Ryanair, OK to fly with them?

I flew Ryanair from Rome to Catania (2018) and it was just fine: on time, no frills, pay for any "extras" and they were very, very strict about baggage sizes at the gate. Their "extras" are things you might normally expect to be included in a ticket price so read the terms carefully.

They are a low cost airline so don't expect anything except a seat. Read the term and conditions carefully as they will charge extra for almost everything. If there is a way to cut cost, they will do it. They e.g. almost never use jet bridges so you will have to climb the aircraft's own set of stairs to board.

On a lighter note: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAg0lUYHHFc

they are fine if you are aware of all the nickel and diming and tight, and closely enforced luggage rules, and don't mind the off the wall other expensive gotchas like no printing boarding passes at the airport without a 30€ charge, no give on check in time, etc.

If you can jump through all the hoops, and avoid your ticket doubling in price, they will get you to your destination safely and quite close to on time, especially if you are the first flight of the day.

Check which airport RyanAir is actually taking you to. They have special arrangements with tiny airports far from the destination city (usually due to "marketing arrangements" with those remote airports and their town councils) which may make it that bit harder to get to your destination.

Examples: Paris (a small airport north of actual Paris at Beauvais)

Frankfurt (they call it Frankfurt-Hahn) a small airport in the countryside midway between Trier and Frankfurt.

Brussels (they call it Brussels South) a tiny airport far southeast of Brussels on the French border in the small town of Charlerois.

Venice (what they call it changes) Not Marco Polo in the Venice lagoon but a small airport at Treviso northeast of Venice.

Milan (don't remember what they call it) but neither Linate or Malpensa. A small airport far northeast in a small city Bergamo.

and others.

For most of those they are not served by a train station anywhere near, and RyanAir provides their own shuttle bus - for a fee - to take you and your luggage to the named city.

Just be careful. Some of their flights occasionally do serve some of the major airports too, but for a different fare. And not frequently.

But if everything lines up they do fly pretty reliably and you may save money.

Oh yes, just remembered - about 6 months before covid they didn't pay their pilots, and then let a large number go. They would have had to do that with covid anyway, but this was before.

I'd suggest watching the educational video linked by Badger. It is performed by 3 British ladies and the language is a touch rich (warning for delicate constitutions) but doesn't exaggerate much and is definitely based in fact.

I do mean educational.

If you learn, then you won't be taken advantage of. Much. And they do get you where they say they will.

I will fly them twice this trip, no problem the first flight, expect none the next flight.

Very important: Do not be cheap. The standard fair and the priority options only allow 10 kg or 22 lbs and a very small size bag...you can't do it. Pay the extra and get what is now called "Plus". It gives you a larger bag size and up to 20 kg (44 lbs) to check, plus a small day bag to take on the plane, Airport check-in, and allows you to pick a seat and get priority boarding. It might take that 10 euro ticket to 50 euro, but that is still way damn cheap.

People that hate Ryanair probably thought carry on meant a bag of any size and weight, and got socked with a 100 euro baggage charge, or did not check in online, another fee at the airport, or some other non-adherence to rules. The other camp of haters gets really worked up seeing a 10 euro ticket price, but have to add on things they require and pay more. Even if the final cost is way cheap, they can't get over having to "pay extra".

Read the limitations carefully, pay up front for baggage, airport check-in, whatever, and you will have no issues.

Not to start an argument, but, while Nigel's point about airport location is valid, in the case of the OP, Ryanair flies out of the main (only) Palermo airport, and into Venice Marco Polo, the main airport there. I think they gave up Treviso some time ago. Yes, you need to verify airport location, it may not be the one you are thinking of for a city.

Ryanair also recently announced expansion plans in Italy given Alitalias demise.

No argument here.

I don't usually fly anywhere. I do listen to my various friends who fly - a lot.

I meant to say upthread that all their hoops are spelled out on their website. For some you may need to look carefully, but it is all there.

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

Ryanair is certainly no frills, but if you book early, they can be cheap. Read their policies closely, as you will get charged for any infringement.

I would opt for EasyJet any day over Ryanair if available.

I only flew them once - 2 years ago - from Rome to Catania. We sat on the tarmac with the door open for 7 hours. Some passengers started to revolt, one fainted from the heat (late June) and the police had to be called. The pilot came out and lectured everyone and said we had 15 minutes to take off or we would be delayed another couple of hours (power grab?). I was sitting in the front row very calmly. He looked at me and said "do you have a problem?". I told him, no, I'm on vacation and just laughed at him. Everybody did get back into their seats and we did take off. The two flight attendants had disappeared early on, which meant there was no water for the woman who fainted. When they reappeared they looked like they had, uh, enjoyed each other?

I'll never fly Ryanair again by the way. But, except for the heat, it was kind of a weird comedy.

BE ON TIME. I saw the door literally closed in the face of a passenger who was seconds late

I agree with Jennifer, Easy Jet gets my vote. I have not flown Ryanair but did check out their site a couple of years ago and was not impressed with the up charges.

I have flown on many Ryanair flights. I used to live in the UK and their hub in Stansted was very convenient for my location. They are a no frills airline but their prices are also cheaper and they have so many destinations and flight choices, so I have no problem using them, particularly on routes less than three hours. Years ago they had some tremendous flight deals, huge discounts, not so much anymore. As advised, make sure you know their restrictions, particularly size and weight for carry on because they are strict about that and if needed pay extra fees to get what you want. Also make sure to have your boarding pass printed out. Compare your total price to that of more traditional carriers to see if it is still a deal. By the way, every Ryanair flight I took left on time with the exception of one. I only checked a piece of luggage one time on Ryanair. Sometimes I have seen long lines for passengers wanting to check baggage, depends on how many agents they have working and at the smaller airports it is usually just a few. I flew Ryanair into and out Palermo a few years back and out of Catania about a year and a half ago with no problems. Seats are rigid and seem narrow. You board and deplane by walking out on the tarmac and going up portable steps, so more than once I have been rained on. If you have any walking disability or trouble going up steps you may want to reconsider. Sometimes the planes are in a distant part of the bigger airports and a bus takes you out to the plane. Palermo to Venice is a short flight so if you can abide by their rules and their multiple sales pitches, go for it. Hope this gives you enough useful info.

We flew them Krakow to Rome Ciampino, nearer to downtown. We paid for seat selection, early boarding. It was a good budget airline experience. It was the only non stop flight offered for our destination and worth taking it.