About.com Rating

Visit Their Website

Dublin-based Ryanair is more than a low-cost carrier. It is the world's largest airline in terms of international passengers served. It flies about 1,100 routes with a fleet of nearly 300 aircraft. Ryanair has primary hubs at Dublin and London Stansted airports, but claims 44 base airports from which it serves 161 destinations.

CEO Michael O'Leary has a flair for showmanship, and frequently is seen in media reports proposing provocative additions such as pay toilets and standing room on flights.

He has also talked about expanding service to include trans-Atlantic flights for as little as $10.

Some novice travelers make mistakes with low-cost carriers, including the assumption that these prices represent the same level of service as can be found on other airlines. There is no denying many of Ryanair's base airfares are rock-bottom. But many travelers find added fees pile up alongside a list of strict rules that can result in stiff penalties when broken.

Itinerary for Review

I booked two tickets on Ryanair for a one-way trip between London's Luton Airport and the County Kerry Airport in southwestern Ireland. The pair of tickets, in July 2013, cost about $100.

But the total cost of the trip was $206.65.

We booked ground transportation through the airline between Victoria Station in central London and Luton, at a cost of about $30. The Ryanair ground travel booking was good for 24 hours prior to the flight, so when we decided to spend the night at Luton, the change was possible without a fee.

An additional $75.65 was paid at time of online booking for checking two 15 kg. bags. This was done to avoid dealing with any controversy about whether the bags would qualify as carry-ons under Ryanair policy.

The costs of transportation and luggage must be built into any potential Ryanair buy. The ticket price is rarely the final total paid.

A bright spot: the flight left London prior to 9 a.m., an attractive departure time because it allowed arrival in Ireland by 10 a.m. We essentially had most of the day to tour. It was the only London-Kerry flight at the time that departed so early.

The early flight from Luton all but dictated an overnight stay at a budget hotel on the airport property. Luton is about an hour from central London, and early connections on a Sunday were limited. But another reason is that Ryanair requires passengers to report to the appropriate gate at least 20 minutes prior to departure. Passengers who arrive later are not accepted for travel and must pay for an entirely new reservation on a later flight.

Markets Served

Ryanair serves 30 countries in Europe and North Africa. The route map includes virtually all major cities.

It is a popular choice among those who use Ireland as a base for finding budget airfares to other parts of Europe.

As with many other low-cost air carriers, Ryanair frequently serves major cities with secondary airports that can be many miles from the central city. This means that budget travelers should always check these airport-to-city distances and shop for ground transportation as they compare airfares. Look for the final cost from city center to city center.

Ryanair Rules and Fees

Most Ryanair passengers book their flights on airline's website. Typically, Ryanair will offer several flight options at a variety of prices. The most convenient times generally cost more.

For example, a one-way flight from London Stansted-Budapest ranges at this writing from £44-£62 ($73-$102 USD), depending upon hour of departure. Again, remember that the low-cost early flight times could involve a hotel stay, which will diminish the savings.

After the selection page, passengers are presented with eight issues on the following page: travel insurance, baggage check-in, reserved seats, the ability to get flight details by smart phone text message, parking, airport transfers, renting or stowing sports equipment and special assistance.

The insurance option is not available to North Americans, who nonetheless must select "don't insure me" from the pull-down menu in order to continue. The insurance includes medical expenses up to £2,500,000 (excess of £75, double excess for aged 65+), personal belongings up to £1,500 (excess of £75), cancellation for unexpected circumstance up to £3,000 (excess of £15, double excess for aged 65+) and an "Insurance Plus" option for a "ticket Refund in case of Ryanair's failure."

The charges vary by country. Citizens of the UK pay about £15 for the basic insurance, and another £3 for the Insurance Plus option. By contrast, Irish travelers pay about £8 and £3 on the London-Budapest trip.

Budget travelers like to uphold a strict one-bag, carry-on approach to flying. But at Ryanair, if you miscalculate the size or weight of that carry-on, you could face some stiff penalties: £50 or €50 (up to $84 USD, plus taxes) for each bag if you miss the 10 kg. (22 lbs.) maximum weight and maximum dimensions of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm (21" x 15" x 7.8"). The second carry-on can be no larger than 35 x 20 x 20 cms (13" x 7.8" x 7.8").

A 15 kg. (33 lbs.) bag check is £25 ($42 USD), with a 25 kg. (55 lbs.) bag at £35 ($58 USD). For many flights, it means your bag's travel cost will almost equal the cost of your seat.

If you don't book checked baggage online at the time of purchase, these costs double at the airport.

There are still more fees: £5-£10 to choose a seat instead of having one assigned; £25-£35 for Ryanair to arrange parking at the airport; ground transportation that varies greatly by destination.

Ryanair will send you a one-time smart phone text message confirming flight details for £1.

Of all the add-on charges, the only one I found that had value was the ground transportation arrangement, and that was limited to the expense of an early morning run to Stansted. Always check to see if cheaper ground transportation is available outside of Ryanair.

As with all low-cost carriers, Ryanair tries to sell you hotel rooms, car rentals and even a lottery chance to win a free trip before the checkout is completed. The final charge is a two percent penalty if you pay with a credit card instead of a bank debit card the airline has approved.

But the potential pitfalls don't end there.

You must check in online and print out your boarding card online prior to arrival at the airport. If you finish the online check-in, but forget to bring the boarding pass, there is a re-issue Fee of €15/£15, depending upon the currency of the departure airport. But if you fail to check in altogether prior to arriving at the airport, the cost is €70/£70.

Ryanair makes no secret of these fees and rules. They will ask whether or not you've read their 19-section, 16,000-word "General Terms and Conditions of Carriage" prior to final booking. If you're accustomed to checking "yes" without reading, consider the consequences on a Ryanair flight.

Conclusions

Keenly aware of the boarding pass penalties, the strict gate closing times, the distant airports and the baggage fee penalties, I navigated my first Ryanair flight with no problems.

But don't be attracted to Ryanair's low ticket prices without realizing that the initial costs of a flight often double when add-ons are included. This is a strictly no-frills, low-cost airline that will not offer food or beverage and will charge for virtually anything beyond a seat, seat-belt and arrival at your destination.

You will find considerable criticism of Ryanair policies, and some of those objections are warranted. But it's also true that the airline has found a way to make air travel affordable for millions of passengers each year while still turning a profit.

Use Ryanair and other budget airlines in Europe at your own risk. But remember that they are offering low-cost travel, not first-class pampering.

Visit Their Website