RyanAir? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

csmithstudnt · 01-25-2008, 11:37 AM

Been hearing about their cheapo European flights, but someone mentioned that they could not check in online because they did not have an EU passport and therefore had to pay the extra fee to check in in person.

Are American passport holders eligible for the online check in? Are there any other forms of ID that Americans could use for it? I have a passport, driver's license, and plan on getting a student id card.

**ajb3000** · 01-25-2008, 12:07 PM

Unfortunately it is for EU/EEA citizens only so you would need to pay the extra £2 per flight for airport check-in, this increases if you wish to actually check luggage into the hold.

Always check the final price of tickets before deciding which to go with as some airlines add large fees during the order process. Ryanair for example will also add a debit/credit card charge on top as well, and some other airlines stick fuel surcharges on top.

I've seen your other thread, and as well as ryanair you could use some of the following to get around:

http://www.easyjet.co.uk
http://www.skyeurope.com
http://www.wizzair.com (if you want to go to Eastern Europe)
http://www.nationalexpress.co.uk (coaches all over UK and Europe)
http://www.megabus.co.uk (coaches all over UK for as little as £1.50!)

Hope that helps

.

SGRHewitt · 01-25-2008, 02:50 PM

This is a new fee to me, but I haven't used Ryan Air since 2005. The Debit charges are true, that added another 3 dollars to the flight total. But nonetheless, it was still cheaper.

**pinknic38** · 01-25-2008, 03:39 PM

sometimes I feel like RyanAir isn't always the cheaper/better deal. Sure there's a flight for 4.99 but then after the damn taxes and whatever it's a lot more than what you thought. sometimes it doesn't hurt to try other low cost carriers.

**joe7f** · 01-26-2008, 01:56 AM

^Or even the "big names". Don't forget Ryan Air's airports are usually outside of town (sometimes to a ridiculous extent!) and transport to and from isn't free. The major airlines like Spanair, BMI, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Lufthansa etc, have adopted some budget routes to stay in business. From Dublin to London on Aer Lingus was 15 bucks more than with Ryan Air, but with Aer Lingus I flew to Heathrow, instead of Stansted, and had a non-stop tube ride to my hotel. Considering the cost of the tube vs a train + tube, it worked out to be cheaper and more convenient not to use Ryan Air.

On the other hand, I literally got a flight for $50 one way from Salzburg to Dublin all taxes included.

--Joey

**MeTurk** · 01-26-2008, 11:38 AM

Cheapo airlines and allot of the bigger ones now are not showing the actual price. With Ryanair going to smaller airports look out for airport fees With our local airport (Knock) they have a €10 development fee because it's out in the arse end of no where. I don't know if they do that all over Europe .

Some have the price of the flight if your not checking any luggage and charge you extra if you are checking a bag.

Quote:

Dublin to London on Aer Lingus was 15 bucks more than with Ryan Air, but with Aer Lingus I flew to Heathrow, instead of Stansted, and had a non-stop tube ride to my hotel. Considering the cost of the tube vs a train + tube, it worked out to be cheaper and more convenient not to use Ryan Air.

I nearly always end up going with Aerlingus because of that, the difference in price usually doesn't justify the extra hassle. Ryanair are really only good for all the Irish and English going down to Portugal and southern Spain for their package holiday.

**pinknic38** · 01-26-2008, 11:46 AM

For central Europe, I've had the best luck with Lufthansa but also Germanwings and Czech Air. Wizz Air too.

Always try skyscanner.net and wegolo.com to search for budget flights in Europe.

**travelchick75** · 01-30-2008, 05:56 PM

I personally liked easyjet a lot they go to the main airports and if you book far enough in advance (ususally a week or so) you can get some pretty sweet deals. I flew ryanair to "paris" and we ended up at an airport the size of mcdonalds and two hours outside of the actual city. MMMEEEMMOORRRIIEESS haha

**expatben** · 01-31-2008, 12:54 AM

Ryanair are OK but they get their money by lots of charges. I remember flying to "Brussels Charleoi" and having it being right smack dab in Chareloi. We had to get another 10Euros each way for a buss.
Easyjet are good-a tip with Easyjet is to book waaaay in advance, If you do that sometimes you can get tickets even cheaper than Ryanair!

**mbo108** · 01-31-2008, 11:24 AM

This past summer I used both EasyJet (Prague --> London (Gatwick)) and SkyEurope (Dubrovnik --> Prague). They were both sweet. SkyEurope actually worked out really well and was pretty cheap. Oh, and had by far the most beautiful flight attendant ever. She woke my brother up by asking, "Do you need anything?" He later told me he thought the plane had crashed and he was in heaven.