Flying Ryanair, Europe’s infamous budget airline, often stirs mixed feelings among travelers. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard people complain and get angry when talking about Ryanair.
I for one am grateful that budget airlines like Ryanair exist, it gave me a chance to experience the world from a young age. So after flying Ryanair more than 150 times (probably closer to 200), I wanted to write this Ryanair review to help you have the best experience.
Ryanair offers some of the cheapest fares in Europe, making it ideal for quick, low-cost trips. But is it truly a budget-savvy choice, or do the hidden fees people are complaining about make it more expensive in the end?
Let’s take a closer look. And no, I am not affiliated with Ryainair in any way. These are just my personal tips and opinions after flying Ryanair for more than 15 years.
Article overview
My experience with Ryanair
Ryanair, founded in Ireland in 1984, has grown to be one of the largest low-cost carriers in Europe. Headquartered in Dublin, it operates over 2,800 flights daily with a fleet that consists mainly of Boeing 737-800 aircrafts.
Ryanair’s business model is centered on low fares and high efficiency. It minimizes operating costs through uniform aircraft and secondary airports, which are cheaper to operate from.
My experience with Ryanair spans more than a decade and a half, and I can tell you, a lot has changed since my first flight with them. Back in the day maneuvering through endless pages of upsells on their clunky website was a shit show. If you think it’s still a pain, just know, it used to be a lot worse.
My then boyfriend moved to Krakow for medical school, so I thank Ryanair for making our relationship last. As a student, no way I would have been able to visit once every other month if it weren’t for Ryanair.
Our family also had a holiday apartment in Murcia, which Ryanair made it possible for us to visit twice a year. Tickets on another airline were at least double the price, which would have made it unavailable to our family back then.
Fast forward to today, just last week I flew with Ryanair from Mallorca to Torp, my home airport in Norway. And right now I’m planning a trip to Croatia for my mom and me, so let me take you through the booking process.
Ryanair booking process
In my experience, the booking process with Ryanair is straightforward when you know what to expect.
The website might seem cluttered at first, but I find it comparable to most other airline websites. The homepage usually highlights deals and destinations, making it easy to start your search. You can filter flights by date, time, price, and airport.
First up, choose your flights. I love how easy it is to click between dates to see the different prices. As you can see the first flight is only $17 before adding luggage.
Always double-check all details before proceeding, if you have to make a change later it will cost you.
PRO TIP >> I recommend downloading the Ryanair app and doing everything from booking to check-in on there. Then it’s easy to scan your boarding pass at the airport, no need for printing anymore.
Pricing transparency
Ryanair is known for its low-cost fares, but keep additional charges in mind. The initial price is just for the basic fare. You need to consider added costs like baggage fees, seat selection and priority boarding.
While the low base fare is attractive, you can only bring a small bag. Nothing else is included. Since I usually travel with a carry-on only, I most often choose the regular fare which sometimes is double the ticket price.
You will also have to pay a $50+ fee if you don’t check in online at least two hours before the flight. Unless you purchase the Plus or Flexi Plus fare.
When should I book?
I recently spent an extended workation in Krakow, and I only booked my tickets two weeks in advance and paid €55 one way. With most other airlines it is generally most affordable to book 2.5 months in advance, but with Ryanair, you can often score a deal later. If the route is not one of the most popular ones.
And last summer when I lived in our holiday apartment at Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort, I put off booking my return ticket week after week.
I don’t know if it was because I didn’t want to return home to Norway or if I subconsciously was waiting for a deal but one week before, the flight from Alicante to Torp was discounted from €179 to €89. This is not always the case tho, so waiting can be a gamble.
Seat selection and priority
Ryanair allows you to select seats for an additional fee, with prices varying based on location and extra legroom. Some seats towards the back are included for free.
I usually opt for one of the last rows, to be close to the rear exit. Because Ryanair often boards and disembarks from the front and rear.
For flights over 3.5 hours, I often “splurge” on one of the exit row seats. On the flight from Torp to Dubrovnik, it was $8 each way, so it’s totally worth it. In comparison, I paid $105 for an economy aisle seat on Qatar.
When you book the Regular fare, you automatically get priority boarding. As you can see below, the gates have a priority and non-priority queuing system. However, sometimes you have to take a bus to the plane and everyone is just shoved onto the same one.
I often travel with a lot of camera gear so priority comes in handy because I like having my suitcase in the locker directly above me. If I check my luggage I feel no need to get on the plane first, so I wouldn’t say it’s worth buying separately.
Pre-flight experience: Ryanair check-in
The check-in process with Ryanair is straightforward. You will have to enter your passport information and click through a few more upsells. Make sure to double-check your spelling.
Online check-in opens 60 days before the scheduled departure time if you have reserved a seat. If not, you will be allocated a seat when you check in online between 24 and 2 hours before.
Baggage policy
Ryanair’s baggage policy is strict, as with most other budget airlines. Yet I have only experienced my suitcase being inspected once. Luckily it fit into the blue box you can see above, and it was 10.5kg (23 lb) so I didn’t have to change things around.
Only a small personal item is included in the base fare, and it must fit under the seat in front of you.
As mentioned above, I usually travel with a carry-on which means I choose the Regular fare that includes a small bag and a larger luggage that goes in the overhead locker. (By the way, I love my Wrangler carry-on, it has a built-in cupholder!)
Checked baggage also comes at an additional cost, but often just $10-15 more than the Regular fare. Oversized or excess weight means hefty fees at the airport, so I always use this travel scale to weigh my bags before leaving.
You can add bags later if you are not sure what you need at the time of booking.
I would say that every third time I fly Ryanair, the ground staff has to listen to someone yelling because they have brought too many bags. If you haven’t followed the rules, please don’t take it out on everyone else. It’s not that hard.
Frequent emailing
One of the downsides of booking a Ryanair flight is the barrage of emails that follow, often filled with relentless upsells. In the last few weeks leading up to your flight, you get a new email almost daily urging you to purchase additional services — priority boarding, extra baggage, seat selection, airport parking and even travel insurance.
This constant stream of marketing can quickly become overwhelming and irritating. But then again, you can just delete them. I quickly delete anything that doesn’t directly affect my booking without even opening it.
Onboard experience
With the low price, it comes as no surprise that flying Ryanair offers basic amenities. The onboard experience includes standard seating, minimal in-flight service, and a range of purchasable food and beverage options.
Ryanair’s cabins are equipped with a no-frills Economy Class layout. The seats are relatively stiff and don’t recline, but are manageable for shorter journeys.
Also, there is nowhere to put your belongings on the seat, just a few older products still have the seat pocket. But all in all, Ryanair is not much different from the other budget airlines in Europe.
PRO TIP >> There is no in-flight entertainment, so remember to download your favorite show in advance. Since I’ve become quite the pro Ryanair flyer, I also bring my phone holder mount that always gets a few comments haha.
In-flight service
One of the complaints I see most often about Ryanair is the constant upselling. People, life becomes what you focus on. When you are on a €17 flight, of course, they will try to sell you things.
If you know you aren’t buying anything, just put on headphones and enjoy your movie. To be honest, I don’t even notice it anymore.
On almost all flights I’ve been on, they pass through once at the beginning to take hot food orders, twice with drinks and snacks, once with duty-free, and then once with their scratchcards for charity.
The flight attendants are generally attentive and quick to respond to requests, although not always smiling. Safety announcements are carried out promptly, often in English and the language of the country you’re flying from.
Food and beverage offerings
Ryanair does not provide complimentary food or drinks. Instead, they offer a buy-on-board menu with a variety of options. Scan the QR code on the headrest to see it.
The menu includes snacks like crisps and chocolate bars, light meals such as sandwiches and wraps, and a selection of hot and cold beverages.
Prices are higher than what you would find at a supermarket but are reasonably priced for airline standards. To give you an idea, I paid €3.5 for a 330ml Coke Zero, €6.5 for a ham/cheese panini and €3 for a bottle of water.
After tasting the ham and cheese panini, I now always buy food at the airport or bring it from home. I mean, it was not all bad, but pretty tasteless.
Ryanair review: Pros & cons
Here’s a quick overview of the most important things you should know before flying Ryanair.
Pros of flying Ryanair
- Low fares: Often offers some of the most affordable flight options in Europe. The cheapest flight I ever booked was €12.99.
- Extensive network: Covers a wide range of destinations across Europe and beyond. I have explored some incredible places I wouldn’t have known about if it weren’t for Ryanair flying there.
- Frequent deals: Regular promotions and sales can make flights even more affordable.
- Punctuality: Known for relatively good on-time performance compared to other budget airlines. My flights with them have generally been on time, which is impressive for a low-cost airline.
- Online check-in: Easy and convenient online check-in process, which can save time at the airport.
Cons of flying Ryanair
- Additional fees: Charges extra for many services, including seat selection, checked baggage and even printing a boarding pass at the airport.
- Frequent emailing: You will get emails with different offerings almost daily in the weeks leading up to your flight.
- Strict baggage policy: Very strict rules on baggage size and weight, with hefty fees for any excess. But not a problem once you find a suitcase that fits the measurements.
- Uncomfortable seating: Seats are often cramped with limited legroom. For a short trip, it’s manageable, but longer flights can be uncomfortable. If you value legroom, pay for an emergency exit seat.
- Customer service: Mixed reviews regarding customer service, with some passengers reporting difficulties in resolving issues.
- Basic amenities: No complimentary snacks or drinks; everything on board must be purchased.
- Remote airports: Often flies to secondary airports that may be far from the city center, requiring additional travel time and expense.
My final thoughts on Ryanair
So I’m ending this Ryanair review with a quick message; don’t believe the haters. Yes, flying Ryanair comes with benefits and drawbacks. But I think they have come a long way in recent years.
Out of all my flights with Ryanair, only about 10 have been delayed more than 30 minutes and one canceled. It was because of a storm and I was booked on a flight the next day, so I can’t really speak on their customer service.
Would I choose Ryanair for a 5+ hour flight? No. But for a quick 2-hour journey from Krakow to Milan, yes definitely. I’d much rather spend my money on pasta and gelato, than a bit better service.
Think about flying Ryanair as taking the bus. It’s all about the mindset you choose to see the world with. I for one, choose to be grateful that I can explore Europe for the price of a bus ticket in Norway.
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