British travellers have been alerted to a potential money-saving strategy when booking flights with Ryanair, as consumer champion Which? has unveiled nine key tips aimed at navigating the budget airline's "notoriously complicated website." This advice has ignited a fiery response from Ryanair, which has dismissed the findings as "fake news" and rebutted most of the recommendations.
Understanding Ryanair's Fare Structure
Before delving into the rules, it's essential to grasp the six different levels of fare bundles offered by the low-cost carrier. These range from the Basic Fare, which includes only a small cabin bag, to premium options like Flexi Plus and Time Saver, which offer additional perks such as priority boarding and flexible changes.
The Core Finding: Basic Fare with Add-Ons
Which? conducted research indicating that passengers could often save money by purchasing the most basic fare and then adding extras like luggage and seat selection separately, rather than opting for pre-packaged bundles. For instance, in a test booking for a family of four flying from London to Alicante in August, the "Regular" fare suggested by Ryanair as "ideal" was found to be £59 more expensive than choosing "Basic" and adding necessary extras later.
Which?'s Nine Rules for Savvy Travellers
Here are the detailed guidelines provided by Which? to help consumers avoid overspending:
- Ensure Bag Compliance: Basic fare passengers are limited to a small bag (40x20x30cm). Oversized bags incur fees of £46-£60, while larger cabin bags can cost £70-£75. Ryanair advises simply using bags that fit the sizers to avoid charges.
- Avoid Regular Fares: Which? found that in nearly all checks over two years, Regular fares were more expensive than Basic fares with added extras, often by small amounts but sometimes significantly.
- Ignore Plus Fares: On routes like Stansted to Malaga, families could save £35 by choosing Basic and adding extras separately. Ryanair denies this, stating bundles are dynamically priced to match separate purchases.
- Evaluate Flexi Plus: Similar savings apply, but this fare includes flight change flexibility, which might be valuable for uncertain travel plans.
- Families May Not Need Family Plus: This bundle can be pricier and provide excessive luggage. For example, on an Alicante route, opting for Basic with selected add-ons saved £45.
- Skip Ryanair Travel Insurance: Which? warns that airline policies are often costlier and less tailored than third-party options, though Ryanair emphasises the importance of any travel insurance.
- Bypass Ryanair's Currency Conversion: When booking flights starting overseas, Ryanair's automatic conversion can offer poor rates. Which? found paying in euros via a bank could save £81 on a €1,439 fare.
- Consider 20kg Check-in Bags: This might be cheaper than two 10kg bags, but prices vary, so checking first is advised.
- Pay for Seat Selection: Which? notes a "significant risk" of being separated from companions on Ryanair without paid seat selection, though 62% of survey respondents were seated together. Ryanair calls this claim false.
Ryanair's Angry Rebuttal
In a sharp response, a Ryanair spokesperson labelled Which?'s advice as "more fake news," asserting that no one heeds such "spurious" recommendations. The airline pointed to its passenger growth from 200 million to 208 million in 2025 as evidence of customer satisfaction and trust in its pricing model.
This clash highlights ongoing tensions between consumer advocates and airlines over transparency and cost-saving strategies in the competitive travel market.
