Ryanair-how soon to book?
 

Our trip to Spain is in May. We have our open jaw flights booked into Bilbao and out of Valencia. Hotels are all set too. But we are looking for some cheap flights to get us from the north area to Seville, and then again another flight from Seville to the Valencia area. We figure we'll fly Ryanair since they're so cheap. Is this something we should book ahead just like any other flight? Or will there be too much chance of schedule changes if we book too early? Do their fares tend to go up and down, or are they pretty set once posted?

The general rule is the earlier you book the cheaper the fare. Sometimes there are fare sales but you can't count on it so book early. Schedule changes can happen any time but the best bet is still on early booking, as soon as they sell seats for your dates.

Thanks good to know.

I noticed they want you to selected whether you'll have checked luggage when you purchase your tickets. What if I don't know yet? If I put none, and then end up needing to check my luggage due to weight, will they just charge me the extra amount when I get there? Or do you have to know in advance?

joannay is right, the fares tend to go up, closer to the date of departure. Usually the cheapest you can get is as soon as they release fares. Fares are usually available in six month blocks (summer and winter). I would do your best guess with luggage, bearing in mind the luggage allowance is less than a traditional airline. If you either haven't paid for hold luggage or are over their limit, they will charge you at the airport. It is cheaper to pay for hold luggage when you book but you can still pay at the airport.

We've seen people frantically repacking at the check in desk with Ryanair, trying to either leave stuff behind or put more in their carry on. Check on their website but I think the hold luggage limit is 15kg. Carry on limit is low too.

Kay

Thanks Kay, yes I do have the weight limits from Ryanair. Just trying to anticipate how much luggage I will pack. I have never bothered to check in the past, because we usually fly American and have the 50lb limit, and apparently we've never exceeded it. I'm just not sure if I've ever been around 15kg or not. I am usually a light packer, but that's only so I can have room for souvenirs. Oh well, as you say, I guess I'll just have to make my best guess.

You can add checked luggage any time until you check-in online in next May for no additional fee (except that fee that applies for checked luggage anyway). You should be able to choose either 15kgs or 20kgs, the latter for a higher fee obviously.

Be extra careful that also your cabin luggage does not exceed weight and size limits. Expect gate agents to check it by the centimeter and remember that ONE piece of cabin luggage means exactly that: no extra tote bag, no extra duty free shopping bags.. everything must fit into that ONE piece of cabin luggage and still be withing size and weight limits.

You should find compact and light-weight digital scales anywhere online which look a bit like the handle of a suitcase with a strap attached to it. You put the strap around the handle of any luggage and lift it up to weigh it. These extra $4-5 spend on that gadget are a good "insurance" against Ryanair's prohibitive penalty fees when you exceed the baggage allowances.

That would be great to be able to pack, and THEN go online to add the baggage fees! I normally pack early anyway so this will work great!

Wow, sounds like a handy little gadget...I will certainly have to get one!

careful with those hand held "scales". My daughter received one from a friend as a gift. it said her bag was 18kgs. turned out to be 11kg.

Also, being a non -EU passport holder DO NOT FORGET TO GO TO THE RYANAIR TICKET WINDOW AND GET YOUR BOARDING PASS STAMPED AS THEY TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR PASSPORT.

I can't tell you the number of anxious passengers I have seen in this predicament at the gate being denied boarding.

Do not only look at ryanair. check out www.rumbo.es for all the "normal" airlines that fly the same routes. You may be happily surprised at the price/luggage allowances and civil weight limits/cabin luggage. A few extra euros may be worth the search.

You will then see the names of the companies that fly that route and can book directly with them.

Ryanair change their pricing up or down dependant on how fast their sales are giong against a plan. They also do sales when the price falls down to tax plus £1.

A japanese guy did a peice of research on a whole load of cheepo airlines and concluded 10 to 12 weeks out was the best deal. In reality no one knows but I tend to firm up 5 to 4 months out.

The trick to these companies is buy everything you want at one time so buy extra luggage at the time of buying the ticket. Do spot the charge for using a credit card or indeed a debit card and I suggest don't pay for fast bording and any other nonsense.

Ryanair.com a great cheapo but pack light decline EVERYTHING

Do not think ryanair will work for what you want they do not

usually fly between destinations in Spain look at interspain

skyscanner.net best to book as early as the flights/sales post

keep in mind ryanair.com flies from hubs outside of major

cities not too great lots of times... good luck and happy

hunting!

Looks like Air Europa or SpanAir will be your best bet

BIO to VLC with a stop in MAD

Vueling.com also might have something that will work

they are usually very cheapest interspan flights.

Iberia.com sometimes will have sales though...

Look like Biobao to Seville

on Vueling direct from 29 euros

might be best...

29.98 €
Oferta
Mar 13
Dic 2011

11:55
13:15

Bilbao (BIO)
Sevilla (SVQ)

29.98 €
Oferta

Mié 14
Dic 2011

11:55
13:15

Bilbao (BIO)
Sevilla (SVQ)

vueling.com

Ryanair flies between a LOT of destinations in Spain.

Not from the Basque Country, Lin. The nearest airport with Ryanair flights is Santander.

I would check my dates for the Vueling direct flights Bilbao-Sevilla or the Ryanair Santander-Sevilla, and decide depending on the prices and timetable.

Love2sing, remember that Ryanair has different prices for the hold luggage depending on the season. High season for them is
(1 Jun-21 Sep inc.) and (21 Dic- 4 Ene 2012 inc.)

Bye, Cova

<i>"DO NOT FORGET TO GO TO THE RYANAIR TICKET WINDOW AND GET YOUR BOARDING PASS STAMPED AS THEY TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR PASSPORT."</i>

Thanks for this! Very good to know!

I haven't had any problems finding flights between our Spain destinations. We will be going from either Bilbao or Santander to Seville. And then again Seville to either Alicante or Valencia. But luggage is certainly something we will have to consider!

One day they will probably change that special "rule" for non -EU passports, but until they do.. pay attention as it is stated somewhere on the boarding pass that you need to do that. Just don't forget.

If you fear you will have overweight/oversized luggage in the hold or cabin, try to book another airline. If one little part of the wheel or handle of the carry-on sticks out of the designated measuring case.. then you are stuck paying 40E at the gate.

One friend's bag fit into the measuring bin before security but after security for some reason she couldn't get it all the way in or out. Anyway.. they wanted to charge her.. but fortunately she was able to argue her way out of it.. she probably insisted they bring in the other bin.

I am NOT a fan of Ryanair-too many horror stories of overcharging,delayed/cancelled flights and the airports they fly into are not very close to the city they claim to be in ie.Paris Barcelona London come to mind! I do much better w/Vueling,Spanair and Iberia and would even consider the train or bus in Spain!

Well...it's four months out until we leave on our trip to Spain and I still don't see flights from Seville to Alicante on Ryanair. They had them last year but I'm wondering if they've cut flights, or if they'll show up eventually. I can fly to Valencia and drive to Alicante, but we'll have to back track to Valencia again as that is where we end our trip. Might not be too bad, it appears to be a coastal drive and during the middle of the day.

Any thoughts on whether the flights from Seville to Alicante will show up though??

You should check the timetable on Ryanair, not the flight booking area. (Or check the destination map.) That should tell you but I think if they are not showing up 4 months out then they won't be happening.

You could check www.flycheapo.com for other airlines.

Kay