book flights early or last minute!!
 

Does anyone know if Ryanair are good to book early or last minute to get the cheapest prices!! Thanks

It's unknowable.

The majority of the time, though, it's best to book early. And if the price is under 10 Euros or so for the ticket price (plus fees), it's definitely best to book early, because there's very little room for the price to drop.

Hi T,

Usually, the prices go up as the departure date approaches.

Your mileage may vary.

((I))

Where are you going?

For example, looking at one-way STN-DUB. Tomorrow's flights are all "regular fare" of 24.99GBP + tax/fees = 48.54GBP.

For a random day in July, I see plenty of "web fare" of 4.99GBP + tax/fees = 28.54GBP.

Similarly for many other destinations.

Prices go up as the time gets close, then code share partners try to fill what single seats they have left. So if you wait you might get a cheap fare, but you will probably be between 2 strangers and those traveling with you will be sitting between other strangers. They are filling seats.

When Ryanair release their timetables the prices tend to be middle range.

Depending on demand for that service the price may then go up or down (it's called yield management).

The virtual certainty though is that if you book at the last minute you won't pay the lowest price and on popular routes and dates it will cost more than an equivalent flight on a full costs airline

For example flying to "Barcelona" from Stansted tomorrow is £50 one way (last minute), on the 26th May it's nearly £200 one way (popular date) yet the 17th May is £25.

Actually, Padraig, in this context, it is knowable-the longer you wait on Ryanair, the more you will pay. I learned this the hard way last September, when I waited until about a month before I left to book my Rome-Paris flight, so instead of paying 19 Euro. I ended up paying 30 euro plus various assorted fees and overweight baggage limitations. The minute you see the low fare, you better buy then, because you'll be left with their highest fares if you wait.

That's not necessarily the case. Ryanair has sales now and then and might offer a fare for a specified date that was 30 Euros plus tax yesterday for 1 penny plus tax today. But if it's a popular route, chances are that won't happen.