Ryanair's Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 operates in a single-class, all-economy configuration with 197 seats arranged in a 3-3 layout. With pitch ranging from 28-35 inches depending on location, seat selection is crucial for comfort on European short-haul routes. Understanding which seats offer extra legroom and which to avoid can significantly improve your flying experience.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 features a 3-3 economy layout with varying pitch: 28-29 inches forward, 28 inches rear cabin, and 35 inches in exit rows. Book seats 29A or exit rows (17-18, 28) for maximum legroom and comfort. Avoid rows 19-27 in the rear cabin where the pitch drops to 28 inches, making for a cramped experience on longer flights.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 is configured entirely in economy with a standard 3-3 seating layout. The aircraft contains 197 seats total. Seat pitch varies significantly throughout the cabin: forward sections offer 28-29 inches, while the rear cabin (rows 19-27) reduces to just 28 inches. Exit rows 17-18 and 28 provide enhanced legroom at 35 inches pitch. Seat width is standard at 17 inches (17.7 inches in some configurations). There is no business class, premium economy, or first class on this aircraft.
Seat | Why |
|---|---|
29A | Bulkhead seat with extra legroom and potential extra space |
Exit Rows 17-18 | 35-inch pitch provides maximum legroom for economy passengers |
Exit Row 28 | 35-inch pitch exit row seating near rear of cabin |
Front Rows (1-8) | 28-29 inch pitch with forward cabin positioning and less engine noise |
Seat Range | Why |
|---|---|
Rows 19-27 | Reduced 28-inch pitch in rear cabin creates uncomfortable legroom for longer flights |
Middle Seats (B-C columns) | No armrest privacy and standard width on crowded routes |
Rear-most rows near lavatory | Increased foot traffic and potential odors |
Ryanair charges €5 - €15 per seat for standard seat selection, with front rows (1 - 6) commanding €12 - €18 and exit rows (17 - 18, 28) at €10 - €16 depending on route and booking timing. Priority boarding adds €6 - €8, and the combination of seat plus priority can easily push a "premium" economy experience to €25 - €30 per passenger one-way. For a London - Dublin round trip, seat fees alone can add £20 - £40 per person, making the final fare competitive with low-cost legacy carriers like Norse or Wizz Air, but noticeably more than budget alternatives like Frontier or Spirit if you avoid all add-ons. Unless you have significant legroom needs or a tight connection, the standard allocation is genuinely cheaper than paying for preferred seating.
The MAX 8-200's standard economy offers 31 inches of seat width and 28 - 29 inches of pitch in most rows, compared to 32 inches width and 30 - 31 inches pitch on Wizz Air's A321neo - a negligible difference that favors Ryanair slightly. Exit row seats at 35 inches pitch feel genuinely spacious and are worth the upgrade for anyone over 6 feet or on flights longer than three hours. The tray table is slim and will not comfortably fit a 15-inch laptop in landscape; you'll need to angle it or use a lap desk, and the armrests do not retract, making shoulder room a real constraint on a full flight. Slimline seats are absent here - these are standard hard-backed economy units - so comfort is average rather than cramped, though the recline is minimal (approximately 6 inches).
The MAX 8-200 does not offer USB ports or seat-back power outlets in economy; you will need to bring a fully charged power bank or external battery if you plan to use your phone, tablet, or laptop for the duration of the flight. WiFi is available through Ryanair's partnership but is not included - a 1-hour pass costs around €5, a full-flight pass €7, and neither speed is reliable, typically delivering 2 - 4 Mbps on a good day, making streaming or video calls impractical. For any flight over two hours, a 10,000 mAh battery pack is essential; for longer routes, consider 20,000 mAh. Offline content (maps, podcasts, e-books) is your best friend on this aircraft.
Ryanair boards by zone (Priority first, then rows 1 - 10, 11 - 20, 21 - 27), and rows 1 - 6 and exit rows (17 - 18, 28) tend to empty fastest because passengers are already standing and ready; aisle seats in these zones deplane within the first 2 - 3 minutes. Both forward and rear doors are used on the MAX 8-200, making rear-cabin seats (rows 24 - 27) surprisingly competitive for quick deplaning. If you have a 90-minute tight connection, avoid rows 11 - 16 and request exit row 17 or 18 (aisle preferred) or front rows 1 - 3 (aisle), which will get you off the aircraft and through the airport in the minimum viable time. Window and middle seats in the standard cabin can add 8 - 12 minutes to your total deplaning time on a full aircraft, a meaningful risk for tight hops.
No. This aircraft operates in a single-class all-economy configuration. There is no business class, first class, or premium economy available.
Seat 29A offers bulkhead positioning with extra space. Exit rows 17-18 and 28 provide 35-inch pitch, the maximum available. Front cabin rows (1-8) offer 28-29 inch pitch with less noise.
These rear cabin rows have only 28-inch pitch - the lowest on the aircraft - making them extremely cramped for longer European routes. The forward cabin offers better pitch and comfort.
Yes, Ryanair allows seat selection during booking or through their website. Exit row and preferred seats require additional fees.
Yes. Exit rows 17-18 and 28 provide 35-inch pitch compared to the standard 28-29 inches, offering the best legroom available in economy.
