NYC to London for $15???
That's right $15. Ryan Air, which is Europe's super-budget airline has been trying for years to get transatlantic flights going. It nows appears the legal red tape holding them back has been cleared and they will charge 10 euros between NYC and London. If you are looking to travel cheap, this is your ticket.
Sound too good to be true? Well, there isn't a catch. But rather there are a bunch of catches. I've flown round trip with Ryan Air twice including this year. Frankfurt-Barcelona and Frankfurt-Rome. Barcelona was 25 euros at the time and Rome was 60, I think. Why so much more than 10 euros? Well, depends on the deals at the time and timing is everything. If you want a really good, 10-25 euro deal, you'll have to do it during certain periods. Usually 4 or so weeks in advance. Too early and too late will cost you anywhere from 40 to 80 euros more.
Then there are taxes and fees and oil surcharges. I believe my Barcelona flight really cost about 40 or 50 euros and my Roman one about 100. Still, excellent prices.
Catch number three, it's only sort of Frankfurt to Barcelona. When it says from "Frankfurt" it really is from Frankfurt-Hahn Airport. Which isn't even in the same state as Frankfurt. It's a good 2 hour bus ride away. In Barcelona we arrived in Girona about 65 miles north of Barcelona. In Rome, Ciampino, not Da Vinci Airport. So you have to figure on getting a bus there and back. Again, not a huge deal, it was like 8 euros or so each way, and in Frankfurt 20 round trip, I think. Hell, in Rome it was free (the bus ticket machine didn't work and the bus driver declared "who cares, just come on"). Ryan Air pays these small dinky airports a lot less than the major ones.
Catch four, a lot of these flights have strange times. In fact, often these times don't even match up with bus schedules and we had to stay overnight in Frankfurt-Hahn to catch our Spanish flight, because it left before any of the buses arrive in the morning.
Lastly, there are meals and pillows. Naturally, you have to pay for all of them. But there are no luxuries at all. Thankfully, there is a bathroom. Also, you do not have assigned seats. Sit where ever you want. But there is always a mad rush of people, pushing ahead come boarding time, to try and sit together.
For this transatlantic flight to work. People are going to have buy goods on the plane and they will have to sell out every flight AND oil is going to have to stay cheap. Can Ryan Air pull it off? I honestly, doubt it. So, if you're looking to take advantage, my guess is that it will do very well the first six months as people all try it out. And then eventually, people will complain about the lack services and oil prices will rise again and Ryan Air won't be able to maintain it. So go during its first year is my advice. Or it will go the way of Hooters Air.
Sound too good to be true? Well, there isn't a catch. But rather there are a bunch of catches. I've flown round trip with Ryan Air twice including this year. Frankfurt-Barcelona and Frankfurt-Rome. Barcelona was 25 euros at the time and Rome was 60, I think. Why so much more than 10 euros? Well, depends on the deals at the time and timing is everything. If you want a really good, 10-25 euro deal, you'll have to do it during certain periods. Usually 4 or so weeks in advance. Too early and too late will cost you anywhere from 40 to 80 euros more.
Then there are taxes and fees and oil surcharges. I believe my Barcelona flight really cost about 40 or 50 euros and my Roman one about 100. Still, excellent prices.
Catch number three, it's only sort of Frankfurt to Barcelona. When it says from "Frankfurt" it really is from Frankfurt-Hahn Airport. Which isn't even in the same state as Frankfurt. It's a good 2 hour bus ride away. In Barcelona we arrived in Girona about 65 miles north of Barcelona. In Rome, Ciampino, not Da Vinci Airport. So you have to figure on getting a bus there and back. Again, not a huge deal, it was like 8 euros or so each way, and in Frankfurt 20 round trip, I think. Hell, in Rome it was free (the bus ticket machine didn't work and the bus driver declared "who cares, just come on"). Ryan Air pays these small dinky airports a lot less than the major ones.
Catch four, a lot of these flights have strange times. In fact, often these times don't even match up with bus schedules and we had to stay overnight in Frankfurt-Hahn to catch our Spanish flight, because it left before any of the buses arrive in the morning.
Lastly, there are meals and pillows. Naturally, you have to pay for all of them. But there are no luxuries at all. Thankfully, there is a bathroom. Also, you do not have assigned seats. Sit where ever you want. But there is always a mad rush of people, pushing ahead come boarding time, to try and sit together.
For this transatlantic flight to work. People are going to have buy goods on the plane and they will have to sell out every flight AND oil is going to have to stay cheap. Can Ryan Air pull it off? I honestly, doubt it. So, if you're looking to take advantage, my guess is that it will do very well the first six months as people all try it out. And then eventually, people will complain about the lack services and oil prices will rise again and Ryan Air won't be able to maintain it. So go during its first year is my advice. Or it will go the way of Hooters Air.