Ryanair - Not always the cheapest. Do your research. (Ryanair)

Member Name: Themaddog74

Product:	Ryanair
Date:	19/08/04 (2902 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: sometimes they have very cheap fares

Disadvantages: Lack of customer service, Disorganisation, Uncomfortable aircraft

I have flown on Ryanair on 3 trips and after the last trip, I vowed to never fly with them again, as each time I have flown on them, the experience has been worse than the previous one.

Lets compare 2 flights on Leaving London on September 24 at about midday. The return flights are on September 26. We are comparing British Airways to Ryanair. Both flights depart and arrive at similar times. I have chosen BA because they do direct flights to Stockholm. SAS and Finnair also do direct flights

British Airways - £135.30 (with taxes etc)
City center return - £15.00
Grand total £150.00
Seats are allocated at checkin,and providing you check in early enough, you can usually ask for the seats that you want you get meals and drinks on board the aircraft, 20kg checked luggage, reasonable amount of hand luggage. Seating and legroom on the aircraft is comfortable. It is a 20 - 30 minute journey into the city center from Arlanda Airport.

Customer Service - call center available 24hr/day, very friendly staff, well organised checkin and boarding procedures, staff on board the aircraft are very friendly and helpful. The aircraft are clean and comfortable. If you are disabled or have special needs, you will be looked after, state your needs at the time of booking or when you check in.
Overall the journey is quite relaxing.

Ryanair - £41.01
City center return - £35.00
Grand total - £76.01

You cannot check in until 2 hours or less until your flight is due to leave. Seats are not allocated on the aircraft and boarding resembles a cattle stampede and free for all rush to get seats you want on the aircraft.Checked baggage allowance - 15kg. Excess baggage is charged at £4.50/kg. Any food and drink you want on the aircraft, is charged at a very expensive price. You are allowed 1 item of hand luggage on the aircraft.

The journey each way from Skavsta to the city center takes about 90 minutes and there are only 2 coa
ches that leave from / to Skavsta airport.

Customer service - If you need to phone someone from Ryanair, you can..... but it will cost you - £1.00 per minute and you still have to wait in a call center que while you pay. You do not find a help desk for Ryanair at airports.
Checkin procedures are very disorganised, they say they have a 'priority boarding' system based on the number on your boarding card (those who check in earliest, get to board first) but this is not enforced. People just form a crowd and push in front of each other. On the aircraft, the seats are very uncomfortable and resemble those of an old bus. The cabin looks like it has been spray painted yellow with a spray can, the seats do not recline and there are no trays in the seats. Disabled people (Ryanair allows a maximum of 4 per flight) must state their needs at the time of booking, or they will not be catered for.
Overall, a very tiring and stressful journey.

The price difference is £74, but I haven't included the excess baggage charges that Ryanair will impose on you, especially on the return journey and the travelling time.

If your travel dates were from August 26 - August 29, then the fare for British Airways would be £150.30 (taxes inc) and Ryanair would be a Whopping.... £240.01.

My conclusion is - yes look at Ryanair's fares, but also take into account the level of service you will get, baggage allowances (including excess baggage fees) and the price. Ryanair's fares are not always the cheapest. While conventional airlines look at ways to save money and improve customer service, Ryanair just look for ways to save money. If you are not taking luggage, then Ryanair is worth considering (if you are not fussed about customer service) if their fares are lower than conventional airlines.
Capital letters courtesy of: http://www.chuckleweb.co.uk/fixit.php

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