I fly Ryanair on business to the Uk pretty regularly. I take only hand luggage and pay for pre-boarding priority.
I have never had a bad experience with the cabin staff nor with the airline's operating standards, and I am a retired airline pilot.
It represents tremendous value for money.

R. Bouchier, Doue la Fontaine, France

Ryanair subsidises its business passengers by charging tourists these extras.

A business man on a return flight with hand luggage checks in online for free & pays just two CC fees.

But a family of four on holiday taking a bag each pays 8 times to check in, 8 times for the bags and 8 CC fees.

Damian Corrigan, Salamanca, Spain

HI, Nice item re' Ryanairs costs albeit inaccurate, they charge £18.00 per bag plus £18.00 credit card booking fee!
Not bad eh?
This was for 3 return flights to Limoges in June this year, the advertised cost was £19.99 each way pp = £119.94 total
the actual cost was £319.98!

Tony Helmer, Ipswich, Suffolk

BA? Free on-board refreshments? Yes. But not if you find yourself on a flight operated by one of their "partners" such as Iberia, who will happily charge you for eating and drinking despite your BA booking. So what's the advantage of BA then....?

ian, Gloucester,

Ryanair stated you can fly for the price u see if u pay by electron,online check in, hand luggage 10kg, no insurance, no fast boarding. So i get an electron card and guess what took me 3 days to book as purchase now button mysteriously not on screen....come on Ryanair!!! £0.00 still cost £43.58 tax

jc, liverpool, uk

"If they don't learn that lesson they will see very quickly just how many passengers become ABR-Anyone but Ryanair". I think not-look how their numbers increase month on month, year on year.
Also, "what %age of the (adult) population hold Electron cards" If you want one,apply for one - they're free

ROBERT JOHN, CARMARTHEN, WALES

"Despite this, the no-frills carriers still usually work out cheaper than the traditional airlines..." So what are you whinging about?! You pay your money, you take your choice. I regularly use (not so)Easyjet & Fly(may)be. Cheap & cheerful, but exactly what it says it is. Don't like it, don't use!

Bob Smith, London, UK

How does any airline charge for checking in?
How do you fly without checking in?

Richard Edwards, COVENTRY, England

To Richard Green,
I've failed on this. Could you get Times researchers to ask Electron what %age of the (adult) population hold an (active) Electron card. If the %age is say 2%, I'd like to query with Advertising Standards. Can Ryanair advertise a price unattainable by 98% of those who see the ad

geoff_soper, Redhill, Surrey

I live in Malaysia - here Air Asia is not as bad as ryanair but its going that way. I used to like them but now they suck.

Lost luggage - paid back at #2 per kilo !!

I always fly MAS, since they are GREAT for Divers. Going diving I only have to be 3kg over 15kg AAsia limit to equal MAS.

Ian Jones, Miri, Malaysia

What's worse - BA raising the price of a £200 ticket by 10% or easyjet raising the price of a £20 ticket by 50%.

People who use low-cost airlines generally know how to navigate the website and recognise that hand baggage is the way to go. We're not all innocents abroad.

Sheona Hutcheson, Chesham,

Ryanair charge £16 for an infant who doesn't get a seat, or baggage allowance. You'll likely want to take a car seat/carrier for an additional £8 per flight. On some flights I'm looking at 2 adults can fly for the price of one baby. Nice one Ryanair.

Michael, Bristol,

Isn't this charging for baggage and check in fees a form of component pricing of the fare that is soon the be made illegal by the EU.

As for Ryan Air there sullied reputation is well deserved.

Mark, Perth, Australia

Ryanair may be offering a "cheap" and basic service but they need to remember that we, the travelling public, still expect to be treated with respect and courtesy.

If they don't learn that lesson then they will see very quickly just how many passengers become ABR - Anyone but Ryanair.

Brendan, Banbridge, N Ireland

Only when they first started were budget airlines cheaper. I prefer to fly a scheduled airline and save all the nastiness. £60 LGW-FUE return with BA/ Iberia/ Binter Canarias: 2 changes - 23kg hold and hand luggage, snacks and smiles (except on Iberia) and free water, seat selection, loyalty points.

Paul M, Fuerteventura, Spain

I would choose Easyjet (or British Airways) over Ryanair every time. I only fly the latter if I absolutely have no choice - time/day/destination. They sting you for everything and quibble over every centimetre or gramme at check-in. And they're none too polite about it either!

Roger, Milan, Italy

No doubt if there is cabin decompression and the oxygen masks drop down you will be charged for the use of those too!

SHIRLEY, JOSSELIN, FRANCE

easyjet are miles better than ryanair.
soon you will have to pay ryanair to refuse their undrinkable drinks or inedible "snacks"
and the music that accompanies borading....wow!
it should carry a govt health warning.
i feel really really sorry for the staff that have to listen to it over and over..

grindles, london, england

And soon it will be a pound to use the loo

Richard, Bexhill, UK

I generally find Easyjet have a generous baggage allowance and don't charge for checking-in. Maybe that's why they're not mentioned in this article!

robin, Newcastle, uk