The Bottom Line
See also: Ryanair What You Should Know
Pros
- The cheapest flights in Europe - flights often as cheap as 1c (before fees)
- Flights to 16 destinations in Spain.
- Destinations include Madrid, Seville & Granada - some of the best cities in Spain.
Cons
- Extra charges push up price of flight and aren't well explained - what is an 'Ins & Wchr Levy'?
- 10kg weight limit for hand baggage is too low for most & checking bag into hold costs money
- Flights to Barcelona 100km away land in Girona and Reus; Santander (Bilbao) is nowhere near Bilbao i
- Ryanair are prone to changing their departure times by several hours, severely disrupting your plans
- No complementary food; what is offered is expensive, small and unhealthy.
Description
- http://www.ryanair.com
- Ryanair fly to 16 destinations in Spain.
- Main Destinations in North Spain: Barcelona (Girona), Barcelona (Reus) Madrid.
- Other Destinations in North Spain: Valladolid, Vitoria, Zaragoza, Santander
- Main Destinations in South Spain & Islands: Valencia, Granada, Malaga, Seville, Tenerife (North).
- Other Destinations in South Spain & Islands: Almeria, Jerez, Fuerteventura, Murcia (Alicante).
Guide Review - Ryanair Flights - Flying with Ryanair
Ryanair's advertised prices are usually lower than those of their closest rival, Easyjet, but their taxes, fees, charges are often a lot higher (do you have any idea what a 'Ins & Wchr Levy' is?). Be careful when making your booking: to see whether you are getting a good deal, it is essential that you complete the booking process up to the 'payment' stage and then compare prices with other airlines, many of which have far lower fees. See this Ryanair vs Easyjet Price Comparison for more details.
Ever tried packing a suitcase with a 10kg limit in mind? It isn't easy. With your case likely weighing 2kg by itself, getting under Ryanair's strict weight limit for hand baggage (half the limit that Easyjet allows in the cabin) is nigh on impossible. (To make sure your case fits Ryanair's size restrictions, get one of these Carry-On Suitcases.
Another problem with Ryanair is that they often don't fly to the destination you are aiming for. In particular their 'Barcelona' airports (listed as 'Barcelona (Girona)' and 'Barcelona (Reus)' on their site) are 100km away from the city of Barcelona. Getting there is costly and wastes a lot of time.
Ryanair are known to frequently change their departure times, often by as much as five hours. Though you are notified in advance, the change can seriously affect your travel plans.
That said, Ryanair's destinations are good. They fly directly to Madrid, Granada and Seville, and their 16 airports cover most of the country well. Transport within Spain is relatively cheap, so travel to your desired destination is usually quite easy. Just be sure to check how much you will be paying and if there is a cheaper alternative with another airline. A good place to start is with this directory of Budget Flights to Spain.
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