Consumer champions at Which? have shared a new travel hack for securing more legroom on budget airlines like Ryanair and easyJet, but the tip has been met with widespread mockery after it was revealed to only add an inch (2.5cm) of space.
Which? reveals seat selection trick
In a video posted to Instagram, Which?'s travel experts explained that passengers can gain extra legroom by choosing specific seats on certain aircraft. For Ryanair, they advised selecting seats D, E, or F in rows three to 15 on their Boeing 737 planes. For easyJet, they recommended seats D, E, or F in rows three to 13 on the Airbus A321neo, which offers an extra inch compared to rows six to 17 on the left side.
The experts noted that all planes differ, so they suggested checking the aircraft model on Google and using AeroLOPA to find the configuration. In the caption, Which? added: 'It won’t turn economy into business class, but every centimetre counts.'
Passengers unimpressed
Social media users were quick to criticise the tip. @sotostsorb commented: 'A whole inch? How generous of them,' while @thrflowerandhtesea responded with a laughing-crying emoji, writing: 'An extra inch.' @katefay1 said: 'Life is much too short to spend hours checking what kind of plane to gain a measly one inch extra leg room.'
@kristinagillfood added: 'One inch is inconsequential for leg room. For butt room on the other hand…' And @chasingafterhewind91 called it the 'worst travel hack ever', sarcastically asking: 'I’m sorry, choose to pay for a particular seat for an extra inch? Because that will make so much difference…'
Airport closures on the horizon
The hack comes as two European airports serving easyJet and Ryanair are set to close temporarily. Brussels South Charleroi Airport in Belgium will close for three months in 2028, from August 15 to October 31, for a major runway upgrade. Ryanair has a base there, with flights to destinations like Tirana, Vienna, Sarajevo, Sofia, Zagreb, Prague, and Barcelona.
Almería Airport in Spain will also close for six days in 2028 to upgrade its runway. It serves the Andalusia region and handles around 800,000 passengers annually, with easyJet operating direct flights from London Southend and Gatwick.
Other travel tips
For those seeking savings, booking a flight on a Tuesday is 1.3 per cent cheaper than on a Sunday, according to travel experts. Additionally, a report from First Choice suggests that unconventional holiday lengths, such as five or 11 nights instead of seven or 14, can lead to significant savings.
