What is check-in chicken? A guide to the latest travel trend saving travellers a small fortune

In the caption of an October TikTok video that has garnered more than 54,000 views at the time of writing, Chelsea writes, “Check-in chicken is when you leave your online check-in for Wizz Air and Ryanair late in the hope that you get allocated a better seat.”

The methodology? Budget airlines randomly allocate travellers’ seats starting with the least desirable options, splitting groups and couples up to separate ends of the aircraft, and often in middle seats – even if there seem to be seats available together.

This results in more profit for the airline, as holidaymakers keen to make the journey together, rather than squeezed between two strangers like a sardine, pay to change their seats. Waiting until the very last minute to check in online can occasionally mean the only seats left are those no one has been willing to pay for – those at the front of the plane and exit row seats with considerably more space to stretch out in.

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However, viewers of Chelsea’s TikTok report varying degrees of success in the comments. Some jokingly lambast the blogger for sharing their travel hack, while others recall being left with no seat at all – likely as a result of the airline overbooking.

So, is it best to check in early and just ride out whatever comes your way, content with anticipation about the destination? Or is it a risk worth taking for short-haul escapes? Here, we ask some of the team for their thoughts on the ‘check-in chicken’ tactic.

For and against the check-in chicken trend

Sophie Knight, Senior Visuals Editor: For

“I checked in early to my flight back from Hong Kong and they didn’t sit us together. We asked to swap at the airport but were told we’d need to pay. However, the guy at the check-in desk told us that if we had waited to check in at the airport counter, he’d have been able to give us seats together for free. So, never check in early is my advice.”

Abigail Malbon, Global Audience Development Manager: Against

“I used to wait until the last minute, but a power shortage in the summer of 2024 put me off. Thankfully, I had checked in and had my boarding pass on my phone, but those that didn’t were stuck. The check-in desk queues went through the terminal, and it was chaos. Now, I make sure I give myself a couple of days to get everything in order ahead of time.”

Sarah James, Deputy Digital Editor: For

“I don’t always check in late on purpose with the intention of scoring a better seat; I’m more just deeply disorganised and often forget until the last minute. But I’ve noticed that times when I’m not on top of checking in early, I often get a better seat in an exit row or at the front of the plane, with more leg room and even an empty seat beside me once or twice.”