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| How to avoid Ryanair’s £1bn of pricey extras … and fly for free How to avoid Ryanair’s £1bn of pricey extras … and fly for free | |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Many seats on Ryanair flights could be free in a decade, with the airline making its money from sharing revenues with airports, boss Michael O’Leary said this week. But of course, flying isn’t – and won’t really be – free. | Many seats on Ryanair flights could be free in a decade, with the airline making its money from sharing revenues with airports, boss Michael O’Leary said this week. But of course, flying isn’t – and won’t really be – free. |
| The average cost to Ryanair of carrying a passenger is €47.69 (£40.71 at current exchange rates), according to the company’s 2016 annual report, while the average cost of a ticket is €46.67 (£39.85). That’s a loss of around £1 on every ticket it sells. But it was able to record a large profit because it made around £1bn from “ancillary revenues” – in other words, baggage charges, priority boarding, sandwiches and drinks sold on board, travel insurance and so on. It turns out the average traveller spends €14.74 on extras, which is where the real money is. | The average cost to Ryanair of carrying a passenger is €47.69 (£40.71 at current exchange rates), according to the company’s 2016 annual report, while the average cost of a ticket is €46.67 (£39.85). That’s a loss of around £1 on every ticket it sells. But it was able to record a large profit because it made around £1bn from “ancillary revenues” – in other words, baggage charges, priority boarding, sandwiches and drinks sold on board, travel insurance and so on. It turns out the average traveller spends €14.74 on extras, which is where the real money is. |
| So if you really want to be a low-cost traveller, the trick is to avoid all the things Ryanair tries to sell you. | So if you really want to be a low-cost traveller, the trick is to avoid all the things Ryanair tries to sell you. |
| Don’t buy extra legroom or priority seats | Don’t buy extra legroom or priority seats |
| Ryanair charges £15-£22.50 each way, on top of the normal fare, if you want to reserve a seat in rows one and two, or 16 and 17 by the emergency exits, as they have extra legroom. | Ryanair charges £15-£22.50 each way, on top of the normal fare, if you want to reserve a seat in rows one and two, or 16 and 17 by the emergency exits, as they have extra legroom. |
| Most other seats on Ryanair are charged at an extra £8 each way. Yet frequent travellers know a trick that works most of the time, whereby they obtain a premium seat without paying extra. | Most other seats on Ryanair are charged at an extra £8 each way. Yet frequent travellers know a trick that works most of the time, whereby they obtain a premium seat without paying extra. |
| During the booking process you will be asked to reserve a seat. Just click “no thanks”. Ryanair will subsequently send out emails to remind you to check in, and imploring you to pay for a reserved seat. | During the booking process you will be asked to reserve a seat. Just click “no thanks”. Ryanair will subsequently send out emails to remind you to check in, and imploring you to pay for a reserved seat. |
| Ignore them. The best time to check in is between two and three hours before your flight. In most cases you will then automatically be allocated one of the £15 premium seats. Crucially, make sure you complete check-in before the final two-hour deadline. After that, you will have to do it at the airport, at a cost of £45. | Ignore them. The best time to check in is between two and three hours before your flight. In most cases you will then automatically be allocated one of the £15 premium seats. Crucially, make sure you complete check-in before the final two-hour deadline. After that, you will have to do it at the airport, at a cost of £45. |
| Why does this work? We have not had this confirmed by Ryanair, but the thinking is that it does not sell all its premium seats, but does fill most of its aircraft. It keeps the premium seats open until the last possible moment. | Why does this work? We have not had this confirmed by Ryanair, but the thinking is that it does not sell all its premium seats, but does fill most of its aircraft. It keeps the premium seats open until the last possible moment. |
| But the final few checking in have to be seated somewhere, so they are rewarded with one of the empty premium seats. | But the final few checking in have to be seated somewhere, so they are rewarded with one of the empty premium seats. |
| The problem with this trick is that it is not guaranteed and, crucially, only really works for solo travellers. If you are in a group then it will mean you are almost certainly split up. | The problem with this trick is that it is not guaranteed and, crucially, only really works for solo travellers. If you are in a group then it will mean you are almost certainly split up. |
| Ryanair told us: “While we welcome enterprising ideas, it’s important to note that our load factor for October was 95%, and the only way for customers to guarantee their preferred seat is to purchase a reserved seat.” | Ryanair told us: “While we welcome enterprising ideas, it’s important to note that our load factor for October was 95%, and the only way for customers to guarantee their preferred seat is to purchase a reserved seat.” |
| Don’t waste £2.50 on a bottle of water | Don’t waste £2.50 on a bottle of water |
| A 250g bag of M&Ms is €4 on its flights, but a 300g bag bought at Asda costs £2 | A 250g bag of M&Ms is €4 on its flights, but a 300g bag bought at Asda costs £2 |
| We all know (or should by now) that you can’t take more than 100ml of liquid through security. On board, Ryanair capitalises on this by charging a stiff €3/£2.56 to thirsty travellers who want a bottle of water. But all you have to do is pack an empty plastic bottle and fill it up at a water fountain after security in the airport terminal. Some airports, presumably at the behest of retailers, will hide the water fountain as best they can, but there usually is one. At Gatwick’s south terminal it is on the upstairs concourse, down a corridor leading to the toilets. And there’s nearly always a savvy traveller there topping up their bottle. | We all know (or should by now) that you can’t take more than 100ml of liquid through security. On board, Ryanair capitalises on this by charging a stiff €3/£2.56 to thirsty travellers who want a bottle of water. But all you have to do is pack an empty plastic bottle and fill it up at a water fountain after security in the airport terminal. Some airports, presumably at the behest of retailers, will hide the water fountain as best they can, but there usually is one. At Gatwick’s south terminal it is on the upstairs concourse, down a corridor leading to the toilets. And there’s nearly always a savvy traveller there topping up their bottle. |
| Those dinky wine bottles can also be found for £2.50 in duty-free before flying, although Ryanair rules say you can’t drink your own alcohol on board. Of course, once on board it will sell you wine at €6-€7 per mini-bottle. | Those dinky wine bottles can also be found for £2.50 in duty-free before flying, although Ryanair rules say you can’t drink your own alcohol on board. Of course, once on board it will sell you wine at €6-€7 per mini-bottle. |
| The same goes for snacks. You are perfectly free to carry fruit, vegetables and all solid foods through security in your hand baggage, although soup will breach the rules. Sandwiches on board Ryanair cost €4.50, but you can make some at home before: Ryanair says you are free to take your own food. And a 250g bag of M&Ms is €4/£3.40 on its flights, but a 300g bag bought at Asda costs £2. | The same goes for snacks. You are perfectly free to carry fruit, vegetables and all solid foods through security in your hand baggage, although soup will breach the rules. Sandwiches on board Ryanair cost €4.50, but you can make some at home before: Ryanair says you are free to take your own food. And a 250g bag of M&Ms is €4/£3.40 on its flights, but a 300g bag bought at Asda costs £2. |
| Avoid £80 baggage costs | Avoid £80 baggage costs |
| A 15kg bag costs £10-£40 each way, and another £5 or £10 if it’s 20kg. Above that, each kilo costs another tenner. Unless it’s the depths of winter and you need heaps of clothes, Ryanair’s free baggage allowance, though mean, should get you through: you are allowed a free 10kg hand luggage bag – the size of a small wheelie – plus a further small bag. Ryanair representatives used to have a stormtrooper reputation for seizing vaguely oversized bags, weighing them and charging accordingly, but in recent years have become more lenient. | A 15kg bag costs £10-£40 each way, and another £5 or £10 if it’s 20kg. Above that, each kilo costs another tenner. Unless it’s the depths of winter and you need heaps of clothes, Ryanair’s free baggage allowance, though mean, should get you through: you are allowed a free 10kg hand luggage bag – the size of a small wheelie – plus a further small bag. Ryanair representatives used to have a stormtrooper reputation for seizing vaguely oversized bags, weighing them and charging accordingly, but in recent years have become more lenient. |
| Martin Lewis from MoneySavingExpert demonstrated on the ITV Tonight programme how to squash a vast amount of stuff into your jacket or coat. Wearing a 22-pocket SCOTTeVEST US survivalist jacket, he managed to squeeze in a laptop, two books, a towel, passports, a T-shirt, socks, magazines and much more. “Even though it was heavier than hand luggage, airlines don’t have rules to stop it … yet,” he said. | Martin Lewis from MoneySavingExpert demonstrated on the ITV Tonight programme how to squash a vast amount of stuff into your jacket or coat. Wearing a 22-pocket SCOTTeVEST US survivalist jacket, he managed to squeeze in a laptop, two books, a towel, passports, a T-shirt, socks, magazines and much more. “Even though it was heavier than hand luggage, airlines don’t have rules to stop it … yet,” he said. |
| Ignore the £5 priority boarding fee | Ignore the £5 priority boarding fee |
| It remains a mystery to frequent travellers why so many people opt for priority boarding, which will be £10 on a Ryanair return. It is not uncommon for priority customers to be first down the steps to be greeted by a bus waiting on the tarmac … but when the bus doors open it’s a free-for-all. | It remains a mystery to frequent travellers why so many people opt for priority boarding, which will be £10 on a Ryanair return. It is not uncommon for priority customers to be first down the steps to be greeted by a bus waiting on the tarmac … but when the bus doors open it’s a free-for-all. |
| Some people opt for priority to ensure space in the luggage rack, but it can be easier, and faster, to leave your wheelie bag on the tarmac to be put in the hold, for free, and then collect it on arrival. | Some people opt for priority to ensure space in the luggage rack, but it can be easier, and faster, to leave your wheelie bag on the tarmac to be put in the hold, for free, and then collect it on arrival. |
| … but the hotel and car hire aren’t bad | … but the hotel and car hire aren’t bad |
| Ryanair’s hotel booking service is provided by Booking.com and its car hire by Cartrawler.com, which pays a commission to the airline. We thought that might mean it’s cheaper to buy separately. But when we tested prices for hotels in Dublin for a weekend, we found that a stay at the Jurys Inn was actually cheaper through Ryanair’s website than anything we could find on comparison site Trivago, while the cars were £1-£2 less. | Ryanair’s hotel booking service is provided by Booking.com and its car hire by Cartrawler.com, which pays a commission to the airline. We thought that might mean it’s cheaper to buy separately. But when we tested prices for hotels in Dublin for a weekend, we found that a stay at the Jurys Inn was actually cheaper through Ryanair’s website than anything we could find on comparison site Trivago, while the cars were £1-£2 less. |