Ryanair planning to fly U.S.

I just saw that on msnbc.com. The prices from London will start at 10 euro, that is hard to believe! How can they fly London to NYC for 10 euro?

Tom, because they have tiny seats, so they would offer upgrades. Plus, there is a strict baggage limit, therefore they will be charging for overages, etc...

Come On Ryanair - we're all waiting for you! I can't wait to see the US Airlines panic over this one...

The fare may be 10 euros, but you don't end up paying 10 euros. Taxes, security fees, airport fees, fuel charges, other fees, etc. can add up to $100, maybe $200. Then there are the extras (and the gotchas): your bag is too heavy, you want to check bags, you want to check in early, you want to pick your seat, you want a drink of water on the plane, you want a pillow, a blanket, to use the toilet (just kidding on that last one - they haven't tried that...yet). On top of that, the crap they will be selling you while you are captive: gifts, bric a brac, "duty free" items, etc.

I suppose this is good in that it will help keep fares down, but I'm actually worried that fares are too low to support the airlines, and I want them to stay in business. I'm generally not a huge fan of the super-discount carriers, as I find the flight experiences can be a bit of an ordeal (I like to be given something to drink on a long flight). YMMV.

Interesting that this news does not appear on the Ryanair site. I've seen it in the International Herald Tribune and on AP, but not on Ryanair's site. What's up with that?

Also, the articles I've seen don't indicate timing of this potential across-the-pond service. Has anyone heard anything on that front?

I haven't heard an official date, but late 2009 was mentioned in a few articles. Not soon enough! They haven't yet ordered aircraft (according to a BBC article), so obviously the date will depend on that.

I was considering taking ryanair from london to Venice or Paris to Venice (haven't yet decided). Does anyone have any experience with this. I saw that the tickets were around $60 and then there are the hidden fees to check bags which I believe were only a few dollars. Are there anymore fees? Is it an ok airline??

Nikki, Ryanair does have fees for various things, like checking bags, but they are not hidden. Every fee is spelled out on their website. The key to using them successfully is to read the rules, and know what the fees are when you book. I have no problem with their charges (and my flight from London to Santander, Spain was US $30). If you are planning to check a bag you should indicate that at the time you book the flight. It costs a bit more if you don't make that decision until you check in at the airport.

I heard it would take about 3 yrs for Ryan air to start flying. For me I hope it is alot sooner. I am fatigued/and getting poor with paying $1000 fares to Europe.

How lucky you are to find a $1K fare. I've been paying $1,500 to $1,700 in the past few years.

I just read on the Budget Travel website that the Ryanair CEO now says that they won't be doing transatlantic flights for another 3 years. Oh, well.

Funny, I read an article today in the Irish Abroad newsletter that said that the timing of the beginning of transatlantic flights will most likely not be for 18 months or so. But it hinges, their spokesman said, on being able to obtain a fleet of "inexpensive" planes. I got the sense that they want to obtain planes at a low price from other airlines that go out of business, so it's not at all certain when they might start flying across the Atlantic.

This will be interesting to watch!