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Original poster

Ryanair. Would you or are they the pits?

70 replies

Girlsnightin · 22/01/2019 21:23

The package price for our family holiday is £££ and I can save £500 by booking direct with the hotel and using Ryanair. Just concerned as I hear soooooo much bad press about them, I'm worried that they'll manage to screw something up and I rue my penny pinching ways.....

I can afford the £500, but would feel a bit ripped off. Package deal has slightly worse flight times.......

OP posts:
SwedishEdith · 22/01/2019 21:25

I've never had a problem with Ryanair.

OlennasWimple · 22/01/2019 21:25

They are the pits and are you sure that you have taken into account all the extras that they charge (luggage, food, printing your boarding pass....)?

But if the times were much better I would certainly consider it - expect the worst, be pleasantly suprised, take out good insurance

flumpybear · 22/01/2019 21:27

Follow the rules to the letter and you sould be ok - any slips on their rules and you pay pay pay - the app didn't work for me and they charged me £55 per person to check in at the airport even though their app was t working. Bags - huge expense
Food - crap and a fortune
Comfort ... none
One you're there it's fine so short trips are manageable

We did Dublin recently and it was fine

Interested in this thread?

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Flying Holidays
Singlenotsingle · 22/01/2019 21:27

They're fine, and a lot cheaper than any other non-budget airline (even taking into account the add-ons).

Chinks123 · 22/01/2019 21:28

I have recently flown with them and had no problems. It’s a basic airline but no issues, the flight was on time etc.
Had so many issues on a recent jet2 holiday, I don’t think you can ever predict what will go wrong unfortunately.

confusedandemployed · 22/01/2019 21:28

Tbh I'd consider it, once I'd factored in all the extras like seats
I've been once with Ryanair and it was fine. I'd always choose another carrier given the choice though.

1Redacted1 · 22/01/2019 21:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

binkybea · 22/01/2019 21:29

They left me and my family in Trieste after the volcano in Iceland. No rep at the airport and no Ryan Air staff! Only an A4 sheet pinned to the check in desk to say flight is cancelled and you will be refunded Shock

I would never fly with them sorryWink

Aragog · 22/01/2019 21:30

We've used them, and other budget airlines, a few times and not had any different issues with them than any other.

Infact when we did have a delay with them they were excellent. We had food vouchers issued within half an hour, and as soon as the delay went over a set time we had the forms emailed to claim. Money was in our accounts within 2-3 weeks. They kept us fully informed throughout the delay.

Just make sure you know what you're paying for and if you need to pay for anything else. Like lost budget airlines seats and luggage isn't included. But with Ryanair air the hand luggage for free is now quit me limited so do take into account paying for more.

We just take a meal deal or something in the flight with us

AtiaoftheJulii · 22/01/2019 21:30

Well, you get what you pay for. We've flown with them several times and have never had a major issue though. Make sure you're pricing it up with baggage allowances etc. Also, does the package deal include transfers? Will that be expensive/tricky to sort out yourself?

My main issue with Ryanair is that I detest Stansted, which is where we always seem to go from with them.

MadeForThis · 22/01/2019 21:31

Check in takes forever. Bags can't be overweight. Per kg price is insane. Food usually runs out on flights.

I hate them but will fly with them if they are cheapest and flight times are ok.

halfwitpicker · 22/01/2019 21:31

Flew Ryanair over the holidays, they were superb.

Flew BA also, they were not superb.

halfwitpicker · 22/01/2019 21:33

Check in takes forever. Bags can't be overweight. Per kg price is insane. Food usually runs out on flight

^

We didn't have checked luggage, had light carry on and we're only flying to Dublin so had food before the flight.

You have to play by their rules I find. They were great on the email updates, easy to use the app etc. I'd recommend Ryanair.

JamAtkins · 22/01/2019 21:34

They’ve always been fine for me but there are ‘extras’ at every turn. I think it’s about £60 to check in a case both ways and £10-15 each to sit next to each other. You can’t stretch the rules or they’ll have you

averylongtimeago · 22/01/2019 21:34

Think if it like a bus service.
You have to pay for "extras" yes.
For example, my aunt is flying Manchester to Limoges in June, flights £25 each way. Reserved seat, £4 each way, checked in 10kg bag, (she could have had a 10kg Cary on bag for £8 but can't reach the overhead locker) so a total of £78 return.
Not a bad deal. Just don't buy anything on board!

MayFayner · 22/01/2019 21:34

I hate them really but will fly with them the odd time if it’s a really good saving.

The last time I flew with them was a 4 hour flight which was pushing it a bit. Best to choose Ryanair for flights within the 2- 2.5 hour bracket if at all possible.

MayFayner · 22/01/2019 21:36

2.5 hours max, I mean. The shorter the better, essentially.

StripeyDeckchair · 22/01/2019 21:36

They cancelled my flights to and from my holiday destination last summer. Left a day late from a different airport and returned to a different airport. Still not had a refund for the cancelled flights. Customer service was non existent, we had to sort everything ourselves.

Bloody hate them and would stay at home if the only flight was with Ryan Air.

Stringofpearls · 22/01/2019 21:37

Just remember that with any airline if the hotel and flight are booked separately you won't be ATOL protected. We've flown Ryanair plenty of times, it's cheap and cramped but gets you from a to b most of the time, it's not that much different to BA shorthaul nowadays!

twobetwobetwo · 22/01/2019 21:38

Never a problem. Dies the job

Cattus · 22/01/2019 21:38

You follow the rules and you’ll be fine. People don’t like them because they’re not flexible, but get the book if right and it’ll be ok.

They’re very punctual, I think the planes tend to be relatively new and it feels not a lot different on board to any other airline I’ve used.

When you’re booking be very vigilant for any add ons, just keep scrolling past them.

We pretty much always use Ryanair because factoring in each additional al cost, it’s still usually cheaper than others.

Go on Skyscanner too tho. With Skyscanner, you might find that you can get an EasyJet flight cheaper, or do one way with one company and one way with another. One year using Skyscanner, we found that Tap Air to Portugal was cheaper than the budget airlines. It was lovely because we got to use a nicer terminal and on board service was good.

CherryPavlova · 22/01/2019 21:38

My daughter uses Ryanair regularly so she can afford to return from Italy to see her boyfriend. Never had a problem. It’s not Emirates business class but Italy to U.K. return for under £60 is cheaper than my train ticket to London.

squealingpiglets · 22/01/2019 21:40

We’ve flown with them a couple of times, never had any issues. Yes they charge for hold luggage & seats but no different to other budget airlines e.g. EasyJet & you factor that in when pricing up. Flights departed on time & bag drop at airport was quick. Had to queue for bag drop on return flight but that was more due to being small airport I think. We took our own food on board for the kids to eat.

famousfour · 22/01/2019 21:42

I would but only if decent flight times and I’m travelling hand luggage only so don’t have to check in. Make sure you price the tickets all the way though with all the add ins like seats! For 2 hours I don’t much care what the plane seat is like but I would pay extra for convenience.

flamingofridays · 22/01/2019 21:44

Only flown with them a couple of times but it was absolutely fine. As long as you remember to check in on the app and your luggage isnt overweight you shouldn't have to pay ££££££