Ryanair, but is the « first » subscription really so advantageous? What does not return to the low cost offer

The « terms and conditions » are 4,344 words long (27,072 characters, spaces included) but also reading the entire document, plus the other attachments, several aspects are not clear of «Prime», the Ryanair subscription Which – says the low cost – will allow significant savings to those who fly twelve times a year, no more than one per month. At the price of 79 euros (per year), the registered user, promises the carrier, will receive e-mail « with exclusive access to sales of discounted flights », will have « a limited number of free reserved seats in specific files » and « travel insurance for all flights ».

The package

The « first » subscribers who fly twelve times a year – calculates Ryanair, which has reserved the initiative for no more than 25,000 people – « will save up to 420 euros. Subscribers who fly only three times a year will also save 105 euros, an amount higher than the cost of the subscription « . However, the low cost does not clarify the methodology to reach certain conclusions.

The questions

The questions are different. Which files can you choose subscribers passengers, at most for once a month for a year? Do the 12 reservations per year refer to a return flight or route? And again: how much is the discount for travel, in percentage or on average? And who manages any problems with insurance: does the customer interface with the third company that offers the package or will the carrier do it directly? They are no small questions. They serve the consumer to understand if it is convenient or not to register.

The accounts

The average rate of Ryanair, calculated by Courier On the nine months from April to December 2024, it was 72.7 euros. Of these 49.1 euros for the ticket only, another 23.6 of « ancellari », that is, extra voices such as priority boarding (which allows you to take the trolley by hand), the choice of the place, the luggage in the hold, etc. Only hand luggage-which is not expected in « Prime », is paid separately-has an average cost of 20-22 euros, according to industrial sources, and is the option chosen by over 80% of the passengers who buy extras.

The choice of the place

Having made this premise, let’s see the impact of the subscription in all its own item considered « advantageous » by the low cost. Ryanair writes that « the shareholders will regularly receive an e-mail notification to the address connected to the CEOPUNTS regarding the imminent offers of exclusive flights and other relevant ». These e-mails, warns the company, « are an essential part of the Ryanair Prime service » and « therefore, the members cannot give up receiving them ». However, without clarifying if it contains discounts reserved only for subscribers or the reporting of flights at interesting price (visible from everyone).

E-mails with offers

The insiders believe that if it is a simple signaling of flights at low prices this notification system – which presumably activates when the company puts a flight for sale, starting from the less expensive seats – not only is already overcome: other platforms, such as Skyscanner, allow you to receive notifications in real time when the price of a flight floats. But they underline the lack of clarity on the contents: will the e-mails send communications only on flights that affect the individual user or in general even on not relevant routes?

The choice of the place

The low cost claims that the traveler who flies twelve times a year will have a saving of 420 euros, that is, 35 euros per flight on average. Within this item there is one of the « advantages » that lies in the free choice of the place. Not on all seats, however. The member « can book up to 12 free seats in the designated files on specific flights without additional costs, based on availability ». Net of the note « based on availability » the reserved seats – from what you learn – are those that cost less, 8 euros per flight. They are seats chosen by very few people and are often those assigned (free) during the online check-in phase. In the various documents, the low cost does not explain which part of the plane – presumably on the back – nor if the central seats can be avoided. From the company they just explain that the available seats will be seen at the time of booking.

The number of travel

Another aspect to be clarified is on the number of 12 flights. Following the requests of the Courier Ryanair explains that these are the offer applied on the single flight, so it would be advantages on six trips (round trip) per year. And as for discounts, the carrier continues, the calculations shown were made on the basis of the two promotions launched (April and May) and which according to them saved the passengers registered 110 euros. Numbers that the Courier It is unable to confirm or deny.

The policy

Then there is the issue of travel insurance, included in « Prime » – albeit with different limitations, registry, compensation and territorial -: the basic version costs 21.29 euros on the Ryanair website. The low cost underlines that « given the limitations to the coverage » the EU passengers of at least 70 years « will not be suitable for the medical protection provided for by the insurance coverage ». The policy, provided by an external company, lists between the conditions also that the cost of the ticket is reimbursed (« up to a maximum of 500 euros ») with a 10%deductible. But a note explains that « I insured the age of 65 at the age of 65 at the time of booking are subject to doubled franchises ». In case of flight late to departure, « up to 240 euros » will be recognized: « 20 euros in total for the first 12 hours late, 20 euros for each subsequent hour ». In short, if the flight delays less than 12 hours – 99.998% of flights – no figure is recognized.

The real impact

This option is purchased by a reduced number of passengers therefore does not appear so advantageous in terms of final expenditure. In short: among the advantages there are two that cost 29.29 euros and do not have a significant impact because little are chosen (the policy of 21.29 euros, the choice of the 8 euro place), and there is no one that would really be interesting to have (hand luggage). Here is added another consideration: the company does not specify whether the saving of 420 euros per year is net of the 79 spent for the subscription or if the registration cost must be subtracted.

[email protected]

(article updated with the clarifications of Ryanair asked by the Corriere)