Topic of FR seating is topic onBBC R4 Consumer Programe
Quote:
BBC Radio 4 "You and yours" Are Ryan Air sitting family and friends rows apart if they don't pay to reserve seat
today at 12.15 British Summer Time

Big discussion on PPRUNE about FR having rejigged the seating algorithm , making it more difficult for non-reserving passengers to sit together. Won't be flying anytime soon, so can't verify.

Basic Row Order:
33, 20, 19, 22, 15, 24, 12, 26, 10, 28, 8, 30, 18, 21, 14, 23, 11, 25, 9, 27, 29, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 17, 16, 31, 32

However it had a few caveats.
(a) If you booked a middle seat and are one the party the other two seats beside you will go right to the top of the queue.
(b) If ...