Wizz Air from preferred Airport or Ryan Air from a less convenient one?

[CeeJay81]

We are planning a trip next February. We live a long way from any airport but to get cheap flights are choice is:

Wizz Air from a more convenient airport.

Ryan Air from a less convenient airport but still doable.

I have heard a lot of bad things about Wizz Air but never flown with them. Ryan Air I'm happy with, as they are reliable. So I'm leaning towards them. It would be just easier from the other airport, as it'll be via public transport we get there but is it really worth the risk?

Their punctuality figures are almost identical and I generally prefer Wizz planes so I’d definitely pick the more convenient airport. If nothing goes wrong, they’re both absolutely fine and both fairly lousy when it does.

There is a huge problem of availability bias when it comes to reading complaints. Even on the least good airlines, the vast majority of customers get to their destination without incident, and they are not the subject of clickbait articles about "Our flight from heaven".

I rarely go with Wizz Air because they mostly don't fly to the places I want to go, but on the couple of times I've been with them, everything has been fine, as it had on the 100+ flights that I've taken with Ryanair and the 50+ with EasyJet.

Thanks for the replies. Haven't gone with either in the end.
I've managed to get fairly cheap flights with jet2 from my preferred airport by changing the dates slightly. It's Birmingham to Rome next March. Looking forward to it😀

Have a lovely time. Glad to read you are not supporting the bully Mr O'Leary.

My preference is always for the nearest airport at both ends and a convenient time arrival / departure time. I’ll happily pay more for convenience (and service) which is why Ryanair never really figures as a sensible option for me. I have flown Wizz Air and they been fine. Though I see you’ve taken the same approach, and gone for convenience - good choice :) It’s never worth schlepping further or getting up at the crack of dawn / middle of the nightto save a few hundred pounds, IMO. Especially as most of the saving is illusory - by the time you’ve paid more for a taxi or parking or hotel, and bought coffee and breakfast to offset the inconvenient flight times you’ve spent more not less!

I’ve flown loads of times with Wizz Air and I’d choose them over Ryan Air any day of the week.

OP, ‘pleased you are sorted. If you are taking hold luggage be prepared for a long wait at the carousel on arrival in Rome.

This, its all luck of the draw and even 'better' airlines have issues and let their passengers down.

I've had problems with Aer Lingus on the days when the RA flight that my employer wouldn't let me use, because Ryanair, was fine.

I've only been on one Wizz Air flight but it was fine. We've flown on lots of jet2 flights and think they're the best budget airline, mostly because they include enough luggage such that you can go for a week without paying extra or skimping on what you take but we've had a couple of very long delays with them, admittedly one outside their control.

BA famously suffer IT issues and cancel quite a few flights. A colleague had 3 cancellations when going on a business trip using BA that meant she missed a day of an event. I flew from a different airport with RA and got there and back on time.

Thanks for all the replies. I'll def consider wizz air in future but as its only 4 nights we're going for, I don't want any delays to eat into into that.

@StarlightLady we aren't taking hold luggage, unless they decide to put our 2 small cases(jet 2 hand luggage size) in there(Never had an issue before, so hopefully not). There's 4 of us and the other 2 will just have small bags to go under the seat.

You will love Rome. Just to mention, the taxi stand at the airport has a fixed fare of €55 to anywhere in the city centre, it's great if you just want to get from door to door quickly. There is the Leonardo Express train which is cheaper, but by the time you pay for two, load your bags, arrive in Termini and try to get from there to your hotel, it's hardly worth it IMV.

I know you are not going now, but please, watch your belongings when out and about especially on the Metro. Gangs of pickpockets are operating there and at the big sites. A cross body bag held in front of you for valuables and a lightweight nylon backpack for water etc. is what I used and was fine. My companion wasn't. His wallet was stolen despite taking similar precautions. Distraction techniques used!

You might think he's a bully, but he doesn't care what you think. I personally love Ryanair, and have never had an issue with them, their punctuality is great and their destinations are even better! I do think that the add ons can drive you nuts, but I think most airlines are adopting similar tactics now. The underseat bag size has increased on Ryanair now too. Happy days!

Wizz air and Ryan air are equally bad in my experience so would pick the convenient airport.

The under-seat bag size increase was due to an EU ruling. Not airline generosity.

I've had several issues with Ryan air, delays, cancellations and off boarding so wouldn't be choosing them as the more reliable option!

I know. It's great though isn't it? And it applies to non EU Britain aswell. Couldn't be better, it's like Brexit never happened!

That is only because they are an EU non UK airline though and fly to/from the EU. Other air passenger rights are diminished with Brexit.

Ryan Air and any other eu airline may soon have to allow a bigger bag size due to eu regs. So like jet 2 etc, they will have to allow a large carry on bag plus a small personal item too. You can guarantee a big increase in their prices though, if this does happen.

Christ, thats like having the choice between a bucket of vomit and a bucket of diarrhoea 😅

I see from your update that you have gone with another airline.

I have travelled with both WizAir and Ryanair and prefer WizAir - I would definitely use them more but they stopped flying from my local airport.

I think as a budget airline, WizAir are similar to Ryanair in their luggage add ons etc, but if they fly from your local airport, it makes sense to book with them.

Have a wonderful time in Rome! 🇮🇹

In the specific case of Rome, Wizz Air files to Fiumicino (in the sticks) whereas Ryanair flies to the old Ciampino airport, which is just inside the city limits and really convenient. So for once Ryanair isn't taking you 80km out of your way.

Ciampino is also tiny so very quick to travel through. I was also surprised that Ryanair were using the closest airport to the city and not one near a smaller city further away and only serving the capital by way of a lengthy transfer.

I suspect this will be down to the old Ryanair logic of which airport can they most easily beat over the head offers the best deal when it comes handling charges, and the best airport for the Ryanair style quick turn rounds...every once in a while it works to the benefit of the paying passenger.

That’s true enough, though Ciampino is rather small. It’s about 15 minutes quicker to Rome (by train - 25/30 if you go by taxi). But, Ryanair fly from Stansted which is at least an hour further away from me than the main London airports, and Wizz Air from Luton which is also not far off an hour further. So my ‘convenient’ options to Rome are EasyJet or BA, and the EZY flights are borderline inconvenient timing-wise!!

We are actually going to Fuimicino with Jet 2. Most likely get a taxi, like someone up thread mentioned. 40 euros(for all 4 of us) for the express train to the termini. Still would need the metro from there to the apartment though. We are a way out of the city centre but on a metro route. A taxi for 55 euro is def worth it. We are the airport side of the city, so hopefully a taxi won't cost more than that, but I'll find out before we go.

Uber is available in Rome; might be worth a look.