Ryanair: good or evil?

Posted on 04. Apr, 2009 by in Useful Info

Listeners to the podcast know we sometimes recommend discount airlines such as Ryanair to connect backpacking destinations in Europe quickly and cheaply. For example, we recommended Ryanair as an excellent way to connect Dublin to Paris for a reasonable price.

Ryanair is the biggest discount airline in Europe and has hundreds of routes criss-crossing Europe so it is wise to check them out as a transportation option in some cases. And there are dozens of similar airlines with even more routes.

But the drawbacks to Ryanair et al can be substantial and can be summarized in one phrase: surprise costs.

While Ryanair tickets are dirt cheap, almost any service on top of the ticket, including basics such as checking in at a desk, checking a bag, and calling a helpdesk are going to cost extra money. And for backpackers, these extra costs can make a big difference.

This recent article provides a nice summary of what to expect when flying Ryanair.

The article is quite negative but I don’t think a person should never fly Ryanair. If you know what to expect, know how to avoid the hidden charges, and are patient and flexible, then Ryanair can be a great way to travel long distances in Europe super-fast and super-cheap.

We welcome readers to chime in with their loyal defense of Ryanair or with their “I will never fly Ryanair again…” horror stories.

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2 Responses to “Ryanair: good or evil?”

  1. hihi

    10. Aug, 2009

    I welcome the ‘get what you pay for’ attitude, however what really pisses me off is when they don’t include unavoidable charges on the advertised price – which I’m pretty sure is illegal.

    For example: the over inflated £5 handling fee per flight, per person if you don’t use Visa Electron and the unavoidable taxes which are lumped on the end.

    However, I’m in no position to complain, I have no constraints to when I can fly, so it’s just a matter of checking skyscanner every now and again and finding the no-tax days. Every time I’ve flown has been between £5 – £10, ironically less than the coach journey to the airport.

  2. Murphy

    09. Mar, 2010

    Ryanair has taken all of the fun out of travelling.Its a nasty,badly led rip-off company that uses sharp practices to cheat its clients whom it has no respect for.
    Its a no frills Co in every sense of the word !!
    Further,BAA,the airport administration Co treats travellers
    with contempt, it only supplies grossly overpriced car parks & insuffient staff to carry out the necessary security checks.
    Again, pure greed £££££££ Controls its policies.

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