A guide to tips for flying with Ryanair!

You've surely heard of the famous airline Ryanair, an Irish low-cost carrier, which offers flights to destinations in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, sometimes with tickets from as little as 10 euros.

We've often seen tickets at this price and have bought tickets for less than 20 euros (and flown!).

You might think it sounds too good to be true. Some agree and advise you to avoid Ryanair. However, others will tell you they love it and that any problems are due to travellers not adhering to the regulations.

Personally, I have frequently used Ryanair and other budget airlines, experiencing both their pros and cons. I’ve compiled my knowledge into this guide to inform you about Ryanair before you fly with them, helping you avoid any unforeseen issues!

# Book your flight early

Generally, Ryanair is cheap, especially if you don't have a specific destination and are just looking for a trip to get away. Prices are lower when you book early. The company sells flight tickets at specific prices, and these increase as the flight date approaches. Booking early gives you more options for flight dates and times. For less popular destinations, Ryanair flies less frequently, so you'll need to adjust your schedule accordingly – you’ll usually arrive early in the morning or late at night!

 

# Food or drink are not included in the ticket price

As you already know, Ryanair is a budget airline, and that's why it keeps prices low. Food or drink, not even water, is included in the ticket price. However, you can buy snacks and drinks during the flight. Additionally, you can take food and drink from the airport onto the plane with you. Many Ryanair flights are short, so you might not need food or snacks.

 

# Only one small personal item is included in the ticket

Ryanair used to include one small personal item and one checked bag, but now it’s only one item – meaning your carry-on or your personal item! When purchasing your flight, make sure you've added your carry-on. You can also add a checked suitcase if needed. Despite the extra costs, the total price is usually much lower than non-budget airlines. However, always compare the total cost with other airlines before buying tickets.

 

# The airport might be quite far away!

The airport's location depends on the city. Some cities have two airports, one for major airlines and one for budget ones, while others only have one. Before purchasing your ticket, check the airport's location and its accessibility via public transport or buses. Also, check the transfer cost and if the flight remains cheap. Do a Google or TripAdvisor search for transfers to and from the airport.

Two examples are the airports in London and Dusseldorf.

London has four popular airports, where Heathrow is the main airport, used by major airlines, and has a direct Underground connection, making access simple. Budget airlines fly to Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton airports. Gatwick has affordable bus transport from an Underground station, while Stansted and Luton also offer easy bus transfers to various points in London. Although these airports are not as easily accessible as Heathrow, they remain practical and affordable.

In Dusseldorf, Germany, there is a large international airport. When Ryanair says it flies from Dusseldorf, it refers to Weeze, near the Dutch border. Weeze is difficult to reach from Dusseldorf, with the journey taking 1.5 hours by road and buses and trains being infrequent, expensive, and requiring a change. Here, it might be better to choose another airline that flies directly to Dusseldorf instead of Weeze.

# Make sure your luggage is not oversized or overweight

This advice applies to all airlines, but especially to budget ones like Ryanair.

They are very strict with luggage size and weight, as they impose higher fees for overweight or oversized bags. Almost always, there is a box for checking luggage dimensions before the gate, and you may be asked to place your bag in it. There is also a scale at the gate and at the check-in desk, where you may be asked to weigh your luggage. Although in some cases they don't weigh bags, always make sure you haven't exceeded the weight limit.

 

# You will need to check-in and print your own boarding pass

This is one of the less pleasant aspects of Ryanair. You must print your boarding pass before going to the airport. If you don't, they will charge a hefty fee for printing it. You can check-in for your flight 48 hours beforehand, so you need to find a way to print it. This can be tricky for the return flight because you're not at home. You can ask your accommodation or find an internet café or bookshop. Otherwise, you should have it on your mobile phone.

 

# Legroom is limited!

Ryanair uses typical Boeing 737 aircraft with a special layout and limited legroom. For a person 1.80m tall, the legroom is adequate to borderline. There are also seats with extra legroom available for a small additional charge, such as those in the emergency exit row.

There is no business class on Ryanair planes.

 

# Your flight is no more likely to be delayed

Ryanair has a good arrival record, with 90% of its flights arriving within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival. Don't listen to rumours that you won't arrive, will be late, etc., etc.

 

Ryanair is not the only budget airline in Europe

Ryanair was a pioneer in budget flights, but there are other options like EasyJet and Wizzair.

Major airlines also have their budget versions, such as Eurowings (Lufthansa) and Vueling (Iberian), often offering amenities like carry-on luggage and mobile boarding passes.

 

# There are no refunds or cancellations

Officially, Ryanair offers exchanges and some refunds, but in practice, it's difficult. They do not allow flight cancellations or refunds, but they do accept exchanges with fees that may exceed the cost of the flight. Tax fee refunds require an application that often costs more than the refund amount. In practice, consider the flight non-refundable and non-changeable!

 

# If your flight is cancelled, claim your rights!

We were on a flight that was cancelled due to weather, and there was no information about the services the airline was obliged to offer its customers. In that particular case, it was accommodation (since the flight would depart the next day) and meals (dinner + breakfast).

Following a personal demand, as we knew the legislative framework (you can see it in detail here), the company offered what it should and informed all travellers accordingly.

Generally, by following all the rules and terms of the company, you will not encounter any problems and your trip will be a perfect memory!

Don't hesitate at all! Book Ryanair flight tickets through Travel#o.gr at the best market price and off you go to your destination!