First, Ryanair Bumped a Couple From a Flight. Then, It Made Fun of Them

The budget airline is in the news again.

Irish low-budget carrier Ryanair is no one’s favorite airline. Its cheap tickets attract travelers who don’t mind no-frills service for short trips, but horror stories occasionally surface that might make passengers reconsider. This time, a couple learned the hard way that skipping reserved seats to save money can sometimes cost you your spot on the flight.

Helena Boshwick and Scott McCormick were flying from Birmingham, England, to Mallorca, Spain, on May 1 for a weeklong trip and decided they could sit apart for the two-hour flight. They saved up to $44 by not reserving their seats. If you don’t reserve a seat at check-in, Ryanair assigns random seats, so companions risk being separated. However, Boshwick and McCormick faced a bigger issue: if the flight is overbooked, one of you could be removed from the passenger list.

McCormick recalled that airline staff told them only one seat remained on the flight, and they would be reimbursed for the other, or they could take a different flight. The couple wanted to travel together, so they protested. The gate agent then relented, saying they would be placed on the next flight and reimbursed for their tickets. But when they reached the check-in desk, they were asked to pay for one ticket and never received a refund for the other. In total, they waited four hours for the next flight and lost $134.

Related: Ryanair Charged Passenger $62 for Carrying Water Bottle; Says It Counts as ‘Second Bag’

McCormick, a fitness instructor, called the experience discriminatory. He argued that the airline should have asked for volunteers and shown more compassion. “It felt like discrimination, how do they pick out these people, is it because we’re young and we have no kids so there’s just two of us, is it to do with something we don’t see or understand.” Like many before him, he vowed not to fly with Ryanair again.

Related: Ryanair Staff Call Cops on Passenger for £7 Payment Dispute

Ryanair clapped back with its signature cheeky tone: “today is a good day to separate couples onboard.” 

The incident sparked more complaints online about the airline’s policies and money-making strategies. Observers frequently joke about Ryanair on X (formerly Twitter); the airline is known for poking fun at both critics and customers. Its infamous 11A seat is widely discussed because the window seat lacks a window.

another first-timer

— Ryanair (@Ryanair) June 11, 2025

Ryanair has a checkered reputation and is often in the news for controversial reasons. Recently, it asked staff to repay salary increases following labor disputes. The airline is notorious for charging for extra items and having strict baggage policies, but above all, it shows little flexibility. For those who simply want to get from point A to B without extra baggage or kids and are unconcerned with service, Ryanair’s low-cost fares can be worthwhile. For everyone else, it’s a gamble.