Ryanair Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees, & More

Updated: June 30, 2023, 12:37pm CDT

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Ryanair Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees, & More

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Ryanair carries more passengers than any other airline in Europe, so you may have flown with them already — or maybe you’re planning a trip in the near future.

If that’s the case, then this article will tell you everything you need to know about Ryanair’s fare structure, controversial baggage policy (which has changed a number of times in recent years), extra fees, seating options, and customer satisfaction rankings.

Basic Info

Airline: Ryanair

Alliance: Not part of an alliance

Category: Low-cost airline

Loyalty Program: MyRyanair

Tagline: “Low fares, Made simple”

About/Mission Statement: “Ryanair believes that any worthwhile passenger service commitment should involve commitments to low prices and high punctuality. ” (source)

Daily Flights: Over 2,000

Fleet: 400

Main Hub: London Stansted Airport (STN) & Dublin Airport (DUB)

Destinations: 216 destinations across 37 countries

Ryanair Route Map — Ryanair route map. Image Credit: Ryanair.com.

Loyalty Program

Ryanair doesn’t offer a standard frequent flyer program.

Its loyalty program, called MyRyanair, is based around an enhanced booking experience with members being able to save and quickly access passport and payment details for future use.

Once registered, offers and information in a member’s account will be personalized, and they can also earn credit to use on international flights by making a Ryanair Rooms booking.

Customers are automatically signed up to MyRyanair when making a booking.

Ryanair also offers the annual membership program called Ryanair Choice for €/£199. Passengers who pay to join will benefit from:

Free standard seat selection
Priority boarding
A 10kg carry-on bag
Fast-track security

Ticketing Options

Ryanair offers 4 different fare types with varying inclusions and benefits.

Standard Fare

This is the cheapest and most basic ticket you’ll find with Ryanair; it does not include any checked baggage, and only comes with 1 personal item for carry-on. A fee will be charged to select your seat.

Hot Tip: For more baggage options, you can choose to upgrade to Ryanair’s “Priority + 2 cabin bag” option when booking your carry-on baggage (this will also give you priority boarding).

Plus

This bundle includes 1 piece of checked baggage (20kg), a personal item, priority boarding, and reserved standard seating.

Flexi Plus

A Flexi Plus fare includes 1 standard carry-on bag plus a personal item, priority boarding, any reserved seat (Standard, Front Seat, or Extra Legroom), dedicated Flexi Plus check-in, fast track security, and the flexibility to change your ticket by 1 day in either direction.

Family Plus

This bundle for families includes 2 checked bags (20kg each), priority boarding, 1 standard carry-on bag and a personal item, and reserved seating together.

Hot Tip: Read about Ryanair’s boarding process so you know when it’s your turn to board the plane — don’t miss out on getting your carry-on in the cabin!

Ryanair Baggage & Other Fees/Add-Ons

Ryanair Baggage Policy — Ryanair baggage policy. Image Credit: Ryanair.com.

Ryanair changed its baggage policy twice in 2018, which caused some controversy with confused customers. Hopefully there won’t be any further changes for a while!

Ryanair Carry-on Allowance:

All Ryanair passengers can bring 1 personal item into the cabin. Standard carry-on allowance depends on the fare booked:

Plus: No carry-on bag
Flexi Plus: 1 carry-on bag
Family Plus: 1 carry-on bag
Standard Fare: No carry-on bag (can purchase from £/€6-10)

Personal items must not exceed 40cm x 20cm x 25cm, and a standard carry-on must be smaller than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm (up to 10kg). If your carry-on bag exceeds the restrictions, it will be placed in the hold and a fee of £/€50 will be charged.

Lap Infant Carry-on Policy

For infants aged 8 days to 23 months traveling on an adult’s lap, a 5kg baby bag can be carried by the adult in addition to their carry-on allowance.

Stroller Check Policy

A stroller plus an additional item (such as a car seat or travel cot) is permitted free of charge when traveling with a child. Your stroller can be taken up to the aircraft steps and will be available there upon landing.

Ryanair Checked Baggage Allowance

Standard Fare and Flexi Plus passengers will need to book baggage separately, as this is not included in their checked baggage allowance. Passengers can book up to 3 checked bags.

There are 2 size options for checked luggage: up to 10kg, or up to 20kg. Here are fees for each:

At time of booking: €/£10-12 for up to 10kg, and €/£25 for a bag up to 20kg
Post-booking/at bag drop: €/£10-12 for up to 10kg, or €/£40 for a bag up to 20kg
At the gate: €/£20-25 for a 10kg bag

Checked Baggage Included for Certain Fare Types

Plus: 1 checked bag (20kg)
Family Plus: 2 checked bags (20kg each)

All checked bags must not exceed 20kg with max linear dimensions of 158cm.

Purchase your baggage allowance online to save money: a €10 supplement per bag, per flight sector will be applied for bags purchased via a call center or at the airport.

During peak travel periods, Ryanair also enforces a €10 supplement on the price of a checked bag.

Hot Tip: To find out more about baggage, read our article Ryanair Baggage Fees & Tips to Cover the Expenses.

Excess Baggage

Excess baggage can only be purchased at the airport kiosk and is charged at €/£10 per Kilo. Ryanair does not specify oversized fees.

See Ryanair’s policy here for information relating to special luggage (musical instruments, sporting equipment, etc.)

Other Fees & Add-Ons

Change/Cancellation Fees (Cash Tickets)

Flight Changes: €/£35-65 (online), €/£50-95 (phone/airport)
Missed Departure Fee: €/£100 (change to next available flight for passengers arriving at check-in up to 1 hour after flight departs)
Cancellations: N/A; Ryanair flights are nonrefundable

These fees apply to each passenger, per way. A return flight leg can still be used even if the outbound flight isn’t; this does not require notification to Ryanair.

Name Change: €/£115 (at time of booking), €/£160 (post-booking or at airport)

Booking Fee: €/£20 at the airport

Hold Fare Fee: €/£3

Payment Fee: 0.5%-1.2% debit/credit card fees for non-EEA customers

Government Tax Refund Administration Fee: €20/£17

Airport Check-in: €/£55 (Flexi Plus passengers not charged)

Boarding Card Re-issue: €/£25

Compulsory Family Seat: €/£4 (Adults traveling with children under 12 must reserve a seat. Child receives a free reserved seat.)

Seat selection:

Standard: €/£3
Front Seats: €/£7
Extra legroom Seats: €/£7

Note: Some routes may incur a higher charge.

Infant fee: €/£25

Child/Infant Travel Cot or Car Seat/Booster (exceeding the 2 free items allowance): €/£15 (at time of booking), €/£25 (post-booking/airport)

Pet in cabin: Not permitted (assistance dogs only)

Refreshments Onboard

Ryanair Onboard Refreshments — Ryanair onboard refreshments. Image Credit: Ryanair.com.

Ryanair passengers can purchase meals, snacks, and refreshments (including Lavazza coffee) from the Getaway Cafe menu featured in their inflight magazine.

Meal deals: €/£9-12 (includes a drink, main meal, and snack)
Soft drinks: from €/£2.50
Beer: from €/£5
Wine: from €/£6
Premium Spirits: from €/£8
Hot meals: from €/£6
Fresh food: from €/£4.50
Snacks: from €/£1.50

How to Avoid Paying Excess Fees & Travel Expenses

There are several cards that will reimburse you for excess fees and general travel expenses.

This can be done by either redeeming points or miles against your travel expenses at the time of paying off your statement, or by using an annual travel/airline credit that comes with your card.

TOP PICK

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome OfferEarn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Excellent (740-840)

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

Pros

10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
Add authorized users for no additional annual fee (rates & fees)
No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

Cons

$395 annual fee (rates & fees)
Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome OfferEnjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros

5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
Access to Capital One transfer partners

Cons

$95 annual fee (rates & fees)
Limited elite benefits

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Welcome OfferEarn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.
20,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$360

Annual Fee

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

Pros

No annual fee (rates & fees)
No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
Ability to use transfer partners
Fraud coverage

Cons

Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
No luxury travel or elite benefits

$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Each card allows you to redeem Capital One miles for 1 cent each as a statement credit for previous travel purchases (within 90 days).

Inflight Inclusions, Amenities, & Seat Specs

Ryanair’s cabin structure is pretty simple: there’s only 1! Even though they sell a Plus fare that is aimed at business travelers, there is no separate cabin; passengers will simply be able to reserve premium seating.

Ryanair is a no-frills airline, so you won’t find any seatback entertainment or amenity kits.

Seating Options

Standard: Leather seating, 17″ wide with a pitch of 30″. It’s worth noting that no seats on Ryanair recline.

Front Seats: The same seats as Standard, but located in rows 2-5 so you can quickly disembark the plane.

Extra Legroom Seats: Leather seating, 17″ wide with a pitch of 32″-34″. (Available at seats 1A, 1B, 1C, 2D, 2E, 2F, and rows 16-17.

Seat Specs

Ryanair currently has just 1 type of aircraft: the Boeing 737-800, with an average fleet age of 6.5 years.

That said, Ryanair currently has an order in for another 115 brand new Boeing 737s, as well as 110 Boeing 737 MAX 200s.

The airline’s Boeing 737 MAX 200s will be fitted with ergonomic slimline seats boasting an extra inch of pitch for Standard seating, as well as more cushioning.

Ryanair New Seating — Ryanair new seating. Image Credit: Ryanair.com.

Boeing 737-800

Total passengers: 189
Standard seats: 138
Premium seats: 51

Ryanair Customer Satisfaction

When an airline’s CEO openly admits that price is a priority over customer service, it’s not surprising that customer satisfaction isn’t exactly at its highest.

Poor customer service is one of the most prominent complaints about Ryanair across review sites and social media. Unhelpful and sometimes rude call center representatives and cabin crew have been reported by customers.

Some passengers are also caught off-guard by unexpected fees such as boarding card printing and check-in charges, since you would expect these free of charge from a full-service airline.

However, Ryanair’s unique quirks and restrictions are usually stated throughout the booking process — so customers who read the ins-and-outs of this information appreciate the cheap fares that are possible while avoiding the extra add-ons.

Complaints

No official statistics can be found on the Irish Aviation Authority’s website.

Consumer Rankings, Ratings, Etc.

Skytrax Ranking: 3 Star Airline (out of 5)

Skytrax Customer Rating: 5/10

Tripadvisor Airline Review Rating: 3/5 (average from 58,180 reviews)

Kayak Customer Rating: 6.1/10 (average from 15,163 reviews)

AirHelp.com Overall Rating: 6.3/10 (quality of amenities, on-time arrivals, and how well an airline resolves flight delay compensation claims)

Safety and Performance

Ryanair has a 4/7 safety record as awarded by AirlineRatings.com. This takes into consideration whether the airline has an IATA Operational Safety Audit Certification (which Ryanair does not), combined with information from the world’s aviation governing body, plus government and crash records.

Although this rating is only 4/7 on paper, Ryanair has never had a fatality involving one of its flights and is considered a safe airline to fly with. The 3-star deduction is due to the lack of audit certification, which is not mandatory for airlines.

Ryanair publishes its own punctuality report, and the airline declared that it achieved an 88% success rate for on-time arrivals for its flights in 2017 (arriving within 15 minutes of its scheduled arrival time). For 2018, figures have only been posted up to April (so aren’t that comprehensive yet).

Charity Partnership

Ryanair has supported ISPCC Childline for nearly 3 years, and donated over €200,000 back in March 2018 when it renewed its partnership.

The airline also sells “Fly to win” scratchcards onboard its flights and sends the proceeds to some of their charity partners, including Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, Meyer Children’s Hospital, and Naomi House & Jacksplace Children’s Hospice.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Ryanair is a “love ’em or hate ’em” kind of airline. Some passengers have sworn off flying with them due to a bad customer service experience, while others see Ryanair as a great value, no frills airline.

Ryanair is never going to command the respect of British Airways, and it’s in a constant price war with easyJet. But it carries the most passengers of any European airline — so it must be doing something right to win customer loyalty!

Though Ryanair does have a penny-pinching attitude, you could bag a bargain flight if you do your research and plan ahead.

Featured Image Credit: M101Studio via Shutterstock

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the baggage allowance for Ryan Air?

All Ryanair passengers can bring 1 personal item into the cabin. Standard carry-on allowance depends on the fare booked:

Plus: 1 carry-on bag
Flexi Plus: 1 carry-on bag
Family Plus: 1 carry-on bag
Standard Fare: No carry-on bag (can purchase from £/€6-10)

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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