Ryanair or Aer Lingus

[FantasiaTurquoise]

We're planning a family holiday to Ireland next summer. Ryanair is - of course - cheapest but is it better to pay a bit more for Aer Lingus? I'm worried that the kids rucksacks - although they will easily squish under a seat - will be 'caught' for being outside of their strict carry-on dimensions unless we pay to buy 4 new 'ryanair-sized' carry-on bags. Given this is a family holiday and we'll have lots of checked baggage, is it better to pay more and go with a more flexible airline? Cost difference is around £150 once we've factored in check-in bags.

Ryanair are dicks. You'll have to pay extra to sit together as they split you up on purpose and no way will they let non regulation bags through. I'd rather travel by mule than fly with them.

Never had an issue with Ryanair but you have to make sure everything is properly booked in advance as per their regulations, they probably won't give you any wiggle room (so your kids' bags must be the correct size, it's immaterial whether they will go under the seat).

Re paying for seats, I thought many airlines did this nowadays, not just Ryanair?

We go with ryanair with priority boarding. The priority boarding includes a 10kg carry on in addition to the small bag. (Can't remember if the seats are included too). We fly with ryanair a number of times a year with DC, maybe had one significant flight delay in the last 10 years. Flew aer lingus once last year and had a significant delay.

Both are dire. Aer Lingus is marginally less dire.

I've had a similar experience. Used Ryanair loads of times, always been fine.

Work made me use Aer Lingus 'because everyone knows Ryanair are awful'. Aer Lingus flight was delayed by 2 hours and made me late while the Ryanair flight got there on time.

No, with easyJet for instance if you check in the day check in opens they'll try and sit you together. Ryanair will always split you to force you to pay.

I fly a good bit with both - much prefer aer lingus with small kids travelling solo, they are just more helpful and it’s a more pleasant experience than Ryanair who have done stuff like asking toddler to put small teddy in my bag etc. however, flight is very short and I often just go Ryanair if the price difference is large!

Price difference was £300 so we went with Ryanair in the end and will just be really careful about weighing bags etc in advance. It's only an hour so not worth the extra £300 and a less convenient airport.