff call you out.

Sarah, who flies the budget airline monthly, said you might be asked to put your crossbody in your personal bag. This is because only one bag is typically permitted per person.

The rules around Ryanair crossbody bags

Ryanair’s bag policy reads: “All fares include one small personal bag (40 x 30 x 20 cm) that must fit under the seat.

“Additional options include Priority boarding with a second 10kg cabin bag, checked bags of 10kg, 20kg (up to 3), or 23kg (1 allowed). Infants have no cabin allowance but may bring a 5kg baby bag and two baby equipment items free”.

Ryanair’s policy makes no specific mention of restrictions on cross-body bags. However, Sarah, who commutes by air, has yet to encounter any issues.

“You will not find the crossbody bag in Ryanair’s bag policy; all we know is you can only bring one small, personal bag, otherwise you could face a fine at the gate,” she explained.

Sarah revealed the fine could be between 46 and 60 euros (£40- £51). She said: “The most sensible thing I can tell you is if you use a crossbody bag, be prepared to put it inside your small bag”.

To avoid being hit with this charge, it’s wise to ensure there’s enough space in your smaller bag to squeeze it in should the need arise.

However, Sarah added, “But based on my actual experience of flying Ryanair, my crossbody bag is small, and it is kept close to my body, which is never challenged by staff, which is great, because modern airline travel means you need your phone and your wallet available at all times.”

Reaction

In the comments, someone said: “I usually hide the crossbody bag under my hoodie or jacket! Just to be safe”.

Another wrote: “It depends on the staff member and how full the crossbody is. I’ve been asked to put it in my other bag when it looked big and full, but I have noticed tons of people get away with a tiny second crossbody bag”.

A third penned: “My mum has been carrying the FULL backpack plus her everyday purse on every flight without fail and has always gotten away with it”.

A fourth said: “Depends on how rude the gate agents are feeling. 99% of the time it’s fine…. And if they are feeling annoying that day, as long as it fits into your backpack, you are fine”.

RYANAIR is offering bargain rescue flights to any easyJet travellers faced with cancellations at a major UK airport.

EasyJet announced earlier this week that it will be axing all of its flights from Leeds Bradford Airport.

The last flight will be on January 5, 2027.

Destinations the airline flies to from the airport include Paris, Barcelona and Malaga.

Now, Ryanair has announced that it will be launching ‘rescue fares’ from £29.99 for passengers impacted by easyJet’s flight cancellations at Leeds Bradford Airport.

From today, Ryanair flights between Leeds Bradford and Malaga in Spain, will be £29.99.

Read more on travel inspo

SEA IT

All 25 of the English Riviera beaches ranked from best to worst – by a Devon local

TRAVEL TIP

The £2.99 SIM hack that can save Brits HUNDREDS abroad

Ryanair currently operates 10 weekly flights between Leeds and the Spanish holiday hotspot.

Travellers will be able to book the rescue fares between now and the end of February 2027.

Ryanair’s Director of Comms, Jade Kirwan, said: “While easyJet abandons Leeds Bradford, cutting its full schedule from 5 Jan 2027, Ryanair is saving the day with rescue fares from just £29.99 for affected passengers – particularly those booked to fly easyJet from Leeds Bradford to Malaga, who can now switch to one of Ryanair’s 10 Malaga services per week.

“Ryanair’s rescue fares are available to book now on the Ryanair app/website.”

When easyJet announced that the airline will be scrapping flights from Leeds Bradford Airport, a spokesperson said: “Following a review of our routes from Leeds Bradford Airport, we have made the decision to no longer operate flights from the airport after 5 January.

“Our focus is on maintaining and developing routes which prove most popular with customers.

“We value the relationship we have built with Leeds Bradford Airport and we always keep options for our network under review, with the aim of providing more choice and connectivity where we see demand.”

A NUMBER of Ryanair passengers missed their flight this week due to more airport queue chaos.

Travellers at Copenhagen Airport became stuck in long queues on Tuesday.

The Ryanair flight was scheduled to have 179 passengers, however 54 didn’t even make it onboard.

When the flight closed for boarding, any passengers who weren’t onboard had their luggage unloaded from hold.

The delays were not due to the new Entry/Exit System (EES) that has been causing delays at other European airports.

Instead, they were due to a water leak.

Read more on travel inspo

SEA IT

All 25 of the English Riviera beaches ranked from best to worst – by a Devon local

ALL IN

I found the best value all inclusive London hotel… just £55pp with free food & booze

A spokesperson for the airport said: “The longer queues at passport control on Tuesday afternoon were caused by an extraordinary operational issue and were not related to the EES system.

“On Tuesday afternoon, an unfortunate water leak occurred in a server room connected to the passport control area in Pier E, one of the airport’s two passport control facilities.

“As a result, all passengers had to pass through passport control in Pier C for the remainder of the day.

“When half of the available passport control capacity is taken out of operation, longer waiting times are unfortunately unavoidable.

“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this caused our passengers.”

Sun Travel has contacted Ryanair for comment.

This is the latest in a number of incidents of passengers missing their flights in Europe recently.

However, other cases have been caused by long queues at airports due to EES.

For example, back in April, about 100 passengers were left stranded at Milan Linate Airport after their easyJet flight to Manchester left without them.

There are certain spots that people will want to reserve – and some they should try to avoid

People might only just be jetting off for a bit of sunshine before the schools go back in September, but others may already be planning their next getaway. Knowing a few tips when picking your seat can improve your experience on carriers like Ryanair, EasyJet, Jet2, and TUI if you book accordingly.

It’s no secret that not all seats are made the same – with some specifically having perks like extra legroom. But most do not realise that the position of the seats can make a bigger difference than a few extra inches of wiggle room.

Depending on how you plan to spend the flight, selecting a ‘cheaper’ seat in certain spots could make your flight more enjoyable – and bring perks that money can not often buy. For example, some seats are prime spots for getting on and off the plane more quickly, while others offer great views and first call on snacks.

However, with these seat perks come some seats that customers may wish to avoid if given the option. Some may say that these can make even a short flight feel uncomfortable.

Below, we’ve had a look at some popular seat perks you can expect on Ryanair, EasyJet, Jet2, and TUI planes. For the most part, these money-can’t-buy upgrades are often much more sought after.

Best seats for pictures

If you’re keen to document your trip from start to finish, or simply enjoy an unrivalled view above the clouds, then certain seats will be the best for you. Opting for certain sections in the front or back can give those Instagram-worthy snaps that aren’t just a shot of the metal plane wing.

When booking, pick any of the window seats in rows one to five across all of the named airlines above. These sit well forward of the engines, meaning clear glass and no heat haze will distort the look of your photos.

Best seats for getting on and off the plane

Some of these same rows will benefit from another perk of getting off the plane and starting their holiday not long after the seatbelt sign goes off. Most people caught in the middle of the cabin end up trapped until they can find an opening to leave, whereas these seat holders can usually slip straight out if they have their hand luggage ready and waiting.

There are options for the front and rear of the plane – just check before choosing that your plane has exits that it uses from the rear as some airlines may only open one. These are the rough seat areas to pick if you want to be first in line:

• easyJet: Rows 1–3 (front exit) or Rows 29–31 (Airbus A320) / Rows 38–40 (Airbus A321neo) for the back doors.
• Ryanair: Rows 1–3 (front exit) or Rows 31–33 (Boeing 737-800) / Rows 33–35 (Boeing 737 MAX 8-200) for the rear stairs.
• Jet2: Rows 1–2 (front) or Rows 31–33 (Boeing 737-800).
• TUI (Short-haul 737): Rows 1–2 (front) or Rows 31–33 (rear).

Being near the front also puts passengers as some of the first in line for meals, snacks and drinks when cabin crew make their rounds. On very short flights, sitting to close to the middle means passengers may risk missing out on refreshments entirely.

Seats you may want to avoid

Picking some of these front seats appears to offer a few perks, along with the extra legroom that often comes at a premium in the front row. But, they aren’t all perfect – and it may pay more to sit a few rows back.

Toilets are often located near the front and back of the plane, so anyone sitting in the first and last rows may face a steady queue and unavoidable smells. Some seats might also end up being windowless.

Due to the configuration of some budget planes, seats are pushed closer together than in the original layout to boost passenger capacity per flight. There are a handful of left-hand seats that are often so misaligned that people end up with a solid wall instead of a view outside.

If you have a slightly longer journey, or just want to recline and unwind as your holiday starts, be aware that some seats don’t offer this option. Aside from every Ryanair seat being locked in place, certain back-row or emergency-exit seats cannot recline either.

• easyJet A320: Avoid reclining in Rows 11 and 12 (ahead of exit Rows 12 and 13).
• Jet2 / TUI / Ryanair 737s: Avoid Rows 15 and 16 (ahead of emergency exit Rows 16 and 17).

A BUDGET airline has revealed the exact date it will be cancelling its flights from a major UK airport.

EasyJet will be cancelling all its flights from Leeds Bradford Airport on January 5, 2027.

The decision follows a review conducted by the airline of its routes from Leeds Bradford Airport.

Current routes from Leeds Bradford Airport include Barcelona, Malaga, Paris, Geneva and Belfast.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the airline said: “Following a review of our routes from Leeds Bradford Airport, we have made the decision to no longer operate flights from the airport after 5 January.

“Our focus is on maintaining and developing routes which prove most popular with customers.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

SEA IT

All 25 of the English Riviera beaches ranked from best to worst – by a Devon local

“We value the relationship we have built with Leeds Bradford Airport and we always keep options for our network under review, with the aim of providing more choice and connectivity where we see demand.”

The airline added that customers had been contacted with bookings beyond January 5 and offered either a flight transfer or a full refund.

EasyJet first launched its flights from the airport back in 2010 and only introduced its Paris route in 2024.

If you still want to head on holiday from Leeds Bradford Airport, there are other options available.

Competitor budget airline, Ryanair, still operates to and from the airport, as well as Jet2.

Leeds Bradford Airport has also recently had a £100million glow-up with a larger terminal that has more shops, seats and lounges.

If you’re travelling as a family or group, a little-known hack can be useful for those who pack a lot, and most airlines allow it as long as you follow certain restrictions that they set

Every group of travellers inevitably has one person who is filled with dread when they put their suitcase on the baggage scales. It might be the person who is super organised and taking the essentials everyone needs, or just a holidaymaker who loves to have multiple outfit options per day.

If you’re travelling as a couple, family, or group, then ‘bag pooling’ can be a handy hack to know, and many passengers haven’t heard of it. When you book checked luggage with airlines such as Ryanair, Jet2 and easyJet, you can choose a weight allowance, usually 15, 20, or 23Kkg, and if you book more than one suitcase, the allowance can be shared between them and doesn’t have to be equally divided.

For example, if as a couple you book two 23kg bags, that gives you a 46kg allowance, which can be distributed as you please. One of you could take 15kg and the other 30kg. But airlines do have an upper limit, due to restrictions on the maximum weight that baggage handlers can deal with. Here’s what some of the UK’s most popular airlines say about bag pooling and their specific rules around it.

EasyJet

Bag pooling is allowed on easyJet flights, and the airline clarifies: “If you’re travelling with family or friends on the same flight and booking, you can pool your total weight allowance.

“This means the total weight allowance can be split among the total number of bags booked, as long as no single item weighs more than 32kg. Maximum total size (length + width + height) = under 275cm. Please note that you cannot pool weight between hold bags and sports equipment.”

Ryanair

One of Ryanair’s FAQs asks: “Is bag pooling allowed?” to which the airline replied: “Yes. Bag pooling is allowed between passengers with check-in bags on the same flight reservation. This means that checked baggage allowances can be shared across passengers on the booking. For example, if you have 2 20kg Check-in Bags (40kg total) on your booking, one of those bags could weigh 15kg while the other weighs 25kg. However, no bag can weigh more than 32kg.”

TUI

TUI has clarified its rules around bag pooling on its website, however, passengers who’ve booked a TUI package holiday should double check which airline they’ll be flying with, as they sometimes use airlines such as Ryanair or easyJet. You’ll need to follow airline specific guidance.

On its official FAQs page, asking “Can I pool our luggage allowance?”, TUI states: “If you’re travelling with TUI Airways, you’re allowed to pool your luggage allowance with anyone else travelling on your booking. However, each bag can only weigh up to 25kg.

“If you’re unsure of your luggage allowance, then you can find this on your booking confirmation or by logging into Manage my booking. If you’re flying with any other airline, you’ll need to contact them directly.”

Jet2

Jet2 representatives took to social media after a passenger asked about bag pooling: “If one person is over does all the weight pool together or does everyone individual need to be 22kg?”, they queried, going on to explain that they had a group booking for 10 passengers, each with 22kg of checked luggage included in their booking.

A Jet2 spokesperson advised: “Yes you are able to pool your luggage providing you do not go over your overall weight limit and no one bag weighs more than 32kg.” The customer then followed up to ask: “So one person won’t be charged if their case is overweight slightly and the rest are under?”, to which Jet2 replied: “That’s correct. If one bag is slightly over, but others are under, you will still have room within your overall allowance and will not be charged.”

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

People picking this side of the plane could get a lot less – and for some that could actually be a good thing

When aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus build planes, they design the windows to line up perfectly with standard, comfortable legroom (usually a 31-to-32-inch seat pitch). But most budget airlines make a change to their seating set-up that some passengers might actually prefer.

Because aircraft seats are mounted on floor tracks, airlines can move them freely. Budget airlines like Ryanair, Jet2, TUI and Easyjet will often deliberately push the seat rows much closer together (down to a tight 28-to-29-inch pitch) to fit extra rows onto the plane.

Although the seats move, the window cut-outs in the metal body of the plane stay. It’s this shrinking legroom that instantly forces the seats and windows out of sync.

Most window seats that passengers pick will have a view out of the plane, but some are known to have restricted views. In some cases, there are seats that have no window at all.

While this might sound like a complaint waiting to happen, some people may actually see this as a perk. Unlike the ‘extra legroom’ trick, this flat surface offers the best spot for those wanting to take a nap during their flight – or those nervous fliers who would rather not know what being 30,000ft in the air looks like.

Certain people claim that the window-free wall space offers a great place to rest a pillow. These misaligned seats often run down the left-hand side of the plane.

For people wanting to benefit from less of a view, check your plane’s seating chart before confirming your choice. You can often see how the window situation will work.

• Ryanair (Boeing 737-800): The misalignment runs heavily down the left side of the aircraft. It is so pronounced that Seat 11A and 11F often has no window at all.
• EasyJet (Airbus A319/A320): Highly noticeable misalignment on the left-hand side. The final rows (Row 31 on A320s and Row 26 on A319s) are completely windowless as well as certain overwing exit rows which may also have slightly altered alignment.
• Jet2 (Boeing 737-800 or Airbus A321neo): On their Boeing 737s, you will find the Jet2 windows out of alignment past the front bulkhead. If you book an “A” seat on the left, you will frequently find yourself staring directly at the plastic pillar between two windows rather than out of the glass.
• TUI (Boeing 737 MAX or 787 Dreamliner): On TUI’s short-haul Boeing 737s, the misalignment works exactly like Ryanair and Jet2 models. However, if you are flying on TUI’s long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the rule does not apply as long-haul aircrafts usually maintain standard legroom pitches, meaning the seats and windows stay properly aligned.

If your goal is to sleep on your next flight, sitting on the left side (Seats A) of a short-haul flight on these airlines gives you a higher statistical chance of getting a solid wall or a heavily forward-shifted window to rest your head against.

If you actually want to enjoy the view, you are better off sitting on the right side (Seats F). Booking these seats may also offer a little ‘extra’ legroom at a fraction of the cost.