seats

The method has has been praised by some but others say it’s a really bad idea

A controversial technique to avoid getting a seat you do not want has been criticised by a number of passengers. Many airlines charge more for seat selection on the plane – or automatically put you in a middle seat.

However, according to one travel specialist, there is a method that can stop the system from giving you a middle seat. And they say it comes without paying anything on top.

Jorden Tually explained the technique in a video on his TikTok account (@jordentually). He said low-cost airlines often automatically assign middle seats to those who select “random seat allocation”.

He says that this encourages passengers to pay for a window or aisle seat. Yet he argues that there is a technique that can help here – although it has been criticised by some online.

He says the method stops the airline’s system from automatically assigning you a middle seat. First up, he said he looks at how many seats of this type are still available on the flight when checking in.

In a test of the method, he said he found a total of 10 middle seats available on a flight. He said the next step is to simulate the purchase of that number of tickets.

“I go straight to the website and pretend to buy 10 more middle seats,” he said. He said when doing this, he enters the name of each made-up passenger.

You can just put in ‘a bunch of letters in there,’ he said. Then, in the seat assignment, he selects all the middle seats or those he wants to avoid and clicks ‘continue’.

He said ‘the system is going to hold those seats for about 10 to 15 minutes.’ This is the amount of time users will have to actually check in and get a better seat.

When passengers select ‘random seat allocation,’ the system will not be able to assign the seats it has previously blocked. He said: ‘It only took me two minutes, and now I have a window seat. It has never failed me and is 100% successful when done correctly.”

He advises completing the process from a computer and says it is more effective if done as close to the check-in date as possible, as there are fewer seats available.

But while some praised the technique, others pointed out the obvious consequences it would have. One commenter online said: “OMG, the self-entitled brigade again. If this does work, everyone will now try it, freezing up loads of seats and could stop genuine people wanting to book that flight, all because you think you deserve a better seat than those who have paid.”

Others criticised the idea and said it would lead to prices going up where dynamic pricing is used, which sees prices fluctuate according to demand. One person commented on the YouTube post put up late last month to say: “Don’t you know about airlines’ dynamic pricing??” Yet another echoed this, saying: “Damn, that will spike up cost by 10-20%”

Another person said: “Now you delayed your flight 10 minutes while they wait for the computer queue to clear so other passengers can select their seats.” A further commenter agreed, saying: “This is not a good hack, cause your ticket costs more when the system thinks it’s fully booked.”

Another added: “Congrats. Due to dynamic pricing, you’ve just raised the price of your ticket by 50%”

Experts have discovered which side of the plane offers more legroom without the need to pay extra for an upgrade, with right-hand seats offering up to an inch more space

Most of us yearn for that bit of extra legroom on a flight, but it often comes with an added price tag. However, travel experts have shared a nifty trick that could bag you that much-desired additional space on your next flight without having to fork out any extra cash.

When booking flights, travellers are frequently offered the chance to upgrade their seat to one with more legroom or even to premium economy. This usually incurs an extra fee, ranging from £15 to £50 depending on the airline and the specific flight – an additional cost many would prefer to sidestep.

This is why many passengers opt to select their seats 24 hours before take-off when it’s typically free with most airlines. Alternatively, some leave their seating fate in the hands of the airline.

However, if you’re keen to secure your seat and snag some extra legroom without parting with any more money, there’s a particular side of the plane you should be eyeing up. According to the experts at Which? selecting a seat on the right-hand side of the plane, specifically those labelled D, E, or F, as opposed to the left side with A, B or C, could grant you that crucial extra space.

Which? conducted research revealing that standard plane seats on the right-hand side across various airlines, including Ryanair, can offer anything from an extra half-inch to an inch of legroom compared to seats on the left. And we all know how precious that extra space can be during a flight.

This implies that when the opportunity to select your seats for free becomes available 24 hours prior to your flight, it’s wise to choose a seat on the right rather than the left. Moreover, seats located in front of a bulkhead, along an exit row or at the rear of the aircraft typically offer more room.

To get ahead of the game and secure a prime spot, you can utilise AeroLOPA with your specific plane model number to examine your flight’s seating plan. This will enable you to verify if this clever trick applies to your flight and pinpoint the best seats to reserve.

Sky News also discovered that passengers aboard Ryanair’s Boeing 737-800s can relish in 29.5 inches of legroom in seats D, E and F in rows 3-15, compared to a slightly less comfortable 29 inches in the same row on the left-hand side. Furthermore, they found that those jetting off on an easyJet A321neo can bag an extra inch of legroom on the right-hand side.

Seats in D, E and F on rows 3-17 on the right boasted a generous 29-inch space, while those on the left between rows 30 and 40 were limited to just 28 inches. Sky News also unveiled that passengers on an easyJet Airbus A320-214 can gain an additional half-inch on the right-hand side in rows 14 to 29.

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

THE COLOURFUL costumes and heart-warming songs of The Lion King first graced the West End over 26 years ago, yet one person knows the show more intimately than anyone else.

Leading actor George Asprey never imagined he would’ve stayed playing Scar in The Lion King for six months, let alone over 17 years, but it didn’t take him long to fall in love with the production.

Since then, millions have watched him act Scar on stage at the Lyceum Theatre.

And as a result, the actor obviously has a lot of tips for visitors.

His first piece of advice, is that whether you are new to the show or have seen it a thousand times, to come with no expectations.

He said: “Allow yourself to just open up to the set and the costumes.

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“It is difficult to take everything in, in one sitting, and when you come again, you’ll pick up the different nuances.

“Maybe in the scenery, for example.”

George shared how this is particularly true for one fan, who has seen the show over 100 times “just because she loved it so much and said there was always something to see”.

He added: “She would say ‘this is what I love to do’ – different shows affect different people in different ways, and for her, it was just her love of life in the show.”

One moment is particularly special though, admitted George.

He said: “When people watch The Lion King for the first time, they will never get that experience again – that feeling or reaction.

“I think I am always aware of that kid in the audience, mainly because of having my own children and I know firsthand, as to him and to everyone at the show, I need to be the best possible Scar I can be.

“It is a huge responsibility for all of us to consider the legacy and I think that’s probably one of the reasons I like to think the show continues to impress people.”

And having been in the show for such a long time, George of course has tips for those heading to the show.

He revealed: “I’ve had friends right at the front of the stalls and I have had friends right at the bottom end of the upper circle, and I think the one thing about the Lyceum is that all of the viewing is extraordinary.

“I really don’t think there’s a vantage point in the upper circle where you won’t see everything still.

“I think it its decent price for a reason and I don’t think it’s not worth it and I wouldn’t avoid coming if you can only afford a certain seat, because you still get a wonderful experience.”

George added how it is so much more than a show, that the costumes are all like their own pieces of art.

“Like you have a full-size elephant just walking down he aisle – it is such a feast for the eyes,” he said.

“There are just so many incredible moments in the show.

“I follow two of the greatest numbers in the show – Scar comes on and completely changes the tone.

“I think the Lion King has one of the greatest opening numbers of any musical ever,” he added.

And whilst people may think The Lion King is a show for kids, they couldn’t be more wrong.

George said: “When you’re younger, of course, you think Scar is the scariest character, but then as you get older – you start to think the language is so beautiful, his costume is so interesting and everything he says actually has a point to it.

“It truly is a family show, because every member of the family will get something different from it.”

Each time George performs, he gets to the show around 5:30pm and then by 6pm he is in costume.

He revealed: “We have to be there at 6pm, to start vocal and physical warm up – which runs until 6:30pm – then I am straight into hair and makeup and after makeup straight down to costume.

“I’ll get back to my dressing room by five past 10 and considering the amount of makeup I’m wearing, I’m so quick at getting it off – I am normally out the building by 10:15/10:20pm.”

Of course, they are days where it is more difficult though, like when he is unwell, but he did share “it’s never to do with the job itself”.

As for his routine to ensure he doesn’t get unwell often, he makes sure to eat clean – apart from Sundays, when “all bets are off”.

He also works out as much as he can.

Through 17 years George has had many memorable moments as well – but the most memorable?

“The first show back after Covid,” he revealed, “theatre was the last thing to return so it was a long time coming.

“And of course, it meant a lot to everyone.

“I’m actually welling up at the thought of it.

“To not be able to do what you love doing for 17 months and not seeing the people you love seeing – it’s hard and suddenly, people could enjoy the theatre again.”

He concluded: “All I can say is that it is a huge honour [to play Scar] and something that I never take for granted.”

For more inspiration on things to do in London, here’s everything you can do at one of London’s most popular attractions before it closes ahead of £240million renovation.

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A passenger described the terrifying moment a Ryanair flight from Birmingham to Tenerife encountered severe turbulence at 35,000ft, forcing an emergency return

A passenger aboard a Ryanair flight forced to turn back to Birmingham has revealed how travellers were ‘hurled from their seats’ during a terrifying ordeal that saw the aircraft lurch violently without warning.

The 33-year-old from Lichfield, who asked not to be named, described the harrowing experience as “like something from a horror movie”. The aircraft took off from Birmingham Airport at around 2.50pm on Sunday, December 28 and transmitted an emergency code (squawk 7700) whilst flying over Brittany, France, after climbing to 35,000ft.

Travellers informed The Aviation Herald that the severe turbulence struck during the meal service, leaving several people injured. The aircraft reversed course and dropped to FL100 (cruising at 10,000ft).

READ MORE: EasyJet flight forced to land in UK after ‘adverse weather’ disrupts landingREAD MORE: Ryanair flight in mid-air emergency and diverts to UK as ‘passengers hurt’

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The passenger revealed: “I was on this flight. It felt like something you see on a horror movie. We were smooth cruising then, out of nowhere all of a sudden, the plane jerked to the left extremely quickly and then to the right.

“It felt like a loss of control, and then we plummeted down and we were flung out of our seats. I came out physically unharmed but the mental toll this has taken it awful,” reports Birmingham Live.

“Other passengers said to me they saw a fighter jet pass us by just before it happened. How do you not pick up on a planes radar other planes in the area? It doesn’t make sense.

“Who knows – I would like real answers though this has really traumatised me. The cabin crew said within their 10 years as cabin crew they’ve never experienced anything like it.”

The aircraft made a safe landing back at Birmingham about an hour and 32 minutes after its initial departure. As reported by AirLive, the plane was directed to an isolated parking bay where medical personnel could assess passengers.

A Ryanair spokesperson confirmed to the Mirror on Sunday evening: “FR1121 from Birmingham to Tenerife on 28th December returned to Birmingham Airport shortly after take-off due to air turbulence.

“The aircraft landed normally before passengers disembarked and returned to the terminal, where a small number of passengers were provided with medical assistance. This flight continued to Tenerife at 21:06 local.”

A flight attendant with over five years of experience has shared the ideal seats to book on long-haul flights for maximum comfort – and which rows you should avoid at all costs.

Few experiences test human endurance quite like a marathon economy flight.

Squeezing into those minuscule seats with barely any legroom whilst the journey drags into double-digit hours can push anyone to their limits, yet several strategies can help make the ordeal more bearable.

When embarking on a distant adventure, ensuring your experience is as comfortable as can be is paramount, and industry insiders have shared exactly how to achieve this.

Travel medical insurance specialists at AllClear have collaborated with a seasoned Virgin Atlantic flight attendant to unveil optimal seating choices, areas to steer clear of, and crucially, techniques for snatching some shut-eye during those marathon journeys.

The crew member, boasting over half a decade of flying experience, revealed that nervous flyers should prioritise booking seats positioned above the aircraft’s wings.

They explained: “Seats over the wings usually offer the smoothest ride during turbulence, and the further forward you sit on the aircraft, the less you’ll feel the impact of it.

“Likewise, sitting over the wing is often one of the smoother spots on the plane. Being closest to the aircraft’s centre of gravity, you tend to feel less movement and vibration compared with seats further back.”

Regarding securing some rest during extended flights, striking the right balance proves particularly challenging.

Finding a peaceful spot for slumber becomes essential, though this can prove elusive, the aviation professional warned.

They explained to the Express.: “You can never truly predict the quietest spot on a plane, as it depends on the passengers around you. But the aft [rear] of the plane can be a bit noisy because toilet flushes are quite loud.

“The seats at the back on all our aircraft recline, so that’s not a problem, but sometimes light catches through the galley curtains on a night flight, and it can be noisy as the crew are working. So, I also wouldn’t choose back row seats.”

For the ultimate in-flight experience, the cabin crew member suggested one particular area to aim for when selecting your seat: “The ideal seat would be around five rows from the back, or five rows from the front.

“Crew work front to back simultaneously, or two carts from the front of economy to the back. So, five seats from the front is best as you’ll get your first meal choice.

“It’s also closer to the front for turbulence, as if you’re five from the back you’ll feel it more, and being closer at the front means you’ll get off quicker.”

A man has been slammed for “bullying” a solo female traveller into swapping seats on a plane believing she’d be an “easy target”, and people have been left floored by the incident

When it comes to travelling on a long-haul flight, most people make sure to prebook their preferred seat for extra comfort on the journey. However, others risk it and board without paying extra to secure one of the best seats.

That’s exactly what one man decided to do when flying 40,000 ft above, but now he has been slammed for his “entitled” actions. Taking to Reddit, a dad explained: “My daughter recently took her first solo overnight international flight on a Delta A350 in a 2-4-2 Premium Select cabin. I used miles to book her an aisle seat in the two-seat section. The man in the window seat next to her asked if she would switch seats with his wife, who was seated in the middle four.

“After some persistence, she eventually agreed just to get him to stop asking. After swapping, she discovered the other person in the middle four was also a solo traveller.”

The solo traveller shared her experience with others, and every person she spoke to agreed she should have stayed put and refused the swap.

Disappointed she gave in to the “entitled” man, but pleased she travelled to her destination safely, the dad added: “Everyone she’s told this story to has pointed out – correctly – that if sitting next to his wife was that important, he should have swapped seats with the solo traveller in the middle four, not asked her to give up her seat.

“She said it ended up being fine because the people seated next to her were nice and entertaining. I told her the etiquette advice she received is absolutely right, and it was her seat to do with as she pleased but, if I’m paying for her ticket, she better not swap into a lower cabin.”

Commenting on her post, one user said: “Ugh, the entitlement these days is infuriating! Glad her neighbours ended up being nice but hate to hear that she felt she had to eventually agree because he kept asking!

“Make sure she knows for next time that it’s also polite to say ‘no and please don’t ask me again’ or just let the flight attendant know and deal with him.”

Another user added: “Yeah, young females… Oh, wait, females in general get treated like we are pushovers or disposable. Please… please… PLEASE… encourage her with love that she doesn’t have to bow down to this kind of c***.”

A third user said: “F*** the wife for letting her a******e husband bully a little girl into giving up her seat.

“She knows what it’s like to be a woman in this situation and she let it happen. Seriously who is this lady, straight to jail.”

In agreement, one more user added: “Exactly this! I would never allow my husband to do such an inappropriate thing. Of course she is going to say yes. She probably feels like she has to.”

Someone else also added: “I’ve raised my daughters to know that they aren’t obligated to accommodate anyone’s feelings at the expense of their own and/or their no. Your ‘no thank you’ does not need a justification. Period.”

One more said: “Those people irritate me! If you want to sit together, book your seats together. People who book separate seats, especially married couples expecting a solo traveller to move, are so rude and inconsiderate.”

PLUS-SIZED passengers will have to pay for two seats when flying with a one of the world’s largest low-cost airlines, from January.

A new rule will come into play in next month requiring customers who cannot fit within the armrests of their seat to buy an extra ticket in advance.

Southwest Airlines flies across the US to 100 destinations in 42 states.

And from January 27, 2026, travellers will need to be aware of its seat changes.

It will require larger passengers who ‘encroach upon the neighbouring seat’ to buy an additional ticket for their journey.

Currently, Southwest Airlines offers plus-size passengers the chance to pay for an extra seat up front and then request a refund on the ticket later, or they can request a free extra seat at the airport.

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But that policy is now changing, with passengers who need two seats required to pay for both of them when booking, with less chance of a refund.

The only situation when the second seat might be approved for a refund is if the flight departs with at least one seat still available, and if both seats have been purchased in the same fare class.

If a passenger in need of an extra seat does not buy one before the flight, they will be required to do so at the airport.

If their flight is already full when they are at the airport, the airline will book them onto a new flight.

Southwest Airlines: “To ensure space, we are communicating to Customers who have previously used the extra seat policy that they should purchase it at booking.”

“Customers who encroach upon the neighboring seat(s) should proactively purchase the needed number of seats prior to travel to ensure the additional, adjacent seat is available.

“The armrest is considered to be the definitive boundary between seats; you may review information about the width of Passenger seats.”

These aren’t the only changes coming on January 27 as on this date, the airline will begin its policy of assigning seats.

Previously, the open seating meant passengers could pick any available seat after boarding.

It worked on a first-come, first-served basis to speed up turnarounds, lower costs, and simplify travel with one cabin class.

Southwest Airlines also recently revealed its new cabin interior with seats that have been made extra comfy.

The airline showed images of its new design in October stating it has listened to travellers and improved facilities like adding USB chargers and entertainment holders.

Now, it has revealed the new design onboard its Boeing 737 MAX 8 – the airline even took passenger feedback into account when creating the new cabin.

It has covered “employee perceptions of color, comfort, and aspirations for the overall onboard experience, and it’s meant to create a cabin environment that feels modern, welcoming, and uniquely Southwest.”

The airline added that its seats “are intuitively designed for ultimate comfort, while maximizing seat width and overall support”.

For more on airlines, Jet2 has made a major change on flights and it’s great news for families.

And new EU rules that could soon make your long-haul flight more expensive.