Information on Ryanair Flights

Headquartered in Dublin, Ryanair (FR) is the largest airline in Europe by passenger and destination count, connecting over 180 million travelers a year to nearly 40 countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. As one of the original European low-cost carriers, Ryanair has been offering extremely cheap fares and no-frills service for nearly 4 decades. While its customer experience is often lacking, you can still make the most of it with these tips.

Why fly Ryanair?

Ryanair is notorious for frequent flight delays, bare-bone flight experience and customer service that is lukewarm at best. Still, millions of travelers, myself included, choose to fly this airline each year. Why? The answer is 2-fold:

First, Ryanair fares are cheap, sometimes incredibly so. A one-way ticket from London to Barcelona, for example, can cost you less than 2 airport lattes. If you want to travel as cheap as possible and don’t mind a few inconveniences (more on that below), Ryanair is often one of the best options to do so within Europe and vicinity.

And second, as a budget airline, Ryanair operates the point-to-point model, as opposed to the hub-and-spoke model of traditional airlines (think Delta connecting every flight through its hub in Atlanta). The airline has bases in many European destinations travelers might want to see, including Malta, Athens, Ibiza and Bordeaux. This means that Ryanair flights are typically non-stop and they last a few hours, on average.

One major requirement to booking with Ryanair is flexibility in time, location, and what you carry with you. Ryanair often operates out of smaller airports that are situated farther away from major cities (Spain’s Barcelona is one of few exceptions). It also upcharges for a number of items like carry-on, checked luggage, or airport check-in.

If you plan to travel light, are comfortable with longer airport commutes or changing airports (when traveling direct from the US) and don’t mind a basic flight experience, then hopping across Europe and a few nearby destinations like Jordan or Morocco with Ryanair can be a good - and cost-effective - choice.

Fare structure

As many other low-cost airlines, Ryanair operates several tiers of fares which start at the cheapest and most stripped-down and go up to the most flexible tickets. Let’s look at each.

Basic

Ryanair’s lowest fare tier is indeed its most basic. The only thing you can do on Basic is to bring 1 personal item on board that must fit under the seat in front of you. Services like seat selection, carry-on or checked bags are not included, but you can purchase them piecemeal during the booking process.

Regular

The next FR tier includes 1 personal item, 1 carry-on up to 10kg, seat selection, and priority boarding. I travel with a carry-on and prefer to board first and sit up front, so I book this fare the most. While you can get to this scenario by choosing Basic fare and purchasing add-ons separately, the final cost is typically about the same; this is often true for all fare levels.

Plus

Plus is a good option for someone who travels with luggage. It includes one 20kg checked bag (additional bags can be purchased), one personal item, seat selection and free check-in at the airport. Strangely, a carry-on bag or priority boarding are not included in this fare - you would have to purchase them separately.

Flexi Plus

Flexi Plus is Ryanair’s version of business class. It includes almost everything: one personal item, one carry-on, seat selection, priority boarding, free airport check-in and security fast track (where available). It also allows no-fee flight changes, but no refunds (Ryanair flights are typically non-refundable). Somewhat surprisingly, you’d still need to purchase checked bags on this fare.

Booking process

Booking a Ryanair flight is relatively straightforward, just be aware that the airline will present you with many options to upsell your trip, including items like insurance, pre-paid inflight credit, or parking. Focus on what you need and ignore the rest (I usually just keep hitting “Continue” until I get to check-out).

In addition to persistent upsell, there are a few other nuances you should be aware of.

First, if you’re booking through Ryanair’s website, you'll need to create an account to complete your purchase. This is not a feature you typically see with other airlines, so plan ahead. The process involves setting up your account, confirming your email and verifying your identity through 2 types of verifications: express (via facial recognition) or standard (which can take up to 7 days).

Second, if you book via third-party, you’ll need to go through the same verification process. You’ll get an email verification request and you can do that up to 3 hours before departure. If you don’t complete this step online, you’ll be required to do so at the airport for a fee that can be costlier than the base ticket itself.

If you’re flying with a non-EU passport, including the US, you’ll need to verify your passport in the Ryanair app prior to departure. The app is also where you can check in, so I recommend downloading it at the time of booking.

Finally, pay attention to your origin and destination airports. For example, in Paris, Ryanair is served by the Beauvais airport which is located 1.5 hours away from the city center (compared to the main airport, Charles de Gaulle, which is located 40 min away). Prior to booking, ensure that your final destination has convenient transportation options to and from the Ryanair airport you’re selecting.

Check-in and boarding

Be aware that for all fares except for Flexi Plus, Ryanair airport check-in is not free. Online check-in is free. It closes 2 hours before departure, so don’t wait until the last minute or you’ll risk having to check in at the airport and pay a fee.

Checking in through the Ryanair app is easy. If you have purchased a fare that includes a seat selection, you can check in online starting 60 days before departure, which I find useful (it’s one less thing to worry about on departure day).

During check in, you can also add services like security fast track or a checked bag to your booking. In general, I tend to purchase the European fast track security add-on whenever available: it typically doesn’t cost much and helps me breeze through security, particularly if I’m flying during peak travel times.

The Ryanair boarding process can be chaotic because it typically uses buses and tarmac rather than jetbridges. Priority boarding helps at the gate and theoretically, you’ll be on the first buses to board, but I’ve experienced boarding delays on the tarmac often enough to advise you to be extra patient during this process. Priority boarding and seat upfront will get you entrance through the front airplane door (there are 2).

In-flight experience

Don’t expect much comfort on Ryanair flights. As is typical with low cost airlines, all in-flight services are offered for a fee. This includes bottled water and snacks so I always bring my own. There is no wi-fi onboard, so plan ahead to arrange your own entertainment.

Ryanair operates Boeing 737 aircraft, the majority of which is the 737-800 series. This aircraft features a typical 3-3, single class configuration, with more spacious (and most expensive) seats up front. For about half the price, you can get extra legroom at the emergency exit row seats halfway through the cabin. I stick with the upfront seats - they are the most spacious and get me off the plane fastest.

Seat pitch ranges between 28 and 30 inches. Width is 17 inches, which is a bit tight, so I recommend avoiding the middle seat if you can. Take note that Ryanair seats don’t recline and are, in general, thin and uncomfortable. There is no way to adjust the headrest, so a travel pillow and (your own) blanket or scarf will come in handy.

Given all that, because the flights are usually on the shorter range, the experience is still bearable.

On some occasions, you might also have Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on your flight. These planes tend to be newer and a bit more spacious than the main fleet, with a bit more legroom. I don’t frequently encounter these aircraft on FR flights, but the airline has plans to dramatically increase this aircraft type in the coming years.

myRyanair account

Unlike some of its rivals, Ryanair doesn’t offer loyalty programs and that’s unlikely to change in the near future. The “myRyanair” customer account is the closest FR has come to creating one. Since you will be required to sign up at the time of booking, you’ll be included in it automatically unless you go through a series of somewhat hidden steps to request account deletion.

From time to time, Ryanair sends out deal notifications to its myRyanair subscribers, which include the airline’s anniversary deals, seasonal sales and flash sales for prices close to zero. These fares are often enticing, so if you have some flexibility, keep an eye on those emails.