EasyJet or Ryanair?

[NorthernM]

Need to choose between the two and would appreciate any recent experiences. Ryanair has a historically awful reputation but I have heard that's not been too bad in recent years. Would be to Europe from Manchester or East Midlands. Thanks in advance

I haven't flown Easyjet in years but when I fly with Ryanair I tend to pay the extras at booking. So I pay for priority boarding and pay for my seat (I get claustrophobic in a window seat). I pay for the extra hand luggage. It's kind of one you can hop on a flight cheaply for, but you can also do it relatively ok too (and still cheaper) by paying for the 'frills'.

Flight itself 10
Pick a seat 6
Carry on luggage 20
Priority boarding 6
Fasttrack through security 6

It still manages to work out cheaper than the national airlines. Believe me, I've looked. I want to not have to go Ryanair some day lol. The one problem is if you book in advance, then you lose your money if you can't make it. But again you can pay extra to have the option to cancel.

For short haul and if you're a confident flyer (I'm not), it's ok.

I've just read back here and a lot are commenting on the actual airplanes. I'm pretty sure that the seating isn't different? I'm sure that if I'm incorrect, I'll be corrected shortly! You can pay for the extra leg-room on the Ryanair ones too (they're the one's near the exits). I've really only flown easyjet on package holidays. I've never booked one individually.

I think it really really depends on why, how, with whom and how far you're flying. Short haul, for an extra £100 to sit in a comfy seat wouldn't really be worth it to me. Long haul (over 3.5 hours), or with children, or where you may need to amend the booking, I'd pay more for security of being able to change last minute etc. I hate flying alone as I get so fucking stressed at the thoughts. The flight is fine. It's this awful fear I have of missing a flight (thanks Mum). The world might end if you missed a flight! When I'm travelling with my dh, he's in charge of tickets, passports, luggage allowance, schedule, transport to and from etc. I can focus on the important work of duty free shopping lol.

Easyjet every time. Not only are they much better than Ryanair they're much better than BA. It's just a shame they don't do long haul.

Easyjet. I fly a lot for work and we’ve more or less given up using RA they are such a PITA

Neither of them do long haul.

I fly easyJet regularly, no problem.

I'd never fly Ryanair again, if they were the last airline on earth I'd learn to sail.

a few years ago I would have chosen Easyjet every time but not that long ago had an utterly awful experience with Easyjet- cancelled flight, home 20 hours later to the wrong airport- HORRENDOUS fight for expenses that literally took months.

not long after that flew with ryanair and everything was flawless.

I've used both over the past year and I'd say go with whichever is cheapest and most convenient.

Ryanair changed flight times on us which was annoying, but not the end of the world. A cabin case seems to be cheaper on RA these days than Easyjet. RA will deliberately seat you at opposite ends of the plane if you don't pay to be together, whereas Easyjet tends to put you close.

This is actually v good advice.

I like easyjet. However ryanair are surprisingku good at compensating when you get delays.
Tbh you can be lucky or unlucky on either of them .

As you can see, I'm not really a seasoned traveller!

@Frazzled2207 Can you advise whether you escalated your claim to CAA disputes? Or another body.

I am determined to pursue my claim. TIA.

Neither Easyjet eventually paid up.

this was not compensation per se but several hundred pounds worth of expenses

Easyjet seats a little more comfortable.....staff possibly friendlier......but for reliability i would choose ryanair....have used then since they started and have flown appx every month with them since....only once had a 20 min delay....easyjet cancelled the sat night flight from barcelona 4 times with no notice and no info...just removed flight from gate and all staff ran off !!..and took months to refund a holiday due to covid...

EasyJet much better, used special assistance 3 times, last week to Spain, perfect going out, not so great returning.
Gatwick much nearer than Stansted to me

@Frazzled2207 thanks.

Easyjet. I think their planes are more comfortable and spacious, particularly the newer ones.

And I'm pretty sure they offset their carbon emissions and are funding research into hydrogen based fuel for aviation engines (for net zero).

Ryanair's boss is just a shit.

EasyJet do not fly out of EMA they pulled out of there many years ago. I fly with both regularly and as many have pointed out Ryanair do deliberately sit you apart if you don’t pay for a seat. EasyJet do still tend to sit you together.
I look at both when I want to go away and choose the cheapest for where I want to go to. I’ve been lucky to date and never suffered serious delays or had any cancellations with either airline.

If it was important to me to be seated next to someone I'm travelling with, it's actually worth booking the seat as depending on the location of the seat, it's maybe an extra 10 quid max for a seat with legroom. I usually compare flights to the national airline and they're usually about 40% more, even when I pay for all of the optional extras with Ryanair. The one thing with Ryanair that I will never pay for though is onboard food!

Go easyJet. I had 4 flights £500 booked with Ryanair for my birthday holiday- kids caught chickenpox so we had to cancel. Had doctors note, photos of spots etc and they gave me a voucher that had to be spent within 6 months which wasn't going to be possible- I immediately tried to extend it/push for a refund but they basically just ignored me and sent me on tedious wild goose chases and we ultimately lost it :/

Would Easyjet have refunded? Genuine question as I tend to make plans and then can't make the flights but not many airlines will reimburse you for illness.

I've got flight booked with Ryanair ( only airline that flies to the city where my son lives) and Easyjet (holiday). Less than a week after booking Easyjet changed the return flight from mid morning Thursday to Saturday night. We were able to accommodate the change but it was bloody annoying. Have had the 2hr 55 minute delay thing with Easyjet a couple of times but all my Ryanair flights have been on time and extremely cheap.
I just choose who flies where I want to go and if I have a choice pick the best time/£ combo. Have been known to use 1 one out and the other back.

Will always avoid RA after their appalling treatment of a relative whose partner died whilst abroad.

Use EJ quite frequently, occasionally get short delays on evening flights due to delays accumulating over the day (their business model relies on keeping the planes in the air as much as possible so not much slack in the schedule). Only had to claim once for a cancelled flight and it was approved within about 20 minutes.

Just look at both as being a flying bus.

EJ are way less terrible than Ryanair ime.