Flying with Ryanair: What You Ought to Know About Ryanair

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If there’s a king of cheap airlines within Europe, Ryanair would be crowned the winner. If you ask any budget traveler who has explored Europe for the low, they’ll most likely tell you that Ryanair helped make that possible. Could you believe that I once snagged a flight from Barcelona to Sardinia on a whim for €23 round trip? Oh and let me not forget the time my plane ticket from Madrid to Paris cost less than a stick of gum. No joke.

Many travelers have a love/hate relationship with Ryanair. No other airline can have you jumping for joy in one moment and ripping your hair out in the next. Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, you have to admit that their prices are pretty hard to beat. They may not be on the top everyone’s list (and for good reason, more on that to come), but if we’re strictly talking price they do have some of the lowest fares.

Ryanair is a good option for cheap, short weekend trips. For example, let’s say you’re spending a month in Luxembourg and want to visit Berlin for a weekend. Flying with Ryanair would be an excellent option for cheap flights. I know what you’re thinking, “But Kim, what’s the catch?” Well, while Ryanair has certainly made traveling around Europe more accessible, they’re known for pulling fast ones. They will nickel and dime you with hidden fees and a crap ton of rules. So before you rely on them to take you to Paris for champagne and macaroons, only for you to end up breaking the bank and finding yourself knee-deep in extra charges, here are a few things to know about flying with Ryanair.

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Hey Lady! Looking for more information on flying with budget airlines? Here is a post you might be interested in:

• Everything You Need to Know About Flying with Budget Airlines
• A Beginner’s Guide to Finding Cheap Flights

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Ryanair Fees

One of the ways Ryanair will get ya is with fees. There are fees for pretty much everything. However, if you know what they are you can avoid them.  

Purchasing Fees

Ryanair is not playing around, their fees begin right out the gate. They charge 2% for using credit or debit cards online to purchase flights. Unlike Easyjet, you won’t see this fee until after you’ve entered your passenger details. It isn’t much, but it’s the principle that matters and if you should be aware of this.  

Seating Fees

Not all seats are made equal with Ryanair. Their flights are tight and have limited legroom. When you are flying with Ryanair you can kiss comfort goodbye and say hello to your neighbor… who will be sitting entirely way too close to you. All that nice, cozy extra comfort you get with traditional airlines costs extra with Ryanair.

When purchasing your ticket there are a few options. As solo travelers, here are the options to pay the most attention to: Standard Fare, Plus, and Flexi Plus. The differences between these three depend on the baggage you’re carrying and whether you check in at the airport or online. Check the options below for more information on Ryanair’s ticket options.

Seating with extra legroom and front seats will cost you an extra $7. There are also extra fees for having an infant (yeah, yeah, I know) or having equipment like a bicycle or sports gear. Click here for the full list of fees to be aware of before you go.

Ryanair Ticket Options

Reservation Fees

Got married recently and changed your last name? Or maybe you go by your nickname rather than what’s on your passport? When booking your ticket, make sure to double-check your information and be very careful. Your ticket must match your passport. Typos and mismatched information will result in a hefty name change fee of €115 online and $160 in person. To change your flight, the fees begin at €35 plus the difference in cost between your initial booking and the new one. 

Ryanair Baggage Policy

Let’s discuss luggage and flying with Ryanair. When it comes to baggage, Ryanair is like Beyoncé, “To the left, to the left, everything you own in a box to the left.” You may want to think twice about checked luggage. Ryanair has an incredibly strict baggage policy that they actively enforce.

Non-priority passengers are only allowed to travel with one free, small bag that has a maximum size of 40cm x 20cm x 25cm. That’s about the size of a backpack. A really small one at that. Now can you see why I prefer them for short and quick trips? There’s no weight limit on this, but that’s not a lot of luggage. If you need to bring more stuff with you, you have two options.

The first option is to get a priority boarding ticket. (This is the same as plus ticket.) It allows you to bring a small bag plus a larger, cabin bag with a maximum size of 55 x 40 x 20cm and a max weight of 10kg (22 lbs). Both pieces of luggage can go on board with you. This starts at €6 (around $7).

The second option is to add a 10kg check-in bag. This allows you to bring a larger bag, (same dimensions as above) that you can drop off at the check-in desk and then collect it once you arrive at your destination. This option starts at €10 (around $10) when booking.

If you arrive at the gate with two bags and haven’t purchased any of the previous options, you will be charged €25, which is around $28. Here’s another crucial thing to know about flying with Ryanair. They are known for adhering to their strict policies and they hardly make exceptions. I have personally seen passengers forking out money because they didn’t comply with the standards.

So save yourself the cash and the headache and make sure you are in line with their bag policy. For more information on Ryanair’s baggage policy check the options below or their website here.

Ryanair Baggage Options

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Ryanair Check-in Policy

Another thing to know about flying with Ryanair is that you have 48 hours to check in. This is important. It means that if you’re flying with them, you better channel your inner Mary Poppins and get organized. For example, if you are going on a weekend trip, you’ll need to print or download your boarding passes for both your arrival and your return. Also, make sure that when the check-in window arrives you have access to wifi.

Ryanair also requires a printed boarding pass or an online one, that YOU provide. So for all you procrastinators, that means no more waiting until you get to the airport to check in. If you don’t check in within the 48-hour window, you’ll have to pay €55 per person, per flight. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather spend that money on my trip rather than for checking in.

Here’s a helpful hint. Download Ryanair’s free app. That way you can check in with ease and download your boarding pass too. Plus you can always delete it later. Just be aware that there are a few airports that don’t accept mobile boarding passes. Click here to check out a list of those airports.

Pro Tip: If you have a non-EU passport, make sure to get your passport stamped with a visa check stamp at the check-in counter. Ryanair requires this for all non-EU citizens.

Seating

Another helpful thing to know about flying with Ryanair is that they randomly allocate seat assignments. There is an option to reserve a seat when booking but again, this is an extra charge. The fee for reserving a seat varies depending on the location within the aircraft, but it ranges between €4 and €15.00. The good news is, if you pay for a reserved seat you can check in 60 days before your flight. This is good to keep in mind if you are traveling as a family or in a group.

Airports

If you are flying with Ryanair and think that you’re just going to fly into London and rock up to Heathrow airport…think again. Ryanair is known for flying into smaller airports that are located miles away from the major airport and further from the city center.

However, not every city is affected by this. For example, Barcelona only has one airport (Prat) so you’re good there. And Berlin’s two airports are about the same distance from the city center so again, you’re good. But for other cities like Paris or Stockholm, the airport Ryanair flies into is miles away from the center. Make sure you know which airport AND terminal you are flying into so you can make plans accordingly.

On the Plane

Comfort

Just google “flying with Ryanair” and immediately you’ll be bombarded with loads of posts and websites by angry patrons cursing the airline and the day it was born. It’s so brutal that you would have sworn some people have dedicated their entire lives to the destruction of Ryanair.

I can understand where these complaints are coming from and I won’t beat around the bush. Comfort is limited when flying with Ryanair. Let’s just run through the list shall we: There’s no entertainment, it’s often overcrowded and delayed, there is no water, no seat backs, limited legroom, ads on ads on ads, oh and there’s the tacky yellow design.

So as you can see, it’s a hard pill to swallow, especially if you’re used to the luxuries of a full-service airline. But listen, Ryanair doesn’t promise comfort. They just promise that they’ll get you from point A to B for cheap. You will be just fine as long as you know what you’re getting into.

Food and Beverages

As stated previously, complimentary food is not offered with any ticket. Ryanair offers an inflight menu with a selection of hot or cold foods, snacks, and beverages such as bottled water, coffee, or alcoholic drinks. You can also pre-order meals before the flight from certain destinations and meal deals are available like a drink, main dish, and a snack for €10.00. 

Tips for Surviving a Ryanair Flight

• Prepare, prepare, prepare. Read the fine print and do your homework to make sure you don’t get caught off guard.
• Download the app to get your mobile boarding pass. Or print your boarding pass ahead of time (for both your arrival and departure if it’s a short trip).
• Double-check the airport that you’re flying into and how to get to where you’re staying.
• Pay any extras or add-ons online and in advance.
• Make sure you check the baggage dimensions or get ready to pay up.
• Bring snacks and entertainment.
• Get to the airport early to avoid any chaos or mishaps with the airline.

Got a Ryanair story? I wanna hear it. Like this post and drop a comment below. Until next time!