“Free” Flight Offer on Ryanair…but Watch the Charges
European budget airline Ryanair currently has a free flights winter sale for travel between October 2008 and January 2009. The sale runs until midnight Thursday 19th June (and has actually been running for 2 weeks having been extended 3 times already…)
The “free flights” are actually free, meaning no taxes/charges are payable. The trick to keeping your flight cost low on Ryanair is not to check-in any luggage…you will then only have to pay a credit card fee (£3.20 per person) or debit card fee (£1.20 per person) for your payment. If you have a Visa Electron card then payment is free.
Note, the cabin baggage allowance is 10kg with maximum dimensions of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm. Also check with your airport for restrictions on carrying liquids on flights departing the EU/EEA.
Ryanair also allows you to purchase an extra seat for comfort (must be booked with the name Mr Extra Seat) but no more baggage allowance is gained.
Ryanair’s fees are as follows per segment:
Airport Check-in £4 (online check-in free for pax with no luggage)
Priority Boarding Fee £4
Infant (under 2) Fee £16
Checked bag up to 15kg £8
Checking in 2 bags up to 15kg £24
Checking in 3 bags up to 15kg £40
Excess baggage fee £12 per kilo
So by checking in one piece of luggage on a return flight would cost an additional £24.
Note, the sale is available for selected flight routes all over Europe, not just from the UK and Ireland.