What It Really Costs To Fly on Ryanair

March 26, 2009 at 3:40 PM | by JetSetCD | Comments (5)

Low Cost Carriers are notorious for their confusing and forever changing pricing schemes, and none mess with our common sense more than the European breeds.

With Ryanair releasing new fees left and right, it's become apparent that you can't take their bargain basement ticket prices at face value anymore. While a trip to Barcelona from London may only cost 53.39 pounds (including taxes), there are a host of dreaded extra fees which you must consider before clicking to purchase.

Here, we've done some sniffing around the websites of Ryanair, EasyJet, Iberia and British Airways to discover if opting for the hassle of an LCC remains worthwhile. Choosing the lowest fares for a random round-trip in April, we'll walk you through each carrier's potential fees and tell you what that cheap ticket really ends up costing.

Note: Ticket prices and fees listed below were valid as of March 26, 2009. These are subject to change. We've kept the fees in the currency used on the airline websites. But all total amounts are in U.S. dollars.

Option 1: Ryanair

53.39 GBP: Round-trip flight from London Stansted to Barcelona Girona, including taxes
4.75 GBP: Handling Fee (mandatory)
5.00 GBP: Online check-in fee (mandatory)
10.00 GBP: Check one bag
20.00 GBP: Check second bag
6.00 GBP: Priority boarding
20.00 GBP: Oops! You have one too many carry-ons
1.80 Euros: On-board soda
3.00 Euros: On-board water
2.20 Euros: On-board Pringles
5.00 Euros: On-board sandwich
24.00 GBP: roundtrip train fare on the Stansted Express
21.00 Euros: Round-trip bus transport from Girona Airport to Barcelona city center (1 hour each way)

73.14 GBP ($106.54): Total for round-trip flight, mandatory fees and checking one bag

Option 2: EasyJet

44.92 GBP: Round-trip flight form London Stansted to Barcelona International
14.00 GBP: Third-party airport operator charges & government taxes (mandatory)
6.00 GBP: One checked bag under 20kg
9.00 GBP: Speedy boarding option from London
5.50 GBP: Speedy boarding option in Barcelona
8.99 GBP: Trip insurance
2.76 GBP: Carbon offset
6.00 GBP: On-board sandwich deal (water or soft drink, sandwich and pringles)
24.00 GBP: Roundtrip train fare on the Stansted Express
4.80 Euros: Roundtrip train fare from BCN to Plaza Catalunya

64.92 GBP ($94.05): Total for round-trip flight, mandatory fees and checking one bag

Option 3: Iberia

$132: Round-trip flight from London Heathrow to Barcelona International
FREE: 1 checked bag under 23kg
8.00 GBP: roundtrip subway fare from Waterloo station to Heathrow
4.80 Euros: roundtrip train fare from BCN to Plaza Catalunya

$132.00: Total for round-trip flight, including fees and checking one bag

Option 4: British Airways

94 GBP: Round-trip flight from London Heathrow to Barcelona International
FREE: 1 checked bag under 23 kg
3.50 GBP: Carbon offset
8.00 GBP: roundtrip subway fare from Waterloo station to Heathrow
4.80 Euros: roundtrip train fare from BCN to Plaza Catalunya

94.00 GBP ($136.18): Total for round-trip flight, includes fees and checking one bag

Just as we thought; an LCC may be offering the lowest fare. In this case it's EasyJet by a hair, but the differences really come down to how convenient you prefer your flight times, airport location and if you want a snack on board.

For us, it's fifty-fifty; sometimes we crave the superior service and brand association of a British Airways flight, but other days we want to feel frugal and like we know a secret by hopping an LCC.

Which flight tickles your fancy as well as your wallet and why? Do tell in the comments!

Comments (5)

Return to » What It Really Costs To Fly on Ryanair

I've noticed that Ryanair is offering some flights to Barcelona free of taxes. Which dropped the flight price down to about 46 pounds from 53.

...I can afford to both buy water and pee on-board. They are so merciful.

..i got a ryanair ticket to oslo for �20 all in (1p each way, �19.98 taxes). which was great (until we arrived to oslo (torp) and it was a 3 hr bus ride to oslo (actual)). but every time i try to book now, BA or the national carrier is about �10-�20 more, which is so much more appealing. ryanair seriously need to stop being so stroppy, i haven't travelled with them in 5 months because their rules scare me.

I think that to be fair, you must add some extra euros to Iberia, as it doesn't offer any free snack or drink (on the contrary of British). And in LCC, you can save avoiding 'suggested' travel insurances and priority boarding. But, on the other hand, you must add charges for paying with credit card. Uffff. Too complicated...

Jaunted

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