Europe's cheapest flights — if you can handle the upsells
Ryanair is the largest airline in Europe by passenger numbers and the pioneer of ultra-low-cost flying on the continent. The airline has built its model around rock-bottom base fares subsidized by aggressive ancillary revenue — charging for seat selection, priority boarding, bags, food, and even printing boarding passes at the airport. Ryanair uses secondary airports in many cities (Beauvais instead of CDG for Paris, Ciampino or Fiumicino instead of major Rome terminals). Love it or hate it, Ryanair has made European air travel accessible to millions.
Single-class 737 cabin with 30-inch seat pitch and non-reclining seats (Ryanair removed recline to add more rows). Seats are 17.2 inches wide. No seatback pockets on newer 737-8200s (GameChanger). Slim seats with minimal cushioning. Yellow and blue cabin interior. Power outlets available on newer aircraft.
Ryanair does not offer business class.
Base fare includes only 1 small personal bag (40×20×25 cm — essentially a handbag). Priority + 2 cabin bags: ~$8-20. Checked bags: 10 kg from ~$13, 20 kg from ~$25. Fees increase closer to departure. Printing a boarding pass at the airport costs money.
No seatback entertainment. No streaming service. Bring your own entertainment. Some aircraft have basic overhead screens showing Ryanair promotions and scratch cards.
Buy on board only. Menu includes sandwiches, Pringles, drinks, and hot beverages at standard LCC prices. No complimentary food or drink of any kind. Cabin crew also sell perfume, scratch cards, and other items — the sales announcements are frequent.
Compare prices across booking platforms and find the best deal.
Search Ryanair flights →Ryanair is one of the most punctual airlines in Europe, with an on-time performance rate consistently above 85%. The airline achieves this by using secondary airports with less congestion and maintaining extremely fast turnaround times — typically 25 minutes at the gate. Ryanair holds a safety rating of 7/7 from AirlineRatings.com. The fleet consists entirely of Boeing 737 aircraft — over 500 planes making Ryanair the largest airline in Europe by passenger numbers — with an average age of approximately 6 years, one of the youngest fleets of any carrier worldwide.
Ryanair operates from over 90 bases across Europe, Morocco, and Israel, connecting more than 230 destinations in over 35 countries. Unlike hub carriers, Ryanair uses a point-to-point model with no connections — each flight is booked and operated independently. The airline's largest markets include the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Poland. Key airports include Dublin (DUB), London Stansted (STN), Barcelona El Prat (BCN), Milan Bergamo (BGY), and Madrid (MAD). Ryanair often uses secondary airports that are farther from city centers but offer lower landing fees, resulting in cheaper tickets. The airline has grown aggressively in recent years, adding routes to destinations in North Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.
Ryanair offers some of the lowest base fares in European aviation — flights as cheap as €10-20 one-way are genuinely available. However, the total cost can escalate quickly with add-ons: checked bags (from €20), reserved seats (from €4), priority boarding (from €8), and even printing your boarding pass at the airport (€20 fee). The key to flying Ryanair cheaply is to travel with carry-on only (max 10 kg small bag fits under seat for free; full-size cabin bag requires priority boarding purchase). Ryanair fares are cheapest when booked 6-10 weeks in advance. The airline has a dynamic pricing model that can see fares quadruple within days as a flight fills. Check the Ryanair app for fare alerts and flash sales, typically launched on Tuesday and Thursday. Ryanair does not appear on many flight comparison sites — always check ryanair.com directly.
Ryanair Choice is a subscription model (~$200/year) offering priority boarding, reserved seating, 20 kg checked bag, and flexible ticket changes. No traditional miles or points program. Ryanair's approach is transactional — loyalty is built on price, not rewards.
Fly Ryanair if: Budget travelers who need the absolute cheapest fare from A to B in Europe and are comfortable with the no-frills experience.
Consider alternatives if: Anyone who values comfort, service, or simplicity — Ryanair's aggressive upselling and fee structure frustrate many travelers.
Ryanair receives a 3.2/5 rating in our review. It is a budget-friendly option based on cabins, baggage, entertainment, food, and loyalty program.
Ryanair is based at Dublin (DUB).
Base fare includes only 1 small personal bag (40×20×25 cm — essentially a handbag). Priority + 2 cabin bags: ~$8-20. Checked bags: 10 kg from ~$13, 20 kg from ~$25. Fees increase closer to departure. Printing a boarding pass at the airport costs money.
Use our flight comparison tool to compare Ryanair prices across booking platforms including Kiwi.com. Booking 6-8 weeks in advance and flying mid-week typically yields the cheapest fares.
Ryanair allows one small personal bag (40×20×25 cm) that fits under the seat for free. A full-size cabin bag (55×40×20 cm, max 10 kg) requires purchasing Priority Boarding (from €8), otherwise it will be placed in the hold at the gate. Checked bags start from €20-30 per bag depending on route and timing of purchase.
Ryanair often flies to secondary airports (like Milan Bergamo instead of Milan Malpensa, or Paris Beauvais instead of CDG) because these airports charge much lower landing fees and offer faster turnaround times. The savings are passed on to passengers through cheaper fares, but the trade-off is a longer, more expensive transfer to the city center.
Yes. Ryanair holds a 7/7 safety rating from AirlineRatings.com and meets all EU aviation safety requirements. The airline operates one of the youngest fleets in Europe (average age ~6 years) and is subject to the same EASA safety regulations and inspections as all European carriers. Ryanair's safety record is excellent.
The real Ryanair price is base fare + bags + seat selection. Always calculate the total before comparing to easyJet or legacy carriers. For hand-baggage-only trips, Ryanair is genuinely the cheapest. Once you add a checked bag and seat, the advantage shrinks.