Review of Ryanair
Ryanair is a low-cost Irish airline that was founded in 1984. As Europe’s largest airline, you will likely encounter the option of booking a Ryanair flight if you are planning a multi-country visit within the continent. Ryanair offers flights to over 200 destinations in 37 countries in Europe, North Africa & the Middle East. The center of Ryanair’s success is its foundation of low-cost flights paired with straightforward service.
When booking a flight, it can be stressful to determine if a low-cost airline provides a suboptimal experience or a great value. Read below for my experience and review of Ryanair, and whether it’s a good option for your vacation.
Photo credit: Ryanair.com
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Booking
I have flown Ryanair multiple times, and each time, I have found the booking process to be quite straightforward. You can book through the Ryanair website or through the Ryanair app. The pricing structure of Ryanair is simple to understand. The basic or lowest ticket price allows for one small carry-on bag and non-priority boarding. For a larger carry-on or checked bag, you can pay an additional fee and have priority boarding. The price for a larger bag increases the day of the flight or if purchased at the airport, so it’s best/more affordable to plan and purchase early.
Tip: A small bag suffices for trips less than 3 days. For longer trips, upgrading to the cabin or checked bag is a good value.
Photo credit: Ryanair.com
Ryanair App
The Ryanair app is easy to use and interactive. After booking your flight, you can view your boarding pass in the app. Check-in is available through the app with seat-selection (if purchased), and you can also book other travel-related services such as a rental car, bus, and train tickets or hotels. You can view the in-flight food options and pre-order your food directly to your seat to get ahead of the food trolley.
Boarding
The boarding process for Ryanair includes two queues: one for priority boarding and one for non-priority. Given that these planes are relatively small, you may exit your gate outside before entering the plane via a flight of stairs. Note: Ryanair can accommodate passengers with walking disabilities/needing a wheelchair, but you must request assistance 48 hours before departure to ensure those services are available.
Ryanair has generally good reliability with their on-time performance ranging between 84% to 92% in 2024.
Photo credit: Ryanair.com
In-flight Services
For a no-frills airline, Ryanair’s selection of food and drinks is fairly extensive. They offer a variety of sandwiches, pastries, and hot meals such as lasagna. They also offer a decent selection of soft drinks, coffees, teas, as well as liquor, beer, and wine. The pricing is reasonable for airline prices with nonalcoholic drinks less than €4 and alcoholic drinks less €9.
If you are looking for in-flight entertainment, you are better off bringing a book since Ryanair does not offer Wi-Fi. You may encounter the occasional plane with shared overhead monitors playing an in-flight movie, but you won’t find monitors on the back of the seats for personal entertainment. Personally, I have not found this to be an issue since these are shorter flights with the average flight time lasting approximately 2 hours.
Tip: Download a podcast, book, or playlist ahead of your flight to stay entertained.
Photo credit: Ryanair.com
In-flight Comfort
I have found all of my flights on Ryanair to be reasonably comfortable. The seats are basic, as expected, but comfortable, and the legroom is adequate. The planes are clean and the flight attendants are friendly and responsive. The cabin temperature throughout my flights was comfortable, but as with any flight, it is always a good idea to wear layers.
So, should you book Ryanair?
I think so! Ryanair is a very solid option for travel within Europe. The prices are reasonable and transparent. The in-flight amenities are lacking, but for the cost savings, I can entertain myself for a couple of hours. They are a fairly reliable airline with a friendly staff and an easy-to-use app to make your travel days less stressful.
Bon voyage! ✈️
Published: January 19, 2025 - Updated August 27, 2025
