Ryanair costs set to soar

benjus

inflationbusting wrote: »

OK - if you're after pure moneysaving, sure.
For £14, we're talking potential savings on:
transport times - you can get the tube to Heathrow, National express to Stansted is £8 each way, more by train,
a beer and sandwich on the flights (not sure what this would cost on Ryanair - £7 each way?)
you can choose your seat online (impossible on Ryanair, I suppose the nearest equivalent would be prioirty boarding),
plus you can fly into the main airport instead of Ciampino.

Given these prices and this destination, I would fly BA if I was checking in a bag.
I had a similar choice going to Barcelona and needed to check in a bag, I chose BA - it was something like £38 each way. Ryanair didn't workout cheaper after the bus from Girona, and my time has a value on it too. BCN is much easier from the city, and saves you an hour each way.

I'm a big defender of Ryanair but there are some situations where it's not always the cheapest, especially for the big cities, particularly if you are using their other services such as baggage and check-in.

That would be £24...

Still, it's a good point. Stansted is the most expensive airport to get to from central London (by train, anyway) - even if you buy reduced price train tickets from Ryanair's site.

I like Ryanair too, and I always jump on the special offer fares when they come up. However, if I were looking at their normal fares or I needed to take bags I would definitely look at more traditional airlines as an alternative.

With respect to this thread in general, isn't there a "Ryanair fares set to soar" story every six months or so?

deegee999

benjus wrote: »

That would be £24...

Still, it's a good point. Stansted is the most expensive airport to get to from central London (by train, anyway) - even if you buy reduced price train tickets from Ryanair's site.

I like Ryanair too, and I always jump on the special offer fares when they come up. However, if I were looking at their normal fares or I needed to take bags I would definitely look at more traditional airlines as an alternative.

With respect to this thread in general, isn't there a "Ryanair fares set to soar" story every six months or so?

Not for me it's not, less than an hour from stansted, heathrows ok to get to but gatwicks a nightmare by road or train, i've always liked ryanair, just think what the likes of ba would be charging if it wer'nt for oleary and the tubby greek (forgot his name).

dmg24

deegee999 wrote: »

Not for me it's not, less than an hour from stansted, heathrows ok to get to but gatwicks a nightmare by road or train, i've always liked ryanair, just think what the likes of ba would be charging if it wer'nt for oleary and the tubby greek (forgot his name).

Love it! I wouldn't say no ... it's amazing how attractive a few million in the bank can make a man!

inflationbusting

Ouch. Sorry for my bad maths! Still, at £24, I still would. It's slightly better to fly by BA, but not by that much. Something to eat and drink is nice though, (they will give you seconds if you ask) as it saves you finding something at the airport. Time is money.

Anyway, there will always be people that live close to the airport, and then, that's fine. I appreciate I'm only talking from my own perspective and yours might be different.

For what it's worth, I only live 30-40 mins drive from Stansted, but it's just easier to get the tube to Heathrow, an hour and a bit. Taking public transport to Stansted means getting the tube to Stratford and then National Express to Stansted - probably around £10-15 extra in transport cost on a return trip and might take the same amount of time. Taking the train to Stansted is £21.50 - that is with the Ryanair discount! I feel really sorry for those people I see that just get off the plane and then use the machine in the station. I did too, once.

I usually get the fares when they come up. Haven't seen Bergamo or Rome in a while though. This weeks was pretty disappointing.

hieveryone

inflationbusting wrote: »

Solution: don't check in a bag.

If you have to check in a bag, you would be better off considering another airline.

The reasons for charges are not only to generate ancillary revenue but to also encourage less profitable customers to fly elsewhere.

Thanks, but Ryanair was still cheapest even with checking in a bag.

Strangely though, although in the booking page it shows as £30 for a bag, in the breakdown of prices they seem to have applied it as onoly £20, but added another £10 elsewhere! Oh well, a return flight to Budapest for two was still only £150 so I'm happy

thomasbentley_2

You still have to tip your hat at Mr O’Leary’s brass neck- there is no one out there like him and although his arrogance is legendry, he is an iconoclast of monumental proportions.

zappahey

omelette451 wrote: »

In what way would you be better off considering the other airline?

By one's improved knowledge of how much is still being saved, perhaps?

deegee999

What was his name dmg, still can't think. I know he's no longer in charge at easy jet.

Pollycat

Stelios Haji-Ioannou.

I remember the bit on the programme about Easyjet (can't remember THAT name) when Stelios had taken delivery of some new jets and he walked round them and kicked the tires. PMSL.

thefenman

dmg24 wrote: »

As ever with Ryanair, play their game and their prices are very competitive.

Absolutely, if you don't like the way Ryan does things, don't fly with them. They must be doing something right, I have never yet been on an empty Ryan flight, far from it.