Ryanair Review (2026)

A review of the budget airline Ryanair

Can you really get a €5 flight in Europe? What’s the catch with Ryanair anyway? When I tell people back home that I’ve taken a flight in Europe for less than $20 the reaction is usually quite similar: disbelief and shock.

Americans typically expect there to be a strong correlation between price and quality. Further, when it comes to flying, you want to make sure the aircraft is reliable right? Yet, despite all the doubt, many airlines around the world commonly have flights for under $100; and yes sometimes even cheaper as is the case with Ireland’s Ryanair.

As advertised, Ryanair does offer really inexpensive flights. Thanks to inflation, the days of €5-10 flights are mostly behind us, but traveling around Europe doesn’t have to be expensive.

Ryanair Overview

Ryanair is not a new airline. Nor is it a small airline. Ryanair has been around since 1985 and regularly serves 10-15 million passengers per month. As the company has grown, it now oversees subsidiaries like Malta Air, Buzz and Lauda Air in addition to its regularly scheduled flights.

Factually, Ryanair ranks as one of the most punctual airlines. It has a greater on-time percentage than major airlines like British Airways. The company transparently posts key stats, facts & figures as well as with aspirational sustainability metrics.

Therefore, Ryanair is a reasonably great airline. I say, ‘great’ in that they offer a service and they typically deliver on it. They don’t have great customer service nor a reputation for being comfortable. In review of Ryanair, let’s look at what they offer and what aspects they deliver and where you can expect ‘the catch’.

Where does Ryanair fly?

As one of the oldest standing budget airlines in Europe, Ryanair has an extensive network. Ryanair has over 3,000 daily flights to more than 200 airports spread out across 36 countries. The most popular destinations are in western Europe and the UK, but Ryanair can get you from Portugal to Romania or Finland to Morocco (perhaps not directly, but still).

If you are flying from a large city in Europe, then there is a good chance that Ryanair has a nearby flight. The airline is originally Irish though so some of its major hubs are in Ireland, the UK and elsewhere in Europe.

The countries that Ryanair currently flies to are: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia (formerly the Czech Republic), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco & Western Sahara, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and United Kingdom.

Armenia and Israel were former destinations but have been removed due to operating conflicts and other complications.

You can check out many of the active Ryanair destinations here.

Note: some of these destinations may be seasonal, temporary or even affected by current events.

What’s the catch?

Is the plane going to fall apart? Will you survive? Short answer, yes of course. Ryanair’s fleet contains more than 600 planes consisting of normal Boeing and Airbus planes just like you would find on any other airline.

Surely, there has to be a catch with Ryanair right? Nothing can be too good to be true right? Well, there are a few catches with Ryanair, but they are not (necessarily) nefarious in nature.

If you follow Ryanair’s rules, then you are unlikely to have any significant issues. That being said, because of the fact that RyanAir is a budget airline, they make sure to charge for absolutely everything extra. Expect nothing to be free.

Expect lots of upsells

During the booking process, Ryanair you will see a real life checkout gauntlet. From the moment that you start looking for a flight to the time you pay, expect to see a seemingly unlimited amount of additions and add ons. Travel insurance, cologne, car rentals, seat upgrades, priority boarding, airport transfers, new pets and hotel offers. Many of these are pre-ticked or presented in a way that makes it easy to accidentally add them to your cart. Always read each screen carefully before clicking through.

Online check-in is mandatory (and has a deadline)

Ryanair requires you to check in online between 24 hours and 2 hours before departure. Miss that window and you’ll be charged an airport check-in fee of up to €55 per person (or more). Many passengers have been stung by this, especially when traveling without mobile data or on unfamiliar time zones.

Ryanair now requires that you use their mobile app for your boarding pass

As of November 2025, Ryanair has added one additional requirement to their process: you must use their app to access your boarding pass. It’s no longer possible to print a ticket.

Secondary airports far from the actual city

Another problem with RyanAir, is that they do not always fly directly into the center of the city where you wish to go. Sometimes they do, but other times, you have to worry about the commute in between. This is not that significant, to me at least, because there is usually a local bus service, taxis or trains that can take you to the airport. However, make sure you factor the cost of commuting into your overall cost. Once you factor in a long taxi ride or bus ticket, then that cheap flight can quickly become expensive.

Note: Ryanair frequently flies to airports that share a city’s name but are located nowhere near it. “Frankfurt” Hahn is 120km from Frankfurt. “Brussels” South Charleroi is 60km from Brussels. “Stockholm” Skavsta is 100km from Stockholm.

Strict baggage weight limits with brutal fees

As one example, they have very expensive baggage fees and strict guidelines for travelers to follow. Expect to pay extra if you have too many carry on bags.

Checked baggage has firm weight limits (typically 20kg or 25kg depending on what you book), and overweight bags at the airport are charged at steep per-kilo rates. Even cabin bags are checked on site for size. Ryanair staff are known to enforce these rules strictly and inconsistently, especially at busy gates.

No free food or drinks onboard

Everything on the Ryanair cabin menu costs money. Even simple things like water, coffee, snacks, and meals. There is no complimentary refreshment service whatsoever. On a long delay or a 3-hour flight, this adds up fast.

Pro tip: Bring your own food and a refillable water bottle (filled after security) is the smart play. Even better, if you can get a delicious sandwich from a local shop on your way to the airport.

Priority boarding is almost a necessity at this point

Normally, ‘priority boarding’ is a form of luxury. However, with Ryanair, without their Priority Boarding, you likely board last. And I mean, last. Ryanair aircraft have limited overhead bin space, and late boarders frequently find that they have no room for even their small bag which means that you would forcing then have to gate check your bag(s). Thus, for many passengers, Priority Boarding has quietly become a important requirement rather than the optional upgrade that it might appear to be.

Prices change fast

Ryanair uses a complex system of dynamic pricing which means that price can jumps fast. These aggressive dynamic pricing algorithms means that Ryanair optimizes for profit, while you have to think quick if you want to save. If you search for a flight, leave the page, and come back even an hour later, the price may have risen. So, make sure you are ready to book once you start shopping around. Seats can fill up in real time and prices increase as demand grows, especially on busy routes. The moment you find a fare you’re happy with on ideal dates of travel, then you might want to book it immediately. With Ryanair, hesitation could be expensive.

Seat selection is a necessary for groups

When I say necessary, I don’t mean mandatory, but if you want to sit with your significant other, friend(s) or family then you’ll need to pay for it. If you don’t pay to choose a seat, Ryanair will assign you one randomly. It’s famed to deliberately split groups and families apart to pressure them into paying for seat selection. Expect to either pay up or sit rows away from each other.

Changing course will cost you

A seemingly simple flight change could be costly, even more than your original flight. The Irish airline has strict cancellation fees and rigid flight change rules. Changing a Ryanair flight after booking usually comes with a date change fee and often a fare difference on top. The cheaper your original ticket, the more painful the change process may be. Their refund policy is also very restrictive. In fact, most fares are entirely non-refundable, meaning a missed flight is simply lost money.

To get an idea of the detail and complexity of Ryanair’s fines, check out their extensive list here. Needless to say, if you step outside of the boarding line, they will likely charge you for it. Joking not joking.

My experience with Ryanair

I took my first flight with Ryanair in 2009. It was between Trapani in Sicily and Bremen Germany. Since, have flown with them many times to and from different countries in Europe, the United Kingdom and even to the African continent for a visit to Morocco.

Like anything else, Ryanair has pros and cons. People typically either love them or hate them. In my experience, pretty much all traveling Europeans have an experience flying with Ryanair or a ‘Ryanair story’ whereas many non-Europeans have not heard of it.

I’ve used Ryanair a good number of times and have had mostly good experiences. I will say that their baggage requirements can be tough for long-term travelers and backpackers. You have to keep that in mind when planning for a trip. Fitting into their confinements is a challenge if you have been making travel acquisitions. I am always likely to fly with them again, so when I travel to Europe I am mindful of the weight and size of my bag. In the case of Ryanair, you can have too much.

If you are planning to do some backpacking around Europe and looking to save some money while you fly around, Ryanair should be considered as a tool in your journey. Make sure that if you decide to fly with Ryanair that you “dot your i’s and cross your ts” and you should be fine. To do that, here is a little guide to Ryanair.

Guide to using Ryanair

A brief overview of how to use Ryanair.

Before you book

Use Ryanair.com or open the mobile app

Always book directly through Ryanair’s official website or mobile app. I don’t recommend using third-party booking sites because they can add fees and can complicate changes or refunds.

Note: Use the fare calendar view to spot the cheapest travel dates at a glance before committing to specific days.

Search your route and dates

Enter your departure airport, destination, and travel dates. Check which airport Ryanair flies to. Keep in it may be a secondary airport outside the city center.

Note: “Paris” may mean Beauvais (85km away). “Brussels” may mean Charleroi (60km away). Always verify the airport before booking.

Choose your fare type

Ryanair offers Regular, Value, Plus, and Flexi Plus fares. Regular is cheapest but most restrictive. Flexi Plus includes seat selection, priority boarding, and free changes.

For most travelers, Regular fare + manually added Priority Boarding is cheaper than upgrading to a higher fare tier, but it depends on your flight. I’d likely go Flexi Plus personally if not too expensive.

During checkout

Add extra baggage (if needed)

One small personal bag is free. Everything else costs month. If you need a larger cabin bag or checked luggage, add it during your digital checkout. With Ryanair, it’s always cheaper to pre-book luggage than to pay at the airport.

Note: Airport bag fees can be 2–3× more expensive than pre-booking online.

Read every screen carefully

Ryanair’s checkout includes many optional add-ons ranging from travel insurance, seat upgrades, and car hire to transfers, snacks and lottery tickets. Some may be pre-selected while you check out. Be sure to uncheck anything you don’t need.

Pro tip: Look for the small “No thanks” or “Skip” links. They are easy to miss but save you from unwanted and unexpected charges.

Pay and save your confirmation

Complete payment and save your booking confirmation email. You’ll need your booking reference number for check-in. Screenshot it or forward it somewhere.

Before your flight

Check in online (24hrs before)

Online check-in opens 24 hours before departure and closes 2 hours before. Log in to Ryanair.com or the app, enter your booking reference, and check in all passengers.

Note: Missing the online check-in window means paying an airport check-in fee of up to €55 (or more) per person. Set a reminder.

Download your boarding pass

After check-in, download your boarding pass to the Ryanair app or save it to your phone’s wallet. Screenshot it as a backup in case you lose signal at the airport.

Pro tip: Save the boarding pass before you reach the airport. Wi-Fi at the airport can be unreliable and printing on-site costs extra (especially with Ryanair).

At the airport

Arrive at least 2 hours early

Ryanair’s bag drop closes 40 minutes before departure. Gates close 30 minutes before. Arrive with plenty of time. Ryanair is strict and does not make any exceptions or refunds for missed flights.

Drop your bags (if applicable)

Head to the Ryanair bag drop desk with your boarding pass and passport or ID. EU citizens can fly with a national ID card. A full passport is not always required, depending on your citizenship and residency.

Go through security and find your gate

Ryanair gates are sometimes at remote or far-end terminals. Check the departures board for your gate number and allow extra walking time, especially in larger airports.

Pro tip: Gates can change last minute. Keep an eye on the departures board even after you’ve found your original gate.

Board and enjoy your flight

Priority Boarding passengers board first. Everyone else boards by group. Overhead bin space fills fast. If you have a cabin bag, then try to board as early as your group allows.

Pro tip: Bring a snack and a filled water bottle from the terminal to save money. Else, food and drinks are available to buy onboard. Otherwise, you will not be served.

Budget airlines have a tendency to make profits on the side through an intricate series of fees, upsells and other ‘gotcha‘ moments. Ryanair and other air companies have strict regulations and rules that must be followed. If you don’t follow them and adhere to their guidelines, then you could receive hefty charges that could equal out to a regularly priced flight. If you miss any of these things, then you are surely going to pay for it.

Is Ryanair airlines worth it?

Determining whether or not RyanAir is ‘worth it’, depends on how you travel and where you need to go. As someone who has taken many Ryanair flights, I can say that its functional and delivers the service. They are able to keep costs low by reducing the quality of customer service and giving you just a bare minimum flight. You will get from city A to city B, but don’t expect to be pampered.

Ryanair, like most budget services, is a great option for travelers looking to save a little money. Like all budget services, they are usually good as long as you are willing to inconvenience yourself just a bit to save money. This is exactly the opposite of why people choose to pick luxury services: for eliminating inconveniences. If you are ok with caveats, then Ryanair can very well be worth it.

Can you really get a €5 flight with RyanAir?

In short and theory, it is highly unlikely that you can still get a flight for €5 with Ryanair. There was a time that you could. I can honestly say that I have seen them before, but it was a long time ago. In the heyday of backpacking travel before the mainstream insta-world, Ryanair was a ‘deal’. Nowadays, it is just another budget option.

Realistically, you should expect the range from €50-100 if you book early. I have paid an average of 20-€150 per flight with Ryanair.

The €4.99, €5 flights, or even the £5 and £4.99 flights, were much like the $1 or £1 trips with MegaBus. Not a scam, but certainly a marketing ploy to get you in. You can occasionally find those excellent deals, but most often you will just find good deals.

From what I can tell, RyanAir’s pricing scheme is very much like that of MegaBus. I believe it operates on a bell-curve in that those who purchase tickets early may get incredibly good deals on flights, while those who purchase at the last-minute will get the market rate comparable to other airlines on the same dates.

Share your experience

Have you recently flown with Ryanair? If so, please share your experience with us. When you share your experience it helps us to keep our information up to date as well as helps other travelers to gain knowledge before their flight.

What was the cheapest flight you ever got with Ryanair? Which cities was it between?

Ryanair FAQ

So that’s my Ryanair review, hope it has helped you.

This article was last updated on June 1st, 2026.