In a very extreme example, a family of six, falling foul of all of the fees below, could pay over 3,000€* in extras on a one-way flight. Yes, this is never going to happen in the real world but can you be sure to avoid all of these costs?
See also: Why Hate Ryanair
*One name-change fee, 20kg of luggage each, one bottle of water each and falling foul of all other fees to the greatest extent possible would come to 2708.20€ in extras. Paying for new flights and you'll pay over 3,000€.
1. Ryanair's 'Boarding Pass Reprint' Fee
Image: Damian Corrigan
The Ryanair fee that the most people fall foul of. Everyone who flies with Ryanair has to check in online. That's right: everyone. You. Must. Check. In. Online. Lots of people forget and are forced to pay a 'boarding pass reprint fee'. Oh yeah, did I tell you? Check in online!
How Much You Could be Charged
40€ per person.
How to Avoid This Ryanair Fee
Did I forget to say? Check in online!
Ryanair's spokesman, Stephen McNamara, tried to justify this fee to me. You can read his defense here: Ryanair's Boarding Card Reprint Fee.
2. Ryanair's Name Change Fee
Ryanair's highest fee, so worth drawing a lot of attention to. If you misspell your name by one letter, or even if you write 'Rob' when your passport says 'Robert', you'll be charged when you reach the airport.
How Much You Could Pay
150€ per person if paying at the airport.
If you notice before you get to the airport that your name is entered wrong, the charge is 'only' 100€.
How to Avoid This Ryanair Fee
Type carefully! If you make a mistake, consider rebooking.
Update Thanks to Olivia, a reader who told me that, after reading this article, she noticed she had made this mistake and called up Ryanair, who agreed to change the names free of change. But make sure you call before you check in.
3. Ryanair's Excess Luggage Fee
All airlines charge for excess luggage, but Ryanair has the lowest baggage allowance in Europe (15kg) and the highest excess luggage fee too.
How Much You Could Pay
20€ per kilo. This means that a 23kg bag that British Airways would allow will cost you 160€ to check in, and a 20kg case that easyJet would allow will cost you 100€.
How to Avoid This Ryanair Fee
Don't assume that the amount of luggage you normally travel with will be under Ryanair's stingy limit - weigh your bag before you leave.
4. Ryanair's Extra Hand Luggage Fee
So you've checked in, gone past passport control and want to buy a bottle of Spanish brandy to take home with you. The airline will let you take it on board, right? Actually, Ryanair won't. At least, not if it doesn't fit in your single piece of hand luggage (which must fit the airline's hand odd baggage size restrictions - see below).
How Much You Could Pay
30€ on the spot fine at the gate, or you will be forced to leave the extra bag behind (or denied boarding).
How to Avoid This Ryanair Fee
If you know you want to buy duty-free, make sure there's enough space in your hand luggage.
5. Ryanair's Smallest Hand Baggage Allowance in Europe
Ryanair is unique in allowing hand baggage of just 55cm x 40cm x 20cm, while their rivals easyJet and British Airways have 56cm x 45cm x 25cm. Which means that if you take a bag that you have got onto every other airline in Europe, with Ryanair you may end up paying extra to check your bag in to the hold.
How Much You Could Pay
If you've already reached your checked-baggage allowance of 15kg and are forced to check in your 10kg hand luggage, you'll have to pay 200€ to do so (20€ per kg).
How to Avoid This Ryanair Fee
Measure your bag before you leave - it should measure no more than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm.
6. Ryanair's Credit/Debit Card Fee
Many budget airlines charge for the use of a credit card, but only Ryanair charges per person, per flight.
How Much You Could Pay
Ryanair's credit card fee is 5€ per person per flight. This means a family-of-six on a return flight will pay a collosal 60€ just in credit card fees.
How to Avoid This Ryanair Fee
The only way to avoid this is to obtain a Prepaid Mastercard. Visa Electron Cards used to get around this fee, until Ryanair changed their policy in late 2009.
7. Ryanair's Priority Boarding Fee
"Would you like to be one of the first passengers to board to the aircraft?" Ryanair asks when you book your flight. Unfortunately, Ryanair does not actually always offer this service, even when you've paid for it. Find out in what circumstances Ryanair fails to provide this service here: Ryanair's Priority Boarding Fee.
In an email to me, Ryanair's head of communications, Stephen McNamara, described this breach of contract as 'a trivial, non-issue'.
How Much You Could Pay
Just 3€ per person. But it's the principle, right?
How to Avoid This Ryanair Fee
Don't select it! When paying for your baggage, make sure you select 'no' when asked if you want this service.
8. Ryanair's Travel Insurance
Ryanair's travel insurance is a lot more expensive than that offered by most insurance companies, while its cover is considerably less comprehensive. Which?, a British consumer rights publication and website, has a page on Suggested Minimum Travel Insurance Requirements. Ryanair's insurance falls well short of this. For example, Ryanair's policy only offers 50,000€ of medical cover; Which? recommends a minimum of two million pounds.
How Much You Could Pay
15.50€ per person.
How to Avoid This Ryanair Fee
When asked during the booking process, make sure you select 'no'. But remember to book your travel insurance elsewhere.
9. Ryanair's Flight Change Fee
Ryanair's baggage-drop desks are known for their long lines. In an extreme case, Ryanair opened just 11 check-in desks for 255 flights. If you don't check in in time, you'll be denied boarding.
If you are a non-EU citizen, you also need your boarding card stamped by the Ryanair Visa/Document Check Desk.
If you are a UK citizen and you don't have a passport, you can't fly with Ryanair, even within the UK.
These aren't legal requirements, just hoops Ryanair requires you to jump through. If you don't, you may be denied boarding. More: Ryanair stopped me flying to Dublin on my Irish passport
How Much You Could Pay
If you can't board, you'll pay a 55€ flight change fee and price difference.
How to Avoid This Ryanair Fee
Arrive early.
10. Ryanair's Expensive In-Flight Food & Drink
A recent study found that Ryanair charges most for snacks out of all British and Irish airlines. Can you last a five-hour flight from Edinburgh to Tenerife without refreshments?
How Much You Could Pay
A bottle of water costs 2.70€ (more than a sweet J20 juice drink).
How to Avoid This Ryanair Fee
Liquids bought past passport control can be taken on board (as long as are in your single piece of hand luggage - see above). Food can normally be brought through passport control, but check current restrictions (health scares can periodically prevent you from carrying certain foodstuffs abroad). If in doubt, buy at the airport. Yes, it's expensive, but it's cheaper than Ryanair.
