Tip for buying Ryanair Flights

Jesper · 19-01-2009 7:16pm #1

This may be handy if you want to stick Ryanair for a few quid

. It will only work if your flights that finish close to a multiple of €25 though.

"The airline charges 10 euro per person when booking flights by credit/debit card . There is a way around it though.

If you buy Ryanair vouchers on the website (very easy process) and then use the vouchers to buy your flights no extra charges for using your card,

When you buy the vouchers - You get the code immediately and then you just use that to pay for your flights therefore dodging the extra charges for use of debit"

Terms and Conditions.
"Vouchers can only be redeemed on www.ryanair.com.
Gift vouchers must be redeemed within 6 months (186 days) of the voucher issue date after which date the voucher becomes void.
The validity of the vouchers cannot be extended.
Vouchers are issued in denominations of €25/€50 or local currency equivalent.
If a voucher is partially redeemed the remaining balance is non-refundable.
Vouchers are only valid for the person named as the voucher recipient.
A maximum of 4 vouchers can be used to purchase a flight. If the total amount of ticket price exceeds the value of the voucher(s) any price difference must be paid by credit or/debit card.
Vouchers are only valid for the payment of Ryanair flights and any associated taxes, fees and charges.
Redemption of gift vouchers in a different currency from the issuing currency will be subject to foreign currency conversion rate at the time of booking."

JAMM222 · 19-01-2009 7:22pm

thats a great idea:D

getoffthepot · 19-01-2009 7:25pm

'Vouchers are only valid for the person named as the voucher recipient.'

Sounds Good.

One question.
If I book a flight for 2 people can the voucher be usd for payent for both peoples flights.

Hagar · 19-01-2009 7:33pm

It looks like it as it specifies that the name on the voucher must be the name of the lead passenger.

Partially used vouchers are non-refundable. I think that is the catch. I suspect that any purchase no matter how small will cost you a whole voucher. Could be costly if I'm right.

slave1 · 19-01-2009 8:20pm

any price difference must be paid by credit or/debit card

nava · 19-01-2009 9:07pm

Another way to avoid Credit card charges is to use the Entropay credit card, is a Visa Electron so no credit card charges at all with Ryanair. You need to top up your account with your own credit card and I think you can also do a bank transfer they do charge small commision for the the top-up.

To avoid the charge on the registration you must select as currency GBP if you use EUR it will be a standard credit card.

They might ask you for a copy or credit card and/or passport.

the groutch · 19-01-2009 9:15pm

thread of the year by the OP

nava · 19-01-2009 9:29pm

Jesper wrote: »

This may be handy if you want to stick Ryanair for a few quid . It will only work if your flights that finish close to a multiple of €25 though.

"The airline charges 10 euro per person when booking flights by credit/debit card . There is a way around it though.

If you buy Ryanair vouchers on the website (very easy process) and then use the vouchers to buy your flights no extra charges for using your card,

When you buy the vouchers - You get the code immediately and then you just use that to pay for your flights therefore dodging the extra charges for use of debit"

Terms and Conditions.
"Vouchers can only be redeemed on www.ryanair.com.
Gift vouchers must be redeemed within 6 months (186 days) of the voucher issue date after which date the voucher becomes void.
The validity of the vouchers cannot be extended.
Vouchers are issued in denominations of €25/€50 or local currency equivalent.
If a voucher is partially redeemed the remaining balance is non-refundable.
Vouchers are only valid for the person named as the voucher recipient.
A maximum of 4 vouchers can be used to purchase a flight. If the total amount of ticket price exceeds the value of the voucher(s) any price difference must be paid by credit or/debit card.
Vouchers are only valid for the payment of Ryanair flights and any associated taxes, fees and charges.
Redemption of gift vouchers in a different currency from the issuing currency will be subject to foreign currency conversion rate at the time of booking."

With the above can I use a €25 voucher to partly pay a €228 trip for 4 people and not get charge any Credit card charges for the remaining
€203? or should I get a voucher for €200?

the groutch · 19-01-2009 9:32pm

nava wrote: »

With the above can I use a €25 voucher to partly pay a €228 trip for 4 people and not get charge any Credit card charges for the remaining
€203? or should I get a voucher for €200?

Hmmmmm

nava · 19-01-2009 9:34pm

the groutch wrote: »

idiot of the year

Comments like that keep them to yourself.

Hagar · 19-01-2009 10:02pm

nava wrote: »

With the above can I use a €25 voucher to partly pay a €228 trip for 4 people and not get charge any Credit card charges for the remaining
€203? or should I get a voucher for €200?

Are you serious? This is Ryanair we are talking about not St.Vincent de Paul, of course they are going to levy the credit charge. I'd lay good money that if you paid €225 in vouchers they would still nail you for the credit card charge on the remaining €3.

the groutch · 19-01-2009 10:03pm

Hagar wrote: »

Are you serious? This is Ryanair we are talking about not St.Vincent de Paul, of course they are going to levy the credit charge. I'd lay good money that if you paid €225 in vouchers they would still nail you for the credit card charge on the remaining €3.

that, and the maximum of 4 vouchers per flight

nava · 19-01-2009 10:06pm

Hagar wrote: »

Are you serious? This is Ryanair we are talking about not St.Vincent de Paul, of course they are going to levy the credit charge. I'd lay good money that if you paid €225 in vouchers they would still nail you for the credit card charge on the remaining €3.

Sorry, I understand they will charge the remaning €203 to the credit card as usual. I'm talking about the credit card charges (fees for using a credit card).

BeautifulLoser · 19-01-2009 10:09pm

nava wrote: »

With the above can I use a €25 voucher to partly pay a €228 trip for 4 people and not get charge any Credit card charges for the remaining
€203? or should I get a voucher for €200?

You always have to use vouchers worth more than the price of the flights. You must not pay for any part of your flight (directly) with your credit card as you will have to pay the fee. Perhaps an example or two..

If your flight costs €201, you'd have to buy vouchers worth €225. In this case you'd lose €24 worth of vouchers but would save the credit card fee(say €10 - €5 per flight per passenger). A net loss of €14.

If your flight costs €224, you'd have to buy vouchers worth €225. In this case you'd lose €1 worth of vouchers but would save the credit card fee(say €10 - €5 per flight per passenger). A net saving of €9.

nava · 19-01-2009 10:12pm

BeautifulLoser wrote: »

You always have to use vouchers worth more than the price of the flights. You must not pay for any part of your flight (directly) with your credit card as you will have to pay the fee. Perhaps an example or two..

If your flight costs €201, you'd have to buy vouchers worth €225. In this case you'd lose €24 worth of vouchers but would save the credit card fee(say €10 - €5 per flight per passenger). A net loss of €14.

If your flight costs €224, you'd have to buy vouchers worth €225. In this case you'd lose €1 worth of vouchers but would save the credit card fee(say €10 - €5 per flight per passenger). A net saving of €9.

Thanks Understood.

Handy in some cases but Entropay might be best option.

Hagar · 19-01-2009 10:12pm

nava wrote: »

Sorry, I understand they will charge the remaning €203 to the credit card as usual. I'm talking about the credit card charges (fees for using a credit card).

Once you use a credit card for any amount you will incur the Rynair credit card charge so you will pay the balance plus the charges.

Basq · 20-01-2009 12:28am

the groutch..

Keep the snide comments to yourself or you'll be taking a holiday from this forum.

And don't think editing the post will do you any favours,

banchang · 20-01-2009 1:19am

On the vouchers, this was covered on Liveline

In summary, get the lowest possible denomination vouchers, as there is NO CHANGE OR REFUND given

Greenmachine · 20-01-2009 6:43am

Awesome post. I got my mom and my bro vouchers for christmas. Never though of this.

Kotek Besar · 20-01-2009 8:26am

I think buying Ryanair vouchers is a very bad idea.

Unless the total price payable is exactly the value of the voucher(s), you're guaranteed to have to pay more. And that's subject to credit / debit card fees, of course.

Entropay is the best, imo.

Arcee · 20-01-2009 8:32am

Can you use 3v vouchers on Ryanair and is there a charge levied does anyone know?

Kotek Besar · 20-01-2009 9:14am

Arcee wrote: »

Can you use 3v vouchers on Ryanair and is there a charge levied does anyone know?

Yes. Charges are same as a regular Visa card.

TakeTheVeil · 20-01-2009 11:20am

Why not use a combination of the voucher trick and Entropay?

Would that not be perfect as it avoids Entropay's weak point of not working for more expensive flights?

So, flights cost 214e total, buy 200e in vouchers, pay the rest of with Entropay and don't incure CC charges. Or am I missing something?

Kotek Besar · 20-01-2009 11:35am

TakeTheVeil wrote: »

Why not use a combination of the voucher trick and Entropay?

Would that not be perfect as it avoids Entropay's weak point of not working for more expensive flights?

So, flights cost 214e total, buy 200e in vouchers, pay the rest of with Entropay and don't incure CC charges. Or am I missing something?

I agree. This would work out the best financially.

TakeTheVeil · 20-01-2009 11:41am

I wonder how long it'll be before Ryanair figure it out and stop us from doing it though.

Still might get a few uses out of it, still have to pay ridiculous baggage rates though.

ROVER · 20-01-2009 11:42am

TakeTheVeil wrote: »

Why not use a combination of the voucher trick and Entropay?

Would that not be perfect as it avoids Entropay's weak point of not working for more expensive flights?

So, flights cost 214e total, buy 200e in vouchers, pay the rest of with Entropay and don't incure CC charges. Or am I missing something?

Very good point Take The Veil - The power of boards brain storming.

Can you make a payment with a combination of EUR vouchers and GBP Entropay card? ie one payment 2 curriencies
Although I could see O'Leary on the case to chage the rules if it is going to cost him.

TakeTheVeil · 20-01-2009 12:17pm

ROVER wrote: »

Very good point Take The Veil - The power of boards brain storming.
Can you make a payment with a combination of EUR vouchers and GBP Entropay card? ie one payment 2 curriencies

Or can you get vouchers in GBP?

zing · 20-01-2009 1:50pm

It wouldn't be one payment in two currencies though. The currency of your card doesn't come it when you buy something afaik - your charged in the currency the transaction is completed in and your CC company in turn bills you based on current exchange rates.

slave1 · 20-01-2009 2:24pm

possible downside is that if something goies wrong with the payment on the RA website, you lose the fact the cr card company will take your cause if you dispute the purchase, check the Conusmer Issues forum and you'll see examples of double charges coming from your cr card on occassion, your only course to get a refund is to telephone the internet helpline (premium rate), however if you purchase via cr card you just get the cr card company to do the dirty work.
I doubt you'll get cr card company support if you use a voucher

snubbleste · 20-01-2009 2:34pm

benifa wrote: »

I think buying Ryanair vouchers is a very bad idea.

Unless the total price payable is exactly the value of the voucher(s), you're guaranteed to have to pay more. And that's subject to credit / debit card fees, of course.

I agree with this.
Ryanair vouchers are not a good purchase, never mind a bargain alert.

Drakar · 20-01-2009 2:36pm

Its a bit more difficult for them to double charge you if you use a voucher though too of course

Jesper · 20-01-2009 2:57pm

The main point of this as I see it is to have it as an option only if the price works out favourable (remarkably stingy

but it is Ryanair we're dealing with)

I.E. if flight comes to €48.
Since vouchers are in multiples of €25 you could buy €50 worth.
Pay for the flight. Get stung for the €2 difference (no change given back T&C's)
You save €8. Otherwise flights would cost €58; €48 flight + €10 booking fee.

The main point as I see it is the more people are flying the better (booking fee per person) and of course you have to get 'lucky' for the figure to land high in a multiple of €25.

fatboypee · 20-01-2009 4:20pm

Woz checking this out on the T&C's and it says:

# Vouchers are only valid for the person named as the voucher recipient.

does this mean i need to issue a voucher in the name of each passenger ? or just the lead passenger (ie me).... i got flights lined up for 100 yooyoos on the dot which would save me 25 yooyoos doing it this way (5 ppl)...

Thanks and sorry if these are stupid Questions

fbp

Jesper wrote: »

The main point of this as I see it is to have it as an option only if the price works out favourable (remarkably stingy but it is Ryanair we're dealing with)

I.E. if flight comes to €48.
Since vouchers are in multiples of €25 you could buy €50 worth.
Pay for the flight. Get stung for the €2 difference (no change given back T&C's)
You save €8. Otherwise flights would cost €58; €48 flight + €10 booking fee.

The main point as I see it is the more people are flying the better (booking fee per person) and of course you have to get 'lucky' for the figure to land high in a multiple of €25.

nava · 20-01-2009 4:28pm

fatboypee wrote: »

Woz checking this out on the T&C's and it says:

# Vouchers are only valid for the person named as the voucher recipient.

does this mean i need to issue a voucher in the name of each passenger ? or just the lead passenger (ie me).... i got flights lined up for 100 yooyoos on the dot which would save me 25 yooyoos doing it this way (5 ppl)...

Thanks and sorry if these are stupid Questions

fbp

No but the person named in the voucher must the main traveler. Can't see it now but thought I was reading in the website.

throwingmuses · 20-01-2009 11:04pm

Looked good at the start but with all that messing about with denominations and shortfalls and 4 vouchers etc. think it would rarely work out well.

Nothing's ever straightforward with those clowns.

abk · 22-01-2009 11:05pm

throwingmuses wrote: »

Looked good at the start but with all that messing about with denominations and shortfalls and 4 vouchers etc. think it would rarely work out well.

Nothing's ever straightforward with those clowns.

Took the courage and booked one flight (2 passengers) using vouchers and booked another (1 passenger+baggage check-in) using CC. Booked the flights at the same time i.e. different tabs on the browser. Loh and behold, after clicking on the purchase button, got 2 booking references but the names of the passengers are the same i.e the 2 passengers! To make matters worse, I was charged for 2 passengers on both Itineraries. Will have to call them tomorrow and see what they say. Otherwise I see €100 down the drain

tantipie · 22-01-2009 11:43pm

i think the browser automatically recognise you as the same person on both pages,,has happened me before when checkin flight prices

Kotek Besar · 23-01-2009 9:36am

abk wrote: »

Booked the flights at the same time i.e. different tabs on the browser. Loh and behold, after clicking on the purchase button, got 2 booking references but the names of the passengers are the same i.e the 2 passengers!

Should have done one booking in IE, one in Firefox..

Yakuza · 23-01-2009 10:57am

abk wrote: »

Booked the flights at the same time i.e. different tabs on the browser. Loh and behold, after clicking on the purchase button, got 2 booking references but the names of the passengers are the same i.e the 2 passengers! To make matters worse, I was charged for 2 passengers on both Itineraries. Will have to call them tomorrow and see what they say. Otherwise I see €100 down the drain

If you open a second tab on a site in IE (not sure about Firefox), as far as the web server is concerned, the second tab is the same session as the first (in technical parlance, both tabs will have the same "session id" so that any variables that are particular to that session (names, addresses etc) will be shared between the tabs, the last one to have been updated will overwrite any other entries). This would apply to any web site, not just Ryanair.

If you want to have different session ID (so as to not confuse the server) you would need to open up a second copy of IE for your second booking, or as has been suggested above, use another browser such as Firefox.

Kotek Besar · 23-01-2009 11:08am

Yakuza wrote: »

If you want to have different session ID (so as to not confuse the server) you would need to open up a second copy of IE for your second booking

Wouldn't work, still the same browser. Need to use different browsers, such as one IE and one Firefox.

Yakuza · 23-01-2009 11:34am

benifa wrote: »

Wouldn't work, still the same browser. Need to use different browsers, such as one IE and one Firefox.

I've tried it on a good few sites and it does work (online banking, web text). As long as the second copy is a completely separate copy of program (by clicking on the icon), as far as the web server is concerned, it may as well be a different person.

Daemonic · 23-01-2009 11:41am

Yakuza wrote: »

If you want to have different session ID (so as to not confuse the server) you would need to open up a second copy of IE for your second booking, or as has been suggested above, use another browser such as Firefox.

benifa wrote: »

Wouldn't work, still the same browser. Need to use different browsers, such as one IE and one Firefox.

Yakuza'a suggestion should work ok as long as you open the second window by dbl-clicking the IE icon and not by opening a new window from the File Menu.
Opening via the icon will create a second ieexplore.exe process on the comp and it will have it's own independent memory allocation etc.

Kotek Besar · 23-01-2009 11:48am

Daemonic wrote: »

Yakuza'a suggestion should work ok as long as you open the second window by dbl-clicking the IE icon and not by opening a new window from the File Menu.
Opening via the icon will create a second ieexplore.exe process on the comp and it will have it's own independent memory allocation etc.

I see that now, yes. Yakuza is correct.

abk · 23-01-2009 11:55am

Thanks all for your advice. To update you all, I called Ryanair today (of course the 1570 No) and explained to the lady my experiences. She was so polite that she actually cancelled one of my booking and she informed me that the monies will be refunded to my CC in 7-10 days.

Yakuza · 23-01-2009 12:11pm

abk wrote: »

Thanks all for your advice. To update you all, I called Ryanair today (of course the 1570 No) and explained to the lady my experiences. She was so polite that she actually cancelled one of my booking and she informed me that the monies will be refunded to my CC in 7-10 days.

Glad to hear it...wait a second...Ryanair refunding money? I must go and get my jumper, sounds like somewhere very very hot has just frozen over

abk · 23-01-2009 12:52pm

Yakuza wrote: »

Glad to hear it...wait a second...Ryanair refunding money? I must go and get my jumper, sounds like somewhere very very hot has just frozen over

She actually said so. I was surprised too as I had already written off those monies as bad debts. Will keep you updated when the refund comes through.

MOH · 23-01-2009 1:54pm

I've had problems with multiple windows and Ryanair before.

Plus tried to book earlier this week in Firefox, got as far as confirming the reservation, and then got a screen saying my session had been locked - click here if it doesn't come back in ten seconds. Which just led to brought me to eh same screen in an endless loop.

Confrimation e-mail came through OK though, so looks like it worked.

ROVER · 26-01-2009 11:33pm

I wonder has anyone used the vouchers to cover total cost for two people on the one reservation when the voucher is in the lead person name.
I can't do two seperate bookings as the 2nd person is a minor who cant travel on their own booking.

the groutch · 26-01-2009 11:35pm

I notice today they have return flights to Bergamo for €10 return (plus the card fee etc)

nava · 26-01-2009 11:46pm

ROVER wrote: »

I wonder has anyone used the vouchers to cover total cost for two people on the one reservation when the voucher is in the lead person name.
I can't do two seperate bookings as the 2nd person is a minor who cant travel on their own booking.

I haven't booked but reading it looks like the lead passenger must be the same as the name on the vouchers, the rest are ok.

suppafly · 27-01-2009 2:20am

nava wrote: »

I haven't booked but reading it looks like the lead passenger must be the same as the name on the vouchers, the rest are ok.

ya that seems to be the way. So as jesper was saying you can have the vouchers as an option if your flights are close enough. Sounds grand. I'm def going to use it if my flights in future work out close to it. Am also going to try the entrocard and see how that goes