Ryanair in Europe?

I've flown them twice. They are perfectly fine provided you know what you are buying. Everything is extra. You want to pick your seat? Pay up. Check a bag? Pay up. If you travel light, you will be fine. If you want to check a bag, pay for it when you get your ticket. Make sure you read all of the restrictions or you could be in for a rude awakening!

Be sure you know exactly what airport you're flying out of and into. I think Ryanair sometimes uses oddball airports that are time-consuming and perhaps costly to get to.

Make no assumptions. Read the rules carefully and follow them. Make sure you know exactly what airports you are using.

Then after you add up all the extra costs, compare it to the total cost of other airlines. And if it is an out of the way airport, add on the cost of getting into town.

Sometimes Ryanair is a good deal and sometimes it isn't. Don't let the advertised price fool you unless you don't need to purchase any extras.

Don't get suckered in by Ryan Air's base price. When you combine all their extra fee$ and the potential expense of transport to and from their out of the way airports, using the flag carriers is more or less the same price unless you book way in advance. Plus you get the additional benefit of not being sticklers about boarding times, slightly overweight luggage, free food/beverages, more leg room, and being able to get your boarding pass at the airport without penalty.

http://www.ellecroft.com/blog/2015/02/23-reasons-why-ryanair-sucks/

I agree with Keith - most of the complaints you see are because people failed to obey their rules, which are clearly spelled out on their website when you book (including the locations of those airports that might not be the main one for a city), or they assume that traveling on a budget airline will be the same as traveling on a major carrier in the States. There is nothing hidden. Yes, extra services (early boarding, seat selection, checked luggage, food) cost extra. Ryanair flies newer planes and has an excellent safety record. I have flown with them several times (none of which used out-of-the-way airports) and my flights have been comfortable enough, and either on time or early to my destination. The staff has been pleasant, and it's no big deal to not select a seat in advance for a one-hour or so flight. If you are a couple and you board together, you can generally find two seats together. If not, so what? For the price, I could sit apart for an hour or so.

Bottom line is that Ryanair has become the biggest airline in Europe by volume of passengers. Even the complainers must go back for more of those good prices. "Traditional" airlines compete by imitating Ryanair policies, at least within Europe, such as a fee for advance seat selection. Some of Ryanair's hard-line rules have been made friendlier in the last two year, and the company's profits have gone up. Success is the most convincing of arguments.

I would add that when pricing tickets, add in the cost of a checked bag. Ryan air only allows ~22 lbs of carry-on, and only one item, plus what they call a small bag (think smallish purse not a daybag). Most travelers have an American size carry on plus a daybag. ,Just figure out whether a 15 Kilo bag works for you, or if you should just move up to the 20 Kilo. Do Not "Risk" it, the added charges for overweight bags add up quick.

We have used Rayanair 4-5 times now . Never had any issues .

I have never found a national airline that's cheaper . I pay for one checked bag upfront , we don't bother with extras , most flights within Europe are 1-4 hours , I don't need much for such short flights .

All the flights we have used them for they have used convenient airports , however is i know the one they use for Paris is not convenient .

I have never found anything " hidden " I read all ticket conditions when I purchase tickets on any airline .

Is for Paris look at Vueling or EasyJet , they both use food airports and are just fine , have used them both multiple times.
There are lots of cheap airlines in Europe , my daughter used Transavia air this past spring , is never heard of them and when I researched found out they were fine too , price was by far the cheapest for the route they wanted .

pshapard,

Ryanair seems to have gained a bad reputation with a lot of travellers over the years, which has prompted things like this.....

• http://overheard.liketodiscover.com/the-greatest-ryan-air-complaint-letter-in-the-world-ever/

They were at one time threatening to institute such policies as charging passengers €/£ 1 to use the WC's in flight or making passengers stand as on a Bus, which of course generated a lot of publicity for them. In the last few years they seem to be trying to improve their image and the complaints don't seem to be as frequent.

As you're posting this in the France section, I assume you're thinking of a Ryanair flight there? As the others have noted, Ryanair sometimes uses out-of-the-way airports, which will add both cost and time. In Paris they use Beauvais airport which is some distance from the city.

I have flown with Ryanair in the past (an experience that was not entirely pleasant) but now prefer to fly with easyJet as much as possible, as I find the travel experience with them to be both "easier" and more enjoyable.

I flew RyanAir a couple years ago for the first time. It's spartan - seats were reasonably comfortable but didn't recline, and I can't remember - there may have been a complimentary beverage. No seat pockets, no tray tables. It was fine for a 3 hour flight, especially since I went from one small airport to another. Tickets are cheap if you buy early.

I'd recommend EasyJet, if you can get a flight to wherever it is you're headed.
Normally, EasyJet flies out of Orly and CDG airports.