Have you ever flown with Ryanair? This popular airline has been helping travelers get around Europe and beyond for years now. To be honest, we have avoided booking cheap flights with Ryanair in the past after hearing countless horror stories. Yet, after using it multiple times now it’s easy to see that there is benefits as well. Check out our tips and Ryanair airlines review before booking your next flights!
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7 Things to Know Before Booking Cheap Ryanair Flights
1. Ryanair is a Budget Airline
So here’s the part everyone already knows… Ryanair is a budget airline! In fact, it might be the most well-known of its kind in the travel industry.
For this reason, it can often be the first flight that pops up when searching for cheap flights in Europe. Just know that you need to manage your expectations! What we mean by this is don’t expect a first-class experience when booking Ryanair cheap flights.
There is an old saying that “you get what you pay for” and that couldn’t be more true when flying with budget airlines in general. Yet, you’ll see after reading this Ryanair review that it doesn’t guarantee you’ll have a bad flight either.
2. Flights All Throughout Europe
Ryanair is the LARGEST airline in all of Europe. Yes, you heard that right! Travelers book Ryanair cheap flights to get from Venice Italy to Stockholm Sweden, and endless other major cities around the continent.
The price and availability make it an appealing option to book quick jumper flights from place to place on your vacation. If you can believe it, we’ve found Ryanair flights for as cheap as $15 USD. Crazy right? However, there are some more things you should know in this Ryanair review before deciding to book!
3. Watch Out for Ryanair Baggage Fees!
Okay, now for the not-so-fun part of Ryanair airlines. Those annoying baggage fees can get you every time! On so many occasions we’ve thought we found Ryanair cheap flights only to get to the next screen and see it was double the cost.
Unfortunately, there is no workaround for this unless you’re traveling super light with no bags. We do recommend taking a look at the different fares (regular, plus, family, etc…) to find which one will save you the most money.
Now we should point out that this is very similar to how other budget airlines operate. Just be prepared to pay a little bit more for your bags on Ryanair flights.
4. Short Ryanair Flights vs Long Ryanair Flights
Another thing to consider before booking Ryanair cheap flights is the length of your travel. Personally, we think it can be a solid option for short distances. I mean if you’re flight is under 2 hours it’s much easier to tough it out on a budget airline than if you’re on a 5-6 hour journey.
When traveling long distances it may be worth it to pay a little bit more for a different airline. I mean if it’s your one vacation of the year we obviously understand avoiding Ryanair. It all comes down to what kind of experience you’re looking for, and your own preferences for flying!
5. Download the Ryanair Airlines App
The best thing to do once you’ve booked your Ryanair flights is to download their app. From here it’s easy to check-in, make any changes, and upload important documents. Speaking of check-in, don’t screw that part up before you take off!
By missing simple steps like this you may encounter fees before you even begin your travel. That’s not the way to start your vacation around Europe is it!?
→ Here is a list of Ryanair Fees directly from their website.
6. Bring Your Own Snacks & Drinks
It should come as no surprise that a budget company like Ryanair Airlines doesn’t provide any extras on your flight. That means no free beverages and if you get hungry you’ll need to purchase the dreaded uninspiring plane food. Don’t worry though! You can easily bring your own food onboard.
Why not make a sandwich using impeccable European deli meats before you get to the airport? Another one of our favorite moves is to bring an empty water bottle through security. Then you can simply fill up at a water fountain before your Ryanair flights.
7. Don’t Assume it’s the Cheapest
Our last Ryanair Airlines tip is not to always assume it’s the least expensive option. We always use the website SafetyWing when searching for flights around Europe. This way you can find flights for all dates and companies and choose the best one.
So often you might presume Ryanair is the cheapest because it’s Europe’s largest budget airline. However, you should know that there are plenty of other companies are offering similar rates… Especially once you factor in the baggage fees and taxes!
Our Ryanair Airlines Review
This may come as a surprise, but we’ve always had decent experiences flying Ryanair Airlines. This may be because we’ve flown with SO MANY different budget companies in the past or just because we temper our expectations.
Still, we think it can be a decent option for shorter flights. At least now you know what you’re getting yourself into!
Have any questions about flying in Europe or want to leave your own Ryanair review? Share with us in the comments!
→ If you fly often make sure to check out all our airline reviews!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
Where in the world are we? Follow our daily adventures on Instagram @nothingfamiliar!
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Nothing Familiar Travel Guide
Information: Explore dozens of amazing destinations around the world, travel planning tips, itineraries, street food guides, and so much more.
Flights: We always find our cheap flight deals using Skyscanner. That’s how we flew from Norway to Poland for under $20 USD, and Thailand to Vietnam for less than $50!
Accommodation: Compare multiple sites to get to the best deal such as Booking.com, Agoda, & Vrbo!
Rental Car: We use Discover Cars to explore when traveling. A quick travel tip is to ask for a weekly rate than just booking 2-3 days.
Tours: Check out Get Your Guide to find thousands of activities around the world. From street food tours to skip the line entry passes!
Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without protection. We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.
Packing Lists: Find all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists. Including our electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials!
