How is Ryanair

Ryanair if fine for those who carefully read the luggage restrictions and ticket rules. We have used them three times.. from Dublin to Mallorca, from Nice to Barcelona and just this past May from Mykonos to Mallorca via Athens.

We don't pay for all the extras.. and find that even with the extras we do pay for ( we always pay to check a bag) that its a good cheap ticket if purchased well in advance.

Like all budget carriers in Europe.. you don't get champagne and free meals.. but do you really need that for flights that can be as short as 20 minutes.. even the longer 3 or 4 hour flights are fine..
The chairs don't recline.. but as I said.. for short flights they are absolutely fine.

Make sure you simply read the website and understand the rules re check in times, luggage and printing your ticket.
Its not rocket science.

Try no to get suckered in by Ryan Air's base price. When you add in all their extra fee$ and the possible expense of transport to/from their out of the way airports, using the flag carriers is more or less the same price. Plus you get the added 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/

It's less than 1 hour flight - I wouldn't over think it. Just follow all their rules, know what your total cost will be, and it should work out.

Michael how often have you used Ryanair? Legroom and free food for an hour flight?

Prices can be considedably cheaper than other big name airlines. Ive done the math.

Three times. Each flight was miserable in every respect both in the air and at the airport. "Discount" airlines are only cheaper than the flag carriers if you book way in advance. I typically book 60 days in advance and the "savings" (if any) is only about $20 bucks. If your six feet tall like myself Ryanair's "legroom" doesn't cut it no matter what the duration of the flight is.
https://youtu.be/ZAg0lUYHHFc

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. I a leaning towards Aegean airlines now as the fare diff is not too much for October.

Took Ryanair from Porto to Madrid in April. As others point out, rules are strict but not impossible and sometimes different airports. Paid for priority boarding, reserved seats in front row, checked bag (not used) and still saved $300/ticket over Iberia. Just pay attention to the details.

Yes, Ryanair's discounts are best if booked farther ahead, or when you take advantage of sales. But that is the same with every airline. Michael, why would you fly with them three times if the first experience was so awful?

But that is the same with every airline.

Not really. With "discount" airlines the price automatically goes up as individual seats are sold. So if a school group of 20 kids purchase tickets at once the fare will double, triple or quadruple in an instant. If booking last minute fares will be higher than the flag airlines. Fares for flag airlines are more stable of the long run, they don't play that game.

http://tinyurl.com/h6gyg8b

If you catch a fare sale, the fare will remain the same for the duration of the sale, no matter how many people book. It will not double or triple. But you didn't answer my question about why you would have flown with them three time if the first was so awful.

Those fare sales only occur when there is an unexpected lull in bookings, their goal to not need them. There is an expression called "three strikes and you're out".

http://tinyurl.com/jq5mmnm

I have always booked well in advance ( it's. Not like I fly to Europe on impulse) and gotten way better prices .

I find it amazing someone would fly three times with an airline they declare miserable .

I did not fly Ryan Air but flew EasyJet - London Gatwick to Athens and back, which is a very similar airline. Will not do it again. Very painful experience, especially on a 3 hour plus flight.. Booked almost 4 months in advance but the cheap air fares are a chimera. You pay on average $ 40 per checked bag versus $ 25 standard in the US. Seats do not recline, leg space is very poor, cramped interiors. US low cost airlines like Southwest, Easy Jet and Frontier are way better.

Flew Aegean Airlines Athens to Heraklion and back. Really liked them. Prices were also reasonable.