Riga-Stockholm US$7, Is Ryanair for real?
Apr 5th, 2011, 04:32 PM
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Riga-Stockholm US$7, Is Ryanair for real?
I heard it's a cheap airline. It's known for poor service, frequent cancellation..what else? Baltic air is charging 10 times more. How do the two compare?
Apr 5th, 2011, 04:37 PM
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Yes, but you have to carry all of your belongings in your pockets.
If you want to check a bag they'll charge $100. And more for beverage or to use the toilet.
(Not really - but this is the general idea.)
If you want to check a bag they'll charge $100. And more for beverage or to use the toilet.
(Not really - but this is the general idea.)
Apr 5th, 2011, 05:06 PM
#5
You won't end up paying $7, it will cost a lot more by the time you take into account all the add-ons. Keep clicking on the site and see how it quickly adds up, cost for luggage each way, charge to check in, paying to use your credit card for each sector (that annoys me so much, it's just one transaction but you have to pay twice for a return ticket. Grrr.)
When we lived in the UK we would often compare a cheap airline like Ryanair with someone like British Airways, click right through until you have to enter card details and see what the real total is. We flew with BA as a result more than once. You also have to think of which airport the airline uses, Ryanair sometimes fly into an airport miles and miles away from the city and then you have the extra cost of transport.
We've flown Ryanair a fair bit, they are OK but you get what you pay for. Everything costs extra. It can also be a bun-fight getting on the plane as seats are not allocated and people can rush and push to get seats together.
Kay
When we lived in the UK we would often compare a cheap airline like Ryanair with someone like British Airways, click right through until you have to enter card details and see what the real total is. We flew with BA as a result more than once. You also have to think of which airport the airline uses, Ryanair sometimes fly into an airport miles and miles away from the city and then you have the extra cost of transport.
We've flown Ryanair a fair bit, they are OK but you get what you pay for. Everything costs extra. It can also be a bun-fight getting on the plane as seats are not allocated and people can rush and push to get seats together.
Kay
Apr 5th, 2011, 08:25 PM
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AirBaltic is ok for what it is, but is also rather in the category of the no-frills airlines.
Ryanair can indeed sometimes offer good value - especially when they run their special sales with low fares that often even cover taxes and fees (such taxes and fees can be substantial, e.g. around EUR 72 for a flight Frankfurt - London Heathrow with a total price including fees and taxes of EUR 220).
In this specific case it is highly likely that you are looking at one of the specials and that Ryanair will indeed be cheaper than Air Baltic even after adding a few items (like checked luggage).
However there are some caveats re Ryanair:
- Ryanair fly into "Stockholm" Skavsta, an airport close to Nykoeping, about 65 miles South of Stockholm (whereas Air Baltic serve Arlanda). This will be of particular relevance should you need to catch an onward flight.
- A bus ride from Skavsta into Stockholm will take about 1.5 hours of travel time (vs. 45 min from Arlanda into Stockholm by bus or 20 min by express train).
- Ryanair will vigorously enforce check-in cut-off times and weight limits. There is practically 0 tolerance and any deviation from their standards and rules will likely cost you dearly (can go as far as having to book a non-discounted full fare ticket if they close the check-in line in your face and as a result you miss the originally booked flight - which happens as I can assure you).
Overall Ryanair in my opinion is a viable option if:
- they are considerably cheaper than others even after adding on all their special fees and
- one is flexible on time and
- one is willing to liberally allow extra-time at the airport before the flight and
- one is comfortable with spending more time (and possibly money) on airport transfers and
- one keeps luggage to a minimum.
Ryanair can indeed sometimes offer good value - especially when they run their special sales with low fares that often even cover taxes and fees (such taxes and fees can be substantial, e.g. around EUR 72 for a flight Frankfurt - London Heathrow with a total price including fees and taxes of EUR 220).
In this specific case it is highly likely that you are looking at one of the specials and that Ryanair will indeed be cheaper than Air Baltic even after adding a few items (like checked luggage).
However there are some caveats re Ryanair:
- Ryanair fly into "Stockholm" Skavsta, an airport close to Nykoeping, about 65 miles South of Stockholm (whereas Air Baltic serve Arlanda). This will be of particular relevance should you need to catch an onward flight.
- A bus ride from Skavsta into Stockholm will take about 1.5 hours of travel time (vs. 45 min from Arlanda into Stockholm by bus or 20 min by express train).
- Ryanair will vigorously enforce check-in cut-off times and weight limits. There is practically 0 tolerance and any deviation from their standards and rules will likely cost you dearly (can go as far as having to book a non-discounted full fare ticket if they close the check-in line in your face and as a result you miss the originally booked flight - which happens as I can assure you).
Overall Ryanair in my opinion is a viable option if:
- they are considerably cheaper than others even after adding on all their special fees and
- one is flexible on time and
- one is willing to liberally allow extra-time at the airport before the flight and
- one is comfortable with spending more time (and possibly money) on airport transfers and
- one keeps luggage to a minimum.
Apr 5th, 2011, 08:37 PM
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With regards to which alternative airlines you should look at:
For non-stop flights there is - apart from Air Baltic to ARN and Ryanair to NYO - there is only SAS to ARN (and their flights are code-shares with and will be operated by Air Baltic). It may still be worth comparing SAS and Air Baltic fares, though:
http://www.flysas.com
For non-stop flights there is - apart from Air Baltic to ARN and Ryanair to NYO - there is only SAS to ARN (and their flights are code-shares with and will be operated by Air Baltic). It may still be worth comparing SAS and Air Baltic fares, though:
http://www.flysas.com
Apr 5th, 2011, 08:56 PM
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And if you compare SAS and Air Baltic fares, be aware that under certain tickets (non-flex Economy) you pay a EUR 15.00 fee per way per bag for a total of 20 kg of check-in luggage at Air Baltic, but that with SAS you will have one piece of check-in luggage of up to 23 kg free of charge.
Ryanair charges between EUR 15 and EUR 25 per piece of 15 kg check-in luggage per way (depending on where you are going and the season).
Ryanair charges between EUR 15 and EUR 25 per piece of 15 kg check-in luggage per way (depending on where you are going and the season).
Apr 5th, 2011, 10:04 PM
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Apr 6th, 2011, 12:44 AM
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- Don't check in any bags
- Use your prepaid Visa card to pay
- Check size and weight of your cabin luggage
- Don't buy extra insurance
There'll be no additional fees, if you just remember those points. Someone posted that there business model is to make the taxpayer pay the bill. Using low fee airports somewhere far "out of town".
- Use your prepaid Visa card to pay
- Check size and weight of your cabin luggage
- Don't buy extra insurance
There'll be no additional fees, if you just remember those points. Someone posted that there business model is to make the taxpayer pay the bill. Using low fee airports somewhere far "out of town".
