But the answer many come back with is, "You can't complain when you're getting your flights so cheaply!"
But are you, though? I have always said that this is simply not the case - while most additional charges are optional, many are so difficult to get around (such as paying by credit card or debit card) that you really are forced to pay these extras. Extras which push the price of your ticket to above that of rival airlines. See my comparison of Ryanair flights to Spain and their alternatives - no Ryanair flight ended up being cheaper than easyJet after the extras were added on.
British newspaper The Independent has published a good article on this subject: Just how cheap are those no-frills flights once the hidden extras are taken on board?.
If you have an Electron card rather than a standard Visa or Mastercard, if you do not need to check a bag into the hold, you are traveling alone and you are familiar enough with Ryanair's booking system that you know what to remove and when in the booking process and you have no plans on buying any duty-free at the airport, then you really can get the price stated by Ryanair (though not the first price you see - Ryanair has still not stepped into line with the rest of the industry by showing all-inclusive prices from the start of the booking process).
Now, what kind of person fits the above scenario?
Businessmen and wealthy, frequent-flying, weekend-breakers, that's who. These people take short trips (so don't need to check in any luggage, which also avoids paying for airport check-in), travel frequently enough that they may get an Electron card especially for the discounts and know from previous mistakes how to 'beat the system' by unchecking all the right boxes at the right times (and flying to destinations that are actually in the city they imply that they are on the booking screen). And yes, businessmen do look to make savings, especially in the current economic crisis - that's why they're flying with Ryanair in the first place.
And if you don't fit into that category? If, say, you're the head of a large, low-income family of six, taking them on their annual vacation? What do you have to pay? Twelve hold bag fees (one of which may be overweight because daughter packed too many shoes, her hair-dryer and her hair-straighteners) and with that twelve mandatory airport check-in fees, twelve credit card fees (even though you're only making one transaction), possibly twelve priority check-in fees because you didn't see the box you needed to uncheck and the same with a potential twelve insurance fees. Then, if you going to Barcelona and are convinced by Ryanair that Reus and Girona airports are in Barcelona (they are not), then twelve quite expensive bus journeys to Barcelona itself. Read more: Flying to Barcelona with Ryanair.
That adds up to 64 charges that the wage-earner in this low-income family has to pay that the wealthy businessman doesn't. Plus any fines for taking a bag of duty-free onto the plane with you. Makes a mockery of Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary's comments about trying to help his 'price-sensitive customers', don't you think?
Read more about How to Book the Cheapest Ryanair Flights.
Update: Ryanair were kind enough to get in touch and respond to a few questions I had about their practices and charges. Did they give satisfactory answers? Read their responses and decide for yourself: Questions to Ryanair.
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