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Ryanair
IATA: FR · Europe's Largest Low-Cost Carrier

Ryanair Flights

Search and compare cheap Ryanair tickets across 200+ European routes. Find the lowest FR base fares for your trip — only on FareOptic.

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About Ryanair

Ryanair (IATA: FR) is an Irish ultra-low-cost carrier and Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers, carrying well over 180 million passengers a year. Rather than operating around one dominant hub, Ryanair runs dozens of bases spread across Europe, with Dublin (DUB) serving as its home and spiritual hub alongside major bases including London Stansted, Milan Bergamo, and Madrid.

Ryanair's business model is built on an all-Boeing 737 fleet and an aggressively unbundled, à la carte approach to pricing: the advertised fare only includes a small personal item, with cabin bags, checked baggage, seat selection, and priority boarding all sold as optional extras. This strict cost discipline — along with a preference for smaller, cheaper secondary airports over primary city airports — is what allows Ryanair to consistently offer some of the lowest base fares in European air travel. FareOptic compares Ryanair fares across its network to help you find the best FR ticket price.

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Based on popular routes and current airfare deals

Popular Ryanair Routes

Most searched Ryanair intra-European flights

*All above fares are one way/round trip. Fares incl. all fuel surcharges, taxes & fees and our service fees. Displayed fares are subject to change and cannot be guaranteed at the time of booking. See all booking terms and conditions.

Ryanair Base Airports

Ryanair has no single dominant hub — it operates dozens of bases across Europe, with Dublin as its home base.

DUB
Dublin Airport
Home base / spiritual hub
STN
London Stansted
Major UK base
BGY
Milan Bergamo
Major Italy base
MAD
Madrid Barajas
Major Spain base

Ryanair Cabin & Fare Model

Ryanair offers one Economy cabin with a strictly unbundled, pay-as-you-go pricing structure.

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Economy

  • ✓Ryanair operates a single Economy cabin on every flight
  • ✓Ultra-low base fares with a strictly unbundled fare model
  • ✓Only a small personal item is included free of charge
  • ✓Cabin bags, checked bags, and seat selection are paid extras
  • ✓Fare bundles (Regular, Plus, Flexi Plus) add optional inclusions

myRyanair & Fare Bundles

Ryanair does not run a traditional miles-based loyalty program. Instead, a free myRyanair account stores your travel details for faster booking, and optional paid fare bundles let you add commonly wanted extras in one purchase.

myRyanair Account

A free account that stores passenger and payment details, speeds up checkout, and keeps your booking confirmations and boarding passes in one place.

Regular Fare

Ryanair's base fare — includes only a small personal item. Cabin bags, checked bags, and seat selection are all separate paid add-ons.

Plus Fare

Adds a priority boarding slot and a larger cabin bag allowance plus a checked bag, on top of the base fare inclusions.

Flexi Plus Fare

Ryanair's most flexible bundle, adding free date changes, priority boarding, checked baggage, and reserved seating for less last-minute hassle.

Ryanair Baggage Policy

Ryanair's low base fares only include a small personal item. Cabin bags, checked bags, and seat selection are paid add-ons unless included in your fare bundle.

Item / PolicyRegularPlusFlexi Plus
Personal item (fits under seat)Included freeIncluded freeIncluded free
Priority + cabin bag (10kg)Paid add-onIncludedIncluded
Checked bag (20kg)Paid add-onPaid add-onIncluded
Seat selectionPaid add-onStandard seat includedAny seat included

Bags beyond the free small personal item are paid add-ons unless your fare bundle includes them. Fees are cheapest when purchased at booking and increase at the airport. Verify at ryanair.com.

Check-In Options & Boarding

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Online Check-In

Opens 30 days before departure and is free at ryanair.com or the Ryanair app. It is effectively mandatory — checking in at the airport desk carries a fee.

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Mobile Boarding Pass

Download the Ryanair app to store your mobile boarding pass. A printed or downloaded boarding pass is required before reaching the gate.

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Airport Check-In Fee

Passengers who have not checked in online are charged an airport check-in fee, in keeping with Ryanair's unbundled pricing model.

Cancellation & Change Policy

24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation

All Fares

Ryanair tickets booked directly can be cancelled within 24 hours of purchase for a full refund, provided the booking was made at least 7 days before departure.

Date Changes

Fare Dependent

Regular fares charge a change fee plus any fare difference. Flexi Plus includes free date changes, making it worthwhile for uncertain travel plans.

No Cash Refunds on Regular Fares

Non-Refundable

Outside the 24-hour window, Regular and Plus fares are generally non-refundable in cash; cancellation does not typically return a travel credit either.

Flexi Plus Flexibility

Flexi Plus

The Flexi Plus bundle offers the most forgiving change terms, letting travelers adjust dates without a separate change fee.

Flying With Ryanair

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All-Boeing 737 Fleet

Ryanair's fleet consists entirely of Boeing 737 aircraft, including the newer 737 MAX 8200, simplifying operations and keeping costs low.

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Onboard Buy-to-Fly

Snacks, drinks, and duty-free items are available for purchase onboard — there is no complimentary food or beverage service.

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Secondary Airports

Ryanair frequently flies to smaller regional airports rather than a city's main airport, which helps keep fares low but may mean a longer transfer into the city center.

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Fast Turnarounds

Ryanair is known for quick aircraft turnaround times between flights, part of the operational efficiency behind its low-cost model.

Tips to Book Cheap Ryanair Flights

  • 1.Only bring a small personal item that fits under the seat unless you've paid for priority boarding — Ryanair strictly enforces its cabin bag policy and gate charges are steep.
  • 2.Book directly at ryanair.com or through myRyanair to avoid third-party booking fees and to manage add-ons like baggage and seating yourself at the lowest price.
  • 3.Add checked baggage at the time of booking — airport bag fees are significantly higher than pre-booked online fees.
  • 4.Double-check the airport code before booking — Ryanair often flies to secondary airports (e.g., Beauvais for Paris, Charleroi for Brussels) further from the city center.
  • 5.DUB–STN and STN–BCN are among Ryanair's busiest and cheapest routes — book early or fly midweek for the lowest fares.
  • 6.Consider the Flexi Plus bundle if your travel dates are uncertain — it can be cheaper than paying separate change fees later.
  • 7.Ryanair fares rise as seats sell — booking a few weeks to a couple of months ahead typically beats last-minute prices.
  • 8.Use FareOptic to compare Ryanair against other European low-cost carriers like Wizz Air and easyJet on the same route.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about booking Ryanair flights on FareOptic

Do I get a free checked or cabin bag with Ryanair?

No, not by default. Ryanair's base fare only includes one small personal item that fits under the seat in front of you. A larger cabin bag placed in the overhead locker, and any checked baggage, must be purchased separately as paid add-ons — this unbundled, à la carte pricing model is central to how Ryanair keeps its base fares so low.

Does Ryanair fly to a single main hub?

No. Unlike many flag carriers, Ryanair does not operate around one dominant hub. It runs dozens of bases across Europe, with Dublin (DUB) serving as its home and spiritual hub, alongside major bases at London Stansted (STN), Milan Bergamo (BGY), Madrid (MAD), and many other cities.

Does Ryanair fly to the main airport in every city?

Not always. Ryanair frequently serves smaller or secondary regional airports rather than a city's primary international airport — for example, Beauvais instead of central Paris, or Charleroi instead of Brussels Zaventem. Always check the exact airport code before booking ground transport.

Does Ryanair have a frequent flyer miles program?

Ryanair does not run a traditional frequent flyer miles program. Its closest equivalent is a free myRyanair account, which stores your details for faster booking, plus optional paid fare bundles — Regular, Plus, and Flexi Plus — that bundle together extras like cabin bags, seat selection, and flexible changes.

What fleet does Ryanair operate?

Ryanair operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet (including the 737-800 and newer 737 MAX 8200 'Gamechanger' aircraft), which simplifies maintenance, training, and operations and helps the airline keep costs — and fares — low.

Is Ryanair the largest airline in Europe?

Yes. Ryanair is Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers, carrying well over 180 million passengers a year across an extensive network of intra-European routes from its many bases.