Ryan Air announces flights from Europe to New York for 10 Euro

November 17, 10:21 PMNY Budget Travel ExaminerSusan Finch

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the NY Budget Travel Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Rumors of Ryan Air expanding their notoriously cheap European airfares to New York started surfacing earlier in the year after chief executive Michael O'Leary announced the firm's quarterly results.  Of the new routes and low fares, O'Leary stated, "Economy class will be very cheap, around 10 euros, but our business class will be very expensive," he said in a newspaper interview.

Ryan Air does expect to see its second quarter profits fall due to high fuel prices and a decision to cut its fares. Discounted flights will be available for early booking, and won't include airport taxes and their  standard method of charging for baggage,  priority boarding,  travel insurance, and a variety of other fees. The airlines is eying flights from Stansted, England and Dublin, Ireland to New York, Florida, LA, San Francisco, and Boston.

But what's the compromise? It depends on what your comfort level is and your idea of long-distance travel. Though Ryan Air hasn't stated what aircraft they'll fly overseas, their European routes are predictable.  Seats don't recline, flight attendants hock duty free items throughout the flight, disco music interrupts sleeping passengers to brag about Ryan Air's number of on-time flights, and lottery tickets are sold right onboard to help raise money for charity.

Be prepared for ads littering the front of the overhead bins and tray table enticing you with everything from cell phones to purchasing ad space. Ryan Air also lacks in the customer service you might be accustomed to, if you miss your flight due to a connection, you eat the cost of your flight. 

It's yet to be seen if such practices will infiltrate their overseas routes or not, and if you'll even notice a dip in customer service. As it is, our airlines aren't exactly bending over backwards to please us. But for 10 Euro, who cares? You can bring your own portable DVD player, pillow, and blanket while enjoying the extra money sitting in your bank account.

On a personal note, my Ryan Air flight last month from Edinburgh to Dublin was a mere 2£.  After baggage fees, an airport check-in fee, and a fee to use my Mastercard to pay, my total came to $15 USD.  The hour flight was a bit bumpy due to high Scottish winds, but overall it was a nonevent.  Just the way I like to fly.

Check out a video and Ryan Air theme song...

If you liked this story, you also might like:

How to travel for free
Tips from a budget traveler
Catch recession fever with $25/day cruises

Email me your budget travel questions and challenges at travelexaminer@yahoo.com or www.dontforgettowrite.org.  I'll post them here and help you get on the open road.