Most effective way of making a Ryanair booking!

[Librarina]

I would like to fly from Manchester to Seville in February half term with my husband and 2 children (13 and 11) and the only carrier who do that is Ryanair.

We usually travel pretty light and we are only going for 4 nights so don't need a lot.

Ryanair have 3 options and you have to select the same one for each person in the party.

Basic - under seat bag and children U12 get to sit with an adult for free
Regular +28.25 - small bag + 10kg cabin bag (no free reserved seats for U12)
Family Plus +31.55 - small bag, free reserved seat for kids U12, 10kg check in bag for all and 20kg check in bag

Plus +41.74 small under seat bag and 20kg check in bag

Clearly the Family Plus is the option that it would make sense for us to select, however that adds another 120 to the booking each way.

So, my question is... do you think I could book the flight for one adult and two children on the basic rate, so that adult would have no luggage allowance and would sit with the children with their small bags and then do a separate booking for the other adult with the 'Plus' option as I feel that 20kg would give us enough luggage for 4 nights.

As far as I remember you can go through the booking as basic and then add a bag for one person at the end. We have definitely travelled as a family with one bag.
I am not sure if this is more expensive as booking someone separately, but if you are travelling together, I would prefer this than managing 2 bookings.

Just book all under basic then add a bag as part of the booking.

As previous, go through the booking with the basic fare and then add additional baggage on later on in the booking. It usually works out cheaper than the + options for each traveller.

Just book the basic, and purchase a bag.

I have often done two bookings, one ‘family’ to bring luggage (1 adult, two kids) and the other booking at the basic rate (one adult one kid)

for our family of 5 this works out cheapest and we have enough luggage for our holiday

We always just do basic and then add a bag later in the booking process. I reckon for 4 nights though we could do it on basic alone. You can get a surprising amount in an under seat bag, especially as you can share a wash bag and wear a light jumper and coat to travel.

What is the cost for standard priority? If I need an extra cabin bag, I usually book that, as it can be cheaper than just adding the bag, and you can choose seats.

Yes, you don't all need the same if you make two bookings. I do that if we need more than the underseat bag, but can share a large cabin bag.

It's much cheaper to do basic, and then add a luggage option for one traveller. I add 20kg for one person each way. I don't see the point in priority boarding, unless you're infirm. The plane takes off at the same time for everyone, and it's not really needed unless you want a good spot for stowing a cabin bag.

I only ever take one checked bag for everyone, the kids seat reservation are included anyway, so just book as every as basic fare, ignore all the upselling. After you enter passenger names on the next page after that you can add individual bags, again loads of upselling, one 23kg bag is £27.99 on the way out and £28.99 on the way back. This is way more cost efficient than the other options. You will still have to pay for at least one adult seat reservation.per Ryanair rules on travelling with children, but this is usually around £7.

It’s 4 nights - just take a small bag each! No need to pay for any extras at all.

Thank you so much for the information that I can just book an individual bag.

We've never actually caught a flight as a family and the whole process has changed somewhat since the last time I flew anywhere, over 13 years ago so I'm grateful for the insight.

Now I just need to resist changing my mind on the destination yet again!!