any experience with Ryanair?

I have not flown Ryanair to Barcelona, but if you know you are going to have to check a bag and do it online, the fee maxes out at 50 euros if the bag weighs between 15 kilos and 20 kilos and if you buy the check in option online meaning not at the airport when you are checking in for the flight. If that is more than what you saving by flying Ryanair then don't fly them.

A lot of times the baggage fee is higher than the ticket, and, if your "carry-on" fails the size and/or weight limit the charge can be as much-plus that fee requires cash-not a CC, as I had the misery of discovering flying from Liverpool to Poznan in the past with a box of sales brochures for my client. Cash was required because many CC transactions were "disputed" after the fact.
Just a couple of weeks' ago, I checked Ryanair against Vueling and Vueling total price with bags was around €44 lower than Ryan. You should check Kayak, Easyjet, and AirBerlin for comparison.

I have noticed that for over a month Ryanair has been having a promotion to buy up to the Business Plus fare. I bought these tickets for a one way for this coming August between EDI and DUB. The altrenative on Aer Lingus was much higher. i thought the Bus. Plus deal was great and helps me avoid any higher baggage fees and I also can choose my seats. The bus. plus extra was only 15pounds.

Try not to get suckered in by Rynair's base fare. When you add-up all of their nickel and diming, flying on the the "regular" national carriers is often the same price with the added benefit of the not being sticklers on baggage, larger seats, complimentary refreshments, ability to get your boarding pass at the airport, and airports that aren't in remote locations requiring additional transit costs.

I have never found national carriers to be as cheap as the value airlines.

Ryanair do have high check in baggage fees, but if you book more than 6 months in advance ie as soon as the travel dates become available and travel midweek, their base prices are cheap. With check in baggage, Easyjet are often cheaper. Ryan are cheaper with hand luggage only, generally.

amanda,

It's probably safe to say than "RyanAir is the airline that people love to hate", an attitude which has resulted in websites such as this one....

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

Many people travel with them and have no problems (which is probably why they're successful), but I believe it's prudent to be well informed before booking with them, so that there are no "surprises". Some of the most common complaints are being "nickel & dimed" for numerous extra fees and the fact that in some cases they use very much out-of-the-way airports such as Beauvais (which is a LONG way from Paris). Their somewhat comical threats to charge €1 to use the WC during flight or having passengers stand as on a Bus were likely publicity stunts, and lately they seem to be making an effort to clean up their customer service image.

I have flown with RyanAir but won't fly with them again unless there is absolutely NO other option. My preferred budget airline in Europe is easyJet and I try to book with them whenever possible, even to the point of adjusting my schedule to connect with one of their flights.

thank you everyone for your well thought out replies. I will check to see what other options ... valuable information!!

I think if I lived in Europe and was taking short jaunts with minimal baggage, I'd prob try Ryanair (tho I'm not a fan of the CEO).

Flying within Europe tho -after coming from Canada, I imagine by the time I had to check a bag (since we always have a carry on and a personal size), I'd prob pay about the same as flying with what I consider to be more customer friendly airlines. We flew once with British Air and paid about $80 Canadian from Venice to Gatwick...we've always used BA within Europe (other than once with Alitalia) and generally average about $110 (from about $70-150) without having to pay extra for carry-on and getting a snack as well for free - even on a flight that is only a few hours. And flying into more popular airports, therefore saving time and money getting to where we want to be.

Then again, people are more apt to complain than praise oline, and I'm sure Ryanair has had hundreds of thousands of (mostly) adequately satisfied customers. ;)

I have flown Ryanair maybe a half dozen times, Easyjet a few, Aegean Air in Greece, but no other value airlines in Europe. Each of my Ryanair experiences was uneventful, flights were always on-time, and I have never had any issues with "hidden fees", "extra charges" or anything seen in the many complaints I see.

I do almost always pay to check a bag, if you are lugging your normal "carry-on" for a couple weeks plus a day pack, you need to bite the bullet and pay to check a bag. The only case I did not was a trip from a "home base" where I only took a small day pack for 4 days, leaving most of my stuff at the rental. Many think that airlines never check bags, so take on 50 lbs, but Ryanair does check, and does charge you. Also you need to print out your boarding pass ahead of time, many think they can get around that, but don't. In the end, my total ticket cost, with a checked bag, is still a cheap ticket, better than other options.

I would recommend Easyjet as well, slightly more liberal rules, but not much.

Thanks for all the comments. Like Arnold, we purchased the business plus option for EDI-DUB. Given the extra fees that were being charged, it was actually cheaper to do the business plus option, and it still was the least expensive. This will be our first experience with Ryanair, so our fingers are crossed.

I fly Ryanair.. have before and will be again in a few weeks. I have had no issues.. I read the condtions and follow the rules.
I always pay for one checked bag ( on any of cheapo airlines) and never buy the extras like pre boarding or seat assignments. ( these are short flights.. our longest I think is like four hours.. why bother)

I have not been able to find flights this cheap on any major airline really.. but then .. I don't bother with all the extras.. just a checked bag.

We also use Easyjet, Vueling, Tuifly, Aer Agean, all seem fine to me..

I don't like having to pre print a boarding pass though.. its an extra hassle to me.. but oh well.. for cheap flights I will suffer it.

DO check which airports they use.. for some ( not all) destinations they use very inconvenient ones.

I have flown with Ryanair several times now, and will again. I am able to read and follow their rules, which is a lot more than many of the people who complain seem to be able to do. Book your checked luggage at the same time as your ticket (it's cheaper that way). Turn down any insurance coverages or anything else you don't want. I have had absolutely no problem with them.

My experiences with Ryan Air flying from Hahn to Edinburgh and to Rome have all been very positive.
I read what it clearly said on the website and followed their instructions. Easy-peasy. Even the ride on the bus from Frankfurt to Hahn was pleasant.

I live in Europe and refuse to fly Ryanair . . .I think Michael O'Leary is a crook and don't like their business practices.

I have flown a few times with Ryanair, but you must go into it with your eyes wide open.

Think of them as Thenardier from Les Miserables adding a little extra all the time to the bill. But if you can play them at their game they can be a bargain. I got return tickets, Glasgow Prestwick to Paris Beauvais for £10. Including taxes, oxygen, seats, and right to use the facilities.

That is £10 TOTAL, not each way. The hold luggage cost more. Then again it had a better holiday and went via Malta ;-) But it was flying out on their first flight, returning on their last on the flights that put the aeroplanes where they were needed for the day that passengers were an extra for them.

Flew RyanAir from Venice (Treviso) to Budapest this month, checked my rollaboard and carried on my EuroTote AND a purse (on an earlier EasyJet flight I had to stuff the purse in the tote -- they really mean ONE carry-on) No problems, baggage check fee when booked in advance was reasonable and total cost was WAY less than alternatives.

Well just used them last week , Mallorca to Dublin.

Zero complaints.

Do be aware that Ryanair is one of only airlines that requires you to have your documents checked and stamped at airport before they check you in( unless you are a EU citizen) took five minutes extra.

Kim thats slippery slope, if we only used products or companies with ideal business practices most of our homes would be half empty and some countries industries ( like China , Pakingstan, and vietnam) would gave businesses going under. Best if you look within ten feet of whete you are sitting now in your apartment you will find something with " made in china" on it, maybe even the coffee mug you are sipping from!

I think that we are all entitled to avoid businesses whose business practices violate our principles without worrying about a slippery slope or getting into the question of what constitutes ideal business practices. We all get to decide what issues are important to us and can choose to purchase or not based on those issues. I, for example, refuse to stay at a certain hotel chain because I disagree vehemently with the politics of its founder and do not want even a penny of money ending up in their coffers.