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?

Chopstick Dubplate wrote about them in Worldwide Traveller. Sums them up I’d say!

‘But sometimes we haffi fly pon Ryanair
Well sometimes we haffi fly pon Ryanair
But yuh cyaan tek a suitcase 'cause it's extra pon there
And luggage has to fit inna the small square
Food and drink too expensive an beer
Mi nah buy them sandwich and mi nah buy them beer
But sometime you haffi fly pon Ryanair
Seh, sometime you haffi fly pon Ryanair’

She forgot she had it on. She put it in her bag and it fit perfectly fine and fit in the bag checker. So realistically, aside from being a jobsworth, there was no need for them to make her check her hand luggage.

I've never had a problem with them. You'll get a rowdy crowd for certain destinations but it really depends where you're flying to and when. I've never found the staff rude - firm sometimes but not rude. Quite reassured to see them switch into 'in full control' "SIT DOWN" mode when a 17/18 year old on his first lads holiday started getting up during the taxiing bit. I have seen them stop and charge passengers a few times for oversight hand luggage. All used the "but I've used this before line" for bags clearly bigger than the approved size. No doubt I'll probably have a negative experience at some stage but, so far, I've got what I expected.

We fly with Ryanair a lot as they have the most flights from our local airport. Never had a problem with them, just make sure you follow the rules. If you want to sit beside a travelling companion, pay for it, they will deliberately seat you apart - again not a problem for us as adults travelling.

@rookiemere is that a typo - you say that if you pay to sit near someone, they will deliberately seat you apart??

I fly with them weekly

Honestly
I. Have no complaints

If you follow all the rules you will be fine
I have never had an issue in ten years of using them

Yes, they do. To incentivise you to pay for seat selection

Though I moan about them at times I've had mostly good experiences. Particularly flying back from Dublin after storms and our plane was about the only one that took off and landed on time! I've had some surly, tetchy staff in the past but in the last few years they have all been nice.

I had issues in lockdown when they wouldn't refund me but i claimed on credit card.

they are cheap and cheerful (ish) For me it works well as only airline which flies from my nearest airport. I wouldn't book too far in advance though as they are renowned for changing times - ie 6am flight to 2pm flight etc

I’m be fine.
regard it as “ a bus “ and expect the same level of ( non ) service - it’ll get you from a to b.

comply with the baggage sizes etc , don’t push the limits and it’ll be fine.

take own food and drink.

I use them regularly to visit my sis in Spain.

Poster meant that if you don’t pay for a seat they’ll split you up. I’m never fussed about where I sit on such a short flight but if you are, make sure you pay and select.

I’ve been flying with them for almost 25 years (looks back nostalgically at the days of 1p flights!) and have only had one significant delay. They’ve never lost our luggage. Dd used them several times a term to get to and from uni (significantly cheaper than the train and she had her whizz through the airport down to a fine art) As pps have said, stick to their rules and take your own snacks and it’s great. I’ve always found the staff polite, efficient and friendly.

Ryanair is basically a transaction, not a service experience. If you look at it like that, it's generally fine.

If you make a mistake, or misunderstand the baggage rules or whatever then good luck, you are on your own.

But if you understand their T&C and follow them then generally speaking they'll get you from A-B efficiently and cheaply.

I find the overall experience of flying short-haul depends more on the airport than the airline anyway - once you're in the sky it's much of a muchness, it's things like security, gate experience etc which are the unpleasant bits.

Yes, they will deliberately give you a middle seat at opposite ends of the plane to your travelling companion unless you pay, plus you won't be able to check in until 24 hours before each leg.

But their flights aren't always short, they go from Edinburgh to the Canaries which takes nearly 5 hours.

yes they are well known for doing this. last time we didn't pay for our setting himself was seated 5 rows behind me. it was only for an hour so we weren't bothered. though today I have just paid 88e for good seats for us as our next flight is 4.5 hours long. it is what it is

I’ve flown Ryanair loads of times and as long as you follow the rules you’ll be fine - make sure your bag is within guidelines so you don’t get charged extra. I’ve never had any issues or delays.

I’ve never had this happen to me in years of flying Ryanair, and I’ve never pre booked a seat.

The times I've used it nothing went drastically wrong. It was totally uneventful.

I think once the flight was delayed an hour or so but that could happen to any airline.

Staff seem fine. Decor is hideous, seats microscopic and obviously they'll slay you if your cabin luggage is bigger than a postage stamp.

But if it's only for a couple hours it's not unbearable.

EasyJet I find preferable in the budget market but it is often a bit more expensive for not all that much difference.

Not that I would ever actively choose Ryanair. They'd always be my last choice.

I've flown Ryanair dozens of times to Dublin (regularly) for work & various European destinations for holidays. Whilst I tend to prefer easyjet, Ryanair is fine. The only real delay we have ever had was when Spain flooded last year (we were already at the airport when the news broke so completely unaware). We were kept informed though and they got us to Malaga safely.

Stick to the baggage rules and do everything through the app. I’ve found them to be excellent. Punctual and great prices.

We are a family of 7 and live in Dublin . We travel a lot and don't often use anyone else , mainly due to good value .
I think they are great . Maybe I am just very used to them but never really have any issues .

Sometimes Ryanair is the only affordable direct flight to the place you want to go. For a flight of a couple hours it's all bearable but of course depends on what you're used to. No frills, even the seats don't recline or have seat pockets ....it's all genius levels of cost cutting from Mr O'Leary. Don't buy the food, drink or scratch cards - take your own. Just keep thinking 'nearly there'. In the dim and distant past I flew Aeroflot a few times and I have to say I'd take the Ryanair experience over that any day.

The only problem with RyanAir is the disgusting coffee and food that they serve!
Get yourself a meal deal in the airport and you’ll be grand!!

I'd agree with this. I've been using them for years as they are the only one who fly to the airport I regularly use.
They are generally on time in my experience as they allow lots of extra time on their schedules. It's low frills and if you expect that then you are probably going to be fine.
I don't try to bend the rules, they are pretty clear and so just follow them. I dont care about seating as my kids are older and sometimes I luck out and sometimes I dont. I understand their pricing and I plan accordingly with my budget. I always have separate travel insurance.
It's honestly in my view one of the more transparent airlines out there!

I use them a lot, they’re great. I also use EasyJet and struggle to tell the difference- if anything EasyJet seem to be the ones cracking down on baggage sizes

Ryanair are great value and have all new planes and an excellent safety record. They are very open about their policies and you will likely arrive on time. I think they are brilliant.