Did Ryanair really just offer free flights?
By Darren Cronian on Tuesday, July 17th, 2007

I mentioned a few days back, that Ryanair were advertising free flights on its website, but did anyone actually find a free flight? I spent a good hour looking around for these elusive free flights, and yes, I could find flights for £0.01p, there was nothing that I could find that was free.

Did Ryanair really just offer free flights?

You could argue that there isn’t such a thing as free flights when you have to pay for flight tax etc. and it’s good to see that the trading standards people are finally, doing something about false pricing, which has existed in the travel industry for a while – it makes you wonder how they have got away with it for so long.

So, were you a lucky traveller who found a free flight?


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19 responses to “Did Ryanair really just offer free flights?”

ChrisJJ | 24 July, 2007 at 2:44 pm

> So, were you a lucky traveller who found a free flight?

I found plenty of flights for £0.01p including “taxes” and card payment fee. I bought a LondonBerlin return ticket for £0.02 total.

Darren Cronian | 25 July, 2007 at 2:52 am

Chris,

Did you read the booking right. That’s £0.02 total including taxes.

I don’t think that is right. The flights I found for £0.01 single didn’t include taxes, so this jumped up to £20ish single. It’s not free, and okay we are arguing over a few pence, but when they say free, it should be free in my opinion.

Rohan | 5 August, 2007 at 12:27 pm

My dad always told me that there isn’t such a thing as free.

I agree with you Darren, there’s no way Chris got a return ticket for £0.02. with tax, because the tax comes to around £20-30 each way.

Darren Cronian | 5 August, 2007 at 12:40 pm

Well Chris hasn’t confirmed what I suspect, but there’s no way he’s bought a ticket for £0.02.

Not with taxes added on top.

I’ve yet to find anyone who found a free flight though mmmmmm

ChrisJJ | 6 August, 2007 at 11:34 pm

> there’s no way Chris got a return ticket for £0.02. with tax,
> because the tax comes to around £20-30 each way.

Ryanair pass on as little as the tax as they like. As do e.g. Geermanwings.

Plus I’ve never seen the return taxes, fees and charges exceed £15.

ChrisJJ | 6 August, 2007 at 11:38 pm

> there’s no way he’s bought a ticket for £0.02.

That’s what the RA confirmation says. I’d post the breakdown for you to see, but oddly each time I try, this bold comment form throws it away.

Michael Bartlett | 10 September, 2007 at 3:41 pm

There used to be - and still maybe are - wonderful bargains with RYANAIR but I ask the question that nobody seems to answer;-

If one is buying a flight for 0.01p PLUS charges and taxes - do they ALL go to the Airport and Government or is Ryanair holding on to part of them - if so how much?

Is Michael O’Leary really flying me Luton to Dublin for only 1 Penny ?

Michael.

Chris | 10 September, 2007 at 9:06 pm

> If one is buying a flight for 0.01p PLUS charges and
> taxes - do they ALL go to the Airport and Government
> or is Ryanair holding on to part of them

It varies. For a 0.01p+ flight the charges and taxes can vary between zero and e.g. 28 GBP. What part if any is Airpport and Govt charges is stated on the details link at the time if paying.

Michael | 9 October, 2007 at 10:59 am

For clarification, yes, usually Ryanair’s ‘free’ flights require you to pay the taxes. However, occasionally they do offer them completely free, in which case they actually make a considerable loss (unless you pay for auxiiary services such as baggage and food) because they still have to pay the tax. The £0.02 charge is because they don’t want people making huge numbers of bookings automatically and with no intention of using them. Even the tightest cheapskate cannot complain about 2p return! And yes, in case you’re still in doubt, I have indeed flown to Ireland and back for absolutely nothing.

ChrisM | 11 October, 2007 at 9:24 am

I have also purchased 3 return tickets to Franfurt on 17/11/07 which cost a total of £0.06 (£0.01p each way) and this included all taxes and fees.

I have the booking confirmation which these details and my credit card was billed correctly.

Darren Cronian | 11 October, 2007 at 9:48 am

Still not free though is it! ;)

ChrisM | 11 October, 2007 at 9:57 am

Would you really complain about a flight for 1p?

Michael Bartlett | 11 October, 2007 at 11:04 am

I would not complain at £0.06 pence but if £0.01 ( one penny) each way how can the total be £0.06 (six pennies) ???

The schools are still not teaching arithmetic correctly..

However.. jealousy gets me nowhere!

Best wishes

Happy Flying

Michael.

Darren Cronian | 11 October, 2007 at 12:25 pm

Michael, Chris.

Did you not bother to read my blog post?

Ryanair were advertising FREE flights, but no one has found a FREE flight.

Yes, I agree £0.06 flights are great, but it isn’t free as they advertised is it?

Ryanair are known for false advertising, I was trying to find if people have found a FREE flight.

Obviously not! ;)

ChrisM | 11 October, 2007 at 12:35 pm

Darren Cronian Says:

August 5th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Well Chris hasn’t confirmed what I suspect, but there’s no way he’s bought a ticket for £0.02.

——————–

You also stated this to which I was replying…. and I did buy a return flight for £0.02.
Free = No… 2p = Yes…

jennifer | 7 January, 2008 at 5:02 pm

can u still get free tickets and how

Isa | 17 June, 2008 at 5:21 pm

Ryanair are currently advertising flights for free £0 INCLUDING taxes, fees and charges. I have not managed to find one flight for free, all of the £0 flights add fees and charges on top. Should they not say free flights NOT including fees, taxes and charges?
Ryanair should be fined constantly. Im sick of wasting my time with them, Easyjet all the way - much better.

ChrisJJ | 17 June, 2008 at 5:40 pm

> I have not managed to find one flight for free, all
> of the £0 flights add fees and charges on top.

I have found flights for £0.01 total. E.g. From London Stansted - Altenburg (Leipzig) 14 Oct 08 “Total Price: 0.01 GBP”.

Darren Cronian | 17 June, 2008 at 5:43 pm

@Isa

I must admit I haven’t looked, but I will be tonight because I didn’t realise that there was a sale on there at the moment. I’ll let you know how I get on.

@ChrisJJ

Thanks for the information. That’s useful to know.

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