After completing our Camino in late September we four Yanks need to fly from Santiago to Barcelona. Unfamiliar with both Ryan Air and Vueling, any advice on the two carriers, and, any thoughts on what they will charge for one checked and one carry on bag? While each carrier's website is explicit on size and weight limits, I can't find a price---hard to compare the costs between the two without knowing what they'll charge. They appear to be the only two providing nonstop service from SCQ to BCN--not loking to change planes in Madrid.
Posted by
Barcelona (Catalonia)
2942 posts
What "camino" would that be?, the word is generic for "way" or "path". I assume you mean the Camino de Santiago, right? It's best not to shorten names in foreign languages, especially if one doesn't know what they mean... it ends making locals laugh :))
Both are two low-cost airlines, quite similar service. I personally prefer Vueling, but it's possible because I can't stand O'Leary, the moron leading Ryan Air. Anyhow, low-cost airlines are really 'designed' for not carrying luggage, other than hand-luggage, that's why one pays handsomely for checking it. Some say that breathing is the only "optional" you are (still) not charged for, lol!
Vueling: http://www.vueling.com/en/vueling-services/vueling-fares
Ryan Air: https://www.ryanair.com/us/en/useful-info/help-centre/fees
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4051 posts
Yanks who have flown with Southwest (or, eek, Spirit) know how budget airlines function. Service fees are charged for extras so the initial price will be inflated when the payment page arrives. Be sure to read everything on the website links you have been provided. Ryanair is Europe's largest carrier by number of passengers and in the last two years has softened the hard edges initiated by its founder -- both volume and profits have increased. Vueling is now part of a group that includes the long-established airlines Iberia, Aer Lingus and British Airways. That's no guarantee of anything but suggests Vueling will be staying around for awhile. Budget airlines provide cheap connections to many places with no pretence of luxury. Think of a bus with wings.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
To find a price, you should be able to do a dummy booking - in other words, up to the point where you put in your credit card info. Doing this for each one is the only sure way to find the total price and all the rules.
Read each page very carefully, and be sure to decline anything you don't want, and to include anything you need (like checked bags). Remember that when you say one carry on and one checked bag, your definition of what can be carried on may be different from these budget airlines. If you're over their limit, pay the extra now at the time of booking; it costs much more if you wait until you're at the airport. Budget airlines are very strict with these limits - it's a big part of how they make money. Similarly, if they say you need to print your boarding pass before getting to the airport or pay €40 to get it at the airport, they mean it. Most of the complaints about these airlines are from people who didn't read the fine print, or didn't think it would apply to them.
Posted by
Barcelona (Catalonia)
2942 posts
Ditto Harold!
Posted by
Washington DC
27176 posts
Pay attention to the airports on both ends of the trip. Sometimes budget carriers use airports that are rather far away from the intended departure and arrival points. You could be flying from A Coruña and/or to Girona. As it happens, those are both very nice cities, but it would increase your costs and the hassle factor to use those airports.