Travel on your own

Is Ryanair worth flying? Our experience, pros and cons

Ryanair plane
Ryanair plane

Ryanair is possibly the air Line most controversial today.

I have had occasion to fly with Ryanair on numerous occasions over the years, the last time I used this being recent. low cost airline, when I flew from Berlin a Stockholm, and from here to Madrid.

Therefore, I have experience in this regard, especially considering that, mainly for professional reasons, he has flown with many different companies in recent years.

 
 

DON'T FORGET YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE

Are you planning your trip or getaway? Don't leave without take out your travel insurance before, and here we explain whyIf you contract it with us, you have a 10% discount with the code GUIASVIAJAR10.

And the truth is that not everyone has had the opportunity to fly with Ryanair, and you have doubts when considering doing so, as is the case of one of our readers, who raises these doubts in the Travel Guides Facebook page.

This has encouraged me to reflect my opinions, with pros and cons, of flying with Ryanair, which you have below.

Advantages of flying with Ryanair

Without a doubt, the great contribution of the low cost airlines, and Ryanair in particular, is the opening in recent years of new connection lines between European cities, and in Spain, at regional airports.

Thanks to the low costAs Ryanair Specifically, we can now fly directly at low prices to destinations where it was previously necessary to make a stopover to reach them.

And this advantage is very important in the case of those who live in cities that are not Madrid or Barcelona.

Ryanair check-in line at Skavsta Airport in Stockholm
Ryanair check-in line at Skavsta Airport in Stockholm

In fact, these flights connect Spanish cities with important European destinations, avoiding the need for stopovers in, for example, Madrid or Barcelona.

Disadvantages of flying with Ryanair

Now, RyanairFrom my point of view, it is the largest airline uncomfortable to travel, with some demands on travelers that are sometimes at least within the limits of what is legal.

A major inconvenience is that when you buy a ticket on their website, you have so many options to choose from, they make the purchase excessively difficult, so the final price increases to the point where you don't even know what you're going to pay.

 
 

In many other companies the process is much more transparent and simple, so you have a clearer idea of ​​whether or not it is worth taking a passenger on board. hand luggage (55 x 40 x 20 with a maximum weight of 10 kilos) or invoice it.

Please note that in the check-in lines and at the access point to the plane, the control is exhaustive with metal baskets and even weighing devices that you will find to test the dimensions and weights.

If you choose to invoice, you must also keep in mind that you can only Take a single carry-on bag, briefcase or backpack into the cabin  (40 x 20 x 25) that you must place under the front seat, in which you must put everything you carry, such as a camera, bags... to only fit one piece.

Ryanair plane at Madrid airport
Ryanair plane at Madrid airport

Another aspect that you have to take into account is the obligatory de invoice online and print the boarding pass before arriving at the airport,

And if you have forgotten, in Spain you will have to pay 30 euros to issue the boarding pass in the area of check-in of the airport.

On certain trips, the great inconvenience of flying with Ryanair, as with others low cost, is that the airport you fly to is much further from a city than the usual one.

For example, if you fly to Stockholm, Ryanair takes you to Skavska, an airport located 100 kilometers from the Swedish capital.

In short, more time and travel costs.

Are the prices really cheap? Ryanair?

Although a priori the prices of flights with Ryanair that are advertised are a very striking factor, this has its nuances.

It is true that you can get very good prices on unusual routes and by purchasing well in advance, but when flying to more popular destinations, where other companies fly, such as London o Rome, not always the final prices of Ryanair they are the best.

And it is basic to talk about final price, since to the initially announced price we must add other additional amounts which significantly increase the final price.

I'm referring to the price you have to pay if you have excess weight in your luggage, prepare to pay 11 euros per additional kilo!!

What are the Rates of Ryanair

  • Here you can check the Ryanair rates that you will have to pay in certain situations, such as changing your flight or changing the name on the ticket

In short, before deciding on fly with Ryanair Compared to doing it with other companies, you have to make sure what the final price to pay will be.

Be careful, you also have to consider the cost of travel to the city destination in the event that Ryanair fly to an airport located far from the destination city.

My opinions

I recognize that Ryanair It is the airline I like flying the least with, and that is despite the fact that I have never had the slightest incident (delays, poor service, etc.).

If there are other options, I try to avoid Ryanair, even if you have to pay a little more for the ticket.

I will also say that on the last flights I have paid the priority boarding option, because with this supplement you can be sure to avoid the long queues that often occur in front of the check-in lines. Ryanair (without the risk of missing the flight).

And, also, not having to stand in line at the boarding gate half an hour later, to enter earlier and find a better seat on the plane and, instead, be able to get in first and choose seats comfortably.

Of course, if on a trip you can only fly with Ryanair, I have no problem doing it. The important thing is to be able to travel, and Ryanair that makes it easier a lot of times.

And you do you think? I hope your comments.

 
 

About the Author

José Luis Sarralde

Journalist and traveler throughout his life, José Luis Sarralde is the founder of Guías Viajar, where since 2008 he has been capturing his travel experiences around the world, specializing in cultural and scenic destinations in Spain and Europe.

Comments

Click here to write a comment

  • I wish to give the name of a stewardess, kind, ILARIA SACCO.
    FLIGHT LANZAROTE MADRID 14/12/15. To be included in the COMPANY'S PREMIUM CANDIDATES

  • I have had the worst experience with Ryanair and I will definitely never do it again!!! I advise people who travel with suitcases to pay a little more and travel with another company since Ryanair is not responsible for lost luggage. We traveled Rome-Madrid back to our destination in South America and so far, 10 days ago, we don't have them. We have called from our country, that is, long distance and in general they do not answer and when they answer they do not give an acceptable answer and on the website it is impossible to make any claim. Unfortunately there is no one to turn to and we feel completely defrauded, abused and totally helpless in this situation. I don't understand why there isn't an entity that monitors this company and protects consumers scammed by Ryanair.

  • Terrible Ryanair.
    I find it unfortunate that after paying for a ticket you have to print your own boarding pass.
    I have traveled with many low-cost companies and I have never seen anything like it. I have had to shell out a whopping €150 to get my boarding passes (2) at the same airport. It seems like theft to me when it is something that the company itself should provide you with.
    Certainly the first and last time I travel with Ryanair

    • It really is an inconvenience that makes no sense. And quite a few people experience what happened to you (I have witnessed it) and the “anger” it causes is enormous because, in addition to the fact of “having to print” the boarding pass, the price they charge is very abusive.

      This is a point that is essential for Ryanair to review in its current strategy to reduce that “uncomfortable” image that it has gained over time, and that I think it has really begun to reduce with certain measures that it has adopted lately.

    • To us the same thing happened to us. I just posted our experience (in case you want to read it). The strong thing is that the girl who checked the Ryanair bags told us that the cell phone was enough to board. We go up and they tell us upstairs that no, we're going to go downstairs and print. We arrive at the ground floor and the girl tells us: “you have missed your flight. The system closed 5 minutes ago.” It seemed like she also wished we had missed the flight. I told him, please put yourself in my place… and nothing. Lost money, lost hotel, and without being able to travel since they did not give us information about another flight either. Anyway, NEVER AGAIN WITH RYANAIR. I prefer to spend more and fly with Vueling.

  • Ryanair the worst!!
    It was in April and I have complaints. We were left without a flight and had to buy another one, of course from another company. I will never fly with Ryanair again. We were near the boarding gate and when “boarding” appeared on the screens we headed to the gate, to the surprise that a girl told us that the gate was closed. Aena has provided us with documentation stating that Ryanair did not update the screens correctly. Finally destination Brussels with Vueling and great!!!!

  • Hi!

    My dissatisfaction with the measures carried out by the Ryanair company. Measures that they comply with when they want, in my opinion!

    An example of this was on the flight from Barcelona to Seville and vice versa. On the way there I noticed that a woman was carrying in front of her, on her feet, a wicker shopping bag full of things and they didn't catch her attention. Instead I put my cotton jacket on my skirt, which weighs nothing, and they told me to put it on or put it in my suitcase. I don't understand!

    On the way back, people did not have space to place their suitcase and they were told to put it under their seat. So, why look at the dimensions of the suitcase? If they do not fit inside that metal box because of its wheels, do you think that is a reason for it to have to be invoiced?
    They are also not able to seat passengers when a traffic jam forms. It seems like the law of the jungle!

  • To anyone who finds this opinion useful, do not overlook it since it is real as life itself, they have bad service, no, the following is that they are very thieves with their strict billing, their policy on the size of your luggage is ridiculous, they measure it for you at the same time. finger and they make you miss the flight if you don't comply or don't pay their high fees of €60 for personal hygiene products. Plus, on the plane they don't have enough space for two passengers to store their luggage and every 2 minutes they give you a demonstration about some product they want to sell you, the staff is rude and abusive towards the VERY traveler

  • On a trip for two people, booked through ATRAPALO and to travel to Ibiza with RYANAIR, on 22/04/13, I checked in a suitcase. Nobody told me that the maximum weight was 15 Kg. At the time of boarding, since the boat weighed 19 Kg. they charged me 4 Kg. x €20 + taxes = €84. The trip for two people cost me €56,65.
    In addition, I appreciated a not very correct treatment in the process of checking cabin suitcase measurements by Ryanair employees. No comment

    • The truth is that to travel with Ryanair it is necessary to know well what their requirements are in relation to the bags to be checked in and carried in the cabin, as you may encounter unpleasant surprises. Without a doubt, it is the most uncomfortable company in this regard :)

  • Hello. For these reasons that you have explained, and for the main one, which was when the “President” of Ryanair laughed and mocked in the faces of the poor Spanair workers, it was why I created the website http://www.novolarconryanair.com
    I would like you to come and share these experiences with everyone, so that other people can avoid them, since a server has been deceived the 3 times I flew with them….
    Together, we have to prevent more people from being deceived.

  • Flying with Ryanair is not bad, yes, as long as you know all the legal loopholes in which they hide behind to charge you a lot, what seems outrageous to me is that they continue to be allowed to advertise prices to which you then have to add fees and Others, they should demand a final price from the beginning.

  • I think that if you have money, it is normal to prefer to go with Air Europa or Iberia (for example), but for travelers with tight budgets who are willing to “swallow” with their rules, it is worth it. Whether it's the uncomfortable seats, the issue of the boarding pass or the luggage restriction, I have been able to make trips at ridiculous prices that would otherwise have been impossible… I, in favor of Ryanair!

Language

Search

Useful for your travels