Ryanair Business Plus - a dream for positioning flights ??

Murphy_The_Cat

For the first time, I've had a look at Ryanair Business Plus for a positioning flight FROM Dublin.

It looks to good to be true - am I reading this right ?

Murphy lands back in Dublin at 14:40 and needs to get back to Manchester.
Currently, I'd be looking to come back peasant class and the first flight back is 16:40 (cutting it fine) or more realistically 19:05.
The price for the 4 of us, with 4 pieces of luggage is £111
I'd either be squeeky bumming it for the early flight or kicking myself for wasting time in the airport for the later flight.

If I booked the same tickets on Business Plus, which are flexible (if changed on the day) its also £111, incl 4 big pieces of luggage
If the flights are all on time, I fly earlier. If there's a delay, I fly later, but with no charge for flight change.

It all looks to good to be true and a positioning flight dream

Or am I missing something ?

p.s on some flights its substantially CHEAPER to book Business Plus as your luggage is included, rather than an extra.

eDicky

Isn't there a fare difference to be paid, if applicable?

With easyJet Flexi there is not. I can't check now but I have the feeling that Ryanair is different.

PeacefulWaters

I used it last year for Dublin to Manchester. The price differential was €69.99 each (inc baggage) v €19.99 each plus baggage. I think the baggage charges would have taken it to within €5 so the flexibility, leg room and boarding first made it a no brainer.

Doing the same this year. My main concern is the flexibility is subject to availability and same day only. So they have a get out clause.

I'm also likely to be in the wrong time zone to exercise flexibility quickly if something goes wrong with my transatlantic flights. As such I've booked an extra flight for the following morning at €9.99 each. No intention of using it, but if needed I'll happily pay the baggage charges. And if not used, £15 isn't much for peace of mind for the two of us.

Hope that makes sense.

I found them efficient, even if some of my fellow passengers were a bit boisterous. Oh, and don't sit in seats 1A, 1B, 1C. The whole passenger set walks straight past you making you feel like some sort of side show!

SW17

Don't think you're missing anything, with checked luggage it's often a good deal. A couple of things to bear in mind:

The changes are of course subject to seat availability and you may not get seated together, if that bothers you.

You need to decide which one you will book, based on your timing risks. You have an hour after the original flight departure to change to a later flight, you need at least 40 mins (I'd probably allow a bit more for desk queueing time etc) before the earlier flight to change to an earlier one.

Murphy_The_Cat

eDicky wrote: »

Isn't there a fare difference to be paid, if applicable?

.

If you do it a day or more in adavance, then yes "Any flight changes (date/flight/route) made before the day of travel will not be charged a flight change fee but passengers must pay any applicable fare difference. "
But I couldn't find a reference for if you change the details on the day.
Naturally, it is "subject to availability", which may come back to bite you on the bum.

For my scenario, there are flights at 16:40, 19:05 & 20:30, so I'd need to be unlucky to not get back on one of them :beer:

PeacefulWaters

One other thought.

Make sure your hand luggage and hold luggage aligns to the lowest common denominator for your full trip.

Ryanair at 20kg hold per person is likely to be less than your transatlantic airline, so you don't want to be stuffed by their over limit fees. Although I think you could have 3 x 23kg instead of 4 x 20kg.

American Airlines had a bizarre hand luggage size that caused a chaotic dash to Argos the day before we travelled last year.

Murphy_The_Cat

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

One other thought.

Make sure your hand luggage and hold luggage aligns to the lowest common denominator for your full trip.

Ryanair at 20kg hold per person is likely to be less than your transatlantic airline, so you don't want to be stuffed by their over limit fees. Although I think you could have 3 x 23kg instead of 4 x 20kg.

American Airlines had a bizarre hand luggage size that caused a chaotic dash to Argos the day before we travelled last year.

For us, it would be OK. Even though we like(very) big hire cars (Jackie ) . Once we get about 4 x 20kg large suitcases, most cars run out of space

leylandsunaddict

Whichever ticket you book you're still going to be in peasant class and with the same legroom as everyone else unless you can bag an extra legroom seat. There's only 18 and they're open to everyone to book.

PeacefulWaters

leylandsunaddict wrote: »

Whichever ticket you book you're still going to be in peasant class and with the same legroom as everyone else unless you can bag an extra legroom seat. There's only 18 and they're open to everyone to book.

And can be booked fee free by Business Flex passengers.

Murphy_The_Cat

leylandsunaddict wrote: »

Whichever ticket you book you're still going to be in peasant class and with the same legroom as everyone else unless you can bag an extra legroom seat. There's only 18 and they're open to everyone to book.

As a peasant myself, its what I've got used to over the years :beer:
The 'free' baggage is attractive, but its the availabilty of changing your flight for a later one for nothing that seems to good to be true.

In my case flying USA-LHR-DUB, then Ryanair to MAN, would be £1000 cheaper than flying USA-LHR-MAN.

For the sake of an extra flight and another 3-4 hours of travelling time, the money would be better in my pocket.

As long as its hassle free and works as it appears to work.

p.s. but if I can blag a legroom seat, all the better.

leylandsunaddict

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

And can be booked fee free by Business Flex passengers.

Yes, they can, but they've got to be available. I've always booked standard tickets and never got one yet . That's when booking umpteen months in advance.