Ryanair - hoping for some positive comments

[MascaraGirl]

This morning I booked Ryanair flights for late September, after extensive searching, and with the help of a travel agents, they appear to be the only airline who fly directly to the required destination from the airport that works for us.

If anyone’s had any positive experiences with Ryanair, could you share them? We’ve had two recent poor experiences with BA, and wonder if the whole industry is in decline?

It is a no frills airline, you won't get any food or drink unless you pay for it and they are very strict on baggage size/weight. However sniffy people are about budget airlines, Ryanair has a pretty good punctuality record for their flights - I've been on time when I fly with them. Go and enjoy your trip.

Edited for spelling.

You'll be absolutely fine as long as you follow their rules, especially on hand luggage. Most of the problems arise when people don't think the rules apply to them.

Genuinely - the experience is little different to EasyJet or Jet2! It’s a low cost product that works perfectly well. Their app is amazing and you can do everything including ordering drinks to your seat - it usually tells you which gate you’re at etc.

If you’re travelling in a group and it matters for you to sit together, then pay for the seats. There is no way round that! Stick to whichever luggage rule you’ve chosen (10kg carry on or whatever checked in) it won’t be overlooked. Make sure you check in on time. The rest works perfectly.

In terms of safety, their record is second to none. Their pilots are trained well and paid well. Their cabin crew often are from other countries but again trained very well.

I fly a lot and do not have an issue with them.

I flew with them a few months ago
worked like clockwork - no frills but got me home
I did move twice for other people who hadn’t paid for allocated seats but I wasn’t especially bothered by that
juts check rules on checked baggage and hand baggage sizes

I practically use Ryanair for every single flight, away a few times a year and have absolutely no complaints ever. Staff are always friendly, flights are generally always on time, the newer planes have decent space. Honestly can't think of one issue wev had with them.

Ryanair are great. Familiarise yourself with their rules before you fly, especially on baggage sizes- they are not flexible. We’ve used them for almost every holiday and like you say, they fly to some interesting destinations away from the main airports.

Fly with Ryanair frequently. I get annoyed reading some of the crazy posts about them on here. They are a low cost airline. I live in Southern Europe and can often fly back and forth to the UK for under €100 return.
You need to understand the terms and conditions, there is nothing luxurious about it. But for getting from A to B at a low price they are very good.
I think of it as a coach/bus trip. Have something to read/listen to, get a tea or coffee and before you know it, you have arrived.

Hope you have a fabulous holiday.

Ryanair is fine. You get on and you get off. Book seats - they're really not that pricey. Honestly, the angst people seem to go through is ridiculous - Like any airline there are sometimes issues but we fly with them every time (Faro) and have for about 15 years now.. for short haul, they are perfectly ok.

I have been flying with them for many years and usually have an overall positive experience. As long as you are aware of all conditions and potential extra charges etc. It's a fairly basic service of course but staff are usually pleasant and things usually go and planned.

Aw, I feel so much better now - thank you! It’s only a short trip, and I don’t travel light (despite my best efforts) so we have paid for one 20kg checked in suitcase for DH and I to share, and we each have priority boarding with one “ under the seat” bag and one 10kg cabin bag. I have no plans to try to flout the rules!

Edited to add we have also booked our seats

Ryanair is totally fine. It's not a glamorous experience, but totally fine.

People who complain about ryanair are the sort of people who do think the rules don't apply to them.
If they say you can have 10kg and it needs to be certain size, then don't complain when your bag is 12kg and too big.

Tip, If you don't care about sitting with your travel companion, then check in late (a few hours before) and you might end up with 'premium' seats for free. I've ended up in exit rows or in the front couple of rows as that must have been what was left over.

We fly with them a few times a year, never have any issues.
We always book the slight upgrade that gives Priority boarding (which is often pointless) but you get an overhead bag each as well and reserved seats
Once we didn't get the reserved seats but DC were older Tenns so it was fine and it was because not all plane shave the back row so we never book that now.
Check th T's and C's and make sure your bags fit the rules and you should be fine

PP’s description of it as a coach trip is probably right!

Best advice as given is to abide by the bag rules. Your 10kg under seat bag has to be the right size. By dimensions rather than weight. You’ll see the measurements on your booking. They can make you put it into their cage at the gate and if it doesn’t fit, you have to pay the extra cost.

Ryanair are fine, echo the others, people I’ve heard complaining about them try to flout baggage rules and then seem shocked when they do get fined, or don’t prebook seats and kick off when their group of 7 aren’t all together.
I find the constant selling of food/drink/duty free/scratchcards infuriating compared to a national carrier but no different to any other budget airline

What specifically are you worried about?

They're the airline of choice for a booze filled holiday so if you're flying to those type of destinations yes the plane with be full of pissed up 20 year old making a racket.

I think they're a bit more likely to be delayed because other airlines pay more for they slots and so take precedence when things start running late (pilot explained this to me once).

Staff appear to be one of the lowest paid so I guess they'll have a high turnover so they may not be the most experienced in customer service but they'll still be trained and safe.

I really don't think they're any worse than others for short haul. I would never specifically avoid them. t'll be fine.

I have used Ryanair for the last thirty years (more actually). They are not glamorous, they are a “budget” airline. but they get you there, almost certainly on time, and almost certainly with your baggage.

They are open about the fact they serve a mass rather than a niche market.

Just follow the luggage regulations, (running the gauntlet of their air crew, who wouldn’t look out of place in a Stazi interrogation Centre, is no fun) sit in your seat and look forward to you holidays.

Actually, based on statistics they are less likely to be delayed at most airports they fly to. (Which are the same mixture as all others)

Ryanair is fine, just take your own entertainment if you want to read or watch something. I was on a Ryanair flight that landed during Storm Darragh-- it was terrifying but they did marvellously, diverted us from Liverpool to Manchester and got us down safely. Never been delayed, unlike BA which has been delayed every time I've flown with them.

My main concern is flight delays, although our 2 recent BA flights were delayed. And I always stress about cases going missing, which is why I’ve booked a decent amount of cabin baggage allowance

Ryanair don't want to pay compensation. They'll do their best to get you there... its more likely to be the weather (ice, wind etc) or the airport which will cause issues.

I’ve never been a fan of Ryanair, but I’ve travelled with them twice this year and they are more comparable to EasyJet than they were.

I would more happily fly with them now if their prices were cheaper/more convenient location than EasyJet. I tend to favour EasyJet as their free hand luggage dimensions are a bit bigger.

I've travelled lots of Ryan Air because usually it's significantly cheaper than all other options.

It's a low cost, no frills airline and exactly that, no better, no worse.

They are very clear on their policies including baggage allowance etc. If you know what you'll signed up to, there's no issue.

I think most of the people who complain about RyanAir are the type who pay for Prosecco but expect Champagne.

Brilliant airline if you don't think you're special and arrogantly think their rules shouldn't apply to you.

Think of it as a city bus rather than a limousine, read the luggage allowance and seat allocation rules careful and enjoy the cheap efficient journey.

Not glamorous some of you say.... now please tell me what short haul airline like Ryanair actually IS glamorous for a similar fare? None... OK then. A - B, get on get off, have a coffee, stick to the baggage rules, book your seat if you need to sit beside someone, and off you go.

Delays are more often than not caused by Air Traffic Control issues or weather. All airlines affected.

One thing I will say is, if there is a cancellation/major delay and you are in the airport, do NOT leave the airport and make your own way thinking you can claim expenses afterwards. Nope, if Ryanair is eventually going to provide alternative transport/accommodation etc. you will not be entitled to be recompensed for that if you don't hang around for the official arrangements. I know this to my cost.

I only use Ryanair and have only ever had one single delay in the last ten years with 3-4 return journeys a year. The planes are cramped, the prices of food and drinks are expensive but honestly, it’s perfectly fine a you follow the check in and baggage rules to avoid extra costs. For a 3-4 hour flight it’s great value over all and I’ve not had a bad experience.