TUI now using Ryanair instead of TUI aircraft

tom1ie

hi all,

I noticed a holiday id been keeping an eye on had shot up in price by about €500 and that the free child place had disappeared.
So I rang TUI today and was told that they won’t be doing free child places anymore and that they were using Ryanair going forward.
Apparently they were informing customers who had already booked their 2026 holidays today and that there would be a price increase due to them now using Ryanair.

It seems competition is shrinking in this sector and prices are going through the roof.

JVince

So you get some information from a call center person, mumble it up and make a declaration.

And guess what?

You are wrong and spreading misinformation.

Even a very very basic Google search would give you correct information.

SOME destinations will utilise Ryanair flights - just like almost all package holiday companies (some use aer lingus too)

They've done this for years. But now they have an official agreement and can actually advertise it.

They still have their own airplanes and still use them in many cases, but will also use Ryanair, easyjet and others as they and all package holiday companies have done previously.

As for "free" child places - there's no such thing as "free". It's built into the price.

tom1ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123599678#Comment_123599678

Less of the attitude please I’m not spreading misinformation.

The price was advertised a couple of weeks back as €4080 to go at the start of June 2026 with a free child place.

The price is now €4510 to go at the same dates with no free child place.

When I phoned up to enquire I was told this was due to TUI pulling all their aircraft out of rep Ireland and concentrating on Northern Ireland ie Belfast.

As I have said the price is now €4510 with Ryanair hosting the flight with less favourable times than TUI were providing.

So TUI using Ryanair instead of there own aircraft has resulted in a jump in price and worse times for the consumer.

scudzilla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123599746#Comment_123599746

Ever considered going from Belfast with Jet2 or Easyjet.

We last went on a Summer holiday from Dublin with Tui in May2022, utter disaster, delayed 24hrs going out, vowed then never to use Tui again, used the 1600 compo to book with jet2 from Belfast, a LOT cheaper

Next June we're (2 ad, 2 kids) are doing 10 nights HB in a cracking hotel we've been to before in Tenerife, Jet 2 were coming in at 3,400, EXACT same with Easyjet but better flight times was 2,350stg, priced up the same (dates, board) holiday with Tui from Dublin at it was 4,800Euro

tom1ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123599771#Comment_123599771

I’m in the process of looking at this now!

I priced up the same holiday as in the op and guess what it’s coming in much cheaper to go with TUI out of Belfast with TUI airline and much better times.

Edit do you park the car in Belfast airport or get the train?

scudzilla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123599801#Comment_123599801

Park the car, short stay is a 5 minute walk from terminal, as we've had a few late (midnight) returns over the ast 3yrs we've booked the hotel which is across road, wit these easyjet flights we're due to land at 17:00 so no need for that.

I love Belfast International, some don't, i find it nice, compact and not busy at all, and ya dont have to walk miles to the gates

Dont forget to look at Jet 2 and Easyjet holidays

tom1ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123599816#Comment_123599816

I’m on jet 2 now and there are 14 night holidays with 5 bags to PDC in 3 star self catering accommodation for €3725 in the second week of June 2026!!!!
what the hell!

Is the parking at Belfast expensive?

JVince

It is misinformation.

One out of a couple of hundred options has changed.

They have used Ryanair for many years AND others.

I believe they only have two aircraft operating from Dublin, so most of their flights are with 3rd party airlines.

Doesn't stop them offering a gimmick of "free flights", but if it's a Ryanair flight they book Ryanair in your behalf and fares must be the same as Ryanair offer. Same system has applied this year.

No change - misinformation.

tom1ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123599893#Comment_123599893

Jog on will you.
Prices have gone up since they have started using Ryanair as opposed to their own airline.
They still use their own airline out of Belfast.
It’s not misinformation.

DavidJC

With Jet2, you can save £50 per person. That's £400 off for a family of four.

scudzilla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123599892#Comment_123599892

A lot cheaper than Dublin that's for sure, always Belfast for me now, save well over a grand each time

JVince

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123599924#Comment_123599924

The majority of their holidays are with 3rd party airlines. They have only had two aircraft operating from Dublin/cork.

So a small change next year.

They will still have "free" child places on many holidays where they control the prices and add a margin for themselves.

Where they use Ryanair, they are subject to Ryanair prices on the day of booking. That's how it is now and that's how it is for next year.

Ryanair prices change constantly based on bookings. That's always the case. It might drop next month, it might go up. Change the day and price will change.

No change in what they are doing this year.

tom1ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123600016#Comment_123600016

You must work for them or something?
There is a massive difference in the price they are now charging because they have pulled the TUI planes (that they subbed out anyway to Netherlands airlines for example) and have now replaced that with Ryanair who are offering worse flight times at a higher price, but also offer the peak flying out slots at even higher prices.

Anyway it’s TUIs loss as I’ll be flying out of Belfast now.

scudzilla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123599892#Comment_123599892

Another thing with jet 2, just looked and guessed you're looking at HG Lomo, you can add Half Board at 121 pp, thats 8.60 a day each for breakfast and an evening meal, again that's saving a fortune, doesn't mean you don't go out to restaurants, we do, but nice to chill in hotel some nights

tom1ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123600185#Comment_123600185

Good shout.
I was indeed looking at HG lomo which is £3536-£60 on checkout, but also Hyde park lane bungalows which is coming in at £3264-£60 on checkout= £3204

edit

Hg lomo coming in at £3293 (€3804) with easy jet.

Touristx73

Pulling all their own aircraft out of ROI from May. Wonder what will happen to the routes they have a monopoly on. From Dublin to Larnaca and Tunisia and Cork to Corfu?

scudzilla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123600254#Comment_123600254

Yep, next year for some reason Easyjet seem a LOT cheaper for the canaries, still get the luggage/transfers etc, adding the Half Board and still well over a grand (possibly 2 grand)cheaper than Dublin.

tom1ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123600419#Comment_123600419

Looks like all the flights will be run by Ryanair.
If you go on the TUI website/app all the flights seem to be ryaniar flights now and the middle of the day flying out as opposed to early flights are the preset.
If you want the same time flights as the TUI planes flew, then you have to pay extra on top of the extra price increase that has now been added anyway as they are using Ryanair.

pc7

That's a shame I used to always search on their site by TUI operated and like that was always cheaper. Must look at Belfast.

ETA holiday I was looking at for next year is now 2k more expensive.

tom1ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123601083#Comment_123601083

Yeah massive increases.
It’s just gonna drive people away from all the airports in rep Ireland.

Banzai600

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123601364#Comment_123601364

it'll be good for northern Ireland based travel agents - they can probably react quicker , they have a bigger UK market, all ppl need to do down here, is do is drive a little further to save money, particularly families. no brainer really.

just for pitfalls, always have travel insurance.

tom1ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123601373#Comment_123601373

Absolutely and that’s what I plan on doing for next years holiday.
Just hope I can book parking at this stage cause I reckon it’s gonna get very busy!!

Banzai600

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123601383#Comment_123601383

you shopuld do. we dont have kids, but speaking to neighbours etc, its off the charts money to get away now.

Or even get the train from Dublin, or a connector train, OR the buses that run regular from Dublin airport up north. its a bit of pain but if you're saving big money its worth it.

whispering1

Saw on Facebook that TUI rang people yesterday who had Corfu booked for 2026 out of Cork to say that either Ryanair or Aer Lingus will be doing the flight. Just Wondering though will it be out of Cork ?

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058418642/tui-now-using-ryanair-instead-of-tui-aircraft

I've booked TUI holidays from Ireland numerous times and have travelled on Aer Lingus and Ryanair flights as part of their package. I assume it's a demand thing, if they don't have enough demand to fill a flight it's more economical it piggy back on scheduled flights.

grayzer75

Going with TUI to Majorca in 3 weeks time out of Dublin and we were told a few months ago that the flights would be operated by Air Explore on behalf of TUI Netherlands. TUI have also changed the flight time numerous times since the holiday was booked.

We usually go Jet2 out of Belfast as they've always been competitive, a good number of free child places and no hassle - probably go back to them for 2026.

endofrainbow

ALL charter airlines use wet lease aircrafts.

tom1ie

yes I know TUI use contractor aircraft in the past but they would have been air Netherlands or the likes previously.
They are now using Ryanair and as a result the price has jumped massivley and the flights are in completely different slots compared to what was on offer.
They will then charge you extra for the original early slot that you wanted which is a result of them going with Ryanair.

tom1ie

Yep I was told the same craic yesterday when I phoned up to enquire on the price jump in the space of a week.

pc7

Will you get same baggage allowance if on RA rather than TUI operated flight now?

Also wonder will some hotels that were exclusively TUI now open up, or would their UK flights be enough to fill the accommodation

tom1ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123600185#Comment_123600185

@scudzilla you've been incredibly helpful so thanks very much.

We have booked 2 weeks in two adjoining one bed apartments in Lanzarote, flights at good times, 5x 23KG suitcases plus 5 x 10KG carry on, for £3292.44 (€3811.32).

This is far cheaper than what we would have got with TUI who were looking for almost €5K with the flight times we wanted!

One last question, when booking the parking at Belfast, do you usually go with the shuttle bus car park, or for £5 extra would you go with the car park that's a 6 min walk away from the terminal considering the 5 bags, pram and 3 kids?

Are there suitcase trollies available in the car park that's a 6 min walk away do you know?

Thanks again!