Ryanair is one of the most popular airlines today thanks to its low-cost business model allowing travellers to fly for very cheap and competitive prices. It features amongst the top budget carriers alongside easyJet , Jet2.com , and Vueling .
The company was founded in Dublin in 1985 by businessman Tony Ryan. However, Ryanair really took off, and established itself as one of the leading budget airlines, when Michael O' Leary suceeded the founder as CEO. In fact, Ryanair's success was to such an extent that it became the first European airline to have transported more than 1 billion customers in 2017.
Today, the airline boasts a fleet of over 470 aircraft transporting more than 154 million passengers yearly to 225 destinations in 41 countries, the majority of which are in Europe but also Africa and the Middle East. Some of their most popular flight destinations include Amsterdam , Tenerife and Paris . The company's two main operational bases are located at Dublin and London Stansted airport, and it is the parent company of Buzz, Malta Air, Lauda and Ryanair DAC.
Online check-in for passengers with an allocated seat, on offer without an additional fee, is available from 2 days up to 2 hours prior to flight departure. Alternatively, those passengers that have paid for a seat during the ticket purchase process are able to check-in online from as early as 60 days before their Ryanair flight departure date. It can be completed on the company website or the Ryanair mobile app, available for download on Android and iOS.
In order to check-in online with Ryanair, the traveller's 6-digit booking reference number and email address used to book the flight ticket is required. A boarding pass is then provided which can either be downloaded and stored on the airline mobile app or printed out to be presented at the gate. Not checking in online or presenting a valid boarding pass at the gate will incur a supplementary fee. Flexi Plus ticket holders may check-in at the aiport if they so choose.
The travel classes available with Ryanair range from standard, which includes the lowest flight price and one carry on cabin bag to a Flexi Plus ticket, the benefits of which are security fast track, free airport check-in and flexible tickets, amongst others. The Ryanair travel classes are as follows:
Standard: Ideal for short flights at the cheapest price.
Plus: 20 kg check-in bag, free airport check-in, priority boarding and a reserved standard seat.
Family Plus: two 20 kg check-in bags, one 10 kg check-in bag per passenger and free seat reservation for children under 12 years of age.
Flexi Plus: ideal for frequent flyers, benefits include priority boarding, Fast Track, any reserved seat (perfect for extra leg room) and two free 10 kg cabin bags, as well as a small bag.
Flyers will automatically be assigned a seat, free of charge, during the online booking process. If they so choose, passengers can also pay to select their seat. There are three reserved seating options available with Ryanair, which can be purchased when booking cheap Ryanair flights or checking-in online for an extra fee according to the seat selected. They comprise Standard seats where passengers can simply select their seat of choice, Front seats with the benefit of being the first off the plane (rows 2 to 5) and, finally, Extra legroom seats for maximum legroom during the flight. A seat of choice is included in the price of Ryanair Plus and Ryanair Flexi Plus tickets.
Ryanair flights aren't usually very long as the airline mainly flies to European destinations. As a result, the same in-flight services expected on long-haul flights are not available. However, regardless of your travel class, passengers can purchase the following from the airline in-flight shop:
Large choice of food and snacks, as well as hot and cold drinks
Variety of beer, wines and spirits
Duty-free products including cosmetics and fragrances
Travellers with a non-priority Ryanair flight ticket are permitted one small cabin bag measuring a maximum 40 cm x 20 cm x 25 cm. It must fit in the sizer and, any luggage exceeding the aforementioned size restrictions, will incur an extra fee. However, duty free bags are permitted and can be carried onboard with the passengers' cabin baggage. Infants under two years of age with no purchased seat do not have any free baggage allowance.
Permitted baggage allowance, of course, varies in accordance with the travel class. Plus or Flexi Plus ticket holders are allowed two free pieces of cabin baggage including one small bag, with the dimensions of 40 cm x 20 cm x 25 cm, and another weighing up to 10 kg and measuring a maximum of 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm. Finally, Family Plus ticket holders are allowed to carry on an extra bag for their child weighing up to 5 kg.
The Ryanair hold baggage allowance varies greatly in accordance with travel class. A standard ticket holder will have to pay to take on a suitcase weighing a maximum 20 kg. They can buy extra baggage during the flight booking process. On the other hand, Plus ticket holders are permitted a 20 kg suitcase whilst Family Plus ticket holders are allowed two bags weighing up to 20 kg each and one 10 kg bag, as well as the possibility to transport two items of baby equipment free of charge including a travel cot, car seat or pram.
Hold baggage dimensions must not exceed 81 cm x 119 cm x 119 cm. Passengers may also transport sports equipment like a snowboard or golf clubs, securely wrapped, for a supplementary fee. The same applies for musical instruments, such as a harp or violoncello. The Ryanair baggage allowance policy is quite complicated so it is highly recommended you check carefully prior to your flight.
Website : www.ryanair.com
Customer service : 8955895509 et 8955698769
IATA code: FR
Fleet size: 300 aircraft (Boeing 737-800)
Headquarters: Swords, Ireland
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