The budget airline is looking for ways to cut costs
Everyone’s favourite budget airline Ryanair is set to bring in a new rule next year, which could save money for holidaymakers.
You can’t deny the fact that Ryanair has changed the game when it comes to low budget travel. Yes, you may have to sit on a seat littered with the previous passenger’s crumbs and stuff all of your clothes into a tiny under the seat bag, but who cares when it means that you can travel abroad for as little as £15* (*extra baggage and seat selection not included).
And now, it seems like the Irish airline is looking to revolutionise low-budget travel even further.
The budget friendly airline is a favourite amongst travellers (JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)
The latest change is regarding how passengers check-in for their flights, with Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary explaining how the airline is planning to go completely electronic from next spring.
“We will get rid of ticket desks and then there’s no reason to charge people for airport check-in,” he explained at the Dublin press event (via The Mirror).
“We want to get rid of airport checks in the same way we got rid of bag [desks]… nothing will be done on paper anymore.”
The businessman went on to reveal that he is hoping to roll out the change by spring next year, adding: “It will probably be around April or May of next year, after Easter. I think from May next year it will be 100% the app.”
Surprisingly, O’Leary admitted that he himself had been ‘reluctant’ to use the app in the past, but added that the electronic system ‘works so well’.
“I have been reluctant to go on the app because I am terrified to get on a flight without a piece of paper, but it works so well. It tells you your gate and if there is a delay,” he said.
The CEO admitted he was initially reluctant to use the app (Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
As for the reason Ryanair is looking to scrap ticket desks? You guessed it, money saving measures.
O’Leary stated that current data reveals around 60% of Ryanair’s customers rely on the app for check-in, a figure which is expected to rise to 80% before the change over in 2025.
Of course, the electronic change over will be a cause of concern for older generations or anyone who doesn’t currently use a smartphone. It also doesn’t factor in the nightmare scenario where your phone battery dies before making it to the departure gate.
However, the businessman was keen to reassure passengers the airline already has procedures in place for this, adding: “If your battery dies we have your seat and your passport and we can do that at the boarding gates at the moment. We sometimes do that if someone’s phone doesn’t scan for some reason.
“Once we have the name and passport that’s fine but everyone will be on the app.”
Here’s hoping there’ll be even cheaper airfares next year.
Featured Image Credit: (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images/ Getty Stock Images)
Topics: Ryanair, Travel, World News, Business
Ryanair travellers warned over increased new £60 ‘ripoff’ baggage charge
Ryanair has upped the cost of bringing extra bags on to its planes
People who fly with Ryanair are being warned about a price increase for its baggage policy, with some labelling it a ‘ripoff’.
The Irish airline is known throughout the world for offering some of the lowest prices when it comes to travelling abroad.
From £15 flights to visit the ‘Kingdom of the West’ to £30 returns after €2 pints and 23C winter sun in the ‘Garden of Europe’, they are among the best when it comes to flying to somewhere new for not very much money at all.
Ryanair bag charges are on the up (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Ryanair allows you to bring on one free bag per passenger, but that bag is capped at 40cm by 20cm by 25cm. It’s not very big, basically, and it must fit under the seat in front of you.
We’re talking something such as a handbag, backpack, or laptop bag that fits these dimensions.
Those that want to bring more, such as a cabin bag, there is the option of upgrading to Priority boarding.
Doing so will allow you to bring a 10kg bag on board the plane that can be stored in the overhead lockers.
The size of these bags is capped at 55cm by 40cm by 20cm.
It’s now up to £60 (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)
Upgrading to Priority comes at a price, varying between £6 and £36 on top of your original booking if you’re upgrading to this in advance.
But Ryanair has changed the way it charges people who upgrade to Priority at a later date or at the airport itself.
On the airline’s website, this charge had been listed as £20 to £38 extra if you upgrade.
Now, that has been upped to between £20 and £60 depending on your journey and time of booking.
Explaining the policy, Ryanair says: “Fee varies depending on the route and travel dates selected.
“Non-priority customers who have not added a bag to their booking can still purchase a 10kg Check-in bag at the airport bag drop desk for €/£ 35.99.
It costs more if you are made to check in later at the gate (Dominika Zarzycka/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“Non-priority customers who bring their 10kg check-in bag to the boarding gate may check it in against payment of a fee of €/£ 46.00 – €/£ 60.00.”
This is most likely going to catch people out who bring an oversized bag to the gate with them and are made to check in the luggage as a checked in cabin bag at the gate.
A Ryanair spokesperson said: “This is to align with the gate bag fee if passengers choose to bring their 10kg to the boarding gate and want to carry it on board, then they are subject to a gate fee.”
Myself & a pal travelled @Ryanair to Valencia last week. At boarding she was pulled aside and told this bag was “oversized” Charge 75 Euro😡 Everyone else in the queue, including me, averted their gaze as most of our bags were exactly the same size or even slightly bigger! 🤷🏻♀️
Flying back to #Dublin on @Ryanair. Paid priority to be able to carry on a 10kg bag. Photo of bag below, regular cabin bag size weighing under 10kg. I was required to pay £75 to have the bag tagged (even though my boarding card says the payment is up to €75 or local currency…
People who have flown with the airline have been left a little annoyed at the cost increase, taking to social media to vent their frustrations.
On Ryanair’s extra charges on top of the ticket – which can include choosing to sit next to friends or family – one X (formerly Twitter) user posted: “Everything [is] extra, so you book your flight then it’s add on after add on after add on. Before you know it you’re another £100 out of pocket.”
They also called it a ‘ripoff’ by putting the price of Priority boarding up.
Another user wrote: “Just avoid Ryanair if you can, they make easyJet seem luxurious and customer friendly. They charge extra for *every* little thing, I’ll never use them again if there’s an alternative.”
And a third said: “Cheap flights can still be found but not many. Adding priority really brings up the price.”
