5 Tips When Flying with Ryanair

If you want to travel cheap with Ryanair, you may want to know more about them. Here are the 5 tips when you want to use Ryanair service:

1. Baggage Allowance

Ryanair is very strict with the baggage allowance. They only allow 1 small bag that fits under the seat if you get the standard non-priority ticket.  If you are traveling with more stuff, you need to purchase extra baggage before your flight. If a couple is travelling, I would recommend one person to buy the "Priority Plus" which include one small bag, one 10kg cabin size luggage, one 20kg checked in baggage, seat selection, and priority boarding. The other can just go for the standard non-priority ticket (just pay a little more to choose seat if want to be seated together). By the way, don't give too high hope on the priority boarding because, during boarding time, somebody may cut your queue. Why do you think people want to rush into the airplane? - to get the cabin space for their hand-carry baggage :)

These are the Priority Boarding passenger but when set to go, some people from the back may just cut in your line.

2. Flight Delayed

You need to constantly check on your flight status because Ryanair is very popular for delayed. I experience it myself on my first time flying with them when traveling from Bydgoszcz to London. 

When my flight got 2 hours delayed, Ryanair started to distribute meal vouchers to all the passengers 

Actually, nothing much we can do when there is a flight delay but we can claim for compensation, depending on the hours of delayed. According to EC Regulation 261/2004, if Ryanair flight delays for 3 hours or more on arrivals, or flight cancellations without any intimation; passengers are eligible to claim compensation up to €600 from the Airline or can ask for a full refund on the unused flights of the journey (Source: claimflights.co.uk) 

3. Aisle Seat or Window Seat?

I would recommend for an aisle seat for Ryanair. Remember that this is a no-frills airline, don't expect the luxury of space. Comfort is something that you can put aside when choose to fly with Ryanair. My seat is small and luckily I got the aisle seat which I can still stretch my leg a bit.

I am stilling straight up for this leg space. Totally not a comfortable sitting position. By the way, the seats cannot be reclined 

4. Bring with you a wind-breaker or rain-coat

Boarding for Ryanair can be a painful process if you are not prepared for the "Ryanair-Experience". Passenger will have to walk outdoor to and from the plane for departure and arrival. Depending on the weather condition, it can be very cold or raining when walking outdoor to the airplane. Having a jacket with you can help to keep you warm and handy if it is raining. 

 

5. Go to the airport EARLIER!

Stanstead Airport Departure Waiting Hall

The queue can be very long at the entrance so be early to the airport. Most low-cost airline airports are very busy so it is better to reach early than rushing in late. There are also very limited seats at the the waiting hall. Perhaps this is for all travelers, not just for Ryanair :)

Overall, I think is a good experience to fly with Ryanair but if given a choice, I will choose other options.

What say you about flying with Ryanair?

Changing the Competitive Landscape: Again

Tracking back on the introducing of Low Cost Carrier (LCC), it was not long ago that the air travelers segment seeking for a cheaper alternative to mobilize. In Asia, the first low cost airline, Air Asia introduces no frills air fares to tap into this segment of the market with the tagline, "Now, everyone can fly". 

Now, there are Ultra Low Cost Carriers (ULCC) such as Spirit and Ryanair with ala carte pricing strategy. How is it possible?

Simple. If you know what are the changes around you and take advantage of the opportunity it created, bingo! The existence of ULCC was largely based on   the advancement of aviation technology, the global deregulation of air space and changes in the social economical conditions. Combining the big data around us, it is much more easier to identify the fragmented needs of consumer. In short, founder and CEO of La Compagnie, Grants Yvelin claims that his airline can cure two kinds of pain experienced by customes: coach travellers suffers from when travel long haul flight and business class travellers suffers from financial pain (Saporito, 2015).

Able to find a fragmented niche market would allow the firm to gain competitive advantage. These ULCC carriers has pushed the airline industry to the extreme in servicing.

References:
Saporito, B. 2015. Little airlines, big ideas: new models in the skies are flourishing. Time magazine, March 2, 2015 pp. 38-41