Ryanair has issued a sharp rebuke to consumer advice suggesting passengers could save significant sums by avoiding its recommended fare options, branding the guidance as "fake news." The airline's response comes after consumer watchdog Which? published research indicating that travellers might be paying more than necessary for their flights.
Consumer Watchdog Claims Substantial Savings Possible
According to detailed analysis from Which?, families could potentially save upwards of £100 on their next Ryanair journey by simply disregarding the airline's "recommended" fare selection. The watchdog conducted specific tests, examining a summer getaway from London to Alicante for a family of four.
Ryanair had promoted its "Regular" fare as the "ideal" choice for this route. However, Which? claims that opting for this recommended fare would have cost £59 more than selecting the "Basic" fare and manually adding identical seats and baggage allowances later during the booking process.
Significant Price Differences Revealed
The consumer organisation's investigation revealed even more dramatic potential savings. "If our family decided that we could get by with four cabin bags instead of the eight included in Ryanair's 'Regular' fare, then we could reduce the fare by £163 from Ryanair's recommendation," the report stated.
Which? emphasised that their findings were consistent across multiple checks. "The Regular fare comes with priority boarding, carry-on luggage and free standard seat selection included, but on around 30 checks over the past two years we've only once found it cheaper," the watchdog reported.
Extensive Testing Supports Findings
The consumer group conducted comprehensive testing to validate their claims. "We looked at 15 flights to a range of locations in February 2026 and only once was the Regular ticket cheaper, even if we wanted all those extras," the report detailed. This suggests that the pricing structure consistently favours the Basic fare option when passengers carefully manage their add-ons.
Ryanair's Forceful Rejection
Ryanair has responded with strong criticism to these claims. A spokesperson for the airline told Sky News: "This is more fake news from Which? Thankfully no one reads, or takes any notice of Which's fake recycled news articles or your spurious 'advice', as our traffic growth from 200 million to 208 million passengers in 2025 proves."
The airline's statement represents a direct challenge to the consumer watchdog's credibility and suggests that passenger numbers demonstrate customer satisfaction with their current pricing model. Ryanair's growth statistics are presented as evidence that travellers are not heeding the advice from Which? regarding fare selection strategies.
Ongoing Consumer Debate
This exchange highlights the ongoing tension between consumer advocacy groups and budget airlines regarding pricing transparency and fare structures. While Which? aims to help travellers make informed decisions to reduce costs, Ryanair maintains that their recommended fares provide value and convenience that passengers appreciate.
The disagreement raises important questions about how airlines present fare options during the booking process and whether consumers are consistently making optimal financial choices when purchasing flights. With travel costs remaining a significant concern for many families, such debates about pricing strategies are likely to continue generating attention and discussion among travellers and industry observers alike.
