Living near Bournemouth my 2 daughters needed return flights to Alicante at the end of this month and obviously flying from Bmouth Airport is great Ryanair advertising £5. fares each way to Europe - fantastic. Unfortunately when you actually book, these cheap flights do not exist. They add on for everything you can't have thought of including £20 for paying by card, even though not a credit card but a bank debit card so they get the money immediately. The cheap fares became almost £94. each! (and that is limiting them to 1 suitcase between them)
I didn't want to give Ryanair the business but the trip was important and they had to book. Why is this practice not illegal. How can they advertise a fare which is nowhere near its cost?

Interesting JR and very sad too; that kind of advertising/marketing/conning sums up the state of the UK today; it's like those online scams "I live in Nigeria and want to give you a million quid".

You think "how on earth can anyone fall for this" but we all do when we're not looking!

Think there is some type of investigation going on into this.
Unfortunately you have very little choice given your position,so even if they had advertised the full fare it would still have been cheaper.

I think you're right IA, that there is some kind of investigation going on into this.

The advertised price should be what you pay, anything else is pure dishonesty

Flew to Malta last year. Was cheaper to fly with Air Malta. You get an inflight included in the price as well meal as well as a standard baggage allowance and no extras.

Yes Giles,it certainly pays to shop around.I used to fly weekly,and always would use a price comparison website or two before buying.

From Mad TV

Ryanair do not use price comparison sites and, yes, their advertising (like Easyjet, who do the same) can be a bit OTT. But, they have reduced the cost of European travel enormously.

Up to about 12 years ago, Aer Lingus and BA operated a cartel on the London/Dublin route - charging whatever fare they agreed between them. It was the most expensive route in Europe, £'s per mile.

Return fares in excess of £200 were charged; I regularly fly now for £20. Aer Lingus and BA are now virtually bankrupt whilst Ryanair (now a much larger airline than either) is highly profitable - with, as Boeing's biggest customer - the most modern fleet in Europe.

OK, Ryanair are not perfect (no frills remember) but their role in precipitating cheaper European travel is clear and I am grateful enough to put up with a small degree of 'sharp practice' - its not a perfect world.

Very soon, Ryanair will tackle the North Atlantic routes and, there again, I will be happy just to wait for the total flight cost to be detailed when booking on line - and, then, to take a view. Simples.

Yes Tracey we are certainly better off since these budget airlines arrived.
I regularly used to fly to Nimes and the like for £20 return back end of the century,including a full suitcase.
It is 'no frills',the scheduled boys give better legroom.and often serve a meal,so allow this in a ticket.But for say a 2 hour flight do we really need this? A long haul flight though really does need more comfort.I've done Dubai more recently with Air France,KLM and Royal Dubai,returns for around £230,so I don't think there's much room for improvement,especially when you think I get 2 meals,and as many free drinks as I ask for...be interesting though.

Airlines such as Ryanair have altered European travel for the better. Next - flights to the USA!

Current cheapest Virgin and BA fares are £269 return to NYC. Ryanair will be sub £199, with more new (but larger) Boeings.

I , for one, shall not mind bringing my sandwiches and one small bag.

'Current cheapest Virgin and BA fares are £269 return to NYC. Ryanair will be sub £199'

I usually use budget airlines for a quick weekend etc,where one flight bag and no grub/drinks are ok.
However on long haul you'll need some drinks,and when you add in the 2 hot meals a scheduled flight gives too,and the fact that most people will hit the States for 2 weeks,so will need more luggage,and the £20+ card fee,plus the probable quid a throw in the toilet,plus......think you'll find the Ryanair price may not be exactly the best price anyhow...and the fact that the others will price match them anyway.

The only gripe we have about Ryanair is its dishonesty in advertising a price.Easyjet was much more honest in its advertising,just be nice to see Ryanair do the same.