Does size really matter? According to this Ryanair and easyJet hack every inch counts

A booking hack has caused a stir online (Picture: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images) How much difference can an extra inch really make? According to the consumer champions at Which? size really does matter, if their latest tip is anything to go by. The company’s travel experts took to Instagram to share a new ‘hack’ for getting ‘more space’ when booking flights with budget airlines such as Ryanair and easyJet, but the trick has become the butt of jokes. That’s because it only gets you an additional inch of legroom, which is roughly 2.5cm. How to get that extra inch… According to Which? You can get more legroom if you book specific seats on your flight. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘Just sit on the right,’ they explain in a video. ‘Take Ryanair, for example. Almost all of their planes are Boeing 737. So choosing seats D, E, or F in rows three to 15 will give you the most legroom. ‘With easyJet, meanwhile, you should choose seats D, E, or F in rows three to 13 if you’re flying on their Airbus A321neo. It will give you an extra inch of legroom compared to sitting in rows six to 17 of the left-hand side of the plane.‘ They continue: ‘All planes are different, so it’s always worth checking before you book.’ You can do this by checking your flight on Google and finding the model number of the plane. Then use seat plan experts AeroLOPA to find your aircraft’s configuration. The hack claims to get passengers one extra inch of legroom(Picture: Getty Images) In the caption of the post, Which? adds: ‘It won’t turn economy into business class, but every centimetre counts.’ People in the comments weren’t so sure, though. ‘A whole inch? How generous of them,’ replied @sotostsorb, while @thrflowerandhtesea shared a laughing crying emoji, writing: ‘An extra inch.’ @katefay1was unimpressed by the tip, writing: ‘Life is much too short to spend hours checking what kind of plane to gain a measly one inch extra leg room.’ Similarly, @kristinagillfood added: ‘One inch is inconsequential for leg room. For butt room on the other hand…’ And @chasingafterhewind91 branded it the ‘worst travel hack ever’, saying: ‘I’m sorry, choose to pay for a particular seat for an extra inch? Because that will make so much difference…’ Would you give this booking hack a go? Yes, every inch countsCheck No, it's a waste of timeCheck Sign up to The Getaway Expert, your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's travel editor, Alice Murphy. This comes after it was announced that two European airports serving easyJet and Ryanair customers are set to close. Brussels South Charleroi Airport is going to close for three months in 2028, between August 15 and October 31, which might put a damper on summer holidays that year. The travel hub, which is the second largest airport in Belgium and serves both Brussels and nearby Charleroi, is getting a major runway upgrade. Ryanair has a base at Charleroi, and it currently operates flights to the likes of Tirana, Vienna, Sarajevo, Sofia, Zagreb, Prague, and Barcelona. Alongside Charleroi, Almería Airport in Spain will be closing its doors temporarily in 2028. For six days, all flights will be grounded to make way for a new and improved runway. At the moment, there are direct flights from London Southend Airport to Almería Airport through easyJet, which takes 2 hours and 45 minutes. Our Top Shopping Picks Parents can save up to 30% on Kickers school shoes ahead of the new term The back-to-school hack that's helping parents avoid queues and sold-out sizes Could your hair be wavy rather than straight? This brand thinks so Could your star sign improve your skincare routine? This new beauty launch thinks so Best skincare for menopausal skin? This dermatologist-created treatment is tailored to you There’s also a route from Gatwick, again through easyJet. The hub serves the Andalusia region, in the southeast of Spain, accommodating around 800,000 passengers per year. Other tips and tricks for booking a holiday... Booking a flight on a Tuesday is 1.3 per cent cheaper compared to a Sunday. Baggage tricks to avoid extra hand luggage costs. Booking a ‘wonky holiday’ could save you money. A new report from travel company First Choice has revealed holidaymakers can make massive savings by making unconventional tweaks to their break, such as staying for five or 11 nights compared to the usual seven or 14. The popular flight booking hack that’s actually a ‘waste of time’. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: Why it’s essential to pack a tennis ball in your carry-on luggage Arrow MORE: Two plane passengers ‘spotted running across tarmac to catch departing flight’ Arrow MORE: ‘I’m a travel expert — the destination dupe trend is downright insulting’ The Getaway Expert Your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's resident travel expert, Alice Murphy.